Why Saw Kerf Matters
Every cut made with a saw removes a small amount of material. This lost material is called the kerf. One cut may not seem like much, but kerf loss can add up when a project requires several cuts.
The Leftover Cuts Calculator can include a kerf allowance for every cut so you can estimate the actual amount of stock consumed rather than simply adding the finished cut lengths together.
Planning Cuts from Lumber, Pipe, Trim, and Other Stock
This calculator can be useful for planning cuts from boards, molding, trim, pipe, tubing, bar stock, conduit, dowels, and other straight materials. Enter the original stock length followed by the individual pieces you need to cut.
The results show the total finished material used, kerf loss, total material consumed, and how much stock remains. If the planned cuts require more material than you have available, the calculator shows the additional amount required.
Allow Extra Material When Needed
For real projects, it is often a good idea to leave some additional material rather than planning to use every last fraction of an inch. Rough factory ends, damaged material, squaring cuts, fitting, miters, and final trimming can all require additional stock.
The calculator determines the mathematical leftover based on the measurements entered, so add your own allowance when the job requires extra material.
Cut Order
Cuts are calculated in exactly the order you enter them. This calculator does not rearrange the cuts to find the most efficient cutting pattern, and it calculates material from one piece of stock at a time.