Estimated Time
9m 11s
Energy Cost
$0.001
Tube Wear
$0.015
Higher DPI produces finer detail but takes proportionally longer. 500 DPI takes ~3.3× longer than 150 DPI.
| Material | Engrave | Power | Cut | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plywood (3mm) | 300 mm/s | 60% | 10 mm/s | 85% |
| Hardwood (3mm) | 250 mm/s | 65% | 8 mm/s | 90% |
| Acrylic (3mm) | 250 mm/s | 50% | 8 mm/s | 85% |
| Leather (2mm) | 400 mm/s | 30% | 15 mm/s | 60% |
| Anodized Aluminum | 100 mm/s | 75% | N/A | — |
| Glass | 200 mm/s | 45% | N/A | — |
| MDF (3mm) | 320 mm/s | 55% | 9 mm/s | 85% |
Inputs
Result
A standard 4×4-inch plywood engrave at 254 DPI takes about 9 minutes on a CO2 60W laser at 300 mm/s. The 1,016 scan lines sweep across the full 4-inch width, with each line taking about 0.54 seconds including the return stroke.
Inputs
Result
Leather engraves at high speed (400 mm/s) and low power (30%) because it marks easily. Despite the fast speed, the large 8×6-inch area at 300 DPI produces 1,800 scan lines, resulting in about 27 minutes of total engrave time.
Inputs
Result
Cutting follows the perimeter (1,016 mm for a 12×8" rectangle) at just 10 mm/s with 85% power. Despite the slow speed, the total path is short compared to raster engraving, so cutting takes under 2 minutes.
Laser engraving time depends on the area size, DPI resolution, travel speed, and number of passes. A 4×4-inch design at 254 DPI on plywood with a 60W CO2 laser takes about 9 minutes. Doubling the DPI roughly doubles the time because the laser must scan twice as many lines.
| Design Size | 150 DPI | 254 DPI | 500 DPI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2×2" | ~1 min | ~2 min | ~4 min |
| 4×4" | ~5 min | ~9 min | ~18 min |
| 8×6" | ~16 min | ~27 min | ~55 min |
| 12×8" | ~30 min | ~50 min | ~100 min |
For a 60W CO2 laser engraving plywood, use 300 mm/s at 60% power. Hardwood needs slower speed (250 mm/s) at higher power (65%). Diode lasers are much slower: a 10W diode engraves plywood at 100 mm/s and 90% power. Always run a test grid on scrap material first.
| Material | CO2 60W Speed | CO2 60W Power | Diode 10W Speed | Diode 10W Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plywood | 300 mm/s | 60% | 100 mm/s | 90% |
| Hardwood | 250 mm/s | 65% | 80 mm/s | 95% |
| Acrylic | 250 mm/s | 50% | 80 mm/s | 80% |
| Leather | 400 mm/s | 30% | 150 mm/s | 60% |
Use 150 DPI for draft/test runs, 254 DPI for standard text and logos, 300 DPI for detailed artwork, and 500 DPI for photographic images. Higher DPI produces finer detail but increases engrave time proportionally. Most projects look great at 254 DPI.
CO2 lasers (40–80W) are faster and can cut/engrave almost any material including acrylic and glass. Diode lasers (5–20W) are cheaper and compact but 2–4× slower for engraving and limited in cutting capability. CO2 tubes last about 2,000 hours; diode modules last about 10,000 hours.
| Feature | CO2 Laser | Diode Laser |
|---|---|---|
| Power range | 40–80W | 5–20W |
| Engrave speed (plywood) | 250–350 mm/s | 60–180 mm/s |
| Can cut acrylic? | Yes | Only 20W |
| Module life | ~2,000 hrs | ~10,000 hrs |
| Typical price | $300–$5,000 | $200–$1,500 |
Electricity cost for laser engraving is minimal. A 60W CO2 laser running for 30 minutes uses 0.03 kWh, costing about $0.004 at $0.12/kWh. The real consumable cost is tube/module wear: a 30-minute job uses about 0.025% of a CO2 tube’s life, adding ~$0.05 in replacement cost.
For raster engraving: divide the height by line spacing (1/DPI in inches) to get the number of scan lines. Each line takes width/speed seconds to engrave plus width/return_speed seconds to return. Multiply total by number of passes. For cutting: divide perimeter by cut speed.
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Last Updated: Mar 9, 2026
This calculator is provided for informational and educational purposes only. Results are estimates and should not be considered professional financial, medical, legal, or other advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making important decisions. UseCalcPro is not responsible for any actions taken based on calculator results.