Free Linear Cut List Calculator for Lumber, Pipes & Bars
Enter stock lengths, required cuts and saw kerf. Get an efficient 1D cutting plan with clear remaining offcuts.
MEASURE TWICE. PLAN ONCE.
Free, no signup Runs in your browser
YOUR CUTTING PLAN Calculated in your browser8 required pieces
THE PLAN, BEFORE THE FIRST CUT
Cutting plan
EFFICIENT CUT PLAN
Enter lengths. Cut with confidence.
Add stock, required parts and kerf to see each bar's cut order, losses and remaining offcuts.
Kerf in every cutmm, cm, inches & feetLumber, tube, pipe & bar
FROM LENGTHS TO A CUTTING PLAN
How to Use the Linear Cut List Calculator
Three inputs. One practical cut list.
01
Add stock lengths
Enter every board, pipe or bar length you have. Enter how many pieces you have, or choose Buy as needed to estimate material to purchase.
02
List finished pieces
Give each cut a recognizable label, final length and quantity. Use fractions in inches, or work in millimeters, centimeters and feet.
03
Set kerf and end trim
Enter the width removed by your saw and material to remove from both stock ends before making finished cuts.
04
Optimize and cut
Review the bar diagrams, ordered cuts, loss totals and unplaced pieces. Export the plan or print it for the workshop.
LUMBER CUT CALCULATOR
Lumber Cut Calculator for 2×4s, trim and timber
Plan a lumber cut list from standard 8-foot or 10-foot boards before you buy or pull material from the rack. Add each measured board length separately when stock varies, then label rails, legs, braces and blocking by their finished length. The result makes kerf visible, so a list that appears to fit by total footage does not leave you one cut short at the saw.
For rough lumber, set end trim to remove checks or damaged ends first. For finished construction lumber, keep it at zero unless you intend to square both ends. Always measure actual stock: nominal dimensions describe section size, not usable length.
PIPE CUTTING OPTIMIZER
Pipe, tube and bar cutting optimizer
Use this stock length optimizer for PVC pipe, steel tube, aluminum extrusion and solid bar. A 6,000 mm length can carry very different sections, so list each required cut and let the plan show which stock length receives it. The remaining length is kept separate from saw kerf and end trim for clearer material records.
Enter the cutting loss for your own cold saw, band saw or other process. This calculator plans straight length cuts only; it does not calculate miters, angled cuts, bend allowances, tube nesting directions or machine-specific clamping clearances.
EXAMPLE 1D CUTTING PLAN
Two 96-inch boards, eight finished parts
Load the lumber example above to put these exact values into the calculator.
Start with two 96 in boards, a 1/8 in saw kerf and two each of 30 in, 24 in, 18 in and 12 in parts. The finished parts total 168 in. With one kerf reserved after each of the eight cuts, the total kerf loss is 1 in.
One valid plan cuts 30 + 30 + 24 in from the first board and 24 + 18 + 18 + 12 + 12 in from the second. It leaves 11 5/8 in and 11 3/8 in respectively: 23 in of remaining offcut across both boards. Finished parts use 87.5% of the 192 in of stock; the difference is kerf and remaining material.
This is a practical example, not a promise that every job has a single best arrangement. Different stock lengths, trim allowance and real shop constraints can change the preferred order.
HOW OUR 1D CUTTING OPTIMIZER WORKS
Stock Length and Saw Kerf Calculation
The calculator starts with the longer required pieces and puts each one into a used length when it leaves the smallest offcut. If it needs another length, it selects the available option with the least remainder. This creates a fast, practical plan for a workshop list, but another arrangement may use less material in some cases.
Every used bar follows the same length balance: stock length = finished parts + kerf loss + end trim + remaining offcut. Kerf is reserved after each listed part, including the final part, and end trim is reserved at both ends. The diagram, cut order and totals all use those same allowances.
A linear cut list calculator arranges required finished lengths across stock lengths such as lumber, pipe, tube or bar. It accounts for the kerf entered for every separation cut, reserves any end trim, and reports the offcut left from each used length.
How do I optimize cuts from 8-foot lumber?+
Add 96 in as a stock length, enter how many boards are available or choose Buy as needed, then list every finished length and quantity. Measure your blade kerf on a test cut and enter that value before optimizing. The result gives a board-by-board sequence rather than only a total length estimate.
Does the calculator account for saw kerf?+
Yes. The calculator reserves one kerf after every listed finished part, including the final part on a stock length. That rule matches the displayed cutting sequence. Use the actual material removed by your blade; a nominal blade width may not be the same as its real kerf.
Can I optimize different stock lengths together?+
Yes. Add each available stock length as its own row. The calculator uses a bar that leaves the smallest offcut when it can. If it needs another length, it chooses the available option with the least remainder. Enter the number of pieces you have, or choose Buy as needed for material you can purchase.
Are remaining pieces reusable offcuts?+
The remaining length is shown separately from kerf and end trim so you can decide what to keep. The calculator does not apply a minimum reusable-offcut size: label and store a remainder only if it is useful and safe for your material, machine and next project.
Why are some parts not placed?+
A part is marked unplaced when it cannot fit any eligible stock after its kerf and end trim are allowed for, or when the stock quantity you entered runs out. Check the required length, stock quantities, units, kerf and end trim before adding more stock.
What is the difference between 1D and 2D cut list optimization?+
Linear optimization arranges lengths along one board, pipe or bar. Sheet cutting arranges two-dimensional rectangles on plywood or other panels. Use the sheet optimizer for plywood, MDF and other sheet goods.
