Free Cut List Software for Cabinet Makers and Woodworkers

Cut list software ranges from free web calculators to €2,000/year professional optimizers. For most cabinet makers and serious hobbyists, the sweet spot is a web tool that optimizes layouts, prints a clean cut report and exports DXF for CNC — without CAD overhead.

Features that actually matter

• Layout optimization with kerf — non-negotiable. Anything that only "fits parts into a grid" without kerf produces wrong-sized parts.
• Trim and grain direction — mandatory for veneered boards and visible faces.
• Printable PDF cut report with labels — the paper on the shop floor is what gets followed.
• DXF export — if you run a CNC, importing the nesting directly into VCarve, Fusion 360 or LightBurn saves an hour per project.
• Offcut inventory — saves money over multiple jobs, not just one.
• Units and languages — mm/cm/inches, and an interface your subcontractor can read.

Where free tools stop and paid tiers start

Most free calculators (including ours) limit project count and parts per project — enough for one-off jobs and weekends. Paid tiers add unlimited parts, saved project libraries, PDF cut reports and CNC exports. Material Optimiser Pro prices its Pro tier at USD 5/month, which is the low end of the market by design: the tool should cost less than the first sheet of plywood it saves.

Try before you commit

Run your current project through the free calculator first. If the layout and waste percentage look right, the paid features are an upgrade, not a gamble.