Guide
10th August 2026 · 6 min read · Guide
CNC nesting optimizer explained
What a CNC optimizer does, how rectangular nesting differs from true-shape, why bit diameter is your kerf, and where a cut list optimizer stops and CAM begins.
Workshop guides
Cut list optimizer guides
Guides on cut list optimization, 1D and 2D nesting, cabinetry workflows, the cutting stock problem, guillotine cuts and kerf, for people who cut material. Each card below opens a full guide with worked examples, checklists, and links to the free optimizers.
Related hubs
Calculators and free tools
Guide
10th August 2026 · 6 min read · Guide
Cut list examples
Three complete cut list examples - a bookcase, a run of base cabinets, and a deck frame - with the exact columns, real dimensions, and what each one turns into.
Guide
10th August 2026 · 6 min read · Guide
Standard cabinet widths and the 3-inch increment rule
Why cabinet lines step in 3-inch increments, the full width table for base, wall and tall cabinets, and the part sizes each width produces.
Guide
10th August 2026 · 7 min read · Guide
What is a cut sheet?
A cut sheet means two different documents depending on the trade: a cutting layout in the shop, a product spec sheet on site. What each contains, with examples.
Guide
10th August 2026 · 6 min read · Guide
What is a cutting plan?
A cutting plan is the full set of layouts for a job plus the order you cut them in. What it contains, how to draw one, and how to judge whether it is any good.
Guide
27th July 2026 · 5 min read · Guide
What is material grouping?
Material grouping splits a cut list by thickness, finish, and stock SKU so each batch nests on the right sheet or stick — without mixing melamine and plywood.
Guide
10th June 2026 · 5 min read · Guide
How many sheets of plywood do I need?
How many sheets of plywood do you need? Why square-footage math under-counts, how kerf changes the answer, and how to get an exact 4×8 sheet count.
Guide
28th May 2026 · 5 min read · Guide
Cut list optimiser: free online (UK spelling)
Free online cut list optimiser for sheet goods and linear stock. Kerf-aware cutting list optimisation with PDF export. Browser-based, no download.
Guide
28th May 2026 · 5 min read · Guide
Cut list software that runs in your browser
Cut list software comparison: browser-based sheet and linear optimizers, AI plan scan, 3D CAD import, PDF and DXF export. No PC download required.
Guide
28th May 2026 · 6 min read · Guide
Cut list template: columns, samples, and PDF export
What belongs on a cut list template: part columns for CSV/XLSX import, sample spreadsheets, and how to export kerf-aware PDF cut plans from Cutlistor.
Guide
28th May 2026 · 6 min read · Guide
Cutting plan efficiency explained
What cutting plan efficiency means, how yield is measured on sheet and linear jobs, and how linear cutting optimisation software improves results.
Guide
28th May 2026 · 5 min read · Guide
Length nesting for linear stock
Length nesting for lumber, pipe, and bar stock: how 1D nesting works, kerf, stock lengths, and Cutlistor’s free linear cut list optimizer.
Guide
28th May 2026 · 6 min read · Guide
What is a cut list?
A cut list is the table of parts to be cut from stock, with sizes and quantities. What it contains, how it differs from a BOM, and how shops actually use it.
Guide
1st May 2026 · 3 min read · Guide
1D cutting optimizer explained
What a 1D cutting optimizer does for lumber, pipe, and bar stock, how kerf changes results, and how to try Cutlistor’s free linear optimizer online.
Guide
1st May 2026 · 3 min read · Guide
2D nesting optimizer for sheet goods
Overview of 2D nesting for sheet goods: rectangles, kerf, grain, yield, and Cutlistor’s free browser-based sheet cut list optimizer.
Guide
1st May 2026 · 3 min read · Guide
How to build a cabinet cut list
How to build a cabinet cut list and nest it on sheet stock: what to include, kerf-aware panel nesting, MDF/melamine/plywood sizing, and yield.
Guide
1st May 2026 · 3 min read · Guide
Cut list optimization workflow
Cut list optimization techniques: stock setup, kerf discipline, sheet vs linear choice, and free tools on Cutlistor for instant cut layouts.
Guide
1st May 2026 · 4 min read · Guide
Cutting list optimization that works in real shops
Guide to cutting list optimization: improve yield, apply kerf, compare sheet vs linear workflows, and use Cutlistor’s free optimizers for instant cut layouts.
Guide
1st May 2026 · 3 min read · Guide
The cutting stock problem in workshops
Plain-language guide to the cutting stock problem in woodworking: 1D bar cutting vs 2D sheet nesting, heuristics, and practical tools including Cutlistor.
Guide
1st May 2026 · 3 min read · Guide
Guillotine cutting on panel stock
What guillotine-style cuts mean for nested panels, how they differ from freeform nesting, and how Cutlistor helps you plan practical shop cuts.
Guide
1st May 2026 · 5 min read · Guide
Cut list optimizer: free online sheet & linear calculator
What a cut list optimizer actually does: kerf, nesting, grain, offcuts and yield explained for sheet goods and linear stock, in plain shop language.
Guide
1st May 2026 · 3 min read · Guide
Linear cut list calculator for 1D stock
Linear cut list calculator guide: 1D cutting, kerf, stock lengths, use cases for lumber and pipe, and Cutlistor’s free linear cut list optimizer.