How Much Does Laser Engraving Cost

laser engraved photo

How Much Does Laser Engraving Cost?

At its core, laser engraving costs can start at $20 and climb from there. The key factors driving this price are the time it takes to complete the job and the prep work involved. So, what exactly affects the prep work? It could be the complexity of your design, whether the engraver needs to create it for you, or if they need to source specific materials you do not provide.

I charge different prices depending on the amount of work that might be needed to complete a job. Sometimes I even go above and beyond to get a perfect job. This means that I sometimes redo a job if I do not like the way it turned out.

Please note, these prices are dependent on the area you live in and will most likely be different for others in other areas. Facebook and Etsy are good places to look for current prices. Below are some prices being offered in different cities.

Facebook Marketplace Prices

laser engraving price on facebook

facebook laser engraving prices

Sample Etsy Prices

etsy laser engraving prices

Materials Cost

wood for laser engraving

This photo was taken in a Walmart. It is about 14 inches wide by 6 inches tall. You can see that it is on the cheap end. This could actually be used for multiple different things. On of the best project I could see is a welcome sign on your door.

Just like a canvas shaped like a painting, the material you choose for laser engraving plays a crucial role in both the final look and the price tag. Here is why:

Material Properties

Hardness: Tougher materials like glass or metal require more laser power, translating to potentially higher costs. Softer materials like wood or leather engrave more easily, making them more budget-friendly.

Reflectivity: Highly reflective materials like chrome or mirror finishes can deflect the laser, necessitating slower engraving speeds and potentially costing more. Conversely, materials with good absorption, like wood or acrylic, engrave faster and often cost less.

Detail Level: Finer details require precise laser control, which might be pricier for certain materials that are more challenging to engrave with intricate designs.

Material Examples and Their Cost Variations

Wood: A versatile and popular choice, wood comes in several types with varying costs. Softwoods like pine are more affordable, while hardwoods like mahogany or teak are pricier. Expect prices to range from $5-$50 depending on size, type, and thickness.

Acrylic: Acrylic is another popular option. Prices vary based on size, thickness, and color, typically ranging from $5-$30.

Glass: Creates elegant, frosted engravings but requires careful handling and slower engraving speeds, leading to potentially higher costs ($20-$50+).

Metal: Durable and sophisticated, metal engraving can be expensive due to the power and precision needed. Expect prices to start at $30 and go up significantly for larger pieces or intricate designs.

Leather: Offers a luxurious touch but can be tricky to engrave consistently. Prices vary based on type, size, and thickness, typically starting at around $13.

This 50 pack hat patches on Amazon cost $13.99. So someone engraving these and selling them might charge somewhere around $13 each

Additional Costs to Consider

Coatings: Applying a protective or decorative coating to your material can add to the cost.

Masking: Complex designs might require masking specific areas to protect them from the laser, incurring an additional fee.

Laser engraver Cost

If you are planning to complete laser engraver jobs on your own, you will need a laser engraver. These can range from $300 to over $10,000. If you want to know more about the cost of laser engravers, follow the articles on the main page.

Below I will be showing you some of the prices of laser engravers. On the left will be the name of the laser engraver, and, on the right will be the price.

  • 22W Laser Engraver with Air Assist: $639.99
  • Monport 6W Diode Laser: $549 (One of my current diode lasers)
  • xTool D1 Pro Laser Engraver 4-in-1 Rotary Roller Kit: $889.99
  • OMTech 30W Fiber Laser Engraver: $2,999.99
  • xTool F1 2-in-1 Dual Laser Engraver: $1,799.99
  • DAJA DJ6 Pro Laser Engraver: $157.00
  • TTS-55 PRO 5.5W Laser Engraver Machine: $199.99
  • SCULPFUN iCube Pro Mini Laser Engraver: $249.99

Machine Operating Cost

Each machine needs different amounts of power to operate. Some engravers use 5 watts, while others use over 100 watts.

This means that the power consumption of each machine will vary and this can sometimes affect the final price.

With this in mind, you will also need to know how much you pay for electricity. I live in Virginia and pay 14 ¢/kilowatt-hour.

Markup for Profit

Adding a markup for profit is necessary to ensure your time and effort is not wasted.

What about your time?

You will have to decide how much you will be charging for your time. We all value our time differently. Some people might think their time is worth $20/hr while someone else might think that $10/hr is enough.

This might even be true for the region you live in. Each part of the world has different minimum wages.

Example

Here is an example of how much you can charge for a single piece of engraving. I am well versed in this matter as I have been doing this for some time now (more than a year for some people who need specifics).

Depending on the material and the time I invest, I have a system that I use.

  • Material from Dollar Tree store: $1.25 Marked up to $10. Profit of $8.75
  • Time taken to design and edit engraving: 1 hr @ $10/hr
  • Machine run time: $7 per hour
  • Prep work: before and after: Average $8/hr
  • Total for 1hr engraving project: If the total job takes 3 hrs to complete, it would be at a total cost of $33.75.

This cost is based on what I decided to charge. You for example might decide to charge $20/hr for prep work which would improve the profit margin.

How much does it cost to engrave a gift?

Engraving a gift can cost over $200. This cost can vary as the cost of a gift can be super expensive and you will be responsible for the gift if the engraving goes wrong. This usually means that the person or company who is responsible for doing the engraving will have to take special care not to make any mistakes as this can be very costly.

It is not the same to laser engrave a coaster or dog tag as it is to laser engrave a gold watch or gold bracelet. It is easy to replace a dog tag or coaster but not so easy or cheap to replace a watch or bracelet.

There are coasters available on amazon for as low as $7.99. On the other hand, a gold watch or bracelet can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

How do you calculate engraving pricing?

You calculate the engraving price by taking into consideration all the aspects of an engraving job. You have to take into consideration:

  • The size of the material
  • The price of the material
  • The time it will take to complete the job
  • The type of prep work needed.

Plus many more.

Laser engraving cost per minute

The cost per minute can be a couple of cents or a couple of dollars. I think that $1 per minute is not a bad price to start at.

How much does engraving cost per letter?

Laser engraving per letter can be in the range of $6 each depending on the size of each letter. This cost can also be different depending on the material being engraved.

What do different companies charge?

Different companies would have their way of charging for laser engraving. Some companies will charge less than others while some might charge an arm and a leg so to speak.

The below text is a quote from Elevatedengravings.com/price.

The setup cost per custom project is $25. This covers the time and materials needed to make sure we set up your engraving project and our machines for success. Multiple Setup costs may apply if engraving on different products and materials.

Text - $45 for the first 3 sentences/lines. Additional charges may apply if additional text is needed.

Photo - $75 - Engraving size of 3”x3”. Additional charges may apply if a larger size is requested. Please provide high-quality photos for the best results!

Text + Photo - $100 - Restrictions above apply.

Now, the above quote looks like a really good deal.

LaserItVa.com

This website has been around for quite some time and offers laser engravings for countless amounts and types of materials. Below is a screenshot of some of the products they offer along with their prices.

As you can see above, they have a wide variety of options. You can get a set of coasters for $15, beard combs for $10, and a well-built cutting board for $90. You can visit them at Laseriyva.com and let them know I sent you.

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