Plywood Sheet Cut Calculator

Cut list optimizer for plywood, MDF and sheet goods.

Project Details
Enter your measurements and requirements
$
Results
Calculated estimates for your project
Sheets needed1
Parts placed2
Waste69.7%
Yield30.3%
Material cost$65 (1 x $65)

Turn these numbers into a build plan.

  • 1 sheets
  • 2 parts
  • 70% waste
Materials List
Recommended materials and quantities
3/4 in plywood1 sheets
Cabinet side2 @ 30" x 23-1/4"
#130" x 23-1/4"#230" x 23-1/4"
Sheet 1: #1 Cabinet side, #2 Cabinet side. Offcuts: 65-7/8" x 48"

Every layout is guillotine-cut: each cut runs edge to edge, so a track saw, circular saw or table saw can make it. Rip the long cuts first, then crosscut. Parts are numbered in placement order and marked turned when the grain runs across the sheet.

Take this cut list to the shop: save it to Blueprint and every sheet becomes a checklist you can tick off at the saw and reopen at the lumber yard, or turn it into a full cabinet or built-in plan with the materials filled in. Doors for the carcass are in the cabinet door calculator; solid wood parts in the lumber calculator.

Next you will need

Lumber Calculator

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Project plan · built from your numbers

Cut 2 parts from 1 sheet

Break down 1 48" x 96" sheet into 2 parts with 1/8" kerf, 70% waste.

Materials
$75
Time
1 day
Level
Easy
5 steps 6 tools 3 materials
  1. 1

    Check the sheet and the cut list

    Measure the real sheet size and thickness (3/4 in plywood is often 23/32), sight for twist, and mark the good face.

    • Sheet size measured
    • Good face marked
    • Grain direction noted
  2. 2

    Set up a safe cutting surface

    Lay the sheet on rigid foam or a sacrificial grid so both sides are supported through the cut and nothing pinches the blade.

    • Foam or grid down
    • Blade depth set
    • Cord clear of the cut line
  3. 3

    Cut sheet 1 of 1

    Make the long rips first, then crosscut. Parts: Cabinet side 30" x 23-1/4", Cabinet side 30" x 23-1/4". Keep the 65-7/8" x 48" offcut.

    • #1 Cabinet side
    • #2 Cabinet side
01 · Your numbers
Sheets
1
Parts
2
Waste
70%
Est. cost
$75
02 · The plan

5 steps · 6 tools · 3 materials

2 more steps, the full tool list and a shopping list you can check off as you go.

03 · Finished

Your plan is 60% built. Save it.

3/5

Cut 2 parts from 1 sheet

Finished in 1 day · $75 DIY

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How to plan plywood cuts from a 4x8 sheet

Worked example: a 30 in wall cabinet and a 24 in base cabinet in 3/4 in plywood. The 11 carcass parts nest onto 1 sheet with 11% waste. Paste this into the calculator to see the diagram:

Wall side: 30 x 11 1/4 x 2; Wall top and bottom: 28 1/2 x 11 1/4 x 2; Base side: 34 1/2 x 23 1/4 x 2; Base bottom: 22 1/2 x 23 1/4 x 1; Stretcher: 22 1/2 x 4 x 2; Shelf: 22 7/16 x 11 x 2

  1. List every part. Write each part's length along the grain, width and quantity, and mark the ones whose grain direction matters.
  2. Lay out the sheet. Nest the biggest parts first so every cut runs edge to edge, leaving 1/8 in for each saw kerf.
  3. Rip first, then crosscut. Break the sheet down with long rips into strips, then crosscut the strips into parts.
  4. Cut on a supported surface. Lay the sheet on rigid foam with a track or circular saw, or have the store make the first rips so it fits in your car.
  5. Label the parts. Mark each part's name and grain arrow on tape as it comes off, and keep the offcuts with their size written on them.

Sheet yield: pieces per 4x8 sheet

Full-size pieces from one 48 x 96 in sheet with a 1/8 in kerf, parts free to turn
PiecePieces per sheet
12 x 12 in21
16 x 24 in7
23 7/8 x 23 7/8 in (a 4x8 in eighths)8
24 x 24 in3
23 15/16 x 47 15/16 in (a 4x8 in quarters)4
11 1/4 in shelf rip, 96 in long4
23 1/4 x 30 in cabinet side6
23 1/4 x 34 1/2 in base cabinet side5

Kerf is why exact halves and quarters come out short: a 4x8 cut in half gives two 47-15/16" pieces, not 48".

Rip first or crosscut first

Rip the sheet into strips along its length first, then crosscut the strips. On the floor, lay the sheet on 1 in rigid foam, set the blade 1/4 in deeper than the plywood and run a track saw or a circular saw against a clamped straightedge. A fine-tooth blade (60T or more) and painter's tape on the cut line keep the veneer from tearing out. Parts that need a perfect edge get cut 1/16 in oversize and trimmed on the table saw.

Plywood cut calculator FAQ

How many 2x4 panels come out of a 4x8 sheet?

Four, but not full size: each saw kerf takes about 1/8 in, so the quarters are about 23 15/16 x 47 15/16 in. Ask for a full 24 x 48 and you get three plus an undersized fourth.

Does the home center cut plywood for you?

Most big-box stores will make a few straight rips and crosscuts on their panel saw for free or a small fee, usually not to tight tolerances. Have them break the sheet down to fit your car, then make the finish cuts at home.

What is the real size of a 3/4 in sheet?

A sheet is a full 48 x 96 in, but 3/4 in plywood is usually 23/32 in thick (about 18 mm), and Baltic birch is 18 mm. Size dadoes and joinery to the sheet you have.

Why are my parts short?

The kerf. Every cut turns 1/8 in of wood (3/32 for thin-kerf blades) into dust. Measure from the side of the line the part is on and set the kerf in the calculator to your blade.

Is a cut list optimizer accurate for a CNC?

This one plans guillotine cuts for saws, which waste a little more than free-form CNC nesting. For a CNC, use the layout to estimate sheets, then let the CAM software nest the parts.

Should I rip or crosscut first?

Rip first. Long rips cut the sheet into strips that are easy to handle, and crosscutting a narrow strip is safer and more accurate than crosscutting a full sheet.

Does grain direction matter?

For visible parts in veneered plywood, yes: doors, drawer fronts and cabinet sides look best with the grain running the long way. Lock those parts, and let hidden parts like backs and bottoms turn to save sheets.

How much waste should I plan for?

A well-nested cut list wastes 10 to 20%. Many small parts nest tighter; a few large parts often leave big offcuts, which are worth keeping.

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