What is a Cutlist?

A cutlist is a detailed inventory of every piece you need to cut for a project, including dimensions, quantities, and material specifications.

Think of it as a recipe for your woodworking or fabrication project. Just as a recipe lists ingredients before you cook, a cutlist lists every part before you cut.

A basic cutlist includes: - Part name or label (e.g., "Side Panel Left," "Shelf A") - Dimensions (length × width, and optionally thickness) - Quantity (how many of each part) - Material (3/4" plywood, melamine, MDF, etc.)

More detailed cutlists may also include: - Grain direction requirements - Edge banding specifications (which edges need finishing) - Notes about joinery or special considerations

Why "cutlist" vs "cut list"? Both spellings are correct. "Cutlist" (one word) is more common in software and modern usage, while "cut list" (two words) is traditional. They mean the same thing.

Every cutlist contains the same core information, but the level of detail depends on your project complexity and workflow.

Essential columns (minimum):

Recommended additions:

Real example: Simple bookshelf cutlist

This simple cutlist tells you exactly what to cut before you make a single measurement at the saw.

Working without a cutlist is like driving without a map. You might get there, but you'll waste time, make wrong turns, and burn extra fuel.

1. You buy the right amount of material

Without a cutlist, you're guessing. Buy too little and you're making another trip to the lumber yard mid-project. Buy too much and you're storing (or trashing) expensive offcuts.

Example: A kitchen cabinet project might need 8-12 sheets of plywood. The difference between 8 and 12 sheets at $60/sheet is $240. A cutlist tells you exactly how many sheets to buy.

2. You cut parts in the right order

Cutlists let you plan your cutting sequence. Cut similar-sized parts together. Group parts by material. Maximize the number of parts from each sheet before moving to the next.

3. You catch mistakes before they're cut in wood

It's easy to miscalculate a dimension in your head. When you write everything down in a cutlist, errors become obvious. That shelf won't fit if it's wider than the cabinet? You'll see it in the cutlist.

4. You save material through optimization

A cutlist is the input for nesting software. Feed your cutlist into an optimizer and get layouts that squeeze every usable inch from your sheets. Manual guessing wastes 15-30% more material than optimized cutting.

5. You can hand off work to others

Need a helper to rough-cut parts? A cutlist is the instruction manual. Clear dimensions, clear quantities, clear materials—no ambiguity.

People often confuse cutlists with nesting layouts. They're related but serve different purposes.

Cutlist = What you need The cutlist is your shopping list. It answers: "What parts do I need to make this project?"

• Lists every piece
• Specifies dimensions and quantities
• Doesn't show *where* to cut parts from sheets
• Created from your project design/plans

Nesting = How to cut it The nesting layout is your cutting map. It answers: "How do I cut these parts from my material?"

• Shows parts arranged on stock sheets
• Optimizes for minimal waste
• Includes cut lines and cutting order
• Generated from your cutlist

The workflow: 1. Design your project 2. Create a cutlist (list all parts) 3. Run the cutlist through nesting software 4. Get optimized cutting diagrams 5. Cut according to the diagrams

You need both. The cutlist without nesting means you know what to cut but not how to lay it out efficiently. Nesting without a cutlist means you have nothing to optimize.

Most modern software combines both steps. Enter your parts (cutlist) and immediately get optimized layouts (nesting).

Cutlists from different sources—software, plans, or other woodworkers—may look different, but they all contain the same core information.

Dimension format varies:

• Length × Width: Most common (e.g., "24 × 12" or "24" × 12"")
• L × W × T: Includes thickness (e.g., "24 × 12 × 0.75")
• Finished vs nominal: Some list finished dimensions; others list rough cut sizes with overage for trimming

Grain direction indicators:

• Arrow symbols: ↑ or → showing grain direction
• Text: "Grain runs lengthwise" or "Width = grain direction"
• L prefix: "L" means grain along length; "W" means grain along width

Edge banding codes:

Different systems exist. Common ones: - L1, L2, W1, W2: Long edge 1, Long edge 2, Width edge 1, Width edge 2 - TFBL: Top, Front, Bottom, Left (edges clockwise) - Simple count: "3 edges" (you decide which)

Material abbreviations:

When in doubt, ask. If you're working from someone else's cutlist, clarify any unclear notations before cutting expensive material.

Whether you're building from plans or designing your own project, creating a cutlist follows the same basic steps.

Step 1: Gather your project information

What are you building? Get the plans, sketch, or model in front of you. Every part that gets cut needs to go on the cutlist.

Step 2: List every unique part

Go through your project systematically. For a cabinet: - Sides - Top and bottom - Shelves - Back - Face frame pieces - Doors and drawer fronts

Don't forget parts that are easy to overlook: stretchers, cleats, drawer sides, and hardware mounting blocks.

Step 3: Record dimensions

For each part, note: - Length (longest dimension) - Width (shorter dimension) - Thickness (if not uniform across all parts)

Tip: Be consistent. If your project uses 3/4" plywood throughout, you might skip thickness. If you're mixing 3/4" and 1/4" plywood, always specify.

Step 4: Count quantities

How many of each part? A bookshelf might need 5 identical shelves. A cabinet face frame might need 4 stiles and 6 rails.

Step 5: Add material specifications

What material is each part cut from? Group parts by material in your cutlist—it makes purchasing and cutting easier.

Step 6: Note special requirements

• Does grain direction matter? (Visible parts usually yes, structural parts usually no)
• Which edges need banding or finishing?
• Any parts that must be cut oversized for later trimming?

Step 7: Double-check everything

Review dimensions against your plans. Make sure quantities add up. Verify that parts will actually fit where they're supposed to go.

A cutlist is step one. Here's how professionals go from cutlist to finished parts.

1. Validate the cutlist

Before you cut anything, verify: - All parts are accounted for - Dimensions are correct - You have all necessary materials

2. Calculate material needs

How many sheets of plywood? How many board feet of lumber? Use your cutlist to total material requirements by type.

Manual method: Sum total square inches of each material type, divide by sheet size, add 10-15% for waste.

Better method: Run through nesting software for exact sheet counts and layouts.

3. Generate cutting layouts

Feed your cutlist into nesting software like EZNESTING. The optimizer arranges parts on sheets to minimize waste and gives you visual cutting diagrams.

4. Purchase materials

Now you know exactly how many sheets to buy. No guessing, no extra trips, no unused surplus.

5. Cut according to layout

With a cutting diagram in hand: - Set up your saw (table saw, track saw, or panel saw) - Make breakdown cuts to rough-size panels - Make precision cuts for individual parts - Label parts as you cut them (masking tape + marker works great)

6. Verify against cutlist

As you cut, check parts off the cutlist. Missing a part? You'll catch it before assembly, not during.

The loop: If you discover a dimension error during cutting, update your cutlist. This keeps your documentation accurate for future reference or if you need to recut parts.

Mistake 1: Forgetting kerf

The problem: Your cutlist dimensions are the finished part sizes. But saw blades remove material (kerf). If you don't account for it, parts adjacent on a sheet will come out slightly undersized.

The fix: Nesting software handles this automatically—set your kerf width and parts are spaced correctly. Manual cutting requires adding kerf to each cut line.

Mistake 2: Confusing length and width

The problem: A "24 × 12" part could be oriented two ways. For grain-sensitive parts, orientation matters.

The fix: Establish a convention and stick to it. Common: "Length is always grain direction" or "Length is always the first number."

Mistake 3: Missing parts

The problem: You build the cabinet and realize you forgot the stretchers, the drawer bottoms, or the back panel.

The fix: Systematic review. Go through your project room by room, piece by piece. Use a checklist. Build a small prototype or model to catch missing pieces early.

Mistake 4: Wrong material assignment

The problem: You assigned a visible shelf to particleboard instead of plywood. It gets cut before you notice.

The fix: Review material assignments against your design intent. Visible parts = good material. Hidden parts = economical material.

Mistake 5: Not accounting for joinery

The problem: Your shelf fits perfectly—until you add the dado joint. Now it's 1/4" too wide.

The fix: Cutlist dimensions should be final part dimensions after joinery. A shelf in a 3/4" dado needs to be dimensioned to fit that dado.

Mistake 6: Inconsistent units

The problem: Some parts in inches, others in millimeters. Confusion leads to misfits.

The fix: Pick one unit system for the entire cutlist and stick with it. If your materials are sold in imperial (4×8 sheets), use inches throughout.

You can create a cutlist on paper, in a spreadsheet, or with dedicated software. Each approach has trade-offs.

Paper/notebook

Best for: Simple one-off projects, quick sketches, when technology isn't handy.

Advantages: - No learning curve - Always accessible - Good for brainstorming

Disadvantages: - Easy to miscalculate - No optimization - Difficult to edit - Can't export to cutting software

Spreadsheet (Excel/Google Sheets)

Best for: Moderate projects, people comfortable with spreadsheets.

Advantages: - Formulas calculate totals - Easy to edit and reorganize - Can sort by material, size, etc. - Shareable and printable

Disadvantages: - No built-in nesting/optimization - Manual layout planning - Easy to break formulas accidentally

Cutlist software (EZNESTING, etc.)

Best for: Any project with sheet goods, especially with multiple parts.

Advantages: - Automatic nesting optimization - Visual cutting diagrams - Material utilization reports - Import/export capabilities - Kerf compensation built-in

Disadvantages: - Slight learning curve - Requires internet (for web apps)

The verdict: For anything beyond a few simple parts, software pays for itself in saved material and saved time. Manual cutlists work for quick jobs, but optimization requires computation humans can't do efficiently.

What is a cutlist in woodworking? A cutlist is a detailed parts list specifying every piece needed for a woodworking project, including dimensions (length, width, thickness), quantities, material type, and any special requirements like grain direction or edge banding.

Is "cutlist" one word or two? Both "cutlist" (one word) and "cut list" (two words) are correct. Modern software typically uses "cutlist," while traditional woodworking often uses "cut list." They mean the same thing.

How do I make a cutlist from plans? Go through your plans systematically and extract every part. For each piece, record the name, finished dimensions, quantity needed, and material. Organize by material type for easier purchasing and cutting.

What's the difference between a cutlist and a bill of materials? A cutlist focuses specifically on parts to be cut from raw material. A bill of materials (BOM) is broader—it includes hardware, fasteners, finish, and other components needed for the complete project.

Should I add extra to cutlist dimensions for trimming? Depends on your workflow. Most cutlists use finished dimensions. If you trim parts to final size after rough cutting, you might add 1/4" to 1/2" to each dimension. Be consistent and note your approach.

How does a cutlist work with nesting software? The cutlist is the input. You enter (or import) your parts list with dimensions and quantities. The nesting software then arranges these parts on stock sheets to minimize waste and generates visual cutting diagrams.

Can I import a cutlist from SketchUp or other CAD software? Many design programs export cutlists as CSV or Excel files. Nesting software like EZNESTING can import these files directly, eliminating manual data entry.

A cutlist is the foundation of efficient material use. Whether you write it on paper or generate it from software, knowing exactly what you need before you cut prevents waste, mistakes, and frustration.

Key takeaways:

1. A cutlist lists every part — names, dimensions, quantities, materials
2. Cutlist + nesting = efficiency — the cutlist tells you what; nesting tells you how
3. Create cutlists systematically — go through your design piece by piece
4. Use software for optimization — manual layouts waste material
5. Double-check before cutting — errors on paper are free to fix

For simple projects, a handwritten cutlist works fine. For anything with multiple sheets or complex parts, software like EZNESTING turns your cutlist into optimized cutting diagrams instantly—showing you exactly where to cut, how much material you'll need, and how much you'll save.

Your cutlist is your project blueprint. Start there, and the rest follows.