Sheet Yield / Parts per Sheet Calculator
See how many rectangular parts you can get out of a stock sheet before you cut. Enter the sheet size, the part size and a kerf/spacing allowance, and this calculator lays them out in a simple grid to give the parts per sheet, the column-by-row layout, and how much of the sheet ends up as usable part versus offcut.
Enter Values
Before you rely on this: First-pass guide only. Verify safety-critical or regulated work against the relevant standards, your project requirements and a qualified professional.
How to use this calculator
- Enter the stock sheet length and width in millimetres (for example 2400 × 1200 for a standard sheet).
- Enter the part length and width in millimetres for the rectangle you are cutting.
- Optionally enter a kerf/spacing in millimetres to leave a gap for the cut width and part separation, then read off the parts per sheet, grid and utilisation.
How it works
The number of columns is the whole number of parts that fit along the sheet length, floor((sheet length + kerf) ÷ (part length + kerf)); rows are the same calculation across the width. Parts per sheet is columns multiplied by rows. Adding the kerf to both the numerator and denominator accounts for a gap between every part as well as at the edges. Material utilisation is the total area of all the parts as a percentage of the sheet area, and the leftover percentage is the offcut or waste. Everything is laid out in a single fixed orientation with no rotation.
Worked example
Worked example. On a 2400 × 1200 mm sheet cutting 300 × 200 mm parts with a 5 mm kerf: columns = floor(2405 ÷ 305) = 7, rows = floor(1205 ÷ 205) = 5, so 7 × 5 = 35 parts. Those parts cover 35 × 60,000 = 2,100,000 mm² of a 2,880,000 mm² sheet, giving 72.92% utilisation and 27.08% waste.
Common mistakes
- Setting the kerf to zero when the process removes material — laser, plasma and router cuts have a real kerf width, and parts also need a small gap, so ignoring it overestimates the yield.
- Forgetting to try the part rotated 90° — swapping the part length and width can give a completely different (often higher) count on the same sheet.
- Treating this grid result as the maximum — professional nesting software interlocks and rotates parts to fit more, so real yield can beat this figure.
Frequently asked questions
Does this rotate parts to fit more on the sheet?
No. It uses a single fixed orientation grid, so it is a deliberately conservative baseline. To test the other orientation, simply swap the part length and width and compare the two results. Dedicated nesting software goes further, rotating and interlocking irregular shapes to squeeze in more parts than a plain grid allows.
What should I use for the kerf value?
Use the cut width of your process plus any gap you want between parts. Fibre lasers and routers have a small kerf of a fraction of a millimetre to a couple of millimetres; plasma is wider. Adding a millimetre or two of extra spacing on top helps with part handling and heat, at the cost of slightly fewer parts per sheet.
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Tip: Enter any known values to calculate the remaining results.
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