Laser Engraving Price Calculator
Quote engraving and cutting jobs from laser time, materials, and setup, then check what you charge per minute.
Laser engraving job quote
Laser machine cost per hour
How to Price Laser Engraving Jobs
A good laser engraving price covers four things: the material, the time the laser runs, the time you spend on the job, and a profit on top. Work out the cost first, then set the price from your target margin.
Job cost = Materials + (Laser hours × Machine rate) + (Your hours × Labor rate)
Quote = Job cost ÷ (1 − Target margin), with your minimum charge as the floor
- Run a test piece and time it. Laser software usually shows an estimated job time.
- Add the time you spend on setup and design, plus handling for each piece: loading, aligning, cleaning, and packing.
- Multiply laser time by your machine’s hourly cost and your own time by your labor rate.
- Add materials and divide the total by one minus your target margin.
Example: a customer orders 10 engraved bamboo coasters. Each takes 6 minutes on the laser and 2 minutes of handling, with 20 minutes of setup for the job.
| Cost for 10 coasters | How it’s calculated | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | 10 blanks at $2.50 | $25.00 |
| Laser time | 60 minutes at $3.57 per hour | $3.57 |
| Your time | 40 minutes at $30 per hour | $20.00 |
| Job cost | $48.57 | |
| Quote at a 50% margin | $48.57 ÷ 0.50 | $97.14 |
That’s $9.71 per coaster. The numbers are illustrative, so replace them with your own.
How Much Do Laser Engravers Charge?
There’s no standard price for laser engraving. One pricing guide from a laser maker says many engravers charge $1 to $3 per minute of laser time, and that some experienced shops charge $60 to $120 per hour of machine time. Many shops also set a minimum charge so small jobs still pay for the setup.
The Job Quote tab shows your price per minute of laser time, so you can compare your quote with those ranges. Your own rate depends on:
- Material. Engraving a customer’s own item carries more risk than engraving a blank you bought, and many shops charge more for it.
- Size and detail. Larger areas, photo engraving, and slower, higher-resolution settings all add laser time.
- Setup. Rotary jobs such as tumblers and glasses, tricky alignment, and custom artwork take extra time before the laser starts.
- Quantity. Setup is spread across every piece, so larger orders can carry a lower price per piece.
- Turnaround. Rush orders push other work back, so many shops add a rush fee.
Source: OMTech, How Much Should You Charge for Laser Engraving, updated March 2026. Local prices vary widely.
How to Work Out Your Machine’s Hourly Cost
Your laser costs money every hour it runs, even after you’ve paid for it. Spreading the purchase price over the hours you expect to use it, then adding power and upkeep, gives you a machine rate to put into every quote.
Machine rate = (Machine price ÷ Payoff hours) + (Kilowatts × Electricity price) + Maintenance per hour
A $2,500 setup paid off over 1,000 hours of laser time costs $2.50 an hour. A 400-watt draw at $0.18 per kWh adds about $0.07, and $1 an hour for lenses, belts, filters, and other parts brings the total to $3.57 an hour.
This is a cost, not a price. What you charge per hour also has to pay for your time, overhead, and profit. If you’re still choosing a machine, compare options in our laser engraver range.
Price per Piece vs. Price per Job
Because setup happens once per job, the price per piece drops as the order grows. The table uses the coaster example above at a 50% margin.
| Quantity | Quote for the job | Price per piece |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $27.71 | $27.71 |
| 5 | $58.57 | $11.71 |
| 10 | $97.14 | $9.71 |
| 25 | $212.85 | $8.51 |
| 50 | $405.70 | $8.11 |
Quantity pricing gives customers a reason to order more. Price tiers such as 1–9, 10–24, and 25+ are easier to quote than a different price for every number.
How to Price Laser Cutting
Laser cutting uses the same formula, but the time depends on the length of the cut path and the material’s thickness rather than the engraved area. Thicker material needs slower speeds or more passes, so time a test cut on the material you’ll actually use.
Sheet material is often bought in full sheets, so price the material by the sheet or by the share of the sheet the job uses, including offcuts you can’t reuse. For products you make and sell yourself rather than jobs for customers, our craft pricing calculator sets wholesale and retail prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should I charge for laser engraving?
Add up materials, laser time at your machine’s hourly cost, and your own time at your labor rate, then divide by one minus your target margin. As a reference, one laser maker’s pricing guide says many engravers charge $1 to $3 per minute of laser time.
How do I calculate laser engraving cost per minute?
Divide your machine’s hourly cost by 60. A machine that costs $3.57 an hour to run costs about $0.06 a minute. Your price per minute needs to be much higher to pay for your time, overhead, and profit.
Should I have a minimum charge for laser engraving?
Yes. Setup, design, and customer messages take about the same time for one piece as for ten. A minimum charge per order makes sure small jobs still pay for that time. Set it from your own setup time and labor rate.
Should I charge for design time?
Yes. Include it in your setup time, or list it as a separate design fee for custom artwork. Simple text on a standard template usually needs little extra time.
How do I price laser engraving on items customers bring in?
Set the material cost to zero and price the time. Many shops charge more for customer-supplied items because a mistake can’t be fixed by using a new blank.
How long does it take to pay off a laser engraver?
Divide the machine price by the profit you make per hour of laser time. If each hour of jobs leaves $30 after materials and costs, a $2,500 setup pays for itself after about 84 hours of laser time.
More Free Calculators
- Profit Margin Calculator: margin, markup, and selling price
- Markup Calculator: selling price from cost and markup
- Etsy Fee Calculator: every Etsy fee and your profit per order
- Craft Pricing Calculator: wholesale and retail prices for handmade items
These calculators provide estimates for general planning and are not financial, tax, or accounting advice.