Saw kerf is the width of material removed by the saw blade during a cut. It equals the width of the blade teeth (the set). A standard table saw blade has about 3mm kerf, while a band saw blade may have only 0.6–1mm kerf.

How much material do I lose per cut?

You lose exactly one kerf width per cut. With a standard 3mm kerf blade, ten cuts from a board wastes 30mm to sawdust. Over many cuts from expensive hardwood, this adds up significantly.

Should I use thin kerf blades?

Thin kerf blades (2.0–2.5mm) waste less material and require less motor power, but may deflect more in thick hardwood. They are excellent for ripping thin stock and for underpowered saws. Standard kerf blades are more rigid and produce cleaner cuts in thick stock.

Why does kerf matter for cut lists?

When planning cuts from a board, you must account for kerf between each piece. If you need five 200mm pieces from a 1000mm board with 3mm kerf, you actually need 5×200 + 4×3 = 1012mm. Forgetting kerf means your last piece will be too short.

WoodCalcs

Saw Kerf Calculator — Material Loss from Cuts

Calculate how much material is lost to saw blade kerf when making multiple cuts from a single board.

Board Length

Length of each board

Blade Kerf WidthSelect the blade kerf width for your calculation

Number of Cuts

Leave blank if entering piece width

Desired Piece Width (optional)

Calculates max pieces that fit

How We Calculate This

This calculator determines material loss from saw kerf when making multiple cuts.

From number of cuts

Total kerf loss = Number of cuts × Kerf width

Usable length = Board length − Total kerf loss

From desired piece width

Max pieces = floor((Board length + Kerf) ÷ (Piece width + Kerf))

The formula accounts for the fact that the last piece does not need a cut after it. Each cut between pieces consumes one kerf width of material.

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.