What is a cut list, and how do you use one at the store?

By the lumbermade team, October 8, 2026

A cut list is every piece of wood a project needs, with its exact length, width and thickness. A cut plan shows where each piece comes from on a full sheet or board so you buy as little material as possible.

Reading a cut list

Each line has a part label, a name, the size and how many you need. Sizes are written length by width by thickness. For example, B, Shelf, 22 3/16 × 11 13/16 × 3/4 in, 2 means two shelves, each 22 3/16 inches long and 11 13/16 inches wide, cut from 3/4 inch material.

Reading a cut plan

A cut plan draws a standard sheet, usually 4 by 8 feet, with every part laid out on it. Parts sit in strips so you can rip the sheet lengthwise first and then cut each strip to length. The small gaps between parts are the saw kerf, the wood a blade turns to dust, which is about 1/8 inch.

Getting it cut at the store

1. Bring the cut plan on your phone or printed out.
2. Pick your sheets, then take them to the lumber desk or panel saw.
3. Ask for the long rip cuts first, following the strips on the plan. Panel saws make straight, square cuts quickly.
4. Check the first piece with a tape measure before they cut the rest.

Many stores will make a few straight cuts for you, sometimes for a small fee, but they won't do fine or angled cuts. Cuts from a panel saw can be a little rough, so plan to sand the edges.

Tips

• Keep the grain running the long way on visible parts like sides and shelves.
• Label each piece with its letter in pencil as soon as it's cut.
• Buy one extra board or a spare sheet for big projects. Mistakes happen.

lumbermade creates the cut list and the cut plan for every design automatically, with the kerf already included.