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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 toxic chlorine gas. 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 (toxic chlorine gas) 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 toxic, corrosive chlorine gas that harms you and the machine — and avoid polycarbonate, which burns instead of marking. Always identify an unknown material before running it.

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