A cut list is the bridge between a drawing and a pile of lumber. It lists every part of a project with its finished size, and once you lay those parts out on real boards, it tells you exactly what to buy. A good cut list saves money, saves trips to the store and prevents the classic mistake of cutting a long part out of the board you needed for something else.
Step 1: List every part with its finished size
Go through the drawing and write down each part: a letter, a name, the quantity and three dimensions in the order thickness x width x length. Use actual lumber sizes, not nominal names (a 1x10 is 3/4" x 9-1/4").
Here is the cut list for the 24" wide, 36" tall bookcase from our free PDF:
| Part | Name | Qty | T x W x L | Material |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Sides | 2 | 3/4" x 9-1/4" x 36" | 1x10 pine |
| B | Shelves | 3 | 3/4" x 9-1/4" x 22-1/2" | 1x10 pine |
| C | Back | 1 | 1/4" x 24" x 36" | 1/4" plywood |
Step 2: Check the math
Most cut list errors come from forgetting that parts overlap. Write out the key calculations:
- Shelf length = overall width minus both sides: 24" minus 3/4" minus 3/4" = 22-1/2".
- Back size = overall width x overall height: 24" x 36", because it covers the whole case.
- Depth = board width plus back: 9-1/4" + 1/4" = 9-1/2" overall.
Do the same for any frame: in a 24" deep workbench frame made of 2x4s, the short rails between the long rails are 24" minus two 1-1/2" rails, or 21".
Step 3: Group parts by material
Sort the list by thickness and width, because parts of the same stock can come from the same board. Here, all the A and B parts come from 1x10 boards, and C comes from plywood.
Step 4: Lay parts out on standard boards
Boards come in standard lengths, usually 6, 8, 10 and 12 ft. Sketch each board as a long rectangle and fit parts along it. Remember two things:
- Saw kerf: every cut turns about 1/8" of wood into sawdust. Three cuts on one board use up about 3/8".
- End waste: board ends are often split, rough or not square. Plan to trim an inch or so from at least one end.
Layout for the bookcase, using two 1x10 x 8 ft (96") boards:
| Board | Parts | Used (with kerfs) | Left over |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1x10 x 8 ft, #1 | A 36", A 36", B 22-1/2" | About 94-7/8" | About 1" |
| 1x10 x 8 ft, #2 | B 22-1/2", B 22-1/2" | About 45-1/4" | About 50" |
| 1/4" plywood 2 ft x 4 ft | C 24" x 36" | One cut | About 24" x 12" |
Board #1 is tight, with only about an inch to spare, so pick a board with clean, square ends for it, or swap one side onto board #2, which has plenty of room. Board #2 leaves about 50", enough for the step stool parts in the same PDF.
Step 5: Add a margin and write the shopping list
For a beginner, buying roughly 10 to 15 percent extra, or one extra board on bigger projects, covers a miscut or a board with a hidden defect. Then turn the layout into a shopping list: nominal size, length and quantity.
Bookcase shopping list: 2 pine 1x10 x 8 ft, 1 sheet of 1/4" plywood 2 ft x 4 ft, plus screws, brads, glue and finish.
Step 6: Plan your cutting order
- Cut the longest parts first. If a long part goes wrong, its scrap may still become a short part.
- Cut identical parts together. Clamp a stop block to your saw setup, or cut one part, then use it to mark the others, so they all match exactly.
- Measure from the same end and always cut on the waste side of your pencil line.
- Label each part with its letter as soon as it is cut.
Sheet goods layout
Plywood works the same way, in two dimensions. Draw the sheet as a rectangle (24" x 48" for a project panel, 48" x 96" for a full sheet) and fit parts into it, keeping the grain direction consistent where it shows. Make long rip cuts first to break the sheet into strips, then crosscut the strips into parts. Many home centers will make a few rough cuts on a full sheet so it fits in your car; ask, and plan those cuts in your layout.
Common cut list mistakes
- Using nominal sizes in the math (a 2x4 frame calculated with 2" thick rails will come out wrong)
- Forgetting the thickness of parts that overlap
- Ignoring saw kerf on boards that are nearly full
- Planning to use every inch of a board, with no room for split ends
- Cutting short parts from the middle of a board you need for a long part
A simple template
A notebook or spreadsheet with these columns is all you need: Part, Name, Qty, Thickness, Width, Length, Material, Board #, Cut (check). Fill it in from the drawing, check the math, assign each part to a board, then tick it off as you cut.
Every project in our free PDF includes a cut list with part letters and actual sizes, and most include a board layout like the one above.