5×5 Baltic birch cut list optimizer
Baltic birch plywood is usually sold in 5×5 foot sheets — nominally 60 × 60 inches, made as 1525 × 1525 mm. It is the favorite sheet for drawer boxes, jigs, cabinets and laser or CNC work because of its void-free birch core.
Parts
| Label | Length in | Width in | Qty | Grain | Remove |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stock sheets
| Name | Length in | Width in | Qty | Grain | Price | Remove |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 sheet, 22.6% waste, 10 of 10 parts placed.
You need: 1 × 5x5 sheet (60″ × 60″)
Cut sequence (14 cuts)
- Crosscut 30″ from the 60″ × 60″ piece
- Rip 22 1/2″ from the 30″ × 60″ piece
- Rip 11 1/4″ from the 30″ × 37 3/8″ piece
- Rip 11 1/4″ from the 30″ × 26″ piece
- Crosscut 24″ from the 29 7/8″ × 60″ piece
- Rip 12″ from the 24″ × 60″ piece
- Crosscut 22 1/2″ from the 24″ × 47 7/8″ piece
- Rip 11 1/4″ from the 22 1/2″ × 47 7/8″ piece
- Rip 11 1/4″ from the 22 1/2″ × 36 1/2″ piece
- Rip 11 1/4″ from the 22 1/2″ × 25 1/8″ piece
- Rip 11 1/4″ from the 22 1/2″ × 13 3/4″ piece
- Crosscut 3″ from the 5 3/4″ × 60″ piece
- Rip 22 1/2″ from the 3″ × 60″ piece
- Rip 22 1/2″ from the 3″ × 37 3/8″ 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 (1)
- 30″ × 14 5/8″
5×5 sheet at a glance
| Size | 60 × 60 in |
|---|---|
| Also written | 1525 × 1525 mm |
| Area | 25 sq ft (2.32 m²) |
| Kerf used below | 1/8″ |
A square sheet is easy to misread: the face grain runs in one direction only, and both edges are the same length. Before you cut, mark the grain direction on the sheet and on every part that will be visible, then tick Grain on those parts in the optimizer. The diagram shows the grain along the horizontal edge.
A 5×5 sheet holds 25 square feet, about 78% of a 4×8. It is very efficient for parts around 14, 19 or 29 inches, because three, four or two of them fit across 60 inches with kerf to spare. Compare the strip table below with the 4×8 page before deciding which sheet to buy for a project.
Real Baltic birch is measured in millimeters: 1525 mm is 60.04 inches, and 18 mm "3/4" is 0.709 inches thick. If your project uses dados or rabbets, cut them to the measured thickness, not the nominal one.
How many strips fit on a 5x5 sheet?
Full-length rips across the 60″ width, with a 1/8″ kerf.
| Strip width | Rips | Left over |
|---|---|---|
| 1 1/2″ | 37 | 0″ |
| 2″ | 28 | 5/8″ |
| 3″ | 19 | 3/4″ |
| 3 1/2″ | 16 | 2 1/8″ |
| 4″ | 14 | 2 3/8″ |
| 5 1/2″ | 10 | 3 7/8″ |
| 6″ | 9 | 5″ |
| 7 1/4″ | 8 | 1 1/8″ |
| 8″ | 7 | 3 1/4″ |
| 9 1/4″ | 6 | 3 7/8″ |
| 10″ | 5 | 9 1/2″ |
| 11 1/4″ | 5 | 3 1/4″ |
| 12″ | 4 | 11 5/8″ |
| 14″ | 4 | 3 5/8″ |
| 15 3/4″ | 3 | 12 1/2″ |
| 16″ | 3 | 11 3/4″ |
| 18″ | 3 | 5 3/4″ |
| 23 3/4″ | 2 | 12 3/8″ |
| 24″ | 2 | 11 7/8″ |
How many parts fit on one sheet?
Calculated with the optimizer for a single sheet, 1/8″ 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 | 34 1/2″ × 23 1/4″ | 2 | 3 |
| Wall cabinet side | 30″ × 11 1/4″ | 5 | 7 |
| Bookcase shelf | 34 1/2″ × 11 1/4″ | 5 | 7 |
| Cabinet door | 30″ × 15″ | 3 | 4 |
| Drawer side | 22″ × 6″ | 18 | 22 |
| 24 × 24 panel | 24″ × 24″ | 4 | 4 |
| 12 × 12 square | 12″ × 12″ | 16 | 16 |
Typical uses
- Drawer boxes and dovetailed casework
- Shop jigs, sleds and fixtures
- Speaker boxes and cases
- Laser and CNC projects
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 5x5 sheet?
60 × 60 inches (1525 × 1525 mm), an area of 25 sq ft (2.32 m²).
How many 12″ strips can I rip from a 5x5 sheet?
4 full-length strips with a 1/8″ kerf. The last strip needs no cut, and the leftover is 11 5/8″.
How many base cabinet side fit on one 5x5 sheet?
2 with the grain locked, or 3 if the parts may rotate (34 1/2″ × 23 1/4″ parts, 1/8″ kerf, straight through-cuts).
Which way does the grain run on a 5x5 sheet?
On a square sheet the face grain runs along one edge only — check the sheet and mark an arrow before cutting.