If you have ever opened a woodworking plan and felt lost staring at the cut list, you are not alone. The good news: once you understand the format, a cut list becomes the most useful page in the whole document.
What a cut list actually tells you
A cut list is simply a table of every piece you need to make, with its dimensions and quantity. It is the shopping list and the roadmap rolled into one.
Reading the columns
- Part: the name of the piece (e.g. “side panel”).
- Quantity: how many of that piece to cut.
- Dimensions: thickness × width × length, usually in that order.
- Material: the board or sheet good it comes from.
Cut smart, waste less
Group parts by the board they come from and plan your cuts before you start. A little planning at the bench saves both lumber and money. Every GreatWooden plan includes a complete, measured cut list in both imperial and metric.