- Woodworking CAD tools at a glance
- Eleven CAD tools for woodworkers
- Which woodworking tool suits which maker
- Wood moves, and your design has to allow for it
- General 3D modeller or woodworking software?
- Six questions for a woodworking CAD tool
- Signs your workshop is ready for CAD
- My plain advice on woodworking CAD
- Frequently asked questions
CAD software for woodworking helps you design furniture and projects in 3D, then turn them into cut lists, sheet layouts or CNC toolpaths. Some tools are general 3D modellers woodworkers have adopted, others are built just for the workshop. Eleven options follow in no particular order.
Plans in a magazine are someone else's project. The moment you want a bookcase that fits your alcove, or a table two inches longer, you're designing.
CAD lets you do that on screen before you cut anything. The eleven tools below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and every description comes from the vendor's own website, read this week. Good light in the shop helps too, and my guide to lighting options for your workshop covers it.
Woodworking CAD tools at a glance
I checked the free plan column on each tool's own website, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the site names a free plan, a free version, a free account, a free edition or an open source release. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to try it, so check the vendor's page before you sign up.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| CutList Plus fx | Cut list and sheet layout optimiser | Cutting plywood and boards with less waste | Trial only |
| FreeCAD | Open source parametric modeller | Free parametric design | Yes |
| Fusion | Cloud CAD, CAM and CAE | Design and CNC toolpaths in one | Trial only |
| MaxCut | Cutlist optimiser | Free cutting plans for small shops | Yes |
| Onshape | Browser-based CAD platform | CAD on any computer, no install | Not stated |
| Polyboard | Furniture and cabinet design software | Parametric cabinets and furniture | Yes |
| Shapr3D | 3D modelling for iPad, Mac and Windows | Sketching projects with a pencil on iPad | Not stated |
| SketchList 3D | Design software for woodworkers | Furniture plans with cut lists | Trial only |
| SketchUp | 3D design software | Fast 3D models of a whole project | Trial only |
| Vectric | CNC design and toolpath software | Carving and cutting on a CNC router | Trial only |
| Woodwork for Inventor | Woodworking add-on for Inventor | Production drawings for furniture firms | Trial only |
Eleven CAD tools for woodworkers
CutList Plus fx
Best for: Workshops that already know what they're building and want cutting diagrams that squeeze more parts from each sheet and board.
FreeCAD
Best for: Makers who want free, open source parametric modelling and are happy to put time into learning it.
Fusion
Best for: Woodworkers with a CNC router who want design and toolpaths in one Autodesk product, with a trial to start.
MaxCut
Best for: Cabinet and furniture makers who want a cutlist optimiser with a free community edition to try their own panel sizes.
Onshape
Best for: Makers who switch between computers and want full CAD in a browser, with no software to install.
Polyboard
Best for: Furniture makers who want parametric cabinet and furniture design, with a free version that leaves out the built-in output.
Shapr3D
Best for: Woodworkers who like to model with an Apple Pencil on iPad, then carry on at a Mac or Windows desk.
SketchList 3D
Best for: Furniture and cabinet makers who want designs, cut lists and reports built for woodworking, with a 14-day free trial.
SketchUp
Best for: Hobbyists and pros who want to turn an idea into a buildable 3D model quickly, with a trial before subscribing.
Vectric
Best for: CNC router owners who want design and toolpath software built for carving, signs and cutting parts, with a free trial.
Woodwork for Inventor
Best for: Manufacturers on Autodesk Inventor who want woodworking-specific design and production documents, with a free trial.
Which woodworking tool suits which maker
- Free parametric design: FreeCAD.
- Quick 3D models of a whole project: SketchUp or Shapr3D.
- CAD in a browser with no install: Onshape.
- Design plus CNC toolpaths: Fusion or Vectric.
- Furniture plans with cut lists: SketchList 3D or Polyboard.
- Cutting sheets with less waste: CutList Plus fx or MaxCut.
- Furniture firms on Inventor: Woodwork for Inventor.
Wood moves, and your design has to allow for it
The US Forest Products Laboratory's Wood Handbook says longitudinal shrinkage, along the grain, averages only 0.1 to 0.2% from green to ovendry for most species. Across the grain it's a different story: tangential shrinkage is about twice as great as radial.
That's why a wide solid top glued tight into a frame cracks, and why breadboard ends and buttons exist. CAD will happily draw a perfect fixed panel. It's on you to leave room for movement across the grain.
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General 3D modeller or woodworking software?
General modellers are flexible. You can draw anything, and there's a huge amount of free training. The catch is that cut lists, joinery and sheet layouts often need add-ons or work by hand.
Woodworking-specific tools are narrower but faster for the jobs that matter in a shop: parts lists, cutting diagrams and reports a cabinet maker would recognise.
Many makers sketch in a general modeller and then send the parts to a cutlist optimiser. That pairing covers most hobby and small-shop work.
If your project is outdoors, our guide to deck design software lines up tools that show the layout in three dimensions first.
Six questions for a woodworking CAD tool
- Can it produce a cut list straight from the model?
- Does it optimise layouts for sheets and boards?
- Can it export files your CNC machine can use?
- How long will it take you to learn?
- Does it run on the computer or tablet in your shop?
- Can you reuse parts and joints across projects?
When you're ready to turn a design into toolpaths, this guide to CNC software compares software for it.
Signs your workshop is ready for CAD
- You redraw plans for every size. Model it once.
- Offcuts pile up. Optimise sheet layouts.
- Parts don't match your sketch. Check joints in 3D.
- You've bought a CNC router. Design and cut together.
Do you make woodworking or CAD software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on woodworking CAD
Draw something you've already built, a simple box or shelf, before you design anything new. You'll know every dimension, so you'll spot straight away whether the tool's cut list and drawings match reality.
If you'd like a head start on 3D, my guide to turning an image into a 3D model for free shows a shortcut for rough shapes.
Frequently asked questions
What CAD software do woodworkers use?
Many use a general 3D modeller for design and a cutlist optimiser for cutting, while furniture shops often use woodworking-specific software that produces parts lists and reports.
Is there free CAD software for woodworking?
Yes. There are free open source modellers and free editions of some cutlist tools. Check the free plan column above.
Do I need CAD to build furniture?
No, but it helps when you're designing your own pieces, because you can check proportions and get an accurate cut list before you cut.
Can woodworking CAD make CNC files?
Some tools include CNC toolpaths, while others export files for separate CNC software. Check what your machine needs.
How much does wood move across the grain?
The US Forest Products Laboratory's Wood Handbook says tangential shrinkage is about twice as great as radial, while shrinkage along the grain is small.
What is a cutlist optimiser?
It's software that arranges the parts you need onto sheets and boards to reduce waste and give you cutting diagrams for the saw.
