Stop Guessing. Start Building.

Estimate material waste for your weekend project so you buy the right amount the first time. No extra store trips. No leftover pile.

Start Estimating

Project Setup

Simple (5%) Complex (35%)

Ready to Estimate

Fill in your project details and hit Calculate to see your material breakdown.

How ScrapSense Works

Enter Your Project

Pick a project type or go custom. Enter the dimensions in inches. The estimator knows standard board lengths and sheet sizes.

Waste Factor Applied

Every cut creates waste. The blade itself removes material. Boards have knots and defects. The waste factor covers these realities so you do not come up short.

Get Your Shopping List

See exactly how many boards or sheets to buy. The cut list shows each part size so you can plan your cuts before you start.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Ignoring blade width: A standard saw blade removes about 1/8 inch per cut. On a project with 10 cuts, that is over an inch of material gone.
  • Forgetting grain direction: Plywood has a face grain. If your parts need to run the long way, you may fit fewer pieces per sheet than you think.
  • Skipping the waste factor: Even simple projects need 10-15% extra for defects, miscuts, and edge trimming.
  • Buying exact quantities: Always round up. Having a little extra is better than stopping mid-project for one more board.

Example Estimates

Project Dimensions Material Boards Needed
3 Floating Shelves 36" x 10" each 1x6 Pine (8ft) 2 boards
Planter Box 24" x 12" x 12" 1x8 Oak (6ft) 2 boards
Side Table 18" x 18" x 24" 3/4" Plywood (4x8) 1 sheet
Garden Bench 48" x 12" x 18" 2x4 Pine (8ft) 5 boards

Saved Estimates

No saved estimates yet. Calculate a project and hit "Save to History" to see it here.