This cut list generator works out how to cut your required parts from full-size boards or sheets with the least waste, accounting for the saw kerf removed by each cut. It saves material, money, and the frustration of running a board short near the end of a project.
Nesting parts efficiently
Given a list of finished parts and the stock you have, the generator arranges (nests) the parts onto each board or sheet to minimise offcuts. Crucially it subtracts the kerf — the few millimetres of material turned to dust by every saw cut — because ignoring kerf is how a layout that looks fine on paper comes up just short in the shop.
The result is a cutting plan: which parts come from which board, in what order, and how much usable offcut is left. Following the plan means fewer setups, more consistent parts, and a clear record of what stock the job actually consumes.
Why kerf and grain matter
A 3 mm kerf across a dozen cuts removes nearly 40 mm of material — easily a whole part on a tight layout. Grain direction matters too: parts that must show continuous or matched grain cannot simply be rotated to fit, so the plan has to respect orientation as well as size.
You need six 380 mm shelves from 2400 mm boards, with a 3 mm saw kerf.
- Each shelf plus one kerf = 380 + 3 = 383 mm.
- Shelves per board = 2400 ÷ 383 ≈ 6.2, so 6 fit on one board.
- One 2400 mm board yields all six shelves with ~100 mm offcut.
A single 2400 mm board cuts all six shelves once kerf is accounted for.
