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Your first sheet cut list

Build a plywood cut list from start to finish: stock, parts, kerf, results and PDF.

Available onFree toolsProBusinessTeam
Updated September 27, 2026
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This walkthrough cuts a simple base cabinet from 3/4" birch plywood (96" × 48" sheets). The steps are the same in the free sheet optimizer, except that saving needs a paid plan.

1. Start a new sheet cut list

  1. Step 1: In the top navigation, open Sheets (2D) Cuts and choose New cut.
  2. Step 2: Click the name at the top (New Sheet Cutlist Name) and type a name, for example Base cabinet 24in.
  3. Step 3: Optional: click Assign to project to file the cut list under a job.

2. Add your sheet stock

  1. Step 1: On the Materials tab, switch STOCK off (to type sizes yourself), open Sheet size and pick 8′ × 4′ × 3/4″, or choose Custom.
  2. Step 2: Check Length 96, Width 48, Thickness 3/4.
  3. Step 3: Enter Qty (sheets), the number of sheets you have on hand.
  4. Step 4: Enter Price per sheet, for example 68, to get a cost estimate.
  5. Step 5: Set Sheet grain if the face veneer has a direction. See Grain direction.
The Materials tab with an 8′ × 4′ × 3/4″ sheet, 12 sheets and a $68 price
1 Sheet size preset · 2 Length (width and thickness sit alongside) · 3 Qty (sheets) · 4 Price per sheet.

3. Enter your parts

  1. Step 1: Switch to the Cut List tab.
  2. Step 2: Fill in the first row: Name Side, length 34 1/2, width 23 1/4, Qty 2.
  3. Step 3: Click Add panel for the next part: Bottom 22 1/2 × 23 1/4, qty 1; Stretcher 22 1/2 × 4, qty 2; Back 34 1/2 × 24, qty 1.
  4. Step 4: Set edge banding (EB) and grain (GD) on each part if you need them. See Edge banding.
The parts table of a bookshelf cut list in fractional inches
1 Name · 2 Length (width next to it) · 3 Qty · 4 Edge banding (EB) · 5 Grain direction (GD).

4. Set the blade kerf

In the toolbar above the editor, enter your saw blade's thickness in Kerf / Blade thickness, for example 1/8. Every cut then removes that much material, so the parts come out at their real size. See Kerf / blade thickness.

5. Read the results

The layout updates as you type. The Optimization Result panel shows how many Sheets you need, your Yield, the cost (if you entered prices), and a diagram for each sheet. See Reading sheet results.

Results for a base cabinet job: 4 sheets, 72.6% yield, USD 242.00
1 Sheets used · 2 Edge banding length · 3 Total price · 4 Yield · 5 The first sheet's cutting diagram.

6. Save and export

  1. Step 1: Click Save at the top. Until you do, the cut list is autosaved as a draft. See Saving, autosave and drafts.
  2. Step 2: Use the export buttons: PDF for a printable cut sheet, DXF for your CNC, or CSV for a spreadsheet. See PDF export.

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