Cut List Optimizer
Four 600 x 800, six 300 x 500 and three 400 x 400 pieces cut from 1220 x 2440 sheets with a 3 mm kerf need 2 sheets by this heuristic, with about 45% waste. The result is a good layout, not a proven minimum.
How to use
- Enter the sheet width and length and the saw kerf (the width of material the blade removes). Pick the unit you measure in; it only changes the labels.
- List each piece with its width, length and quantity. Turn off "Allow rotation" if the grain or pattern must run along the sheet length.
- Read the sheet count, waste and diagram. Each number on a piece matches its row in the list. Copy the cut list as text for the workshop.
How it works
Pieces are placed with a guillotine heuristic: every cut runs edge to edge across the free rectangle it splits, like a panel saw or table saw cut. Pieces are sorted largest first, each goes into the free rectangle where it leaves the least unused space, and the leftover is split into two new rectangles.
Saw kerf is added to every piece and to the sheet, so two neighboring pieces are separated by one blade width and the last piece in a row needs no extra. The width and length of a piece are measured along the sheet width and sheet length. With rotation off, a piece never turns, so the grain along the length stays aligned.
The tool runs 48 combinations of sort order, fit rule and split rule and keeps the layout with the fewest sheets. Among ties it prefers the one that leaves the largest single offcut on the last sheet. Waste is the share of all sheet area not covered by pieces, so it includes kerf and offcuts. The area lower bound is total piece area divided by sheet area, rounded up. No layout can use fewer sheets than that.
This is a heuristic, not an exact optimizer. Finding the true minimum is an NP-hard problem, and the result may use a sheet more than the best possible layout, especially with many pieces of similar size. It does not model trim cuts, grain-matching between pieces, blade run-out or leaving margins around the sheet edge.
FAQ
Is this the best possible layout?
No. It is a fast heuristic that tries 48 variants and keeps the best, which is usually close to optimal for typical cut lists but can be one sheet worse. Compare the sheet count with the area lower bound shown: if they are equal, the layout is optimal for the sheet count.
What is saw kerf and what value should I use?
Kerf is the width of the slot the blade cuts. A typical circular saw or table saw blade removes about 2 to 3 mm (roughly 1/8 inch). A CNC router bit removes its own diameter. Use 0 for a laser or if your pieces are already sized to include it.
When should I turn rotation off?
When the material has a grain or pattern that has to run in one direction, such as wood veneer, brushed metal or printed laminate. With rotation off, each piece keeps its width across the sheet width and its length along the sheet length.
Why does it say some pieces do not fit?
A piece is larger than the sheet in both orientations it is allowed to take. It is left out of the layout and the sheet count so the rest can still be planned. Check the dimensions or the rotation setting.
Does it work for glass, metal or fabric?
Yes for any rectangular pieces cut edge to edge from a rectangular sheet. It does not handle irregular shapes, defects in the sheet or cutting patterns that are not edge-to-edge.