A good cut list saves sheets, saves time and stops you cutting a part too short. It has two parts: a list of every piece you need, and a plan that shows where each piece comes from on the sheet. Here is how to make one.
1. Measure every part
Write down each piece with its finished length, its width and how many you need. Measure the finished size, not the design size, and note any piece that needs edge banding on one or more edges.
Tip: Make one row per piece type. Two sides of the same size should be one row with a quantity of 2.
2. Choose the sheet size
The most common sheet is 244 × 122 cm (8 × 4 ft). European sheets are often 275 × 183 cm. Use the size you actually buy, because the cut plan depends on it.
3. Allow for the blade width
Every cut removes the width of the blade, called the kerf. Typical blades remove about 3 to 4 mm. A sheet with five cuts across it loses about 2 cm to kerf alone, which can decide whether a piece fits. Also allow a little trim on the sheet edges, since the factory edge is rarely square.
4. Plan the cuts in order
On a panel saw, the first cut usually splits the sheet into strips across its width. Each strip is then cut into pieces along its length. Plan the pieces so the first cuts go all the way across the sheet, and the strips are then cut down. Working in this order keeps each piece square and lets you handle the sheet safely.
5. Check the grain
Some plywood and veneers have a visible grain direction. If the finished piece will show that grain, every piece cut from it must run the same way. Mark grain-sensitive parts in your list so they are not rotated during planning.
6. Label the parts
Write a short name on each piece as you cut it, such as "Side A" or "Shelf 2". Labels make assembly faster and stop mix-ups between pieces of the same size.
Let a calculator do the layout
Working out an efficient layout by hand takes time, and small mistakes waste sheets. Cutly runs the whole plan in your browser: enter your parts and sheet size, and it gives you a to-scale drawing of each sheet, a numbered cut order and a printable report. Your parts are never uploaded.