What to charge for laser cutting
Break down the cost components: machine time, material, setup, services. Build pricing that covers your costs and earns margin - without guessing.
Why pricing is confusing at first
No baseline
You don't know what other shops charge, and even if you did, their costs aren't yours.
Hidden costs
Machine depreciation, electricity, consumables, your time - it's hard to account for everything.
Fear of overcharging
You quote low to get the job, then realize you barely broke even (or lost money).
Inconsistent pricing
One quote you wing it at $50/hour. Next quote you forget and say $30. Now your pricing is all over the place.
Material cost confusion
Is it per sheet? Per pound? How much scrap do you account for? Every job feels like a math test.
How to think about laser cutting pricing
Calculate your hourly machine rate
Add up: machine depreciation (purchase price ÷ expected hours), electricity, consumables (lenses, nozzles, gas), maintenance. This is your floor - charging less means losing money.
Add your labor rate
Your time has value. Even if you're a one-person shop, include an hourly rate for setup, monitoring, and post-processing.
Track material costs accurately
Know your cost per pound or per sheet. Include scrap factor - not every square inch of a sheet becomes a sellable part.
Define your services
Deburring, powder coating, welding, shipping - each service has a cost. Price them separately or bundle them.
Set a minimum job charge
Small jobs still take setup time. A minimum charge ensures you don't lose money on tiny orders.
Add margin
Cover your costs, then add profit. 20–50% margin is common, depending on competition and complexity.
How NanoQuote structures pricing
Machine hourly rate
Set your per-hour rate for each machine. Quotes multiply cut time by this rate automatically.
Material library with costs
Store material costs per pound or per sheet. Select material when quoting - cost calculates from actual part weight.
Cut time from geometry
Cut length × feed rate + pierces × pierce time = actual cut time. No more guessing.
Service catalog
Define services once with per-part, per-batch, or percentage pricing. Add to quotes with a click.
Minimum quote setting
Set a floor so small jobs don't slip through at a loss.
Transparent breakdown
See exactly where the price comes from. If it looks wrong, you know which number to adjust.
Why structured pricing beats guessing
Frequently asked questions
It varies widely ($50–$150+/hour) depending on your machine cost, location, and overhead. Start by calculating your actual costs, not copying someone else's rate.
Most shops price per-part (which is derived from cut time × hourly rate + material + services). Customers prefer knowing the total, not an hourly estimate.
Once you've quoted a part, the same calculation applies to repeats. Some shops offer volume discounts for large repeat orders.
Include it. Either charge a flat setup fee per job or bake it into your hourly rate. Don't give away setup for free.
Get a supplier quote for the specific material, add it to your library (with markup if desired), and use that cost in your quote.
Check your rates. If they're accurate and you're still high, you might be inefficient - or the customer's expectations are unrealistic. Don't undercut yourself to win bad jobs.
Related resources
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