Best Online Tools Every Woodworker Should Bookmark

Good tools do not stop at the edge of the workbench. Whether you are calculating board feet, dialing in CNC feeds and speeds, checking shelf sag, converting file types, or planning material usage, the right online calculator can save time, money, and ruined material.

This is not meant to be the biggest list on the internet. It is a curated list of practical resources worth bookmarking — especially for CNC users, woodworkers, sign makers, cabinet shops, and serious DIY makers.

Quick Picks: Our Favorite Maker Resources

1. CNC Feeds & Speeds Calculators

Feeds and speeds are where many CNC problems begin. Run too slowly and you may create dust instead of chips. Run too aggressively and you risk chatter, poor finish quality, broken bits, or unnecessary tool wear.

G-Wizard Calculator

G-Wizard is one of the more serious CNC feeds and speeds tools available. It is a good choice for users who want detailed control over tooling, material, chip load, RPM, feed rate, and cutting conditions.

Best for: CNC users who want to move beyond trial-and-error settings.

Amana Tool CNC Bit Specifications

Amana Tool’s CNC bit specifications and recommendations are especially useful when working with Amana Tool router bits. Manufacturer guidance is not a substitute for a test cut, but it gives you a smarter starting point.

Best for: Users looking for practical starting points for Amana Tool CNC bits.

FSWizard

FSWizard is a machinist-focused calculator that covers milling, drilling, turning, tapping, and more. It may be more advanced than a casual woodworking CNC user needs, but it is a strong resource for shops working across different materials and machining operations.

Best for: CNC users who want a broader machining calculator, not just a router-focused tool.

Machining Doctor Speeds & Feeds Calculator

Machining Doctor offers a detailed speeds and feeds calculator for milling, turning, drilling, grooving, and parting. It is especially useful for users who want to understand cutting data more deeply.

Best for: More technical users and shops cutting metals or mixed materials.

2. Board Foot & Lumber Calculators

Buying lumber without calculating board feet is an easy way to overbuy, underbuy, or misjudge the real cost of a project. These calculators are especially useful when pricing hardwood, estimating waste, or comparing material options.

Omni Calculator: Board Foot Calculator

Omni’s Board Foot Calculator is simple and easy to use. Enter thickness, width, length, and quantity, and it calculates the board footage for your lumber.

Best for: Quick lumber estimates before buying material.

Inch Calculator

Inch Calculator offers a wide range of construction, woodworking, and measurement calculators. It is useful when you need quick conversions or project math in one place.

Best for: General shop math, conversions, and project planning.

3. Wood Movement, Shelf Sag & Material Planning

Wood moves. Shelves sag. Sheet goods flex. These calculators help makers plan for real-world material behavior before the project is already built.

The Sagulator

The Sagulator helps estimate shelf sag based on shelf material, dimensions, load, load distribution, and edge support. It is one of those old-school online tools that is still genuinely useful.

Best for: Bookcases, cabinets, floating shelves, built-ins, and storage projects.

The Wood Database

The Wood Database is not a calculator, but it belongs on any serious woodworker’s bookmark list. It includes information on wood species, hardness, workability, durability, appearance, and more.

Best for: Choosing the right wood species for a project.

4. CNC File, Design & Conversion Tools

Before the bit touches the material, you still need clean files, usable vectors, and the right formats. These resources can help with design prep and file conversion.

Convertio

Convertio is a general file conversion tool that can be useful when working with images, PDFs, SVGs, DXF-related workflows, and other file types.

Best for: Quick file conversions when preparing artwork or design assets.

SVG Repo

SVG Repo offers downloadable SVG files that can be useful for design inspiration, signs, templates, icons, and layout ideas.

Best for: Finding simple vector artwork and icons.

Tinkercad

Tinkercad is a beginner-friendly 3D design tool. While it is often associated with 3D printing, it can also be useful for makers who want to experiment with simple 3D forms and design concepts.

Best for: Beginners learning basic 3D design.

5. Shop Math, Layout & Measurement Tools

Some of the best maker resources are not flashy. They simply help you get the math right before you cut.

Blocklayer

Blocklayer offers a wide range of layout and construction calculators, including tools for circles, angles, stairs, arches, patterns, and more.

Best for: Layout math, templates, angles, and geometry-heavy projects.

RapidTables Unit Converter

RapidTables is a useful quick-reference site for unit conversions, electrical calculations, and general measurement conversions.

Best for: Fast conversions in the shop or at the computer.

How to Use These Tools Wisely

Online calculators are helpful, but they are not a replacement for judgment, machine knowledge, or test cuts. Material quality, bit condition, machine rigidity, workholding, spindle power, and dust collection all affect real-world results.

Use these resources to get closer to the right answer faster — then test, listen to the cut, check the chips, inspect the finish, and adjust as needed.

What Should ToolsToday Build Next?

We are always looking for ways to make CNC routing and woodworking easier. In the future, we would love to see more shop-friendly tools built specifically for router bit users, including:

• CNC chip load calculators
• Feeds and speeds starting-point calculators
• Board foot and sheet goods estimators
• V-bit depth calculators
• Router bit selection tools
• Plastic and aluminum cutting setup guides

Have a favorite online calculator or maker resource we should consider adding? Let us know.