Best Laser by Material
Pick the material first and the machine follows. The table shows which machine types can engrave or cut each material, and every entry has a safety note. Some plastics must never go under a laser, and they are listed at the end.
| Material | Diode | CO2 | Fiber | CNC router |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wood (hardwood and softwood) | Engrave: Yes Cut: Limited | Engrave: Yes Cut: Yes | Engrave: Limited Cut: No | Engrave: Yes Cut: Yes |
| Plywood | Engrave: Yes Cut: Limited | Engrave: Yes Cut: Yes | Engrave: Limited Cut: No | Engrave: Yes Cut: Yes |
| Acrylic (PMMA) | Engrave: Limited Cut: Limited | Engrave: Yes Cut: Yes | Engrave: No Cut: No | Engrave: Yes Cut: Yes |
| Leather (genuine) | Engrave: Yes Cut: Limited | Engrave: Yes Cut: Yes | Engrave: Limited Cut: No | Engrave: No Cut: No |
| Slate | Engrave: Yes Cut: No | Engrave: Yes Cut: No | Engrave: Yes Cut: No | Engrave: Limited Cut: No |
| Glass | Engrave: With coating Cut: No | Engrave: Yes Cut: No | Engrave: No Cut: No | Engrave: No Cut: No |
| Stainless steel and bare metal | Engrave: With coating Cut: No | Engrave: With coating Cut: No | Engrave: Yes Cut: No | Engrave: No Cut: Limited |
| Anodized aluminum | Engrave: Yes Cut: No | Engrave: Yes Cut: No | Engrave: Yes Cut: No | Engrave: Limited Cut: Limited |
| Tumblers and powder-coated metal | Engrave: Yes Cut: No | Engrave: Yes Cut: No | Engrave: Yes Cut: No | Engrave: No Cut: No |
| Paper and cardstock | Engrave: Yes Cut: Yes | Engrave: Yes Cut: Yes | Engrave: No Cut: No | Engrave: No Cut: No |
| Fabric | Engrave: Yes Cut: Yes | Engrave: Yes Cut: Yes | Engrave: No Cut: No | Engrave: No Cut: No |
| Stone (granite, marble, tile) | Engrave: Yes Cut: No | Engrave: Yes Cut: No | Engrave: Yes Cut: No | Engrave: Limited Cut: No |
| MDF | Engrave: Yes Cut: Limited | Engrave: Yes Cut: Yes | Engrave: No Cut: No | Engrave: Yes Cut: Yes |
| PVC and vinyl (including most faux leather) | Never | Never | Never | Engrave: Limited Cut: Limited |
| Polycarbonate (Lexan) and ABS | Never | Never | Never | Engrave: Yes Cut: Yes |
"Limited" means thin stock, dark colors only, or slow multi-pass work. "With coating" means a marking spray, paint or a coated surface is needed. Always check your machine's own material list first.
Wood (hardwood and softwood)
The most forgiving laser material. Diode lasers cut thin stock in one or more passes; CO2 lasers cut thicker boards faster. Resinous woods like pine engrave unevenly because of the grain.
Wood smoke and sparks can ignite. Use air assist, never leave the job running unattended, and do not laser pressure-treated or painted wood, which can release toxic compounds.
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Plywood
Laser-grade birch and basswood plywood cut cleanly. Hardware-store plywood often has glue voids or exterior glues that stop the beam partway through.
Plywood glue adds fumes to the smoke, so vent outdoors or use a fume extractor. Watch for flare-ups at glue lines.
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Acrylic (PMMA)
CO2 lasers cut and engrave all acrylic, including clear, with flame-polished edges. Blue diode light passes through clear and blue acrylic, so diodes only work on dark or opaque colors. Cast acrylic engraves frosty white; extruded acrylic engraves less evenly.
Acrylic is flammable and gives off a strong smell when cut. Ventilate well and stay with the machine. Make sure the sheet is acrylic: polycarbonate and PVC sheet look similar but must not be laser cut.
Guides: Best CO2 Laser Cutter for Home Use: 5 Picks From 45W to 90W · Diode vs CO2 Laser: What Each One Can Cut and Engrave
Leather (genuine)
Vegetable-tanned leather engraves with good contrast. Thin leather cuts on a diode; thick belts and straps are a CO2 job.
Leather smoke is strong-smelling, so vent it outside. Many faux leathers are PVC (vinyl) and must never be lasered; only use synthetic leather you can confirm is PVC-free.
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Slate
Engraving lightens the surface to a pale gray, popular for coasters and signs. No laser in this range cuts slate.
Engraving creates fine stone dust. Wipe pieces with a damp cloth and keep the exhaust running.
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Glass
CO2 lasers frost the surface of glass. Clear glass is transparent to diode light, so diodes need a coating, paint or marking paste. Standard fiber lasers are not a glass tool.
Engraving can leave sharp chips and stress the glass; heat cracks are more likely on thin or cold glass. Handle pieces with gloves until wiped clean.
Guides: Best Laser Engraver for Tumblers: 6 Machines With a Rotary in the Box · Best CO2 Laser Cutter for Home Use: 5 Picks From 45W to 90W
Stainless steel and bare metal
Fiber lasers mark and deep engrave bare stainless, brass, steel and other metals directly. Diode and CO2 machines need a metal marking spray or paste. Hobby fiber markers engrave; they do not cut sheet metal.
Bare metal reflects laser light. Wear glasses rated for the laser's exact wavelength, and ventilate fumes from marking sprays and coatings.
Guides: Best Laser Engraver for Metal: 5 Machines That Mark Bare Steel · Best Fiber Laser Engraver: 6 Picks for Metal Marking
Anodized aluminum
The laser removes the colored anodized layer and leaves bright aluminum underneath, so every type can mark it. Desktop CNC routers can cut thin aluminum slowly with the right end mill.
Ventilate the fumes from the removed coating, and wear wavelength-rated glasses because bright metal reflects.
Guides: Best Laser Engraver for Metal: 5 Machines That Mark Bare Steel · Best Fiber Laser Engraver: 6 Picks for Metal Marking
Tumblers and powder-coated metal
Lasers burn away the powder coat to show the steel underneath. Round tumblers need a rotary attachment on a gantry machine; fiber galvo machines can also use a rotary.
Burning powder coat produces fumes, so use an exhaust or fume extractor. Coated tumblers can reflect once the coating is gone, so keep your glasses on.
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Paper and cardstock
Cuts at low power and high speed. Good for invitations, stencils and papercraft. Light-colored paper reflects more diode light than dark paper.
Paper catches fire easily. Use low power, air assist and a clean bed, and stay at the machine for the whole job.
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Fabric
Natural fibers like cotton, denim and wool felt cut with sealed edges. Synthetic fabrics such as polyester and nylon melt rather than cut cleanly.
Synthetic fabrics give off irritating fumes when melted. Avoid fabrics with vinyl (PVC) coatings or prints, and ventilate.
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Stone (granite, marble, tile)
Dark polished granite gives the best contrast. Engraving only; no hobby laser cuts stone.
Engraving stone releases fine dust that can contain silica. Keep the exhaust running and wipe pieces wet, not with a dry brush.
Guides: Best Laser Engraver for Metal: 5 Machines That Mark Bare Steel
MDF
Uniform and cheap, so it is common for templates and jigs. Cut edges come out dark brown.
MDF binders can release formaldehyde and heavy smoke. Vent outdoors or use a fume extractor with a carbon stage.
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PVC and vinyl (including most faux leather) Never
Never laser PVC, vinyl, vinyl records, vinyl-coated fabric or PVC-based faux leather. Sign vinyl and heat-transfer vinyl are usually PVC too. A CNC router or vinyl cutter can cut PVC sheet mechanically with dust collection.
NEVER LASER. Burning PVC releases chlorine compounds, including hydrogen chloride gas, that harm your lungs and corrode the laser's optics and metal parts.
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Polycarbonate (Lexan) and ABS Never
Polycarbonate discolors and catches fire instead of cutting cleanly. ABS melts and gives off hazardous fumes. Cut both on a CNC router instead.
Do not laser. Burning ABS can release hydrogen cyanide, and polycarbonate tends to ignite. Check any unknown plastic before it goes on the laser bed.
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