Wood / Lumber / Pipe Cut Calculator
Find out how many lengths to buy, how to cut with least waste, and how much scrap is left
Stock Settings
Cut Requirements
Most people can leave this alone, defaults already give least waste
Cutting Results
Before you buy
Saw blade loss per cut is deducted automatically, so the count is what you can actually cut
Utilization = length actually used / total length purchased
Cut Diagram
Export Options
About Linear Cut Optimizer
The Linear Cut Optimizer is a free online tool that helps you plan the optimal cutting layout for wood, metal, and other stock materials. Using the classic FFD (First Fit Decreasing) algorithm, it automatically calculates how to complete all cutting requirements with minimum stock pieces, significantly reducing material waste.
Features
- FFD Algorithm: Uses industry-standard First Fit Decreasing algorithm for fast near-optimal solutions
- Kerf Calculation: Precisely accounts for saw blade width (kerf) to ensure feasible cutting plans
- Visual Cut Diagram: Intuitively displays cutting layout for each stock piece
- Multiple Units: Supports centimeters, millimeters, and inches with easy conversion
- PDF/CSV Export: Export cut lists and reports for printing or archiving
- Real-time Calculation: Instant results as you type, no waiting required
How to Use
- Set stock length (e.g., 96" or 240 cm lumber)
- Enter kerf width (typically 3mm for circular saw, 1-2mm for band saw)
- Add cut requirements: enter each required length and quantity
- System automatically calculates optimal cutting layout
- Follow the cut diagram for actual cutting
About FFD Algorithm
FFD (First Fit Decreasing) is a classic algorithm for solving the one-dimensional bin packing problem. It first sorts all requirements by length in descending order, then sequentially tries to fit each piece into existing stock. If it doesn't fit, a new stock piece is opened. While not guaranteed to be optimal, FFD typically finds excellent solutions in minimal time, with worst-case performance within 22% of the optimal solution.
What is Kerf?
Kerf is the width of material removed by a saw blade during cutting. Different saws have different kerf widths: circular saws ~2.5-3.5mm, band saws ~0.5-2mm, hand saws ~2-3mm. When planning cuts, each cut loses this width of material, so accurate kerf calculation is key to avoiding material shortages. Note: The last cut segment doesn't need kerf calculation since there's no subsequent cut.
FAQ
Q: Is the result optimal?
FFD algorithm provides "near-optimal solutions" that are very close to optimal in most cases. For typical cutting requirements, FFD results are usually optimal or near-optimal.
Q: How many cut items can it handle?
This calculator can handle hundreds of cut requirements. FFD algorithm has O(n log n) time complexity, completing calculations in milliseconds even with 100+ items.
Q: How to handle items longer than stock length?
If a cut requirement exceeds stock length, the system displays an error message. You'll need to select longer stock or split the requirement into multiple pieces.
