Work out nesting efficiency instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.
Nesting efficiency is the part area actually cut divided by the sheet area. The gap to the theoretical maximum comes from kerf width, part-to-part and part-to-edge clearances, grain direction constraints and the geometry of the parts themselves. Material cost per part is what the nest ultimately determines.
Nesting efficiency
Efficiency % = part area x parts per sheet x 100 / sheet area
Cost
Material cost per part = sheet cost / parts per sheet
70-85% for mixed rectangular parts, 50-70% for complex profiles with awkward geometry, and above 90% only for parts that tile naturally. Combining several part types on one nest usually gains 5-15%.
Substantially — sharing a cut line between two adjacent parts removes one kerf and one clearance gap, improving both efficiency and cutting time. It requires tight machine accuracy.