Five Cut Method Calculator

The five cut method is the most accurate way to square your table saw's crosscut sled or miter gauge. By making five cuts on a test board and measuring the resulting trapezoid, you can detect errors as small as a thousandth of an inch.

This calculator takes your measurements and tells you exactly how much to adjust your fence and in which direction.

How to Perform the Five Cut Test

Cut a rectangular piece of plywood about 12" × 24"
Make four cuts, rotating the board 90° after each cut
On the fifth cut, measure both ends of the resulting strip
Enter "Measurement A" (top) and "Measurement B" (bottom)
Enter your cut length and pivot-to-adjustment distance

Understanding the Results

The calculator uses the error ratio formula: (A-B)/4 × (pivot distance / cut length). This tells you the exact shim thickness needed at the adjustment point.

The direction feedback indicates which way the back of your fence needs to move. "Forward" means away from the blade (back of fence moves toward the operator), and "Backward" means toward the blade.

For most table saw sleds, an error of less than 0.001" per foot is considered excellent and will produce professional results.