Plan your cuts so you waste less tube.
⚙️Calculation Parameters
📊Calculated Output
How Sonotube Cutting Planner Works?
To plan cuts, the Sonotube Cutting Planner fits each pier length into stock tubes with the least leftover, using a longest-first packing rule. The process takes 4 steps.
Enter the cut list
Type every pier length for one diameter, such as 54 in, 48 in and 42 in.
Pick stock length
Choose 10 ft (3.05 m) or 12 ft (3.66 m) forms, or a custom length.
Set saw loss
Enter the kerf, about 1/8 in (3 mm) per cut, and any trim at damaged ends.
Read the plan
The planner lists each tube, the cuts from it and the offcut left.
Sonotube Cutting Planner Formula
The Sonotube Cutting Planner uses first-fit decreasing (FFD) packing.
Sort
Cuts sorted from longest to shortestLong cuts placed first leave fewer gaps.
Place
Put each cut in the first tube with room ≥ cut + kerfOpen a new tube, if none fits.
Waste
W = Σ (stock − Σ cuts in tube)Total offcut length.
Worked example: 10 cuts from 12 ft (144 in) stock
- Cuts: 3 × 54 in, 2 × 48 in, 3 × 42 in, 2 × 36 in = 456 in total
- FFD plan uses 4 tubes (576 in)
- Offcut = 120 in (10.0 ft), 21% waste
Sonotube Cutting Planner Conversion Table
The cutting planner conversion table shows the first-fit plan for 10 pier cuts from 12 ft (144 in) tubes, ignoring kerf.
| Tube | Cuts | Used | Offcut |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tube 1 (12 ft) | 54 in + 54 in + 36 in | 144 in | 0 in |
| Tube 2 (12 ft) | 54 in + 48 in + 42 in | 144 in | 0 in |
| Tube 3 (12 ft) | 48 in + 42 in + 42 in | 132 in | 12 in |
| Tube 4 (12 ft) | 36 in | 36 in | 108 in |
Keep offcuts over 12 in (30 cm) for short piers or splash pads on the next job.
What is Sonotube Cutting Planner?
A Sonotube Cutting Planner is a layout tool that assigns pier cuts to purchased tube lengths so the fewest tubes are bought and the least cardboard is wasted.
Cutting tubes in the order the piers appear wastes material. A 54 in cut and a 48 in cut leave 42 in of a 12 ft tube, which fits a 42 in pier exactly. The planner finds those matches with a packing rule used in lumber and steel cutting.
The output is a cut sheet: tube 1 gets these cuts, tube 2 gets those. A crew marks and saws without measuring twice.
What are the uses of Sonotube Cutting Planner?
There are 4 main uses of the Sonotube Cutting Planner.
Cut sheets
Crews mark tubes from a printed plan.
Tube purchases
Builders buy the fewest 12 ft tubes.
Sloped sites
Installers fit many different pier lengths.
Waste reduction
Contractors cut cardboard waste on large jobs.
🔗Related Sonotube Calculators
View all 106 subtools →Sonotube Form Length Calculator
Add up the tube length you need.
Sonotube Purchase Quantity Calculator
See how many full tubes to buy.
Sonotube Offcut Calculator
See how much tube you will have left.
Sonotube Volume Calculator
Find how much concrete fills a round tube.