FabCalcs

Laser Cutting Cost Calculator — Cycle Time & Price Per Part

Who this is for: For makerspace sellers and small laser shops quoting custom signs and parts — the ones who forget that alignment and material handling are paid hours too.

Cut path length, speed and machine rate in — get the cycle time, machine cost, material share and price.

Quick answer: Laser cutting price = (cut path ÷ speed) × machine rate + sheet share + setup amortized. 300 inches at 25 IPM on a $20/h machine = 12 min = $4 + $1.50 material + $2 setup ≈ $5.70/part — quote $8.50 at 50% markup. The calculator runs it per part.

in

From your software

IPM
$/h
$

70–85% nesting

min
%
Cost per part
$5.7
machine + setup share + material
Charge this
$8.55
× (1+50%)
Beam time
12 min
300" ÷ 25 IPM
Machine (beam time)$4.20
Material (sheet ÷ 10)$1.50
Total per part → price$5.70 → $8.55
A dozen units: same setup, lower per-part — telling the customer that closes the bigger order. Odd-shaped nesting halves yield; quote those at 60%.
Cycle = cut path ÷ speed (+20–50% for pierce/travel on intricate files). Rates: CO2 hobby $15–30/h, industrial fiber $40+. Typical speeds: 3mm ply ~40 IPM · 3mm acrylic ~25 · 1/8' steel ~15.
Core facts
Cycle timeCut path ÷ feed speed (+piercing)
Machine rateCO2 hobby $15–30/h · industrial $40+
Typical speeds3mm ply ~40 IPM · 3mm acrylic ~25 · 1/8" steel ~15
Example300" @ 25 IPM = $4 + $1.50 + $2 ≈ $5.70
Charge×1.5 markup → ~$8.50
StatusQuotes use standard shop math: machine-hour rate × cycle time + materials + setup amortization. SFM/chipload figures are conservative HSS starting points (carbide runs 3–4× SFM). Compiled September 2026 — estimates for budgeting; real quotes come from the shop that runs the job.

How do you price laser cutting?

Three components. Machine time: total cut path ÷ feed speed = minutes under the beam, charged at your rate (consumer 60–120 W machines: $15–30/h; industrial: $40+). Material: the sheet share each part consumes, plus kerf-aware nesting reality — 12 parts per sheet means the sheet price ÷ 12, and bad nesting is a real cost. Setup: file prep, focusing, material placement and the first-test alignment — amortized across the batch. Example: a 300-inch cut path at 25 IPM is 12 minutes on a $20/h machine ($4) + $1.50 sheet share + $2 setup across ten parts ≈ $5.70 per part — before any markup, which at 50% brings the quote to about $8.50.

Common uses

  • Quoting custom acrylic/wood signs and parts
  • Pricing a full sheet of nested parts vs single orders
  • Checking makerspace per-minute rates against your true cost
  • Deciding whether a customer's file is worth the setup

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does laser cutting cost?
US shops: roughly $1–5 per minute of machine time for consumer machines, more for industrial; a simple acrylic part typically lands $5–25, detailed work higher. Material is separate — 3mm acrylic runs $3–6/sq ft, 1/8" plywood $2–4.
How do I calculate laser cut time?
Total cut path length ÷ feed speed = beam-on minutes. A typical vector file's path length comes from your software; typical speeds: 3mm plywood ~40 IPM, 3mm acrylic ~25 IPM, 1/8" steel ~15 IPM (fiber). Add 20–50% for travel moves and piercing on intricate files.
What machine rate should I charge?
Consumer lasers (60–120 W CO2): $15–30/hour covers tube wear, optics, electricity and amortization. Industrial fiber: $40+/hour. If your rate is 'whatever feels fair', cost it out — a $400 tube every 1,000 hours is $0.40/hour before anything else.
How do I account for material waste?
Price the sheet share, not the part: sheet cost ÷ parts per sheet, with realistic nesting (usually 70–85% efficiency). Odd-shaped parts or grain-matched wood can halve your yield — quote those as if yield were 60%.
Should setup be a separate fee?
For small batches, yes — a flat setup fee ($5–15) protects you from $8 orders that take 40 minutes of file prep. Amortize it in batch size for production runs; the calculator does the split.

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