Definition
Yield band is the percentage of finished, usable area produced from a single raw input unit. It is most commonly used in stone fabrication where slabs are bought whole but tops are sold by the m². Yield bands are usually configured per material type because figured stone has lower yield than homogeneous stone.
Example
Worked exampleA 7.2 m² Calacatta quartz slab has a yield band of 72%. Usable yield is 7.2 × 0.72 = 5.18 m². If the job requires 4.2 m² of finished tops, allocate one slab and price the job using slab cost ÷ 5.18, not slab cost ÷ 7.2.
Why it matters
Stone studios that price from nominal slab area instead of usable yield silently lose R 200–800/m² on every job. Configuring yield bands per stone type is the highest-leverage pricing change a stone shop can make.