Is my file uploaded to a server?

No. The calculator runs entirely in your browser. Your SVG, DXF or PDF file is parsed locally in your browser and never leaves your computer — nothing is uploaded.

Which file formats are supported?

SVG, DXF and PDF files that contain vector paths. A scanned or photo PDF has no vectors to measure.

How is the price calculated?

Total contour length ÷ cutting speed × number of passes = machine time. Machine time × hourly rate + setup fee = cost. This is the same time-based model professional laser shops use.

How accurate are the cutting speeds?

The presets come from a production CO2 laser workshop cutting these materials daily. Selecting your machine (xTool, Glowforge, K40, diode or CO2 class) scales every speed to it, and you can still override speed, passes and hourly rate.

How fast does a laser cut 3 mm plywood?

Roughly 4 mm/s on a 10 W diode, 6 mm/s on a 20 W diode, 10-12 mm/s on a 40-45 W CO2 like a K40 or Glowforge, 13-15 mm/s on a 55 W CO2 like the xTool P2, and 18-24 mm/s on 80-150 W CO2 machines.

How is laser engraving time calculated?

Raster engraving time = engraved area divided by (engraving speed times line interval). For example a 100 x 60 mm area at 300 mm/s with a 0.1 mm line interval takes about 200 seconds, then machine time is priced at the hourly rate.

Is it safe to upload my design file?

Yes. Files are parsed entirely in your browser and never uploaded. Uploaded SVGs are sanitised before being read — scripts, event handlers and external references are stripped — and PDFs are parsed with an engine that does not execute embedded code.

What laser settings should I use to engrave wood?

Starting point on a 40-60 W CO2 laser: 15-25% power, 300 mm/s, 300 DPI — lower power gives a lighter tone. On a 5-10 W diode: 40-60% power, 100 mm/s, about 120 lines/cm. Always test on scrap first, then wipe soot off with a damp cloth.

What settings engrave acrylic / plexiglass?

Use cast (not extruded) acrylic for a bright frosted-white engrave. On a 40-60 W CO2 laser start at 20-30% power, 300 mm/s, 300 DPI. Diode lasers cannot engrave clear acrylic — the beam passes through it — only dark or opaque acrylic.

Which materials should never be laser cut?

Never laser PVC, vinyl or most faux/PU leather — they release chlorine gas that corrodes the machine and is toxic. Polycarbonate (Lexan) yellows and catches fire, and ABS melts and emits cyanide. When unsure of a material, do not cut it.

Know your laser cutting price before you cut

Drop an SVG, DXF or PDF. We measure every contour, apply real workshop cutting speeds, and give you machine time and cost — in seconds.

Calculate my price

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Real workshop cutting speeds

The calculator

The same time-based model professional shops quote with — for cutting and engraving.

Drop your SVG, DXF or PDF here

or click to browse · parsed locally, never uploaded

Your laser

Material

Cutting speed mm/s Passes

Hourly rate €/h Setup fee €

Quantity Margin %

MACHINE TIME —

PRICE —

Estimates scale to your machine — every laser differs, tune speed & passes to yours. Material cost not included.

Built-in cutting speeds

Measured on a production CO2 laser cutting these materials daily — not copied from a datasheet.

Cutting speed by laser machine

Real-world cutting speeds on 3 mm plywood by machine class. The calculator scales every material preset to the laser you select. Last updated: 19 July 2026.

Machine class	Popular models	3 mm plywood	3 mm acrylic	Typical bed
10 W diode	xTool D1 Pro 10W, Ortur LM3, Sculpfun S9	~4 mm/s	opaque only, ~3.5 mm/s	400 × 400 mm
20 W diode	xTool D1 Pro 20W / S1, Creality Falcon2 22W, Atomstack A20	~6 mm/s	opaque only, ~5.5 mm/s	400 × 415 mm
40 W diode	xTool S1 40W, Creality Falcon2 40W	~8 mm/s	opaque only, ~7 mm/s	498 × 319 mm
40–45 W CO2	OMTech K40, Glowforge Basic / Plus / Pro	~10–12 mm/s	~9–11 mm/s	300 × 200 – 495 × 279 mm
50–60 W CO2	xTool P2 / P2S, OMTech Polar+, OMTech 60W	~13–15 mm/s	~12–13 mm/s	500 × 300 – 600 × 400 mm
80–100 W CO2	OMTech, Thunder Nova, Gweike 80–100W	~18–20 mm/s	~16–18 mm/s	700 × 500 – 900 × 600 mm
Professional CO2	Trotec Speedy 300/360/400, GCC LaserPro Spirit/Mercury, Aeon Mira & Nova, Epilog Fusion Pro	~18–22 mm/s	~16–20 mm/s	726 × 432 – 1400 × 900 mm
130 W+ CO2	Industrial Ruida-based machines	~24 mm/s	~21 mm/s	1300 × 900 mm

Diode lasers cannot cut clear or transparent acrylic — the 450 nm beam passes through it. CO2 lasers (10,600 nm) cut both clear and opaque acrylic. Speeds assume a clean lens, correct focus and air assist; thicker material or a worn tube can halve them.

Using a specific machine? Open a calculator tuned to it — cost calculators by machine for xTool, Glowforge, OMTech, Creality Falcon, Trotec, Aeon and more.

Recommended laser settings by material

Starting points for engraving and cutting the most common materials — one column for desktop CO2 lasers (40–60 W: OMTech, Glowforge, xTool P2), one for diode lasers (5–10 W: xTool D1, Sculpfun, Ortur). Always run a small test on scrap first; power, focus and lens condition all shift the result.

Engraving settings

Material	CO2 40–60 W	Diode 5–10 W	Tip
Wood / plywood	15–25% · 300 mm/s · 300 DPI	40–60% · 100 mm/s · 120 lines/cm	Lower power = lighter tone. Wipe soot off with a damp cloth after.
MDF	20–30% · 300 mm/s · 300 DPI	50–70% · 80 mm/s	Engraves darker than plywood. Glue binder smells — ventilate well.
Acrylic / plexiglass	20–30% · 300 mm/s · 300 DPI	black/opaque only	Use cast acrylic for a bright frosted-white engrave. Diodes pass through clear acrylic.
Leather	15–20% · 400 mm/s · 300 DPI	20–40% · 150 mm/s	Veg-tan leather darkens beautifully. High speed + low power avoids burning.
Slate / stone	40–60% · 250 mm/s · 300 DPI	80–100% · 40 mm/s	Gives a white/grey etch, no masking needed.
Glass	30–40% · 250 mm/s · 200 DPI	needs paint coating	Cover with wet paper or dish soap to stop chipping. Defocus slightly.
Anodized / coated metal	60–80% · 300 mm/s · 300 DPI	100% · 50 mm/s · 2 passes	Marks the coating white. Bare metal needs marking spray (CerMark).
Powder-coated tumblers	50–70% · 300 mm/s · 300 DPI	100% · 60 mm/s	Burns coating off to reveal the base metal underneath.
Cardboard / paper	8–15% · 400 mm/s · 300 DPI	15–25% · 200 mm/s	Minimum power — it scorches fast. Keep air assist on.
Rubber (stamps)	30–40% · 250 mm/s · 300 DPI	not ideal	Deep raster engrave. Fumes are strong — ventilate.

Cutting settings

Material	CO2 40–60 W	Diode 5–10 W	Tip
Plywood 3 mm	100% · 12–15 mm/s · 1 pass	100% · 3–4 mm/s · 2–4 passes	Air assist is essential to stop flaming.
Plywood 6 mm	100% · 6–8 mm/s · 1–2 passes	slow, marginal	Two faster passes beat one very slow pass.
MDF 3 mm	100% · 12 mm/s · 1 pass	100% · 3 mm/s · 3 passes	Darker edge char than plywood.
Acrylic 3 mm (clear)	100% · 12–15 mm/s · low air	cannot cut clear	Low air assist = glossy flame-polished edge. Too much air frosts it.
Acrylic 3 mm (opaque)	100% · 15 mm/s · 1 pass	100% · 2–3 mm/s · 3–5 passes	Diodes cut dark/opaque acrylic only.
Leather 2 mm	80–100% · 20 mm/s · 1 pass	100% · 8 mm/s · 2 passes	Real leather only — see the warning below.
Felt / fabric	30–50% · 40 mm/s · 1 pass	80–100% · 15 mm/s	Low power seals synthetic edges cleanly.
Cardboard	40–60% · 50 mm/s · 1 pass	60–80% · 20 mm/s	Fire risk — never leave the machine unattended.
Paper	20–30% · 60 mm/s · 1 pass	40% · 30 mm/s	Masking tape on top stops scorch marks.

Never laser these: PVC, vinyl and most faux/PU leather release chlorine gas that corrodes your machine and is toxic. Polycarbonate (Lexan) yellows and catches fire. ABS melts and emits cyanide. When unsure of a material, don't cut it.

These are safe starting values, not a guarantee — thickness, colour, lens and focus all change the result. Plug your part into the calculator above (switch to Engraving for raster jobs) to turn these into a time and price.

How the price is made

Measure
Every line, arc, circle and curve in your file is measured. The sum is your total contour length.
Time
Length ÷ material cutting speed × passes = real machine time your job occupies the laser.
Price
Machine time × hourly rate, plus setup. That's the honest number a shop quotes you.

FAQ

Is my file uploaded anywhere?

No. Parsing happens 100% in your browser. Close the tab and it's gone — nothing is ever sent to a server.

Is it safe to upload my design?

Yes. Your file never leaves your browser, so there's nothing to intercept. On our side, uploaded SVGs are sanitised before we read them — scripts, event handlers and external references are stripped so a malicious file can't run anything — and PDFs are parsed with an engine that never executes embedded code.

Which formats work?

SVG, DXF and PDF — as long as the file contains vector paths. A PDF that's a scan or photo has no vectors to measure. Text should be converted to outlines/paths first.

Why does my SVG show the wrong size?

SVG files don't always carry physical units. If the detected size is off, type the real width of your design in the "real width" box and everything rescales.

Does the price include material?

No — it's machine time + setup. Add your sheet cost on top, or ask your shop. The material usage panel tells you how many sheets you need.

Is there an engraving calculator too?

Yes. Switch the calculator to Engraving mode. Enter the engraving area (or drop a file to fill it from the design size), pick your resolution in DPI, fill speed and coverage, and it gives you raster engraving time and price. The formula is area ÷ (fill speed × line spacing) × passes, and speeds scale to the laser you selected.

What settings should I use to engrave wood?

On a 40–60 W CO2 laser, start at 15–25% power, 300 mm/s, 300 DPI — lower power gives a lighter tone. On a 5–10 W diode, try 40–60% power, 100 mm/s, ~120 lines/cm. Always test on scrap first, then wipe the soot off with a damp cloth. See the full settings guide.

What settings engrave plexiglass / acrylic?

Use cast acrylic (not extruded) for a bright frosted-white engrave. A 40–60 W CO2 laser at 20–30% power, 300 mm/s, 300 DPI works well. Diode lasers can't engrave clear acrylic — the beam passes through it — only dark or opaque acrylic. Full table in the settings guide.

Which materials should I never laser?

Never laser PVC, vinyl or most faux/PU leather — they release chlorine gas that corrodes your machine and is toxic. Polycarbonate (Lexan) yellows and catches fire; ABS melts and emits cyanide. When unsure of a material, don't cut it.

Does it work for my xTool, Glowforge or K40?

Yes. Pick your machine in the "Your laser" dropdown — the calculator scales every material's cutting speed to your machine class, from 10 W diodes to 150 W industrial CO2 lasers, and pre-fills your bed size for the sheet layout.

Can a diode laser cut clear acrylic?

No. Blue diode lasers (~450 nm) pass straight through clear or transparent acrylic. You need a CO2 laser for clear acrylic; diodes can only cut dark, opaque acrylic.

What hourly rate do laser cutting shops charge?

Small shops in Europe typically charge €40–90 per machine hour for CO2 laser cutting; industrial services charge more. The calculator defaults to €60/h — set your own rate to match your shop or quote.

How many parts fit on my sheet?

After you drop a file, the material usage panel shows parts per sheet (with 90° rotation if that fits more), how many sheets your quantity needs, the material utilisation percentage and the leftover strip size.

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