What can be laser engraved? More than most people expect, and a couple of things that absolutely shouldn’t be. The two variables that decide the outcome: the material itself, and whether the shop runs the right laser for it. A fiber laser handles metal. A CO2 laser handles organics like wood, leather, and acrylic. (We cover the difference in our fiber vs. CO2 guide.)
Below is the honest version of the materials list, including the parts where we tell customers no.
Metals
Stainless, aluminum, titanium, and brass all mark cleanly on a fiber laser. Depending on settings you get a dark annealed mark, a frosted etch, or deep engraving with material removed. Bare stainless is the interesting one: it can be annealed (a permanent color change with the surface left smooth) or engraved (metal removed), and which one you want depends on how the part will live. A knife that sees rain wants annealing. A tool that sees gravel wants depth.
Details on our metal engraving page.
Wood
Maple, walnut, and cherry engrave with rich contrast, and every species burns a little differently, which is part of the charm. Softer woods and plywood work too. Cutting boards, signs, plaques, and gift boxes are the usual suspects. See wood engraving.
Glass and crystal
Glass takes a frosted etch that reads elegant on drinkware and awards. Thin or curved glass needs careful setup to avoid chipping, and crystal is fussier about heat than standard glass, so we test unfamiliar stock before running a full set. See glass engraving.
Leather
Genuine leather burns to a sharp, darkened mark with real detail. Veg-tan is the best canvas. Wallets, belts, journals, patches. See leather engraving.
Acrylic and plastics
Cast acrylic engraves to a frosted white that pops against clear or colored stock, which is why it dominates the awards world. Many ABS and engineering plastics mark well too. See acrylic and plastic engraving.
What we won’t engrave
PVC and vinyl release chlorine gas under the laser. That gas is toxic to the operator and corrosive to the machine, so the answer is no, every time, no matter how small the job. Polycarbonate discolors and burns instead of engraving cleanly. Mystery coated materials get tested or declined, because “some coating from the factory” isn’t a safety data sheet.
If you’re unsure what your item is made of, ask us before you buy twenty of them.
Getting a good result
Send vector artwork (SVG, AI, PDF) when you have it, since a crisp vector beats a low-resolution photo of a logo in every case. Tell us how the item will be used, a display piece and a daily-carry tool need different marks. And when possible, let us source the blanks: consistent stock means consistent results across a batch.
Have a material in mind? Request a quote and tell us what you’re engraving. We’re a Reston, VA shop and we ship nationwide.
Frequently asked questions
On wood, slate, and coated metal, yes. High-contrast photos reproduce best, and we’ll tell you plainly if yours won’t translate.
No. The laser alters the material itself, so the mark lasts as long as the item.
A couple of millimeters and still legible, depending on material. Send the design and we’ll confirm before cutting anything.