What is a good waste percentage for woodworking?

Professional woodworkers typically achieve 10-20% waste for solid timber projects and under 15% for sheet goods. Hobbyists might see 20-30% waste. Very complex projects with curved cuts or many angled pieces can produce 30-40% waste. Keeping offcuts organised helps reduce waste over time.

How can I reduce waste in my workshop?

Plan cuts carefully using a cut list and layout drawing before starting. Cut longest pieces first and use offcuts for smaller parts. Save good offcuts for future projects. Consider adjusting design dimensions to work with standard timber sizes. Use the cut list optimiser for linear cuts.

Should I budget for waste in my material costs?

Yes, always add 10-15% to your calculated material needs for waste. For complex projects or if you are less experienced, add 20%. This calculator helps you understand the true cost per usable unit of material after waste is accounted for.

What can I do with wood waste?

Small offcuts make excellent kindling, wedges, or shims. Medium offcuts can become drawer organiser parts, small boxes, or test pieces. Sawdust can be mixed with glue for wood filler. Larger offcuts should be stored for future projects. Only truly unusable scraps should go to waste.

WoodCalcs

Material Waste Calculator — Efficiency & Cost of Waste

Calculate waste percentages and material efficiency for woodworking projects.

Material Purchased

Total amount purchased (m, m², sheets, etc.)

Material Used

Amount actually used in the project

Cost per Unit (optional)

Price per unit of material

How We Calculate This

This calculator measures material efficiency by comparing the amount purchased to the amount actually used in your project.

Formulas

Waste = Material purchased - Material used

Waste % = (Waste / Purchased) x 100

Efficiency = 100 - Waste %

Effective cost per unit = Total cost / Usable material

Units can be metres, square metres, board feet, or sheets - the formula works the same regardless of the unit of measure.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates. Always verify measurements and material quantities before cutting or purchasing.