🪚 Kerf Width Reference
Look up common blade kerf widths and see how much material your cuts waste — choose a blade type, enter the number of cuts, and get the total sawdust loss plus the usable stock left from your board.
🧮 Kerf Waste & Yield
What is the Kerf Width Reference?
The kerf is the width of material a blade removes on every cut. This reference lists the common table saw kerf widths — full-kerf, thin-kerf, and dado — and calculates how much wood is lost to sawdust across a number of cuts, plus the usable length remaining from a board.
Use it to lay out a cut list accurately: allow for the kerf between each part so you don't come up short, and choose a thin-kerf blade to conserve material or lighten the load on a portable saw. Kerf varies slightly by blade, so measure your own for precise work.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is a saw blade's kerf?
The kerf is the width of the slot a blade cuts — the material it removes and turns into sawdust on each pass. A full-kerf table saw blade is about ⅛ inch (0.125 inch), a thin-kerf blade about 0.091 inch, and a dado stack a quarter inch or wider.
Should I use a full-kerf or thin-kerf blade?
Thin-kerf blades remove less wood, waste less material, and load a lower-powered or portable saw less, making them a good match for contractor and jobsite saws. Full-kerf blades are stiffer and can track a touch more accurately, and suit higher-powered cabinet saws. Both cut cleanly with a quality blade.
How much wood does the kerf actually waste?
Multiply the kerf width by the number of cuts. Ten cuts with a ⅛-inch full-kerf blade removes 1.25 inches of material total; across a long rip or many crosscuts that adds up, which is why the calculator also shows the usable stock remaining from a given board length.
Why should I account for kerf when laying out a cut list?
If you butt parts end to end on a board without allowing for the kerf between them, you'll come up short — every cut consumes its kerf width. Add the kerf between each part when planning, and measure your specific blade, since kerf varies slightly by tooth grind and brand.