Turn linear metres into a timber cut list

Linear metres describe total material length. A cut list describes the pieces you must actually obtain. Use both when buying timber, because leftover pieces are useful only if their lengths suit the remaining cuts.

Test a simple stock choice

You need three pieces, each 2.1 m long: 6.3 linear metres overall. Dividing by a 3.6 m stock length gives 1.75 and might suggest two lengths. But each 3.6 m length yields only one 2.1 m piece, so three stock lengths are needed. The total-length shortcut misses the cutting constraint.

Record allowances at the cut

Saw kerf, trimming and defects consume length. A board that exactly equals two required cuts may not provide both once the blade width is included. Use actual finished cut lengths and a realistic cutting plan instead of treating every offcut as reusable.

Keep timber volume separate

Ten pieces with an illustrative section of 90 × 45 mm and length 2.4 m total 10 × 0.09 × 0.045 × 2.4 = 0.0972 m³. This volume is useful for quantity comparison, but it does not establish an available nominal stock size, structural grade or suitable member size.

Prepare the purchase list

Group only matching sections, grades and treatments. Note the required piece count and preferred stock lengths, then ask the supplier to confirm availability. Keep plates, cladding, blocking and trim separate where their dimensions or specifications differ.

Found a measurement or calculation issue? Send the example and your correction.