LC Cutter Number Generator | Library Shelflisting Assistant

Generate Library of Congress Cutter numbers with filing precision and predictable growth.

Enter main entryIgnore initial articles; enter only letters.

A Cutter number is typically assigned to a main entry like an author’s surname, a corporate body, or sometimes a title.

Supply at least two letters to see a complete suggested Cutter. The tool follows LC table ranges and defaults to 3 for expansion when no third letter is present.

Library of Congress (LC) Cutter Table Reference

After initial vowels

Applies when the heading begins with A, E, I, O, or U.

Letter pattern	Number
b	2
d	3
l-m	4
n	5
p	6
r	7
s-t	8
u-y	9

After initial letter S

Use these values for headings that begin with S.

Letter pattern	Number
a	2
ch	3
e	4
h-i	5
m-p	6
t	7
u	8
w-z	9

After initial letters Qu

Skip the U and look at the next letter.

Letter pattern	Number
a	3
e	4
i	5
o	6
r	7
t	8
y	9

Initial letters Qa-Qt

Headings that begin with Q but not QU fall in this block.

Letter pattern	Number
a-c	2
d-f	3
g-i	4
j-l	5
m-o	6
p-q	7
r-s	8
t	9

Assign values 2-29 across this span and leave space for future headings.

After other initial consonants

Default table for letters other than vowels, S, or Q.

Letter pattern	Number
a	3
e	4
i	5
o	6
r	7
u	8
y	9

Expansion (third letter)

Refine the Cutter by looking at the next letter.

Letter pattern	Number
a-d	3
e-h	4
i-l	5
m-o	6
p-s	7
t-v	8
w-z	9

Working guidance

The tool supplies a starting point. Shelf-listing always allows petitions to shift digits to leave space for nearby works.
Avoid final digits 0 or 1. If a calculation yields either value, adjust upward.
When no third letter is present, use 3 for the expansion digit to keep the cutter open.
For headings beginning with numerals or Roman numerals, use the block .A12-.A19, centred within the available span.
Names or titles with prefixes may require normalisation before Cuttering (e.g., skip spaces or punctuation).