EZNESTING
Open optimizer

The Cut List & Nesting Optimizer for Any Material

Optimize cutting layouts for any material — sheet and linear. Plywood, metal, glass, acrylic, plastic, pipe and extrusion. Import from CSV or Excel, account for kerf and grain, and export professional reports. Minimize material waste on every project.

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FOR PROFESSIONALS & HOBBYISTS

Maximize Material Usage, Minimize Waste

Everything you need to optimize sheet goods and linear materials. Import, optimize, export.

Grain Direction

Lock grain on the parts that show and let the rest rotate. Per-part control, so doors and sides match.

Kerf & Edge Trim

Set your blade width and the factory edge you trim off. Every placement accounts for both, so parts come out full size.

Fractions & Imperial Units

Type 23 1/4" the way it is on your drawing, or work in millimetres. Inches, feet, mm, cm and metres, mixed in one job.

CSV & Excel Import

Paste or upload the cut list you already have. Column mapping picks out length, width, quantity, label and edge banding.

Shop Traveler PDF

A printable job: sheets to pull, one page per cutting pattern with rip-then-crosscut order, and a parts checklist.

DXF Export for CNC

Send nested sheets to your CNC or panel saw software as R12 DXF, with presets for router and saw workflows.

See All Features

HOW IT WORKS

Optimize Your Cuts in 3 Steps

1

Enter Your Pieces

Add your required pieces with dimensions, quantities, and edge banding. Or import from a CSV or Excel file.

2

Run Optimization

Click optimize and the algorithm arranges your pieces on your stock sheets to minimize waste. Choose guillotine or efficiency mode.

3

Export & Cut

Review the color-coded cutting diagrams, check your statistics, and export to CSV, Excel, or print the layout for your shop.

Free tools

Got a DXF from a designer? Check it for CNC problems (open outlines, gaps, splines) before you cut. No account needed. More in shop utilities and cut calculators.

User testimonials

Stories of EZNESTING’s impact

Tracked plywood on a clipboard for years. Now the app does the math when I close out a project. Probably saved me a few duplicate orders.

M
Mike R.
Cabinet Fabricator

The free tier works for my weekend builds. Diagrams print clean for the garage wall. That's about all I need.

S
Sarah K.
Hobbyist Woodworker

Hit optimize, print the PDF, take it to the saw. Cleaner than the layouts I used to sketch by hand.

D
David T.
Furniture Maker

Mostly use the linear mode for lumber and trim. It picks which boards to cut from so I'm not wasting a full 12-footer on a couple short pieces.

J
James W.
General Contractor

Run a small sign shop. Tracking offcuts keeps me from cutting up a fresh sheet when I had a scrap that would've worked.

E
Emily R.
Sign Shop Owner

Branded quote PDFs were the tipping point. Sending clients something with my logo instead of a hand-typed estimate. Way more polished than what I was sending.

T
Tom B.
Custom Millwork

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about EZNESTING and cut list optimization.

What is a cut list optimizer?
A cut list optimizer is software that takes a list of pieces you need to cut and automatically arranges them on your available material — sheets (plywood, sheet metal, glass, acrylic, MDF, and more) or linear stock (pipe, bar, extrusion, lumber) — to minimize waste. Instead of manually figuring out the best layout, the optimizer uses bin packing algorithms to find an efficient arrangement that uses fewer sheets or stock lengths and wastes less material. EZNESTING is a free online cut list optimizer that runs in your browser with no download required.
Is EZNESTING really free?
Yes, for small jobs. The free plan gives you unlimited optimizations, up to 5 part sizes and 3 stock sizes per job, and every optimizer feature: kerf and trim, grain direction, edge banding, CSV/Excel/DXF import, and PDF, CSV, Excel and DXF export. You don't need an account or a card to try it. Pro ($7.99/month or $79.99/year) removes the size limits and adds printable part labels, share links, inventory tracking, branded quotes, and the AI cut list generator.
What materials can I optimize with EZNESTING?
EZNESTING optimizes cuts for any rectangular sheet material including plywood, MDF, particle board, melamine, acrylic, sheet metal, glass, cardboard, and foam board. It also supports linear material optimization for lumber, trim, molding, and any one-dimensional stock. You can set custom sheet dimensions, quantities, and trim allowances for any material type.
Do I need to create an account to use EZNESTING?
No. You can start optimizing immediately with no signup, no download, and no credit card. Just enter your sheets and pieces and click optimize. Creating a free account is optional and gives you access to cloud project sync so your work is saved across devices.
What file formats does EZNESTING support for import and export?
EZNESTING supports CSV import and export as well as Excel (.xlsx) import and export. CSV import includes smart column mapping that auto-detects length, width, quantity, label, and edge banding columns. It handles fractional inches (like 24 1/2) and metric values. CSV export offers five formats: simple cut list, CNC coordinates, detailed report, shopping list, and manufacturing spec. Excel export generates a professional multi-sheet workbook with summary, cut list, sheet breakdown, leftovers, and shopping list tabs.
How accurate is the nesting optimization?
EZNESTING accounts for blade kerf width (the material lost per saw cut), edge trim allowances on each side of the sheet, and piece rotation constraints. You configure your exact kerf width and trim settings, and the optimizer factors these into every placement calculation. The visual cutting diagrams show precise dimensions and positions so you can verify the layout before making any cuts.
Can EZNESTING handle edge banding and kerf width?
Yes. EZNESTING supports per-piece edge banding tracking using L1, L2, W1, W2 notation to specify which of the four edges need banding. It calculates total edge tape length needed and displays banding indicators on the cutting diagrams. Kerf width (blade thickness) is configurable in both inches and millimeters, and the optimizer accounts for kerf in every cut placement.
How does EZNESTING compare to other cut list optimizers?
EZNESTING's free plan is one of the most feature-complete available. It includes CSV and Excel import and export, edge banding tracking, grain direction control, guillotine and efficiency cutting modes, linear material optimization, and professional visual diagrams. Many competing tools charge for features that EZNESTING includes on its free plan, and EZNESTING runs entirely in the browser with no software to install.
Does EZNESTING handle linear (1D) cutting?
Yes. Alongside 2D sheet and panel nesting, EZNESTING has a dedicated linear (1D) cutting mode for cut-to-length stock — pipe, tube, bar, extrusion, rebar, lumber, trim, and molding. It packs your required lengths into your available stock lengths, accounts for kerf, and reports leftover offcuts. Sheet and linear are both first-class, so you pick the mode that matches your material.
What is the best cut list optimizer for metal, pipe, or non-wood materials?
EZNESTING is material-agnostic, so it works as a general-purpose cut list optimizer for metal, glass, acrylic, plastic, foam, and more — not just wood. For sheet metal and panels it nests parts in 2D; for pipe, tube, bar, and extrusion it optimizes linear (1D) cut-to-length. It is free, runs in your browser with no install, and handles both metric and imperial units.

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Stop wasting material. Start optimizing today — free, no signup required.

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