Laser Cutting Cost Calculator
Use this for cut jobs, not surface engraving: nested part size on the sheet, minutes the beam is cutting, setup and packing. If leftovers are scrap, raise waste or use the full sheet cost. For engraving-only work, use the laser engraving pricing calculator.
Display only — amounts are not converted between currencies.
Material and runtime
Recommended price
$27.08
- Total cost
- $11.78
- Recommended price
- $27.08
- Profit
- $13.54
- Margin
- 50.0%
Cost breakdown
| Material cost | $4.00 |
|---|---|
| Electricity | $0.00 |
| Machine cost | $0.53 |
| Labor | $3.67 |
| Setup / design share | $1.50 |
| Waste | $0.58 |
| Packaging | $1.50 |
| Fees | $1.76 |
Printed · Craft Pricing Tools · CraftPricingTools.com
Recommended price
$27.08
When to use this calculator
Use this for cut jobs: nested part size on the sheet, minutes the beam is cutting, machine hourly cost, setup and packing. Material is still sheet cost times used area over sheet area.
If offcuts cannot be used on another paid job, raise waste or enter the full sheet as used. For surface engraving without a cut, use the laser engraving pricing calculator.
How this calculator works
How we calculate laser cutting cost
- Material = sheet cost × (part area / sheet area)
- Electricity = (watts / 1000) × cut hours × kWh
- Machine = cut hours × machine hourly
- Setup each = design cost / jobs from that design
- Total = material + electricity + machine + labor + setup + waste + packaging
- Price = cost / (1 − margin − fee %) when valid
Example
Example: nested 6×8 in parts on a 12×24 in sheet
$24 sheet, 48 / 288 = $4.00 material. 8 minutes of cut time at 40 W, $0.15/kWh, $4/hr machine, 10 minutes load and unload at $22, $15 file setup across 10 jobs, 6% waste, $1.50 packaging, 50% margin, 6.5% fees.
- Cut time is usually shorter than a detailed engrave on the same piece.
- Nesting more parts on one sheet lowers material each — only if they actually sell.
How much should I charge?
Charge the recommended price. Thick material and slow feed rates need more cut minutes. One-off custom files should set jobs from design to 1.
Pricing tips
- Time a real cut rather than guessing from the preview.
- If the leftover skeleton is scrap, do not pretend it is still a $24 sheet of inventory.
Common mistakes
- Using engraving minutes for a simple outline cut.
- Ignoring pierce time on lots of small holes.
FAQ
How do I calculate laser cutting cost?
Prorate the sheet by the nested part area, add cut-time electricity and machine hourly cost, labor, setup share, waste and packaging, then a selling price after fees.
Is laser cutting priced the same as laser engraving?
Same cost structure, different runtime. Cutting is usually feed and pierce time; engraving is raster or detailed vector time. Use this page for cuts and the engraving calculator for surface work.
Related calculators
- Laser Engraving Pricing Calculator — Calculate laser cost from material and runtime, then a selling price after fees.
- 3D Printing Cost Calculator — Calculate filament, electricity, machine time, labor, waste and total print cost.