TIMBER CUTTING · mm + INCHES · WORKED EXAMPLES
Two 1200 mm pieces.
One 2400 mm board.
Where does the saw cut go?
The part lengths add up. The blade still removes material. Allow for that gap before deciding how many boards to buy.
Calculate your own cut list →See the numbers firstFree calculator, no account needed. This guide explains straight lengths along boards, not plywood-sheet layouts.
Why two 1200 mm parts do not fit
Take two finished parts of 1200 mm each (about 47.244 in) and a 3 mm cutting width (about 0.118 in). Even with no end trimming, the cut between the two parts occupies space:
Simplified illustration; the blade gap is exaggerated for visibility.
1200 + 3 + 1200 = 2403 mm
That is about 94.606 in, which exceeds the board’s 2400 mm (about 94.488 in). This one separation cut is enough to rule out the layout; adding end-cleanup allowances would need still more stock.
In the calculator, 1200 x 2, stock 2400, kerf 3 and end allowance 0 produce two suggested stock boards. Longer suitable stock is another option. Do not shorten the finished parts unless the design permits it.
Kerf is the blade gap
Use the width of material your actual cutting setup removes. This guide uses 3 mm as an example, not a universal blade specification. Each cut has its own position; counting only the finished lengths misses material removed between them.
End allowance is separate
The free calculator reserves the entered allowance at each end. With 5 mm per end (about 0.197 in), a 2400 mm board has 2390 mm (about 94.094 in) available for the layout. Choose enough allowance to cover the cleanup and its blade loss.
Does one 1200 mm part need 1203 mm stock?
Not when a suitable 1200 mm board is already the finished part. With zero end allowance, the calculator accepts one 1200 mm part on 1200 mm stock and assigns no final separation kerf. No shortening cut is being planned.
If the board needs squaring, damaged ends removed or a separate offcut cut away, the practical setup is different. Check the real board and enter the relevant allowances.
How this calculator treats the tail: it allocates a kerf between adjacent parts. When a tail remains, it deducts up to one blade width from that tail for the final separation. An exact-fit tail is zero and gets no extra cut. This is the calculator’s planning model, not a universal prescription for every cutting method.
For comparison, two 1200 mm parts on 2403 mm stock, with 3 mm kerf and zero end allowance, fit in one calculated board: the single gap uses the extra 3 mm and no tail remains.
Try the single-part exact-fit example →A whole cut list: 10 parts, 3 suggested boards
Use 2400 mm stock, 3 mm kerf and 5 mm end allowance at both ends. The finished parts are four × 900 mm (about 35.433 in), two × 600 mm (about 23.622 in) and four × 300 mm (about 11.811 in).
| Board | Finished lengths (mm) | Remaining offcut |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 900 + 900 + 300 | 281 mm ≈ 11.063 in |
| 2 | 900 + 900 + 300 | 281 mm ≈ 11.063 in |
| 3 | 600 + 600 + 300 + 300 | 578 mm ≈ 22.756 in |
7200 = 6000 + 1140 + 60 mm
Three boards supply 7200 mm (about 283.465 in): 6000 mm of finished parts, 1140 mm remaining offcut, and 60 mm of blade/end allowances. The 60 mm comprises 30 mm reserved at board ends and 30 mm assigned to blade gaps.
This is a reproducible calculation, not a physical build or a guarantee of the smallest possible board count.
Load the 10-part example →See the calculator before entering your list
Open the dedicated video page and transcript · Print a free mm/inch cut-list worksheet
32-second silent, edited demonstration using an actual calculator screenshot and an explanatory diagram. It is not a live interaction recording or a customer build.
Read the demonstration transcript
0–8 seconds: How many boards should you buy? Start with your part lengths. See a suggested cutting plan. Free, no account needed. An actual DraftVano calculator screenshot shows example inputs.
8–16 seconds: Remember the blade gap. Two 1200 mm pieces do not fit 2400 mm stock: 1200 + 1200 + 3 = 2403 mm. One 3 mm separation kerf already exceeds 2400 mm. No end trim; diagram not to scale.
16–24 seconds: Your lengths, your stock, clear allowances. Millimetres or inches; kerf and end trim; cutting map, CSV and print. One-dimensional timber heuristic: no guaranteed minimum, 2D sheet nesting or structural verification.
24–32 seconds: Bring your cut list. Calculate each timber section separately. Check measurements and suitability before buying or cutting. Open draftvano.com/free-timber-cut-list-calculator. Edited demonstration, not live interaction or customer build.
Use your own measurements in four steps
- Group matching material. Calculate one actual timber section and one stock length at a time. The tool does not design the joints or decide whether a section is suitable.
- Enter finished lengths and quantities.
900 x 4means four 900 mm parts. For inches, choose inches and use decimals such as24.5 x 2. A 2400 mm board and an exact 8 ft board (2438.4 mm) are different lengths. - Set the actual kerf and end reserves. Inspect the stock first. The calculator does not recognise defects, grain restrictions or usable areas in a board.
- Review the suggested map. You can export CSV, print or share the plan. A share link contains the chosen measurements; anyone you give it to can read them. Check every measurement and use an appropriate safe cutting method.
Comparing stock labels? See how 2400 mm and exact 8 ft (2438.4 mm) stock change the same cut list, with calculated offcuts for both lengths.
Enter your timber cut list →The tool uses first-fit decreasing: long parts first, then the first board with room. It is a fast suggestion, not proof of a global optimum. It rejects parts longer than the usable stock instead of designing a splice. It does not nest plywood/MDF sheets or verify a structure.
Need the project design as well?
The free tool starts with a cut list you already know. DraftVano’s six project builders generate a project-specific timber frame and cut list from your selected dimensions.
Inspect a real two-page media-wall PDF example, then open its matching 2400 × 2400 × 300 mm configuration.
The sample is a fixed example. A custom website PDF is a separate purchase from EUR 9.90 for four base sheet kinds; optional M-04 guidance adds EUR 4.90 (EUR 14.80 total). Continuation pages vary with the design. These are timber framing plans; actual appliance fit, connections, anchoring and physical suitability need separate review.
Before choosing a frame: All six website frame previews and configured PDFs are subject to the layout and stock checks displayed in the builder. Sauna layouts support one or two bench tiers. Review measurements, material limits and manufacturer requirements before choosing a PDF.