Free tools for makers & DIY
A cut-list optimizer for least-waste cutting layouts, and material calculators for how much to buy. All free, in your browser — no signup, nothing uploaded.
No signup. No watermark. Nothing leaves your browser.
The tools
Cut list optimizer
Least-waste cutting layouts for sheet goods, boards and tube — guillotine or CNC free-nesting, kerf, grain, DXF in & out.
Gravel calculator
Cubic yards, tons and bags for a driveway, path or drainage layer.
Concrete calculator
Cubic yards for ready-mix or the number of bags for a slab or footing.
Mulch calculator
How many yards and bags of mulch for your garden beds.
All calculators →
Gravel, concrete, mulch, sand, topsoil, stone and more.
How the cut list optimizer works
- Enter your stock The sheet or board sizes you can buy — 2440×1220 plywood, a 20-ft length of tube, whatever you use. Add a price to see material cost.
- List your parts The pieces you need, with quantities. Mark any part non-rotatable to respect grain.
- Set your kerf Your blade width, so every cut is accounted for.
- Optimize Get the fewest sheets, a diagram for each, waste %, and a cut list — print it and head to the saw.
Frequently asked questions
Is Board Beaver free?
Yes — completely free, with no account and no watermark. It's ad-supported. Optimize as many cut lists as you like and print the layouts.
Does my cut list get uploaded anywhere?
No. The optimizer runs entirely in your browser — your sizes never leave the page and nothing is stored on a server.
Does it account for the saw blade kerf?
Yes. You enter your kerf (blade width) and it's subtracted at every cut, so the layout reflects the material each cut actually removes.
Can it handle grain direction?
Yes. Turn off rotation for a part (or globally) to lock its grain direction; leave it on to let the optimizer rotate parts 90° for a tighter fit.
What materials does it work for?
Any sheet or linear stock cut with straight edge-to-edge (guillotine) cuts — plywood, MDF, melamine, sheet metal, acrylic, glass, and boards or tube by length.