Offcut Planner · Field guide
Check Whether One Part Fits an Offcut
A fit check answers a narrow question: can one rectangular part be cut from the clean rectangular envelope of a recorded offcut? It does not calculate an entire sheet layout or promise that the remainder will have a useful shape.
By WoodCutTool editorial team · Updated 2026-09-27Prepare the part
Enter the finished length and width from the approved cut list. Select the same material and measured thickness as the stored piece. If the part has a visible grain or face direction, turn on the grain requirement and enter length along that direction. That setting prevents a 90-degree rotation during matching.
Reserve cutting space
The checker adds twice the edge-trim allowance plus one kerf to each part axis. This is intentionally conservative: the blank must be larger than the finished part even when a clean stock edge might save one cut. Use a trim allowance that covers rough edges or squaring; use the kerf of the actual blade. Do not enter zero simply to make a piece appear to fit if cleanup cuts are planned.
Read the candidates
Candidates are ranked by the area remaining after the reserved blank, smallest first. Ranking is a starting point for conserving large stock, not a cut sequence. The displayed remaining area is arithmetic only. A long narrow strip and a compact rectangle with the same area can have very different reuse value. If the displayed orientation says rotated, verify that no grain, face, pattern, or hardware constraint blocks rotation.
Verify at the saw
Place the real part outline and allowance on the offcut. Check defects, clamps, saw support, safe handling, grain, and the order of cuts. Stop when the blank crosses a defect or when support would be unsafe. Replan with a larger piece or a new sheet instead of forcing a tight match.