The price per cubic meter.
But in real production, the lowest price per cubic meter does not always mean the lowest overall cost. Sometimes, simply choosing a more suitable panel size can save much more.
A Real Example: From 2 Pieces to 3 Pieces
We recently worked with a furniture manufacturer producing a particular type of office desk. At that time, the customer was using a standard panel size of 1220 × 2440 mm. Based on their cutting layout, one panel could produce two finished desk components. During our communication, instead of simply quoting a price, we asked the customer about the exact dimensions of their finished product.
After reviewing the requirements, we suggested trying a different panel size: 1525 × 2440 mm
The result was quite different.
With the new panel size, the customer could cut three finished pieces from one panel instead of two, while leaving only a small amount of offcut. That meant much better material utilization. And according to the customer’s production calculation, the overall material cost was reduced by approximately 20%.
Why Did a Different Panel Size Make Such a Big Difference?
The panel itself did not suddenly become cheaper.
The key was the cutting efficiency. With the original 1220 × 2440 mm panel, the customer’s product dimensions did not make efficient use of the available panel area. Some material had to be left as offcut after cutting. After changing to 1525 × 2440 mm, the panel width matched the product dimensions much better. This allowed the cutting layout to be optimized and made it possible to produce three pieces from one panel.
In other words:
The customer was not simply buying a cheaper board. They were buying a better-fitting board size.
Price Per Cubic Meter Is Only Part of the Calculation
For furniture manufacturers, the real cost of a panel should be considered together with:
- Panel price
- Panel dimensions
- Cutting efficiency
- Material utilization
- Offcut and waste
- Labor and handling
- Number of finished pieces produced
A board with a slightly higher price per cubic meter may still provide a lower cost per finished product if the panel size significantly improves material utilization.
This is especially important for high-volume production.
Even a small improvement in material utilization can become a significant saving when thousands of panels are processed every month.
1220 × 2440 mm Is Not Always the Best Choice
Standard sizes are convenient and suitable for many applications.
However, they are not necessarily the most efficient size for every product.
For example, manufacturers may produce:
- Office desks
- Cabinet doors
- Furniture components
- Shelves
- Wall panels
- Interior doors
- Other customized furniture parts
Each product has different dimensions and different cutting requirements.
A standard 1220 × 2440 mm panel may work well for one product but create unnecessary waste for another.
This is why understanding the finished product dimensions is so important before choosing the panel size.
Start With the Finished Product, Not the Board
One of the questions we often ask customers is:
“What are the dimensions of your finished product?”
Once we understand the product dimensions, we can look at the cutting layout and consider whether another panel size could improve material utilization.
Depending on the project, a suitable customized size may help the customer:
- Get more pieces from each panel
- Reduce offcuts
- Improve material utilization
- Reduce handling and cutting time
- Lower the cost per finished product
Of course, not every project needs a customized panel size. The important point is to calculate based on the actual application.
The Right Question to Ask Your Supplier
Instead of asking only:
“What is your lowest price per cubic meter?”
It may be more useful to ask:
“Which panel size gives me the best material utilization for my product?”
This small change in the way you approach purchasing can sometimes lead to much bigger savings.
The Bottom Line
The cheapest panel is not always the cheapest solution.
A better panel size can sometimes turn:
2 pieces → 3 pieces
with much less waste.
In our furniture factory experience, the right size helped one customer reduce their material cost by approximately 20%.
So before your next order, don’t just compare the price per cubic meter.
Check the cutting layout. Check the waste. And most importantly, check whether the panel size is right for your product.
Sometimes, the biggest saving is not a lower price.
It’s choosing the right size.
If you share your finished product dimensions with us, we can help you evaluate whether a different panel size could improve your material utilization.