Ten millimetres on a panel size can halve the number of parts a sheet gives you. How nesting works on a 1220 × 2440 mm sheet, and how to write a cut list that a factory can price without guessing.
Reply within 12 hours · from 20 pieces per size
When acrylic is cut to size, you pay for the sheet the parts are cut from, not only for the parts. On a 1220 × 2440 mm (4 × 8 ft) sheet, 600 × 800 mm panels nest six to a sheet, but 610 × 810 mm panels fit only three — the same sheet, half the parts, roughly double the material cost per part. Sizing parts to divide the sheet evenly, and writing a complete cut list, are the two cheapest ways to lower a cut-to-size price.
Nesting on a 1220 × 2440 mm sheet
The table below assumes about 3 mm lost to each cut and about 5 mm trimmed from every sheet edge — typical allowances for saw and router cutting. The exact allowance depends on the cutting method and the edge you specify, and the factory should state it on the quotation.
| Panel size (mm) | Panels per sheet | Sheet used by parts |
| 300 × 400 | 24 | 97% |
| 310 × 410 | 15 | 64% |
| 400 × 600 | 12 | 97% |
| 500 × 500 | 8 | 67% |
| 600 × 800 | 6 | 97% |
| 610 × 810 | 3 | 50% |
| 1200 × 600 | 4 | 97% |
Calculated by AcrylicFabWorks for rectangular panels in both orientations on one sheet size. Mixed cut lists nest differently, and a larger 2050 × 3050 mm sheet sometimes suits a size that wastes a 4 × 8 sheet — see acrylic sheet sizes.
Three ways to make the same parts cheaper
- Ask before you fix a size. If a panel can be 600 rather than 610 mm wide, the sheet count can halve. Send the sizes you can flex on and by how much, and ask which change matters most.
- Put several sizes on one list. Small parts fill the strips left by large ones. A mixed list usually nests better than the same parts ordered separately.
- Only polish the edges that show. A panel that sits in a frame or channel can keep a saw-cut edge on the hidden sides. Specifying the finish edge by edge removes work you would otherwise pay for.
A cut list a factory can price without guessing
| Column | Example | Why it matters |
| Part reference | P-01 | Ties the quote, the label on the part and any reorder together |
| Finished size | 600 × 800 mm | Finished, not sheet size — say if any size can flex |
| Thickness | 6 mm | Metric sheet; if your drawing is in inches, say which dimension is critical |
| Quantity | 120 | Per size; production starts at 20 pieces per size |
| Grade and colour | Clear cast | Or colour reference, frosted face, or named brand |
| Edge finish | Polish long edges only | Saw-cut, machine-polished, flame-polished or diamond-polished, per edge |
| Holes and corners | 4 × Ø6, R5 corners | Anything beyond a rectangle needs a DXF or PDF |
| Tolerance | General, ISO 2768-1 | Call out only the dimensions that are critical |
| Destination | Rotterdam port | Decides packing and freight in the quote |
When buying full sheets is cheaper
If you cut in-house and run your own nesting software, full sheets are often the better buy: you control the offcuts and can reuse them. Cut-to-size pays off when you do not have a saw or router big enough, when the edges need polishing anyway, or when freight on full sheets costs more than the cutting. Full sheets are quoted from 10 sheets; cut panels from 20 pieces per size. Our note on how acrylic sheet is priced explains per-kilogram, per-sheet and per-part quotes.
FAQ
How many panels can be cut from a 4 × 8 acrylic sheet?
It depends on the panel size. Allowing about 3 mm per cut and 5 mm edge trim, a 1220 × 2440 mm sheet gives 24 panels of 300 × 400 mm, 12 of 400 × 600 mm or 6 of 600 × 800 mm.
Why does a slightly larger panel cost so much more?
Because the sheet no longer divides evenly. At 610 × 810 mm, only 3 panels fit on a 1220 × 2440 mm sheet instead of 6 at 600 × 800 mm, so each panel carries twice the material.
What should a cut list include?
Part reference, finished size, thickness, quantity, grade or colour, edge finish per edge, holes and corner radii with a drawing if needed, critical tolerances, and the delivery destination.
What is the minimum order for cut-to-size acrylic?
20 pieces per size or design. Full uncut sheets are quoted from 10 sheets.
Send your cut list
Include the sizes that can flex and by how much — we reply within 12 hours.
Or email sales@sinoplastix.com