What does a cut list optimizer do?
A cut list optimizer takes your list of parts (each with a length, width, and quantity) and works out how to arrange them on your sheets with as little waste as possible. Instead of sketching layouts on a scrap of paper and hoping it all fits, you get a drawn cutting diagram, a numbered cut order you can follow at the saw, and an exact count of how many sheets to buy.
cutlistlab goes a step further than a plain nesting calculator: you can optimize for least waste, fewest cuts, or lowest cost (using real sheet prices from the built-in library), respect grain direction, account for blade kerf and edge trim, and reuse the offcuts you saved from earlier projects. It works in millimeters and inches, on your phone at the bench or on a laptop.
What you get for free
Plenty of cutting tools tease you with a layout and then ask for a card or a login before you can do anything useful. cutlistlab works the other way around: the optimizer is free, and the parts you would expect to pay for are simply part of the tool. There is no trial timer, no upgrade nag, and no cap on how many parts you can add.
The free optimizer includes:
- Grain direction. Mark a part as grain-fixed and it keeps its orientation; parts without a fixed grain rotate freely so the optimizer can pack them tighter.
- Offcuts as stock. Add the leftover panels from earlier projects, and the optimizer uses them before it cuts into a fresh sheet.
- Labels and a clear cutting plan. Every part is named and numbered, and the cuts are listed in a sensible order with the layout shown as a drawing.
- A cabinet designer. Build a carcass from a few measurements and let it generate the part list for you, instead of typing each panel by hand.
- Kerf and trim. Set the blade width and any edge you trim off a rough sheet, so the plan matches what really comes off the saw.
- Three optimization goals. Least waste, fewest cuts, or lowest cost; switch the goal and recalculate as often as you like.
- Exports. Print or save the plan as PDF, download it as PNG or SVG, export the cut list as CSV, print part labels, or export DXF for a CNC router. You can also share a project as a link.
- 1D linear cutting. A separate mode for boards, battens, and profiles: enter stock lengths and pieces, and get the same optimized treatment for one-dimensional cuts.
No sign-up, and your data stays local
You open the optimizer and start working. There is no account to create, no email to confirm, and nothing to download. Because everything runs in your browser, your part lists and projects are saved on your own device rather than on a server. You can export a project as a file whenever you want a backup or need to move it to another machine.
If you do want your projects on your phone at the bench and your laptop at home, you can create an account later. That is the one and only reason to register: syncing across devices. It is optional, and the optimizer itself never gets better or worse depending on whether you have signed in.
How to start
- Open the tool. Go straight to the optimizer in your browser. No sign-up, no install.
- Enter your parts. Add each part with its length, width, and quantity, and give it a name so it is easy to match later. Or use the cabinet designer to generate the parts for you.
- Pick your sheet and set the kerf. Choose a standard sheet or enter your own size, add any offcuts you already have, and set the blade width.
- Read the plan. The optimizer packs everything onto the fewest sheets, shows the layout, lists the cuts in order, and tells you how many sheets you need and what is left over.
No account needed. Open the free optimizer, enter your parts, and get a layout with the least waste. No sign-up, nothing to install, no part limit.
What a no-signup session looks like
Imagine you have ten parts to cut on a Saturday morning and you just want a plan. There is no account screen in the way, so a typical run goes like this:
- Open the tool and start typing. Add your parts in mm or inch and pick a sheet from the library or your own size. No login, nothing to install.
- Run as many times as you like. Try least waste, then fewest cuts, then lowest cost. There is no daily limit and no part cap, so you can keep tweaking until the layout suits you.
- Keep your work on the device. Projects and saved offcuts stay in the browser on your phone or laptop, not on a server you have to trust.
- Sign in later if you want sync. An account is optional and only there to carry the same projects across your devices.
So a first session takes you from blank to a full cutting plan with labels and a CSV, without ever creating an account. The numbers are an example; your own results depend on your parts and kerf.
Frequently asked questions
Is it really free?
Yes. The optimizer is free with no paywall and no part limit. You get the full layout, cutting plan, and cut list without paying.
Do I have to register?
No. There is no sign-up and no install. You open the tool and start cutting. An account is optional, only for syncing across devices.
Where do my projects live?
On your device. The optimizer runs in your browser, so projects are saved locally. You can export a project as a file for a backup.
Is there a limit on the number of parts?
No. There is no cap on parts or sheets. Add as many parts, sheet sizes, and offcuts as your project needs.
Does it work on my phone?
Yes. The optimizer is built mobile-first, so it works at the bench on a phone as well as on a laptop. Sizes work in both millimeters and inches.
Can it optimize boards and other 1D stock too?
Yes. Next to the sheet optimizer there is a linear mode for boards, battens, and profiles: enter your stock lengths and the pieces you need, and it packs them with the same care.
How it compares
Most well-known cut list optimizers cap the free tier: a maximum number of parts, a daily PDF limit, or an account wall before you see the layout. We keep the whole optimizer free and make manual adjusting and recalculating effortless instead. For an honest side-by-side of the popular tools, see our comparison of the best free cut list optimizers.