Kerf / blade thickness
Account for the material your saw blade removes with every cut.
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Updated September 27, 2026Browse all help topics
Kerf is the width of material a blade turns into sawdust. A full-kerf table saw blade is about 1/8" and a thin-kerf blade about 3/32". On a 96" sheet with six rips, that's 3/4" of material. Leave it out and your last part comes up short.
Set the kerf
- Step 1: Open any sheet or linear cut list.
- Step 2: In the toolbar above the editor, find Kerf / Blade thickness.
- Step 3: Type your blade width in your entry unit, for example
1/8or0.125. You can add a unit to override it, such as3.2mm. - Step 4: Leave it empty if you don't want kerf included (for example when laser cutting).

How it's applied
- One kerf is reserved between neighboring parts. Parts stay exactly the size you entered.
- The kerf is saved with each cut list, so reopening a job keeps its blade.
- Rip cuts in cross-section cuts use their own Rip kerf setting.
Related articles
- Sheet nesting methodsChoose between Easiest to cut, Least waste, Batch cutting and CNC / router layouts.
- Edge trimCut a clean strip off every sheet edge before parts are placed.
- Units, fractions and measurement formatsWork in inches and fractions, feet and inches, or metric, and type measurements any way you like.
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