Term:Cut Sheet
« Back to Glossary IndexA cut sheet is a manufacturer’s product data sheet: usually one to a few pages showing a product’s model number, dimensions, materials, performance ratings, options and installation notes. In construction, contractors submit cut sheets to the design team as product data submittals to prove the product they plan to install meets the specifications.
The name dates back to when contractors cut pages out of printed catalogs. Below: what’s on one, how it fits into submittals, cut sheet vs shop drawing, how to mark one up, and the term’s other jobsite meanings.
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What’s on a cut sheet?
Cut sheets vary by trade, but most include:
- Manufacturer, product name and model or catalog number
- An ordering guide that shows how the model number is built from options
- Dimensioned drawings or photos
- Materials, finishes and colours
- Performance data: capacity, electrical ratings, flow, fire rating, efficiency
- Certifications and listings (for example UL or CSA)
- Mounting and installation notes
Typical examples: light and plumbing fixtures, door hardware, sealants, HVAC equipment, electrical devices and, in interior design, furniture and finishes.
How cut sheets are used in submittals
Most specs require product data submittals for manufactured items, and cut sheets are that product data. AIA A201 treats product data as its own submittal type, alongside shop drawings and samples. In Canada, CCDC 2 defines shop drawings broadly enough to include product data, so cut sheets often go out under the “shop drawing” label. Submittal procedures are usually in Division 01 (MasterFormat 01 33 00), with what to submit listed in each technical section.
The typical flow: the sub or supplier sends cut sheets, the GC reviews them against the specs and stamps them, then sends them to the architect or engineer with a submittal form and logs the dates in a submittal schedule. After approval, the same cut sheets usually end up in the O&M manuals at project closeout. Our guide to managing construction submittals covers the full process.
Cut sheet vs shop drawing vs spec sheet
| Cut sheet | Shop drawing | Spec sheet | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who makes it | Manufacturer | Sub, fabricator or supplier | Manufacturer |
| Project-specific? | No, generic (you mark it up) | Yes, drawn for your job | No, generic |
| What it shows | A standard product and its options | How custom work is fabricated and installed | Detailed technical data for a product |
| Examples | Light fixture, faucet, grab bar | Steel connections, millwork, ductwork | Test results, ratings, tolerances |
In practice “cut sheet,” “spec sheet” and “data sheet” are used almost interchangeably. Don’t confuse a manufacturer’s spec sheet with the project specifications the cut sheet is checked against.
How to mark up a cut sheet for a submittal
Most cut sheets show a whole product family. Unmarked, one often comes back “revise and resubmit.” Instead:
- Label it. Add the spec section, the drawing tag or fixture type (for example “Type A3”) and the submittal number.
- Highlight what you’re providing. The exact model number and every selected option: size, voltage, finish, mounting, accessories.
- Cross out what doesn’t apply. Strike through other models, sizes and options so only one reading is possible.
- Flag deviations. Any difference from the spec gets a clear note, or a substitution request where the contract requires one.
- Stamp and sign. Your review stamp shows you checked it against the documents before it went to the designer.
Example: a sheet covers a 2×4 troffer in three lumen packages and two colour temperatures. You highlight “4000 lm, 3500K, 120-277V, dimming,” cross out the rest and write “Type B, Section 26 51 00, Submittal 26-004” at the top.
Other meanings of “cut sheet” on a jobsite
Search results for “cut sheet” mix several documents, and two others show up in construction:
- Survey or stakeout cut sheet: the surveyor’s list of stakes for grading or excavation, showing each point, the ground or stake elevation, the design elevation and the cut (dig) or fill needed. On a house lot it tells the excavator how deep to dig at each corner.
- Fabrication cut sheet or cut list: a list of pieces to cut from stock, with lengths and quantities, for lumber, pipe, sheet metal or steel. Rebar uses a similar bar list or cutting and bending schedule.
If someone on site asks for “the cut sheet”, check which one they mean. This entry covers the product data meaning.
FAQ
What is a cut sheet in construction?
A manufacturer’s product data sheet submitted to the design team to show a product meets the specs.
Why is it called a cut sheet?
Contractors used to cut the relevant page out of a printed manufacturer’s catalog and attach it to the submittal.
Is a cut sheet the same as a spec sheet?
Mostly. Both are manufacturer product data. Spec sheets tend to carry more technical detail, but many people use the terms interchangeably.
What is a cut sheet in interior design?
The same idea applied to furniture, fixtures and finishes: a product page the designer uses to specify, approve or order an item.
Does a cut sheet need approval before ordering?
If the spec calls for a product data submittal, yes. Ordering before approval risks paying for a product that gets rejected.
Summary
Label it, highlight what you’re providing, cross out the rest and stamp it, and your product data submittals will move faster. When a reviewer has a question, an RFI may follow.
Related templates: Submittal Cover Sheet, Submittal Form Template, Material Approval Form
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- Submittal Cover Sheet
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