Laser Cutting & Engraving Cost Estimator
Calculate job costs for laser cutting & engraving including pierce count, gas assist (Nitrogen/Oxygen), and beam hourly rate.
Material & Specification Presets
Material & Job Parameters
Parameter ControlsAuto-Extract Mesh Volume (.STL)
In-Browser WASM ParserDrop 3D .STL file here or click to browse
Pure client-side mesh processing • 0 file upload server latency
Raw material spool/resin bottle cost
Finished model net mass including support waste
Total machine execution time
File slicing, bed prep & post-processing labor
Commercial shop margin
Total Internal Direct Cost:
$0.024 / gram • Total Energy: 1.13 kWh
Recommended Quote Price
$15.98
+$4.96
Cost Composition Breakdown
Total: $11.02Comprehensive Guide: Laser Cutting & Engraving Cost Estimator
High-power Fiber and CO2 laser cutters slice through sheet metal, acrylic, and wood at extreme speeds. Accurately quoting laser job costs requires evaluating beam power consumption, assist gas consumption (high-pressure Nitrogen for oxide-free steel edges vs Oxygen for mild steel exothermic cutting), pierces, and raw material nesting layout efficiency.
Mathematical Formula Breakdown
Laser Job Cost = (Cut Time Hours × Laser Hourly Machine Rate) + (Assist Gas Volume × Gas Rate) + (Material Weight × Sheet Price/kg) + (Pierce Count × $0.05/pierce) + Hand Finishing Labor.
Industry Pricing Benchmarks
Fiber lasers (3kW-12kW) average $80 - $180 per hour operating shop rate. Nitrogen assist gas adds $12 - $25 per hour of continuous high-pressure cutting.
Optimization Strategies
- Nest parts with shared cut lines (common line cutting) to eliminate duplicate laser passes and save up to 20% in gas consumption.
- Use high-pressure Nitrogen assist for stainless steel to eliminate post-cut edge deburring and oxidation cleaning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Nitrogen assist gas more expensive than Oxygen for laser cutting?
Oxygen acts as a chemical reactant that releases heat during cutting, requiring lower pressure (1-2 bar). Nitrogen is an inert shield gas that blows melted metal away at high pressure (14-20 bar), consuming significantly more gas volume.