Kerf planningStock lengthFewer surprises
Crosscut Loss Calculator
Predict kerf and crosscut waste to plan material more accurately. Buy the right length, keep offcuts useful, and stop donating lumber to the scrap bin.
Crosscut sanity check
- Cuts consume kerf. More parts = more kerf loss.
- Add trim allowance for squaring ends and final sneak-up cuts.
- Offcuts are only “waste” if they’re too short for your next project.
Tip: If your stock comes in 8ft/10ft/12ft, round up and keep a small buffer.
Crosscut Loss Calculator
Enter values to compute crosscut loss.
How to use
- Enter stock length (or starting material length).
- Input number of crosscuts and kerf width (your blade’s cut thickness).
- Add any trim allowance for squaring ends and final sizing.
- Review total loss and remaining usable length.
Pro tips
- • Thin-kerf blades save material on high-part-count jobs.
- • Batch cuts when possible: fewer “just one more” trims = fewer kerf bites.
- • Track a minimum offcut length you consider “keepable” for future builds.
FAQs
Do I count the first cut as kerf?
Yes. Every time the blade passes through the material, you lose one kerf width. If you’re breaking down long stock into many parts, kerf adds up fast.
Why am I always short even when math looks right?
Usually it’s trim allowance: squaring ends, cleaning checks, or “sneak-up” cuts. Build in a buffer and measure actual kerf for your blade.