Everyone who plans furniture asks how many sheets to buy. A usable estimate takes ten minutes with a notepad.
The method
- List every board in the piece: sides, top, bottom, shelves, partitions, shutters, back.
- Calculate the area of each in square feet.
- Add them up.
- Divide by 32, the area of an 8 x 4 ft sheet.
- Add 10 to 15 percent for wastage.
Example: one wardrobe, 6 ft wide, 7 ft high, 2 ft deep
| Part | Working | Area (sq ft) |
|---|---|---|
| Two sides | 2 x 7 x 2 | 28 |
| Top and bottom | 2 x 6 x 2 | 24 |
| One centre partition | 7 x 2 | 14 |
| Four shelves | 4 x 6 x 2 | 48 |
| Shutters | 6 x 7 | 42 |
| Total (18 mm class) | 156 |
156 / 32 is about 4.9 sheets. With 10% wastage, around 5.4, so about 6 sheets, plus a thin board for the 6 x 7 ft back panel. That is a rough but useful figure.
Why real jobs vary
- Cutting layouts waste differently
- Drawers add boards
- Some parts use thicker or thinner board
- Grain direction on laminated faces limits cutting
Skip the maths
Use our project material calculator for kitchens, wardrobes, furniture and interiors. It gives an indicative result and then lets you send it to us for a detailed list.