How to use CutTool
Enter the profiles you need to cut in the format quantity × width × length (e.g. 4 × 35 × 240). Add each profile on a new line.
Before calculating, check your settings:
- Coil width — default 125 cm; update to match your actual coil
- Kerf (cut loss) — material lost on each cut (default 2 mm)
- Edge margin — clearance on both edges of the coil (default 2 mm each side)
Cutting methods:
- Strict — each profile length gets its own dedicated pass. Straightforward to execute on any cutting machine.
- Combined — fits shorter profiles into the remaining width of the same pass. Increases efficiency but requires guillotine cuts edge-to-edge. Verify your machine supports this before selecting.
CutTool automatically displays the pass layout, efficiency per pass, total scrap and full price breakdown. Click Print Quote to export a PDF.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Coil nesting is the process of arranging cut profiles along a metal coil to minimize material waste. Unlike shape nesting software (ProNest, SigmaNEST) for laser/plasma cutting on flat sheets, CutTool is built for guillotine-style coil cutting used by roofing contractors, facade installers and metal service centers. No CAD file required, no enterprise license, no setup.
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CutTool groups your profiles into cut passes, adds kerf loss for each cut and safety margins for both edges, then sums the total coil length required. You see the result broken down by pass, so you know exactly how much coil to order. If you know your coil dimensions, the standard formula is:
L = π × (OD² − ID²) / (4 × t) -
Strict keeps each group of profiles with the same length in its own dedicated pass — clean, predictable, safe for any machine. Combined uses the remaining coil width after placing the primary profile by fitting shorter profiles into that leftover space. Typically 5–15% less waste, but the cut plan is more complex. Run both and compare efficiency.
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Yes. CutTool is material-agnostic. The nesting algorithm works the same regardless of what's on the coil. Enter the price per linear meter for your specific material and the tool calculates cost accordingly.
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Pass efficiency is the percentage of usable coil width actually occupied by profiles in a single pass. If your coil is 125 cm wide and profiles occupy 108 cm, efficiency is 86.4%. The remaining 13.6% is scrap. Overall efficiency is the weighted average across all passes.
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No. Everything runs locally in your browser. No profile data, dimensions or prices are sent to any server. When you close or refresh the page, all inputs reset. Use the Print Quote button to save a PDF.
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Yes. CutTool is completely free to use. No registration, no trial period, no usage limits.
CutTool — Sheet Metal Coil Nesting Calculator
Plan your coil cuts in seconds. Get a print-ready quote without spreadsheets.
When cutting profiles from a steel coil, every pass through the machine has to be planned in advance — which lengths run together, how many fit across the coil width, how much total coil the job requires, and what it costs. Without a plan, you're guessing. CutTool does this calculation automatically, in your browser, for free.
What CutTool calculates
Enter your profile list — how many pieces, what width, what length. CutTool arranges them into cut passes using a shelf-packing algorithm that mirrors real guillotine cutting:
- Accounts for kerf loss and safety margins
- Groups profiles using Strict or Combined method
- Calculates the total coil length required
- Shows efficiency and scrap per pass and in total
- Adds material and service costs for a full price breakdown
Who uses CutTool
Roofing and facade contractors
Instead of working out the pass layout on paper, enter your spec and get a cut plan to hand directly to the operator.
Metal service centers and cut-to-length suppliers
Enter the client's spec, set your prices, click Print — the quote is ready.
Quantity surveyors and estimators
CutTool gives you a fast, reliable coil length estimate and cost figure before you place an order.
No account, no installation, no data retention
CutTool runs entirely in your browser. Nothing to install, nothing to register for, and nothing stored on any server.