What "free" actually means here
Plenty of cut list tools are good at the math but ask you to pay or register before you can finish a real project. cutlistlab takes a different approach: it is free, and the parts that matter most are not held back. There is no premium tier to unlock, no email to hand over before you start, and no app to download. You open the page, add your parts, and you are working.
Concretely, that means no part limit (add as many pieces and sheets as your build needs), no sign-up wall between you and a result, and no watermark on the cutting plan you print or export. Your projects live in your browser on your own device. A free account is available if you later want to sync across a phone and a laptop, but it is optional, and the optimizer itself never sits behind it.
The features you still get for free
Free does not have to mean stripped down. cutlistlab runs a real optimizer in the browser, trying several packing strategies and keeping the best result, so the layout is genuinely tight rather than a rough guess. Alongside that, you get the practical tools a hobbyist or a small shop actually reaches for:
- Least-waste packing. Multiple strategies and time-boxed local improvement to fit your parts onto the fewest sheets.
- Saw kerf. Set the blade width and it is included cumulatively, so parts come out to size.
- Grain direction. Mark a part as grain-fixed and it stays oriented correctly; the rest rotate freely to pack tighter.
- Offcut tracking. Add leftover panels as stock so they get used before you cut into a full sheet.
- Printable labels. Generate part labels so each piece is easy to match at the saw.
- Cabinet designer. Build a carcass from dimensions and let it generate the part list for you.
What "free" means across the popular tools
Plenty of cut list tools call themselves free, but free means different things. Some give you a free tier with a daily cap, some limit how many parts you can enter, and some are free only because they live inside another program. Here is the honest picture, so you know what you are signing up for.
| Tool | Free? | The catch |
|---|---|---|
| cutlistlab | Yes, no daily limit | Newer and less well known; no native desktop app |
| CutList Optimizer | Free tier | Caps calculations per day and saved cut lists; paid tiers lift the limits |
| OptiCutter | Free tier | Limits the number of parts and stock items |
| OpenCutList | Free, open source | Needs SketchUp; not a standalone tool |
cutlistlab is genuinely free to use with no daily cap and no paywall in front of your first result, and it adds a cabinet helper, offcut stock and a library of real store sheet sizes on top. For the full picture, see the comparison of the best free cut list optimizers.
How to start in three steps
- Add your parts. Enter each piece with its length, width and quantity, and a name so it is easy to find on the plan.
- Choose your sheets. Pick a standard 4x8 ft (1220x2440 mm) panel or enter your own size, set the kerf, and add any offcuts you already have.
- Read and export the plan. The optimizer packs everything onto the fewest sheets, shows the layout as a drawing, lists the cuts, and lets you print or export with no watermark.
Want to try a free cut list optimizer right now? Open cutlistlab, add your parts, and get the least-waste layout. No sign-up, nothing to install, no part limit.
Frequently asked questions
Is cutlistlab really free?
Yes. There are no paid tiers, no sign-up and nothing to install. You can plan a whole project at no cost.
Is there a limit on how many parts I can add?
No. Add as many parts and sheets as your project needs; the optimizer handles long lists the same way.
Do I need to create an account?
No. Your projects stay in your browser. A free account is optional, only for syncing across devices.
What features do I get for free?
Least-waste packing, kerf, grain, offcuts, printable labels and a cabinet designer. The plan exports with no watermark.