MDF & Plywood Cut List Optimizer
Enter your parts list and get the most efficient sheet layout in seconds.
No calculation yet. Enter your parts and click Calculate.
General Statistics —
Sheet Details
Cut List
Unable to Fit —
How Does Cut List Optimization Work?
Choose Sheet Size
Pick a standard size like 2440×1220 mm (8'×4') or 3050×1525 mm, or enter your own dimensions up to 5000×3000 mm. Choose between mm or cm units.
Enter Parts
Enter Length and Width for each part, set the quantity, and optionally add a label (e.g. 'door', 'side panel'). For bulk entry, copy-paste from Excel or any spreadsheet. If grain direction matters, lock part orientation with the ✱/↔/↕ button on each row.
Calculate
Press the green CALCULATE button. The algorithm tests thousands of layout combinations in seconds and returns the arrangement with minimum waste. Results show plate count, efficiency percentage, waste rate, and total cut length.
Get Output
Use your browser's Print → Save as PDF to download the cut plan. Hand the plates one by one to your workshop or CNC operator. Cut sequence numbers indicate the order in which each part should be cut so dimensions stay accurate as the plate is broken down.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is nesting and why does it matter?
What is kerf (blade thickness)? Why 4mm?
What is grain direction? How do I lock part orientation?
Is it free? Do I need to register?
What are standard MDF / particle-board sizes?
What if I need more than one plate?
What should I do if some parts don't fit?
What materials does this work for?
What do the cut sequence numbers mean?
How do I get a PDF of the result?
About Online Cut List Optimization
Online cut list optimization is the fastest way for furniture workshops and individual customers ordering CNC cuts to reduce raw material costs. Manual measurement extraction in Excel is both error-prone and tedious — our tool automatically places your parts on sheets in the most efficient way.
What Does the Nesting Algorithm Do?
The nesting algorithm tests thousands of layout combinations on the plate to find the one with minimum waste. Manual planning would take days and miss optimizations the algorithm catches in seconds. The result is plate count, 95%+ yield rate, cut sequence, and exact dimensions of waste areas.
Standard MDF Sheet Sizes
2440×1220 mm (8'×4', most common worldwide), 3050×1525 mm (10'×5'), 1830×915 mm (compact). European MDF often 2800×2070 mm. Thickness range: 2.5–25 mm.
Yield and Waste Relationship
Yield is the ratio of placed part area to total sheet area. The difference between 85% and 92% yield translates to significant savings per sheet — that's the practical value of nesting.
Kerf, Grain Direction and Other Settings
Kerf is the cut allowance taken by the blade; BAK CNC standard is 4mm. Grain direction matters for patterned/lacquered MDF — visual quality breaks if grain isn't preserved.
Part Orientation and Grain Control
Grain direction matters for lacquered, veneered, or melamine-faced materials. Each part has three orientation options: free (algorithm rotates), horizontal lock, vertical lock. Plain MDF: leave free for minimum waste. Veneered material: lock orientation for visual consistency.
Practical Use in a Furniture Workshop
For kitchen cabinets, wardrobes, shelving, or office furniture: build your part list (length × width × qty), enter into this tool. Separate rows for doors, side panels, shelves, backs. After calculation you know exactly whether you need 5 or 6 plates — your purchase order is correct before you leave the store. The PDF cut plan goes to the operator, saving 5–10% per plate routinely.
Output Format and Printing
After calculation, the 'PDF' button opens a print-ready page. It uses the browser's built-in Print → PDF — no Adobe Reader needed. Output includes a diagram per plate (colored parts, readable dimensions), part inventory, and totals. Print A4 for the operator or display on a tablet.