2500 × 1250 mm board cutting optimiser
2500 × 1250 mm is one of the most common board sizes in continental Europe, used for birch and poplar plywood, MDF, HPL and many composite panels. It covers 3.125 m² — about 5% more than a 2440 × 1220 board.
Parts
| Label | Length mm | Width mm | Qty | Grain | Remove |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stock sheets
| Name | Length mm | Width mm | Qty | Grain | Price | Remove |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 sheets, 51.5% waste, 11 of 11 parts placed.
You need: 2 × 2500×1250 sheet (2500 mm × 1250 mm)
Cut sequence (14 cuts)
- Crosscut 700 mm from the 2500 mm × 1250 mm piece
- Rip 764 mm from the 700 mm × 1250 mm piece
- Crosscut 500 mm from the 700 mm × 483 mm piece
- Rip 150 mm from the 500 mm × 483 mm piece
- Rip 150 mm from the 500 mm × 330 mm piece
- Rip 150 mm from the 500 mm × 177 mm piece
- Crosscut 764 mm from the 1797 mm × 1250 mm piece
- Rip 540 mm from the 764 mm × 1250 mm piece
- Rip 540 mm from the 764 mm × 707 mm piece
- Crosscut 500 mm from the 764 mm × 164 mm piece
- Rip 150 mm from the 500 mm × 164 mm piece
- Crosscut 720 mm from the 1030 mm × 1250 mm piece
- Rip 560 mm from the 720 mm × 1250 mm piece
- Rip 560 mm from the 720 mm × 687 mm piece
Every cut goes straight through the piece. Distances are measured from the top or left edge of the piece as drawn; the kerf is on the waste side of each line.
Reusable offcuts (4)
- 307 mm × 1250 mm
- 197 mm × 483 mm
- 720 mm × 124 mm
- 261 mm × 164 mm
Cut sequence (3 cuts)
- Crosscut 715 mm from the 2500 mm × 1250 mm piece
- Rip 397 mm from the 715 mm × 1250 mm piece
- Rip 397 mm from the 715 mm × 850 mm piece
Every cut goes straight through the piece. Distances are measured from the top or left edge of the piece as drawn; the kerf is on the waste side of each line.
Reusable offcuts (2)
- 1782 mm × 1250 mm
- 715 mm × 450 mm
2500 × 1250 mm sheet at a glance
| Size | 2500 × 1250 mm |
|---|---|
| Also written | 98.4 × 49.2 in |
| Area | 3.13 m² (33.6 sq ft) |
| Kerf used below | 3 mm |
The extra 60 mm in length and 30 mm in width are enough to fit a fourth 300 mm shelf strip with kerf to spare, or a full 2400 mm part plus trim. If you are converting a plan drawn for 2440 × 1220 boards, run both sizes in the optimizer to see whether the bigger board saves a sheet.
European birch plywood is usually sold with the face grain along the 2500 mm length, but some suppliers stock "cross grain" boards with grain along the short side for door and panel work. Set Grain on the stock row to match your board, and tick Grain on parts that must follow it.
Edge trim is worth setting on factory boards: 5–10 mm per edge removes bumped corners and gives you a clean reference edge. The optimizer subtracts the trim before placing parts.
How many strips fit on a 2500×1250 sheet?
Full-length rips across the 1250 mm width, and crosscut strips across the 2500 mm length, with a 3 mm kerf.
| Strip width | Rips | Left over | Crosscut strips |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 mm | 37 | 32 mm | 75 |
| 40 mm | 29 | 6 mm | 58 |
| 50 mm | 23 | 34 mm | 47 |
| 60 mm | 19 | 56 mm | 39 |
| 75 mm | 16 | 5 mm | 32 |
| 89 mm | 13 | 57 mm | 27 |
| 100 mm | 12 | 17 mm | 24 |
| 120 mm | 10 | 23 mm | 20 |
| 140 mm | 8 | 109 mm | 17 |
| 150 mm | 8 | 29 mm | 16 |
| 200 mm | 6 | 35 mm | 12 |
| 250 mm | 4 | 241 mm | 9 |
| 286 mm | 4 | 97 mm | 8 |
| 300 mm | 4 | 41 mm | 8 |
| 400 mm | 3 | 44 mm | 6 |
| 500 mm | 2 | 247 mm | 4 |
| 560 mm | 2 | 127 mm | 4 |
| 600 mm | 2 | 47 mm | 4 |
How many parts fit on one sheet?
Calculated with the optimizer for a single sheet, 3 mm kerf and straight through-cuts. "Grain locked" keeps the part length along the sheet length; "rotation allowed" applies to MDF, melamine and hidden parts.
| Part | Size | Grain locked | Rotation allowed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base cabinet side | 720 mm × 560 mm | 6 | 6 |
| Wall cabinet side | 720 mm × 300 mm | 12 | 13 |
| Shelf | 800 mm × 300 mm | 12 | 12 |
| Cabinet door | 715 mm × 397 mm | 9 | 9 |
| Drawer side | 500 mm × 150 mm | 32 | 38 |
| 600 × 600 panel | 600 mm × 600 mm | 8 | 8 |
| 300 × 300 square | 300 mm × 300 mm | 32 | 32 |
Typical uses
- Furniture and cabinet carcasses
- Interior doors and wall panels
- Vehicle and van fit-outs
- Exhibition and shop fitting
Not sure how many sheets to buy? Get a quick estimate with the plywood calculator, then confirm it above. Read plywood sizes and thicknesses for the real dimensions of each panel.
FAQ
What are the dimensions of a 2500×1250 sheet?
2500 × 1250 mm (98.4 × 49.2 in), an area of 3.13 m² (33.6 sq ft).
How many 300 mm strips can I rip from a 2500×1250 sheet?
4 full-length strips with a 3 mm kerf. The last strip needs no cut, and the leftover is 41 mm.
How many base cabinet side fit on one 2500×1250 sheet?
6 with the grain locked, or 6 if the parts may rotate (720 mm × 560 mm parts, 3 mm kerf, straight through-cuts).
Which way does the grain run on a 2500×1250 sheet?
On veneered plywood the face grain normally runs along the 2500 mm length.