Laser Engraving Time & Price Calculator
Estimate how long an engraving or cut will take and turn it into a price with your material, machine and labor costs.
Job time estimate
Laser-on movement estimate multiplied by calibration factor k = 1.00. Acceleration, travel between areas and controller limits can add time.
Price / quote summary
| Category | Cost |
|---|---|
| Material (10 pcs) | $25.00 |
| Machine time | $30.00 |
| Labor & setup | $18.33 |
| Other costs | $3.00 |
| Total cost | $76.33 |
Results are starting points, not guarantees. Lasers can start fires and damage eyes — follow your machine’s safety instructions and never leave a running laser.
Quick answer
Raster time ≈ number of lines × line length ÷ speed, where number of lines = height ÷ line interval. A 100 × 50 mm engraving at 0.1 mm and 100 mm/s has 500 lines and takes about 500 seconds (8 min 20 s) of engraving, plus acceleration and travel. Price = (material + machine time + labor + other costs) plus your markup or margin.
How to use
- Enter the engraving size, interval, speed and passes; add any cut length.
- If you have run a similar job, calibrate: enter the real time to get a correction factor.
- In the price card, press “Use time estimate”, enter your costs and choose markup or margin.
- Print the quote if you need it.
Worked example
- Time: 100 × 50 mm, 0.1 mm, 100 mm/s, bidirectional → 500 s. Unidirectional with 2.5 mm overscan and 200 mm/s return → 787.5 s. A 1,200 mm cut at 10 mm/s with 2 passes → 240 s.
- Price: 10 pieces, material $2.50 each, 6 machine minutes each at $30/h, 4 labor minutes each at $20/h, 15 min setup, $3 other → total cost $76.33. With 50 % markup the price is $114.50 ($11.45 each). With a 40 % margin the price is $127.22.
How it’s calculated
- Raster time: lines = height ÷ line interval; time = passes × lines × (width + 2 × overscan) ÷ speed. Unidirectional adds passes × lines × (width + 2 × overscan) ÷ return speed.
- Vector time: passes × length ÷ speed.
- Total estimated time: (raster time + vector time) × calibration factor k.
- Material cost: material per piece × quantity.
- Machine cost: machine minutes per piece × quantity ÷ 60 × machine rate per hour.
- Labor cost: (labor minutes per piece × quantity + setup minutes) ÷ 60 × labor rate per hour.
- Total cost: material + machine + labor + other costs per order.
- Markup mode: price = cost × (1 + markup ÷ 100).
- Margin mode: price = cost ÷ (1 − margin ÷ 100).
Markup is profit ÷ cost. Margin is profit ÷ price. A 50 % markup is a 33.3 % margin.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why does my real job take longer than the estimate?
The estimate counts laser-on movement only. Acceleration, travel between areas and controller limits add time. Use the calibration factor from one real job and the estimates for similar jobs get much closer.
What is overscan?
Extra movement at the start and end of each line so the head is at full speed when the laser fires (LightBurn documentation).
Should I use markup or margin?
Either works; just don't mix them up. A 50 % markup on $100 cost is $150; a 50 % margin is $200.
Sources
- LightBurn — Image mode / Cut settings
DPI = 25.4 / line interval; overscan definition
Last reviewed: 2026-10-26
Built and maintained by Numberwright. Every formula on this page is listed under “How it’s calculated”, with its sources. Found a mistake? Contact details coming soon.
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