Laser-Safe Materials

Can I Laser This? Laser-Safe Materials Guide

A quick reference for CO₂ and fiber lasers: what works, what needs care, and what never goes in the machine.

See the never list Ask about a material

Material by material

"Yes" means the material works with normal care: extraction on, air assist for cutting, and someone at the machine. Settings vary by machine and wattage, so test on a scrap first.

  • Solid wood

    CO₂
    Yes Engrave and cut
    Fiber
    No Not suitable

    Resinous woods such as pine can flare. Keep air assist on when cutting and never leave a job running unattended.

  • Plywood and MDF

    CO₂
    Yes Engrave and cut
    Fiber
    No Not suitable

    The glues give off formaldehyde-bearing fumes, so extraction matters. Buy laser-grade plywood; glue voids stop the cut.

  • Cast acrylic

    CO₂
    Yes Engrave and cut
    Fiber
    No Not suitable

    Engraves frosty white and cuts with a polished edge. Strong odour, so extract. Watch thick cuts for flame.

  • Extruded acrylic

    CO₂
    Yes Cuts well, engraves poorly
    Fiber
    No Not suitable

    Cheaper than cast. Cut edges are clean, but engraving looks clear rather than frosted.

  • Rowmark two-ply engraving plastic

    CO₂
    Yes Engrave and cut
    Fiber
    Limited Most lines: no

    Made for CO₂ lasers. Check the spec sheet before running any line on a fiber laser.

  • Vegetable-tanned leather

    CO₂
    Yes Engrave and cut
    Fiber
    No Not suitable

    Strong smell; extract well.

  • Laserable leatherette (PU)

    CO₂
    Yes Engrave and cut
    Fiber
    No Not suitable

    Only PU-based, PVC-free leatherette sold for lasers. Most "faux leather" from fabric stores is vinyl (PVC): never laser it.

  • Laser rubber

    CO₂
    Yes Engrave and cut
    Fiber
    No Not suitable

    Only rubber sold for laser stamp making. Never craft foam, neoprene, or rubber you can't identify.

  • Glass

    CO₂
    Yes Etch only
    Fiber
    No Not suitable

    The laser frosts the surface; it can't cut glass. Low power and lower resolution reduce chipping.

  • Stone, slate, granite, marble, tile

    CO₂
    Yes Engrave
    Fiber
    Limited Some stone; test first

    Granite and quartz release respirable crystalline silica. Use HEPA-filtered extraction and clean up with a HEPA vacuum.

  • Anodized aluminum

    CO₂
    Yes Marks white
    Fiber
    Yes Marks; MOPA can go darker

    A CO₂ laser bleaches the dyed anodize to white or grey. It doesn't reach bare metal.

  • Coated and painted metal

    CO₂
    Yes Removes coating
    Fiber
    Yes Removes coating

    Includes laserable coated aluminum sheet and powder-coated tumblers.

  • Bare metal (stainless, steel, brass, titanium)

    CO₂
    Limited Only with CerMark
    Fiber
    Yes Mark and engrave

    On a CO₂ laser, CerMark or TherMark compound needs high power and slow speed to fuse. Test first.

  • Paper and card stock

    CO₂
    Yes Engrave and cut
    Fiber
    No Not suitable

    Catches fire easily. Use low power and air assist, and stay at the machine.

  • Fabric and felt

    CO₂
    Yes Cut and engrave
    Fiber
    No Not suitable

    Cotton, wool felt and polyester cut well; polyester seals its edge. Avoid vinyl-coated fabrics.

  • Cork

    CO₂
    Yes Engrave and cut
    Fiber
    No Not suitable

    Scorches and can flare. Use low power.

Never put these in a laser

On any laser, CO₂ or fiber. Print this list and post it next to the machine.

  • PVC and vinyl

    Releases hydrogen chloride gas, which harms your lungs and corrodes the laser. Includes vinyl "faux leather", PVC foam board, vinyl-coated fabric and many plastic sheets sold without a label.

  • Polycarbonate (Lexan)

    Discolours, burns, and cuts poorly. Often confused with acrylic: if a clear sheet isn't labelled, don't laser it.

  • ABS

    Melts and gives off fumes that can contain hydrogen cyanide.

  • HDPE

    Melts into a gummy mess and catches fire.

  • PTFE (Teflon)

    Releases toxic fluorine compounds when heated.

  • Fibreglass and coated carbon fibre

    The resins give off harmful fumes, and the glass or carbon fibres become airborne dust.

  • Polystyrene foam

    Catches fire quickly and melts.

  • Chrome-tanned leather

    Never laser chrome-tanned leather. Heating it can produce chromium compounds you don't want to breathe. Use vegetable-tanned leather and good extraction.

  • Neoprene and unknown rubber

    Never laser neoprene or rubber you can't identify. Many contain chlorine. Use rubber sold for lasers.

  • Anything you can't identify

    If nobody can tell you what it is, it doesn't go in the laser.

Fume extraction, every time

Even safe materials give off smoke and fumes when lasered. Wood and MDF produce fine particles and glue fumes; acrylic has a strong odour; stone produces fine dust. Run extraction for every job, and let it run for a short while after the job ends.

Where you can vent outdoors, do. Where you can't, a filtered extractor captures particles and fumes in the room. We sell FiltraBox units, made in Quebec, and size them to the laser and the materials you run most.

FiltraBox fume extractors Laser safety basics
  • Never leave a running job unattended.
  • Keep air assist on when cutting.
  • Keep a fire extinguisher suited to the laser within reach, and know how to use it.
  • Clean the honeycomb or cutting table and the exhaust path regularly; built-up residue burns.
  • Change extractor filters on schedule.

Common questions

Can I laser PVC or vinyl?

No. PVC and vinyl release hydrogen chloride gas when cut or engraved. It harms your lungs and corrodes the laser's optics and metal parts. Many faux leathers and unlabelled plastic sheets are PVC, so if you can't confirm what it is, don't laser it.

Can a CO₂ laser mark stainless steel?

Not directly. Apply a marking compound such as CerMark or TherMark to bare metal, then run the laser at high power and slow speed so the compound fuses. A fiber laser marks stainless directly.

What is the difference between cast and extruded acrylic?

Cast acrylic engraves a frosty white and cuts with a polished edge. Extruded acrylic cuts well and costs less, but engraved areas look clear rather than frosted. For engraved signs and awards, use cast.

Is it safe to laser engrave stone?

The laser part is routine, but granite and quartz release respirable crystalline silica dust. Use extraction with HEPA filtration, clean up with a HEPA vacuum rather than compressed air, and follow your provincial rules on silica exposure.

Do I need fume extraction?

Yes, for every laser and every material. You can vent outdoors where the building allows it, or use a filtered extractor such as a FiltraBox where it doesn't. Size the extractor to your laser and to what you cut most.

Is polycarbonate safe to laser?

No. It discolours, burns, and cuts poorly. Use cast or extruded acrylic instead.

Not sure about a material?

Send us what it is and where it came from. We'll tell you whether it's safe to laser and what settings to start with.

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