How to make a cut list for a woodworking project

A cut list is the list of every part in a project with its finished size, quantity and material. Get it right and the rest of the build is just cutting to the numbers.

Updated 2026-10-29

1. Start from a drawing

Sketch the project with its overall height, width and depth. A napkin sketch is fine, as long as it shows how the parts join. Joinery decides part sizes: a shelf that sits in a 1/4" dado is 1/2" longer than one held on shelf pins.

2. List every part

Work through the drawing and write one line per distinct part. For each part, record:

A short name: Side, Shelf, Door, Back.
Finished length and width. By convention, length runs with the grain.
Quantity.
Material and thickness, for example 3/4" birch plywood.
Whether the grain direction matters. Visible veneered parts usually need it; hidden parts and MDF don't.
Which edges get edge banding, if any.

3. Work out sizes from the joinery

Subtract material thickness where parts sit between others. In a 36" wide cabinet built from 3/4" plywood, a bottom that fits between the sides is 36 - 0.75 - 0.75 = 34 1/2" long. Add the depth of any dado, rabbet or groove a part sits in. Remember that 3/4" plywood is often closer to 23/32"; measure your sheets before you subtract.

4. Double-check the totals

Add up the parts and check them against the overall dimensions on your drawing. It's much cheaper to find a mistake on paper than on a sheet of walnut plywood.

5. Turn the cut list into a cutting plan

A cut list says what to cut; a cutting plan says where each part comes from on each sheet. You can lay parts out by hand on graph paper, but a cut list optimizer does it faster and usually wastes less. In Plywise, enter the parts and your sheet sizes, set your blade's kerf, and press Optimize. The free plan handles up to 20 parts per optimization.

Want a starting point? Open one of the example cut lists, such as the kitchen base cabinet, and change it to fit your project.

Plan your cuts in Plywise