Board 13.625 in offcut
Linear stock planner
Board cut optimizer for lumber, trim & molding
Pack mixed finished lengths onto equal stock boards with kerf between neighboring parts. See the board count, recoverable terminal offcuts, part yield, and estimated stock cost.
01
Stock boards
Use the actual usable length after end trim.
02
Required cuts
Mixed numbers such as 28 1/2 are accepted.
Best-fit result
Board plan
3Boards
83%Part yield
$36Stock cost
Board 25.625 in offcut
Board 338.75 in offcut
i
Heuristic best-found: the calculator uses deterministic best-fit decreasing. It includes kerf between adjacent pieces and reserves another kerf before a reusable terminal offcut.
The one-dimensional model
Why the last kerf is different
Adjacent finished parts need a kerf between them. The last finished part can use the existing end of the stock, so it does not automatically need another kerf to fit. If you want to separate and save the terminal remainder, however, that offcut loses one more blade width.
The calculator uses deterministic best-fit decreasing: longer parts are placed first, then each goes into the board that leaves the smallest valid remainder. It is a fast, practical heuristic rather than proof of the fewest possible boards for every large job.
Example: five 18-inch rails from eight-foot boards
Five rails contain 90 inches of finished length. Four internal 1/8-inch kerfs raise the required run to 90 1/2 inches, so all five fit on one 96-inch board before end trim. Enter mixed rail lengths and quantities above to see when the smallest valid remainder moves a part to the next board.
Linear cut-list questions
What is a linear cut list optimizer?
A linear optimizer places one-dimensional finished lengths onto available stock lengths. It is appropriate for boards, trim, molding, pipe, tube, and bar stock; plywood rectangles need a two-dimensional sheet optimizer.
Does the board optimizer include saw kerf?
Yes. It reserves measured blade kerf between adjacent finished pieces and reports the terminal remainder separately.
Does this prove the fewest possible boards?
No. SawNest uses deterministic best-fit decreasing, a practical repeatable heuristic. Inspect every board, unplaced part, kerf assumption, and offcut before purchasing or cutting stock.