Know your build costs before you cut

Every material in Sawvy carries a cost per sheet or board. When the optimizer runs, Sawvy multiplies sheet counts by unit costs to give you an accurate material cost for the entire project. No more guessing at the lumber yard.

Cost per sheet and board

When you add a material to your library, set its cost per sheet (for plywood, MDF, melamine) or cost per board (for dimensional lumber like 1x6x8). Sawvy stores this alongside the material dimensions so it is always available when you optimize.

Automatic cost calculation

After optimization, Sawvy knows exactly how many sheets or boards of each material your project requires. It multiplies quantity by unit cost to show you the total material cost on your project overview page. Change a part, re-optimize, and the cost updates instantly.

Sheet and board support

Sawvy supports both sheet goods (plywood, MDF, melamine) and dimensional boards (1x4, 1x6, 2x4). Boards are treated as narrow sheets in the optimizer, so the same algorithm handles both. Each material type displays appropriate labels throughout the app.

Project overview cost summary

The project overview page shows your estimated material cost front and center. At a glance you know what the raw materials will cost — before you buy a single sheet. Use this to quote clients, plan budgets, or compare material options.

Flows into invoicing

Material costs feed directly into the invoice generator. When you create an invoice, costs are pre-populated from your optimization. No re-entering prices, no discrepancies between your estimate and your invoice.

Project overview page showing estimated material cost summary
Material library with costs per sheet and board

Guessing costs vs. Sawvy cost tracking

Without Sawvy

  • Estimate material needs by gut feel or rough math
  • Forget to account for extra sheets the optimizer requires
  • Manually price out materials in a separate spreadsheet
  • Quote clients inaccurately and eat the difference
  • No connection between cut lists and project budgets

With Sawvy

  • Exact sheet and board counts from the optimizer
  • Per-material cost stored in your library
  • Automatic total material cost on the project page
  • Accurate quotes based on real optimization data
  • Costs flow directly into invoices

Start optimizing your cuts today

Join woodworkers who are saving time, materials, and money with Sawvy.