Standard sheet size cutting calculator

What this calculator does

A standard sheet size cutting calculator takes your list of parts (length, width, and quantity) and lays them out on whichever standard panel you choose, with as little waste as possible. You pick the sheet, the tool does the packing. Instead of sketching it out by hand, you get a numbered cutting plan, a clear cut list, and the exact number of sheets to buy. cutlistlab runs entirely in your browser, so there is nothing to install and no account needed.

Most plate material comes in a handful of standard sizes, and the size you pick changes how efficiently your parts fit. A long part that wastes a quarter of a 4x8 sheet might fit neatly on an oversized panel, so it pays to try a couple of options before you buy.

Common standard sheet sizes

You can choose any of these standard sizes from the list, or type your own if your supplier stocks something different:

• 4x8 ft (1220x2440 mm). The default for plywood, MDF, and melamine in much of the world. If in doubt, this is the one most retailers stock.
• 5x5 ft Baltic birch (1525x1525 mm). The square panel used for Baltic and Russian birch plywood, common in cabinetry and jigs.
• 2440x1220 mm. The metric way of writing the 8x4 ft sheet, the standard panel across Europe and many trade suppliers.
• 3050x1525 mm. An oversized (10x5 ft) panel that suits long worktops, wardrobe sides, and large casework with fewer joins.
• Custom size. Enter any length and width to match a sheet your local yard sells, or an offcut you already have.

How to use it

1. Enter your parts. Add each part with its length, width, and quantity, and give it a name so it is easy to match later.
2. Pick a standard sheet size. Choose 4x8 ft, 5x5 ft Baltic birch, 2440x1220 mm, 3050x1525 mm, or enter a custom size. Add any offcuts you already have so they get used first.
3. Set the kerf. Enter the width your saw blade removes per cut so the parts come out exactly to size.
4. Read the plan. The calculator packs everything onto the fewest sheets, draws the layout, lists the cuts in order, and tells you how many sheets you need and how much is left over.

A worked example

It helps to see how the same cut list falls on different standard sheet sizes. As an example, say you need the parts below for a wardrobe. Enter them once in millimetres (or inches, both work), then compare a 2440 x 1220 mm sheet against a larger 3050 x 1530 mm sheet from the board library, with a goal of least waste, fewest cuts, or lowest cost.

On 2440 x 1220 mm sheets the long parts split across more boards, while a 3050 x 1530 mm sheet often takes the tall sides whole, so the same list can land on about 2 to 3 sheets with roughly 15% offcut, depending on the size you pick. Each layout comes with 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. Treat the result as an example, not a guarantee: your exact parts and kerf will shift the numbers.

Frequently asked questions