Saw blade kerf explained
What kerf is, why it matters for cutting lists, and the typical kerf width of panel saws, track saws, table saws and jigsaws.
Kerf is the width of material that the saw blade removes on every cut. A cutting list optimizer needs to know the kerf so it can leave the right gap between parts — otherwise every cut you make shortens the next part by a few millimetres.
Typical kerf values
- Industrial panel saw: 3.2 – 4.4 mm
- Sliding table saw: 3.0 – 3.5 mm
- Track saw (Festool, Mafell): 2.2 – 2.5 mm
- Cabinet table saw, full-kerf blade: 3.0 – 3.2 mm
- Table saw, thin-kerf blade: 2.0 – 2.4 mm
- Mitre saw: 2.0 – 3.0 mm
- Jigsaw / band saw: 0.8 – 1.5 mm
- CNC router (6 mm bit): 6 mm
Why 3 mm is our default
OptimalLayout defaults to 3 mm because it matches the panel and table saws most cabinet shops use. If you cut with a track saw or a thin-kerf blade, change the kerf in the optimizer to get a tighter packing and a little extra yield from each sheet.
Don't forget the first cut
The very first cut on a fresh sheet also removes kerf material. OptimalLayout accounts for this in the layout, so you can measure and cut directly from the diagram without subtracting anything by hand.