Cut List Optimizer - Generate Efficient Cutting Plans

Stop Wasting Material — Let an Algorithm Do the Math

Every furniture workshop knows the frustration: you draw up a cut list for a kitchen with 120 parts, grab a pencil, and start sketching layouts on the back of a delivery note. An hour later you think it fits on 14 sheets — then you discover one part was forgotten and you need a 15th. The offcut bin overflows, the material bill creeps up, and the margin you quoted to the client shrinks.

A cut list optimizer eliminates that entire process. You paste your parts — names, widths, heights, quantities — choose your stock sheet sizes, and the nesting algorithm returns a labeled cutting diagram in seconds. No pencil, no guesswork, no wasted sheets.

CutOptim is a free online cut list optimizer built for professional woodworkers and DIY builders alike. It handles hundreds of parts, multiple board sizes, blade kerf deduction, grain direction constraints, and exports production-ready PDF diagrams you can hand to the saw operator.

How Much Material Can You Save?

Workshops that switch from hand-planned layouts to algorithmic optimization consistently save 10–25 % on material costs. On a medium kitchen project using 15 sheets of melamine chipboard at €45 each, that is €70–170 saved per project — and the savings compound across every job, every month.

How to Optimize Your Cut List — Step by Step

1. Paste or type your parts list

   Enter each part with its name, width, height, and quantity. Working from a spreadsheet? Copy the rows from Excel or Google Sheets and paste directly — CutOptim auto-parses tab-separated and CSV data. No reformatting needed.

2. Choose your stock sheet sizes

   Add one or more stock sheet dimensions from your supplier. Common EU sizes: 2800 × 2070 mm (Egger, Kronospan) and 2440 × 1220 mm. Got leftover offcuts? Add them as extra stock — the optimizer uses smaller pieces first.

3. Set blade kerf and grain direction

   Enter your saw blade kerf (3 mm for a standard panel saw, 0 mm for CNC with compensation). For veneered or patterned boards, enable grain-lock on visible parts so the face pattern stays consistent.

4. Click Optimize and review

   The algorithm arranges every part across the minimum number of sheets. Each piece is labeled on the visual diagram. Review waste percentage, total sheet count, and the cut sequence.

5. Export for the workshop

   Download a PDF with labeled cutting diagrams (Pro: add your company logo), a CSV summary for costing, or a DXF file for direct CNC import. Print it, hand it to the saw operator, done.

Standard EU Sheet Sizes — Quick Reference

Not sure which stock size to enter? Here are the most common panels available from European suppliers:

Who Uses a Cut List Optimizer?

Cabinet makers and kitchen fitters

A standard kitchen has 15–30 cabinet boxes — each box needs a top, bottom, two sides, a back, and often a shelf. That is 100–180 parts from melamine or plywood. Without optimization, workshops buy 2–3 extra sheets “just in case” and throw away the surplus later. With CutOptim, you know the exact count before you place the material order. Parts from two concurrent projects can even share sheets when schedules allow, squeezing every square centimetre out of your stock.

Furniture manufacturers and batch producers

Desks, bookcases, wardrobes — batch production means repeating dimensions. The optimizer groups identical parts and rotates them for the tightest fit, often saving a full sheet on every 10-unit batch. Save the project file, and when the next order comes in, reload it, adjust quantities, re-optimize — done in under a minute.

Shopfitters and exhibition builders

Tight deadlines and premium materials (acrylic-faced MDF, fire-rated panels at €80+/sheet) make waste reduction critical. Import the cut list from your CAD export, optimize, and send the labeled PDF to the CNC operator. No back-and-forth, no ambiguity.

DIY builders and home renovators

Even a single built-in wardrobe with 15 parts benefits from optimization. The cutting diagram tells you exactly how many sheets to buy before you drive to the hardware store — preventing the dreaded second trip for “one more board.”

Pro Tips for Better Cut List Results

• Include edge banding allowance. If parts receive 0.5 mm or 2 mm edge tape, add the tape thickness to the dimensions before optimizing. This ensures the finished size is correct after banding.
• Add leftover offcuts as stock. Enter usable offcuts from previous jobs as extra stock sheets. The optimizer uses smaller pieces first, clearing your offcut rack and saving full sheets.
• Save your projects. Free account holders can save and reload projects. When a client changes quantities or you need to recut a damaged part, just update the list and re-run — no re-entry needed.
• Use labels consistently. Name your parts clearly (e.g., “Cab-01 Left Side”, “Cab-01 Shelf”). The labels appear on the PDF cutting diagram and make assembly straightforward.

Free vs. Pro — What Do You Get?