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What is a cut list, and why it makes or breaks your margin
A cut list turns a design into exact pieces to cut from board. Done well, it saves material and time. Here's what goes into a good one.
Ask any experienced woodworker where margin leaks, and “wasted board” is near the top. The humble cut list is your first line of defence.
What a cut list actually is
A cut list is the breakdown of a design into every panel you need to cut: dimensions, material, edge-banding, grain direction and quantity. It’s the bridge between “here’s the design” and “here’s what the saw cuts.”
Why it matters
- Material cost. Boards are expensive. An optimised cut list nests pieces to get the most out of each sheet - fewer offcuts, lower cost per unit.
- Speed. When the floor has exact sizes and quantities, there’s no measuring-from-the-drawing, no re-cuts.
- Purchasing. A good cut list rolls up into a materials requirement, so you buy the right board in the right quantity - not too much, not too little.
What separates a good cut list from a bad one
- It’s tied to the BOM. Panels, hardware and consumables come from the same bill of materials, so nothing is forgotten.
- It optimises layout. Manual cut lists rarely nest efficiently. Software can.
- It’s generated, not retyped. Re-keying dimensions by hand is where errors creep in.
In Propulsive, an approved quote generates the bill of materials and cut list automatically - so the floor cuts less board and buys smarter. Book a demo to see it on one of your pieces.