What can a laser cut and engrave?
Whether a laser can handle a material depends on the type of laser. A CO2, a diode and a fiber laser have completely different strengths. Here's the honest breakdown — including the materials you should never put near a laser.
Price your material →The three laser types in one line each
- CO2 (10,600 nm) — the all-rounder for organics: wood, acrylic, leather, paper, fabric, glass (engrave). Won't cut metal.
- Diode (~450 nm) — hobby machines: wood, opaque acrylic, leather, card. Passes through clear acrylic; can't cut metal.
- Fiber (1,064 nm) — the metal specialist: cuts and marks steel, stainless, aluminium, brass. Poor on most organics.
Materials list
| Material | CO2 | Diode | Fiber |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plywood / MDF / solid wood | Cut + engrave | Cut + engrave | Mark only |
| Clear acrylic (PMMA) | Cut + engrave | No (transparent) | No |
| Opaque / dark acrylic | Cut + engrave | Cut (slow) | No |
| Leather (real) | Cut + engrave | Cut + engrave | Mark |
| Paper / card | Cut + engrave | Cut + engrave | No |
| Fabric / felt | Cut + engrave | Cut (some) | No |
| Glass | Engrave (frost) | Engrave (some) | No |
| Stone / slate / ceramic | Engrave | Engrave | Mark |
| Steel / stainless | No | No | Cut + mark |
| Aluminium / brass | Mark w/ spray | Mark w/ spray | Cut (thin) + mark |
| Anodised aluminium | Engrave | Engrave | Engrave |
Never cut these — toxic or dangerous
PVC / vinyl — releases chlorine gas that corrodes your machine and harms you.
Polycarbonate (Lexan) — barely cuts, yellows, fumes.
ABS — melts, gums up, emits cyanide compounds.
Fibreglass, carbon fibre, HDPE, foamed PVC (Sintra), any unknown plastic — don't risk it. If you can't confirm what a material is, keep it out of the laser.
Best beginner materials
If you're starting out: 3 mm plywood, MDF, cast acrylic, leather and cardboard are forgiving, cheap and safe. Master those before touching metal or glass.
Price any of them
Once you know your material cuts, drop your file into the calculator, choose the material and machine, and get time and cost instantly.
Open the calculator →FAQ
Can a laser cut metal?
Only a fiber laser cuts metal cleanly — steel, stainless, aluminium and brass. CO2 and diode lasers can't cut metal; at most they mark it with the help of a marking spray, or engrave anodised aluminium.
Can any laser cut clear acrylic?
A CO2 laser cuts clear acrylic beautifully with a polished edge. A diode laser cannot — the clear material is transparent to its beam. Diodes only cut dark, opaque acrylic, and slowly.
What materials should never be laser cut?
PVC and vinyl (chlorine gas), polycarbonate/Lexan, ABS, foamed PVC (Sintra), fibreglass and carbon fibre. They release toxic fumes, damage the machine, or won't cut. Never cut a material you can't positively identify.
What are the best materials for a beginner laser?
3 mm plywood, MDF, cast acrylic, real leather and cardboard. They're cheap, safe, forgiving of imperfect settings, and cover most common projects.