1D cutting calculator: how many bars
A parts list, the stock length and the saw kerf give the number of bars to buy. The cutting plan comes with the waste in percent.
Your figures
Result
The figures changed. Press “Calculate again” to see the new result.
Building material catalogue — 39 materials in the catalogue
How we calculate it
What you enter
- Stock length (mm)
- Saw kerf (mm)
- Pieces: length×qty (mm)
What to watch out for
The saw kerf is subtracted at every cut after the first one in a bar, not at the first. First-fit decreasing gives a good, but not always optimal, cutting plan.
Formula
1. Expand the list into individual pieces and sort them longest first.
2. Each piece goes into the first bar it fits in:
used + (bar not empty → Saw kerf) + piece ≤ Stock length
3. When it fits in none of them, a new bar is opened.
actual waste = (Stock length × bars − Σ pieces) ÷ (Stock length × bars) × 100%The site's engine is a 1:1 port of the Android app's code.
Frequently asked questions
How many bars do you need for a parts list?
The calculator sorts the parts longest first and puts each into the first bar it fits. The number of bars opened is what you buy, and the plan shows which part comes out of which bar.
Is the saw kerf included?
Yes. The kerf is taken off at every cut after the first one in a bar. The first part starts at the end of the stock, so it costs none.
Other calculators
Guides that use this calculator
The same formula in the app LiczMat for Android uses the same engine offline — with the material catalogue and results saved into a project. Download