What is a cut list maker?

A cut list maker is a tool that helps woodworkers and DIY enthusiasts optimize how they cut sheet materials like plywood, MDF, and lumber. It calculates the most efficient cutting layout to minimize waste and save money by arranging your required pieces on the fewest number of sheets possible.

How does the cut list optimizer work?

Our AI-powered optimizer uses advanced algorithms to arrange your cut pieces efficiently. You input your piece dimensions and sheet size, and the tool calculates optimal layouts considering kerf (blade thickness), grain direction, and cutting methods (table saw, track saw, or circular saw) to minimize material waste.

Is Cut List Maker free to use?

Yes! Cut List Maker offers a free plan with 12 cuts per day, 1 project, and basic materials. For unlimited cuts, projects, and premium features, we offer Pro plans starting at $10/month or a 3-day trial pass for $3.

What materials does Cut List Maker support?

Cut List Maker supports all common woodworking materials including plywood, MDF, particle board, OSB, hardwoods (oak, maple, walnut, cherry), pine, birch, and custom materials. Pro users get access to premium wood textures and can add custom materials.

Can I export my cut list?

Yes! You can export your optimized cut lists as PDF documents or high-resolution images (PNG/JPG). Pro users get unlimited exports with no watermarks. The exports include detailed cutting diagrams, material lists, and cutting sequences.

Does it work with both metric and imperial measurements?

Absolutely! Cut List Maker supports both imperial (inches, feet) and metric (millimeters, centimeters, meters) measurements. You can switch between units at any time and the tool will automatically convert your dimensions.

What cutting methods are supported?

Cut List Maker optimizes for three main cutting methods: track saw (parallel guide system), table saw, and circular saw. Each method has specific optimization algorithms that consider the constraints and capabilities of that tool for the most efficient cutting sequence.

Can I save my projects?

Yes! All users can save projects to the cloud. Free users can save 1 project, while Pro users can save up to 30 projects with unlimited cuts per project. Your projects sync across all your devices.

How Cut List Maker Stacks Up

We stacked the competition sheet by sheet, here's how they split.

Category	Cut List Maker	CutList Optimizer	optiCutter	Cutlist EVO
Company Location	USA 🇺🇸	China 🇨🇳	Slovakia / EU 🇪🇺	United Kingdom 🇬🇧
Unauthenticated	7 calc/day	—	—	—
Free Authenticated Tier	15 calc/day, 1 saved project, 3 saved images, 1 PDF and 1 image export/day	5 calcs/day, 5 saved items	5 stocks, 20 sizes, 500 parts	£5/mo Starter – 10 projects, 150 parts
Pro / Standard Tier	$10/mo – Unlimited cuts, projects, and exports; custom materials	$15/mo Silver – Unlimited calcs, 150 items	€9/mo Standard – 10 stocks / 100 parts	£10/mo Pro – 50 projects, 300 parts
Top Tier / Expert Plan	Single-tier: All features unlocked	$25/mo Gold – 20k items, high-speed, priority	€19/mo Pro – Unlimited, DXF export	£20/mo Expert – 100 projects, 500 parts, CNC-ready
Enterprise / API	—	—	€99/mo API (5k reqs)	£100/mo Cloud + CNC + Tracking
One-Time Pass	$5 (3 days)	$4.90 (3 days)	—	£1–£3 (12h access)
Platform Type	Web App	Web + Mobile	Web	Web
Cloud Storage
Offline Capability	Local storage	Mobile offline		Partial
Languages Supported	5 languages (EN, DE, ES+MX, JA ITA)	18 languages (EN, FR, DE, ES, CN, etc.)	8 languages	English only
Units Supported	Imperial & Metric	Imperial & Metric	Imperial & Metric	Imperial & Metric
Optimization Types	Sheet / Panel / Lumber	Sheet / Panel / Linear	Sheet / Linear	Sheet / Linear / Roll
Import Options	CSV / JSON / DXF	Manual / CSV	Manual input	Spreadsheet Import
3D Model Import	DAE / Collada
Export Options	PDF / CSV / JSON / DXF / High-Res PNG	PDF / CSV / Image	PDF / XLS / CSV / DXF	PDF / CSV / SVG / DXF / PTX
Edge Banding		Gold+ only	Basic length-only	Pro+
Cost Allocation Methods	Sheet / Cut-Parts / Waste
Show Panel Numbers
Sequential Cutting Order Guide	Circular / Track / Table saw
Cutting Method Selection	Circular / Track / Table saw
Save Projects / Items	1 (Free) / 100 (Pro)	5–20k depending on plan	Standard+	Up to 100 (Expert)
Linear / Roll Materials	Linear	Linear	Linear / Roll	Linear / Roll
Print Cut List
Print Labels			Pro+	Pro+
Watermark-Free Exports	Pro & 3-Day	Gold only	Pro+	Pro+
Custom Panel / Cut Line Colors	Pro		Pro+	Pro+
Group Identical Panels
Target Audience	Woodworkers / Makers / Hobbyists / Pro Users	DIY → Pro Users	DIY → SMB Shops	Professional / Industrial
Need Account?	Optional (extra features when signed in)	Optional (save projects)	Required	Required
Brand Differentiator	"Made in USA by a woodworker for woodworkers."	"Made in China + mobile apps"	"Freemium optimizer with API"	"CNC-ready cloud optimizer"
Website	cutlistmaker.com	cutlistoptimizer.com	opticutter.com	cutlistevo.com

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