Woodworking Project Planner and Lumber Calculator
Saving DIYers, carpenters, and woodworkers that second trip. Plan your lumber, plywood, and specialty wood purchases before you head to the store—so you don't overbuy, run short, or make extra trips.
Ready to start planning?
Enter your cut list, get optimized shopping lists with visual cutting diagrams, and know exactly how to cut each board or sheet.
Open the Project PlannerThree Ways to Plan Your Project
Dimensional Lumber
Pre-milled boards from hardware stores (Home Depot, Lowe's). Enter your cut lengths, and the optimizer figures out exactly which boards to buy and how to cut them with minimal waste.
- • Supports 2x4, 2x6, 2x8, 2x10, 2x12, 1x boards, 4x4, and more
- • Standard and pressure-treated lumber options
- • Board-specific available lengths (4ft to 24ft)
- • Set maximum board length for vehicle constraints
Best for: Decks, fences, pergolas, raised beds, framing, shelving
Specialty Wood (Board Feet)
Rough lumber from lumber yards, sold by the board foot. Enter your finished part dimensions, and the calculator determines how much rough lumber to purchase.
- • Cedar, pine, oak, maple, walnut, cherry, and poplar
- • Enter any thickness—fractions like 3/4" and 1-1/2" supported
- • Adjustable waste allowance (0-25%) for milling loss
- • Automatic board feet calculation from finished dimensions
Best for: Furniture, cabinetry, fine woodworking, custom projects
Sheet Goods (Plywood, OSB, CDX)
Plan cuts from full sheets. Enter panel dimensions, and the optimizer determines how many sheets to buy and shows exactly where to make each cut.
- • Plywood, CDX, structural, OSB, and pressure-treated options
- • Multiple thicknesses: 1/4", 3/8", 1/2", 5/8", 3/4", 1"
- • 4'×8', 4'×4', 2'×4', and 2'×2' sheet sizes
- • Visual cutting diagrams for each sheet
Best for: Cabinets, shelving, furniture panels, shop projects
Features
Visual Cutting Diagrams
See exactly where each cut goes on every board or sheet. Labeled pieces (A, B, C...) make it easy to follow in the shop.
Save & Manage Projects
Save your plans with custom names. Auto-save keeps your work safe. Load previous projects anytime—all stored locally in your browser.
Print Your Plans
Print your shopping list, cutting diagrams, and pieces list. Take it to the store or keep it in the shop.
Imperial & Metric
Work in feet/inches or metric (millimeters). Toggle between unit systems anytime—your preference is saved.
Copy Shopping List
One-click copy your shopping list to clipboard. Paste it into notes, messages, or your favorite to-do app.
Waste Optimization
Smart algorithms minimize waste by fitting cuts efficiently. See waste percentage for each board and overall project.
Deck Board Calculator
Planning a deck? Use our dedicated Deck Board Calculator to figure out how many deck boards you need. Enter your deck dimensions, choose your board width and available lengths, and get an instant materials list.
Common Questions
How much lumber do I need for my project?
Start by listing every piece you need with its dimensions. Enter these into the calculator, and it will tell you the minimum number of boards to purchase. The visual cutting diagrams show you exactly how to cut each board.
How do I calculate board feet?
Board feet = (Length × Width × Thickness) ÷ 144, where all measurements are in inches. One board foot equals a 12" × 12" × 1" piece of wood.
The Specialty Wood mode handles this automatically. Enter your finished part dimensions, and it calculates the rough board feet needed, including your configured waste allowance.
How much plywood do I need?
Use the Sheet Goods mode for plywood, OSB, or other sheet goods. Enter your panel dimensions, and the optimizer determines how many sheets to buy and shows visual cutting diagrams for each sheet.
What board length should I buy?
The calculator considers all available lengths for your board type and finds the combination that minimizes waste. You can set a maximum board length if you have vehicle or workspace constraints.
Is my data saved?
Yes—all your projects are stored locally in your browser. Your work auto-saves as you go, and you can save up to 10 named projects. Nothing is sent to a server.
How It Works
- Choose your material type – Dimensional lumber, specialty wood, or sheet goods
- Enter your pieces – Add each piece with dimensions and optional labels
- Get your optimized plan – See exactly what to buy and how to cut it
- Save, print, or copy – Take your plan to the store or shop
Popular DIY Projects
This calculator works for any project that uses lumber or sheet goods:
- •Deck building – joists, decking boards, railings
- •Fence construction – posts, rails, pickets
- •Raised garden beds – frame boards and corner posts
- •Cabinets & built-ins – plywood panels, face frames
- •Furniture – tables, benches, bed frames, desks
- •Shelving units – shelves, uprights, supports
- •Shop projects – workbenches, tool storage, jigs
- •Outdoor projects – pergolas, planter boxes, sheds
Start Planning Your Project
The Woodworking Project Planner is free to use. No account required. Your projects are saved locally in your browser.
Open the Calculator