Free 2440x1220 sheet cutting optimizer

What this optimizer does

The 2440x1220 mm panel is the standard full sheet across most of the metric world (it is the same size as a 4x8 ft board, just measured in millimetres). This optimizer takes the parts you need (length, width and quantity, all in mm) and works out how to fit them onto 2440x1220 panels with the least waste. Instead of sketching it on paper, you get a numbered cutting plan, a clear cut list, and the exact number of sheets to buy. It works the same whether your panels are plywood, MDF, particle board or melamine, because they all come in this size. cutlistlab runs entirely in your browser, so there is nothing to install and no account needed.

How to use it

1. Enter your parts in mm. Add each part with its length, width and quantity in millimetres. Give parts a name so they are easy to match later at the saw.
2. Pick the 2440x1220 panel. Select the standard 2440x1220 mm sheet, or adjust the dimensions if your supplier stocks a slightly different size. Add offcuts you already have so they get used first.
3. Set the kerf in mm. Enter the width your blade removes per cut (commonly 2 to 4 mm) so the finished parts come out exactly to size.
4. Read the plan. The optimizer packs everything onto the fewest 2440x1220 panels, shows the layout as a drawing, lists the cuts in order, and tells you how many sheets you need and how much is left over.

Getting the most out of a 2440x1220 sheet

A 2440x1220 mm panel gives you just under 3 square metres of usable material, so a little planning saves real money. The optimizer tries several packing strategies and keeps the best result, which usually beats laying parts out by hand. A few things help on this size in particular:

• Long parts along the 2440. Shelves and side panels often run the full 2440 mm length, so the optimizer lines them up along that edge first and fills the rest around them.
• Grain and faces. Plywood and melamine have a visible grain or pattern. Mark a part as grain-fixed and it stays oriented correctly; plain parts rotate freely to pack tighter.
• Offcuts as stock. Add the leftover strips from earlier 2440x1220 sheets and the optimizer uses them before cutting into a fresh panel.
• Kerf adds up. Across many parts on one sheet, a 3 mm kerf eats several centimetres. Setting it correctly keeps the plan realistic and the parts accurate.

A worked example

It helps to see how a cut list lands on a single 2440 x 1220 mm sheet. As an example, say you need the parts below for a low cabinet. Enter them in millimetres (or inches, both work), then pick a goal: least waste, fewest cuts, or lowest cost.

With kerf and grain direction set, parts like these typically fit on about 1 sheet of 2440 x 1220 mm, with roughly 15% offcut. You get a numbered cutting order for the workshop or the store's panel saw, parts you can rotate or nudge by hand, optional edge-band and label notes, and a CSV export. Any usable offcut goes to your scrap library for the next project. Treat the result as an example, not a guarantee: your exact parts and kerf will shift the numbers.

Frequently asked questions