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Laser FAQs

What can a CO2 laser engrave?

A CO2 laser engraves wood, acrylic, leather, glass, paper, fabric, cork, stone, and anodized/coated metal. See the full material list, what to avoid, and where fiber is needed.

The full material list a CO2 laser handles — and the few it can’t or shouldn’t touch.

Short answer

A CO2 laser engraves a huge range of non-metals: wood, acrylic, leather, glass, paper and cardstock, fabric, cork, rubber, stone and slate, ceramic and tile, and many plastics. It also marks anodized aluminum directly and other metals when coated with a marking spray. What it can’t engrave is bare metal (use a fiber laser) — and what you must never laser is PVC or vinyl, which release hydrogen chloride — hydrochloric acid once it meets moisture. In short, if it’s an organic or non-metal material, a CO2 laser can probably engrave it; for bare metal, reach for fiber.

Materials a CO2 laser engraves.

  • Wood & plywood — dark, detailed engraving.
  • Acrylic — frosted white on cast acrylic; glossy cut edges.
  • Leather — crisp, dark marks (genuine leather; avoid PVC-based faux).
  • Glass, stone, slate & ceramic — frosted surface engraving.
  • Paper, cardstock, fabric, cork, rubber — fast, clean marking and cutting.
  • Anodized aluminum & coated metals — direct (anodized) or via marking spray.
CO2 beam absorbed by non-metal and engraving it, versus reflected off bare metal with no mark
The same CO2 beam is absorbed by non-metals and engraves them, but bounces off bare metal and leaves no mark.

What it can’t — and must never — engrave.

A CO2 laser can’t engrave bare metal (it reflects the beam) — that’s a fiber laser’s job. And you must never laser PVC or vinyl (hydrogen chloride, then hydrochloric acid) or polycarbonate (burns). When in doubt about an unknown material, identify it first. For the cutting-side material list, see what materials can a laser cutter cut?

Related questions

What can a CO2 laser engrave?

Non-metals of all kinds — wood, acrylic, leather, glass, paper, fabric, cork, rubber, stone, slate, and ceramic — plus anodized aluminum directly and other metals with a marking spray. It can’t engrave bare metal (use fiber), and you must never laser PVC or vinyl.

Can a CO2 laser engrave metal and glass?

Glass, yes — CO2 frosts the surface and is the right tool for it. Bare metal, no — CO2 reflects off it, so you need a marking spray or a fiber laser; anodized aluminum is the one metal it marks directly.

What should you never engrave with a CO2 laser?

Never PVC or vinyl — they release hydrogen chloride, which becomes hydrochloric acid in contact with moisture and attacks both you and the machine — and avoid polycarbonate, which burns instead of marking. Always identify an unknown material before running it.

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