TwoCut Tools

Worked fabric plan · six-inch overlap

40 × 20 ft L-shaped bed: 4 × 100 ft Fabric Rolls

40 × 20 ft L-shaped bed with 4 × 100 ft rolls: 3 rolls, 720 sq ft cut fabric, and 135 pins at 24-inch spacing.

Use these measurements

Selected-roll calculation

Ground footprint
600 sq ft
Fabric cut area · overlap + trimming
720 sq ft
Selected roll quantity
3 rolls
Perimeter + seam pins
135 pins
Material in overlaps
70 sq ft
Trimmed material · no offcut reuse
50 sq ft

4 × 100 ft rolls: 1200 sq ft purchased; 480 sq ft uncut remainder. 60 perimeter + 75 seam pins at 24 inches. No extra plant-hole or field pins included.

Selected-roll panel cut plan · lengths in feet
PanelDirectionRun × spanStripsPieces / stripTail lengthFull + tail rolls
1lengthwise40 × 1031400 + 2
2lengthwise20 × 10.5031200 + 1
Roll-size comparison · areas in sq ft; pins at selected spacing
RollCut areaRollsPurchased areaPins
3 × 50 ft7206900167
3 × 100 ft7203900167
4 × 50 ft72051000135
4 × 100 ft · selected72031200135
6 × 100 ft72021200103
6 × 300 ft72023600103

Check the footprint and cutting budget

40 × 20 − 20 × 10 = 600 sq ft

The missing corner is split out of the footprint. Two rectangular panels meet with a six-inch overlap; the join has its own pin allowance. The finished perimeter is 120 feet. The cut budget reserves 720 square feet, including 70 square feet in overlapping layers and 50 square feet trimmed from the footprint. The purchased 3 rolls provide 1200 square feet; 480 square feet remain as uncut stock.

Read each panel's cuts before buying

Panel 1 runs 40 feet along the strips and 10 feet across them, using the lengthwise direction. The 3 strips cover 11 feet after side overlaps. Each strip uses 1 piece(s): 0 full-length pieces plus a 40-foot tail. One roll supplies 2 complete tails; the panel requires 0 full-piece rolls plus 2 tail-piece rolls. Total full-width cut length is 120 feet. Panels do not share remnants.

Panel 2 runs 20 feet along the strips and 10.50 feet across them, using the lengthwise direction. The 3 strips cover 11 feet after side overlaps. Each strip uses 1 piece(s): 0 full-length pieces plus a 20-foot tail. One roll supplies 5 complete tails; the panel requires 0 full-piece rolls plus 1 tail-piece rolls. Total full-width cut length is 60 feet. Panels do not share remnants.

What changes with a wider overlap?

Changing this exact footprint to twelve-inch overlap produces 3 rolls and 788 square feet of cut fabric, including 166 square feet in overlap. Its trimming allowance becomes 22 square feet. A changed overlap may alter the preferred direction; the program recomputes both rectangular choices.

What changes with closer pins or a fixed direction?

At twelve-inch spacing instead of twenty-four inches, this six-inch-overlap layout reserves 265 pins: 120 around the outside and 145 on seams. With the original spacing and overlap but a forced lengthwise direction, it requires 3 rolls, 720 square feet of cut fabric, and 135 pins. These alternatives keep the same ground dimensions; they change the layout or fastening budget.

Before using this estimate on site

Confirm the actual package dimensions and include any border extensions. Pin counts treat each open seam's endpoints independently, and do not add anchors for plant holes or interior field positions. The roll-size table compares complete cutting plans rather than dividing ground area by package area. Automatic direction checks two directions per panel and does not search every possible patchwork arrangement. Any reduction through offcut reuse requires a separate drawn cut list.

Read the full formulas, assumptions, common mistakes, and FAQs.

Other worked footprints