Carpentry / Cut planning
Plan your timber cuts
Enter each piece length and how many you need, then your stock length. See how many lengths to order and how to cut them.
Cut plan
How many lengths?
Enter the pieces you need and your stock length to see the plan.
How it works
Put in your numbers
Use your own rates, times and measurements.
See your answer straight away
It works it out as you type.
Copy or print it
Send it on, or keep it with the job.
What it covers: Plan a mixed cut list on stock lengths, allowing for saw cuts, and see the offcuts.
Free to use. No sign-in needed.
How to work out how much timber you need
When you need pieces of different lengths, the trick is to fit them onto standard stock lengths with as little waste as possible. Remember that every saw cut removes a little material. Planning the longest pieces first gives a good layout and shows you how many lengths to buy and what offcuts you will have.
- Choose Metres to work in millimetres or Feet to work in inches. Add a row for each piece size with the pieces needed and the length of each piece.
- Enter the stock length your supplier sells for that size of timber. Every piece must fit within it.
- Enter the saw cut width, sometimes called the kerf, and change the starting figure to match your blade. The planner allows one saw cut between pieces and before any offcut.
- The planner places the longest pieces first, each on the first length with room for it and its saw cut.
- Read the stock lengths to order, the cutting plan for each length with its offcut, and the share of the timber used. Add a price per stock length if you want a cost.
Tips and common mistakes
- Check each length for defects such as knots, splits or bowing before cutting, and plan around them.
- The planner does not allow for end trims. If the board ends are damaged or not square, add the trim to your piece lengths.
- Keep useful offcuts labelled with their length. They can cover small pieces on the next job.
- Measure twice and cut once. Confirm each piece length on site before you cut the stock.
Questions
How do I work out how much timber I need?
List every piece and its length, then fit the pieces onto the stock length your supplier sells, longest first. Allow for the saw cut between pieces. The number of stock lengths used is what you order.
What is kerf and why does it matter?
Kerf is the width of material removed by the saw blade with each cut. On a long cut list, those small amounts add up and can mean a piece no longer fits. Measure your own blade or check its specification.
How do I reduce timber waste when cutting?
Plan all your cuts together rather than one at a time. Cut the longest pieces first and fill the gaps with shorter pieces. Keep the offcuts that are long enough to use later.
How many lengths of timber do I need for my project?
Add up the pieces you need and plan how they fit onto your stock lengths, allowing for saw cuts. Round up to whole lengths. Consider an extra length if the timber may have defects.
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