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Can a laser cutter cut metal?
Short answer
Yes — but cutting metal takes a fiber laser. A kilowatt-class fiber cutter produces a beam (around 1064 nm) that metal absorbs efficiently, so it cuts steel, stainless, aluminum, brass, and copper cleanly with an assist gas. A high-power CO2 laser can cut only thin sheet metal (Boss’s HP series cuts up to about 18-gauge stainless), and diode, low-wattage, and fiber-marker lasers cannot cut metal at all — markers only etch the surface. So the honest answer is yes, if you mean a fiber cutter like Boss’s FC series; no, if you mean a hobby engraver.
To cut metal, you need a fiber laser
Metal absorbs the fiber ~1064 nm wavelength far better than CO2, so fiber is the tool for cutting metal. A fiber cutter focuses a high-power beam and uses an assist gas (oxygen for carbon steel, nitrogen for clean stainless/aluminum) to blow molten metal out of the cut. Boss FC Series fiber cutters do this, from FC-EcoCut (2 kW) up to high-power enclosed systems, plus pipe/tube options.
What CO2, diode, and marker lasers can (and can’t) do
- High-power CO2 (Boss HP, 155–250 W): cuts thin sheet metal (up to ~18-gauge stainless / 20-gauge mild steel), not thick plate.
- Fiber markers (Boss FM, 20–100 W): mark/etch/engrave metal permanently, but do NOT cut.
- Diode & low-watt lasers: can mark coated/anodized metal at best; cannot cut.
A 20–100 W fiber marker sounds powerful but only marks; cutting metal is a kilowatt-class job.
Cutting vs. marking metal
For permanent marks (serial numbers, logos, barcodes) you want a fiber marker, not a cutter — see how to laser engrave metal. To cut parts from sheet or tube, that’s fiber-cutter territory. Many shops run both.
More ways this gets asked
Can a laser cutter cut metal?
Yes, if it is a fiber laser cutter. A kilowatt-class fiber cutter cuts steel, stainless, aluminum, brass, and copper with an assist gas. A high-power CO2 laser cuts only thin sheet, and diode or marker lasers cannot cut metal at all.
Can you laser cut metal?
Yes — with a fiber laser cutter. Fiber is absorbed by metal, so it cuts sheet and tube cleanly; the thickness it handles depends on the machine’s power. A hobby engraver or fiber marker will not cut metal.
Can a laser cut through metal?
A fiber laser cuts all the way through metal, with the thickness set by its power — roughly 10 mm of stainless at 1 kW up to 20–25 mm at 6 kW. A low-power or CO2 laser will not cut through anything but thin sheet.
Can a laser engraver or fiber marker cut metal?
No. Laser engravers and fiber markers (typically 20–100 W) mark, etch, or engrave the surface of metal but do not cut it. Cutting metal needs a kilowatt-class fiber cutter, which is a different machine.
Can a CO2 laser cut metal?
Only thin sheet, and only at high power. Boss’s HP-series CO2 lasers cut up to about 18-gauge stainless / 20-gauge mild steel, but bare or thick metal is a fiber-cutter job. Standard desktop CO2 lasers do not cut metal at all.
Related: What type of laser cuts metal? · How many watts to cut metal? · How do you laser engrave metal?
Laser Type
What type of laser cuts metal?
Short answer
The type of laser that cuts metal is a fiber laser. Its ~1064 nm wavelength is absorbed by metal far more efficiently than the CO2 wavelength — several times more — so fiber is the standard for cutting steel, stainless, aluminum, brass, and copper. A high-power CO2 laser can cut only thin sheet metal, and diode lasers cannot cut metal at all (they only mark coated surfaces). Cutting also requires real power: a kilowatt-class fiber source, not a tens-of-watts marker. So for metal cutting, the answer is a fiber cutter such as Boss’s FC series.
Fiber is the laser type for metal
Metal poorly absorbs CO2 but readily absorbs fiber’s ~1064 nm (several times the cutting absorption of CO2 on metal). That efficiency plus high power and assist gas cuts clean kerfs in steel, stainless, aluminum, brass, and copper, making fiber the industry standard. Boss FC Series covers entry-kilowatt to high-power production.
Where CO2 and diode fit
- CO2: great for non-metals; high-power CO2 (Boss HP, 155–250 W) also cuts thin sheet metal, not plate.
- Diode: marks coated/anodized metal at best; cannot cut.
- Fiber marker (galvo): marks/engraves metal permanently, no cutting.
For real parts, the answer is a fiber cutter.
It’s about type and power together
Being fiber is necessary but not sufficient; you also need power. A 20–100 W fiber marker is fiber but only marks; a kilowatt-class fiber cutter is what cuts. Match type (fiber) and power (kilowatts) to your metal and thickness.
More ways this gets asked
What type of laser cuts metal?
A fiber laser. Its ~1064 nm wavelength is absorbed efficiently by metal, so a kilowatt-class fiber cutter cleanly cuts steel, stainless, aluminum, brass, and copper. CO2 cuts only thin sheet and diode lasers can’t cut metal at all.
What laser can cut metal / what kind of laser can cut metal?
A fiber laser cutter is what cuts metal. High-power CO2 can manage thin sheet, but for anything thicker — or for clean, fast production cutting — fiber is the laser type to use.
What laser cutter can cut metal?
A fiber laser cutter, such as Boss’s FC series. These use a kilowatt-class fiber source plus an assist gas to cut sheet metal and tube; the model and power are chosen by the metal type and thickness you cut.
What class of laser can cut metal?
By power class, metal cutting is a kilowatt-class fiber laser job — roughly 1 kW and up. By laser-safety class, industrial fiber cutters are high-powered Class 4 lasers, which is why they run in enclosed or interlocked systems for operator safety.
What is the minimum laser wattage to cut metal?
About 1 kW of fiber power for thin sheet is the practical floor; below that only a high-power CO2 (155 W+) cuts very thin sheet. Tens of watts — the range of fiber markers — will not cut metal.
Related: Can a laser cutter cut metal? · How many watts to cut metal? · How does a laser cutter work?
Power
How many watts do you need to laser cut metal?
Short answer
To cut metal you need a kilowatt-class fiber laser — cutting starts around 1–2 kW (1,000–2,000 W) and goes up from there, not the 20–100 watts people often ask about. Those low wattages belong to fiber markers, which etch metal but do not cut it. As a rule, more power cuts thicker metal and faster: roughly 1 kW handles thin sheet, while 3–6 kW cuts plate. A high-power CO2 laser (155–250 W) is the only non-fiber exception, and it cuts only thin sheet. If your laser is rated in tens of watts, it marks metal — it does not cut it.
Cutting metal is a kilowatt job
Cutting metal needs a fiber laser measured in kilowatts: practical cutting starts ~1–2 kW and scales up. Boss FC Series fiber cutters run from ~1.5–2 kW (entry) to 6 kW and beyond for thick plate. More power = thicker and faster, but thickness scales sub-linearly.
Why 20 W, 40 W, and 100 W lasers can’t cut metal
A 20/40/100 W laser is a marker/engraver, not a cutter. Boss FM Series fiber markers (20–100 W) mark, etch, and deep-engrave metal but cannot cut it. The only non-fiber exception is high-power CO2 (Boss HP, 155–250 W), which cuts thin sheet only.
Rough power-to-capability guide
- 20–100 W (fiber marker): marks/engraves, no cutting.
- 155–250 W (high-power CO2): cuts thin sheet (up to ~18-gauge stainless).
- 1–2 kW (fiber): thin-to-medium sheet.
- 3–6 kW (fiber): plate, ~10–25 mm by metal.
- 12 kW+ (fiber): thick plate and high-speed production.
More ways this gets asked
How many watts do you need to laser cut metal?
Cutting metal needs a kilowatt-class fiber laser — practically 1–2 kW to start and 3–6 kW for plate. The 20–100 watt figures people see are fiber markers, which only etch metal. Wattage in the tens of watts marks; wattage in the thousands cuts.
Can a 40 watt laser cut metal?
No. A 40 W laser — whether diode or CO2 — cannot cut metal; at most it marks coated or anodized surfaces. Cutting metal needs a kilowatt-class fiber laser, roughly 25–50 times that power.
Can a 20W laser cut metal? Can a 10W laser cut metal?
No. 10 W and 20 W lasers are for marking and engraving, and on bare metal they often need a marking spray even to leave a mark. They cannot cut metal — that requires a fiber cutter measured in kilowatts.
Can a 100 watt laser cutter cut thin metal?
A 100 W fiber marker cannot cut metal — it only marks. A 100 W+ CO2 laser still won’t cut metal until you reach Boss HP-series power (155–250 W), which cuts only thin sheet. For anything beyond thin sheet, you need a kilowatt fiber cutter.
How many watts to cut aluminum or steel?
Both need kilowatt fiber power. Roughly 1 kW cuts about 20 mm carbon steel or 8 mm aluminum; 3 kW reaches ~22 mm steel; 6 kW handles ~25 mm. Aluminum needs more power than steel for the same thickness because it reflects and conducts heat away.
What is the minimum laser wattage to cut metal?
For a true cut, the practical minimum is about 1 kW of fiber power for thin sheet. Below that, only a high-power CO2 laser (155 W+) cuts very thin sheet; tens of watts will not cut metal at all.
Related: Can a laser cutter cut metal? · How thick of metal can a laser cut? · What type of laser cuts metal?
Thickness
How thick of metal can a laser cut?
Short answer
How thick a laser cuts metal depends almost entirely on fiber power. As a guide, ~1 kW cuts roughly 20 mm carbon steel, 10 mm stainless, and 8 mm aluminum; ~3 kW reaches about 22 mm steel / 12 mm stainless; and ~6 kW handles around 25 mm steel and 20–25 mm stainless, with the highest-power systems cutting thicker still. Thickness scales sub-linearly — doubling power adds capacity but not double the thickness — and aluminum and copper cut thinner than steel at the same power because they reflect and conduct heat. A high-power CO2 laser cuts only thin sheet (up to ~18-gauge), so plate is strictly a fiber job.
Thickness by fiber power
Approximate maximums for clean production cutting; exact capacity varies by machine, optics, and assist gas.
Why power and thickness don’t scale evenly
Thickness scales sub-linearly: 3 kW to 6 kW adds ~50% more usable thickness, not double. Material matters: aluminum and copper reflect and conduct heat, so they cut thinner than carbon steel at the same power; stainless sits in between.
Thin sheet vs. plate, and CO2’s limit
For thin sheet, an entry kilowatt fiber is plenty, and high-power CO2 (Boss HP, 155–250 W) cuts up to ~18-gauge stainless. For plate, there’s no CO2 substitute — the chart figures are fiber-cutter capability. Size the machine to the thickest metal you cut regularly.
More ways this gets asked
How thick of metal can a laser cut?
It depends on fiber power: roughly 20 mm carbon steel and 10 mm stainless at 1 kW, up to ~25 mm steel and 20–25 mm stainless at 6 kW, with higher-power systems cutting thicker. Aluminum and copper cut thinner at a given power. A CO2 laser cuts only thin sheet.
How thick can a laser cutter cut steel?
A ~1 kW fiber laser cuts about 20 mm of carbon steel, ~3 kW reaches ~22 mm, and ~6 kW around 25 mm, with high-power systems going thicker. The figure is set by the fiber power, not the brand.
How many inches thick will a laser cut metal?
Common fiber cutters handle roughly ¾″–1″ (about 20–25 mm) of steel, and the highest-power industrial systems cut beyond 1″. Stainless and aluminum max out thinner than carbon steel at the same power.
How thick of metal can a 100-watt laser cut?
A 100 watt laser cannot cut metal — that is fiber-marker or CO2 territory, which only marks or cuts very thin sheet. Cutting measurable metal thickness requires a kilowatt-class fiber cutter, starting around 1 kW.
How do you cut 16-gauge steel — can a CO2 laser do it?
16-gauge steel (about 1.5 mm) is thin sheet. A high-power CO2 laser can cut light-gauge stainless (up to ~18-gauge), but 16-gauge and thicker mild steel is best and most reliably cut on a fiber laser, which handles it easily even at entry power.
Related: How many watts to cut metal? · Can you laser cut stainless steel? · Can a laser cutter cut metal?
Stainless Steel
Can you laser cut stainless steel?
Short answer
Yes — stainless steel is one of the best metals to laser cut, on a fiber laser. Fiber’s wavelength is absorbed well by stainless, and using nitrogen as the assist gas gives a clean, bright, oxide-free edge that often needs no finishing. Thickness depends on power: roughly 10 mm at 1 kW, ~12 mm at 3 kW, and up to ~20–25 mm at 6 kW. A high-power CO2 laser (like Boss’s HP, 155–250 W) can cut only thin stainless sheet (up to about 18-gauge); real thickness needs a fiber cutter such as Boss’s FC series. The heat-affected zone is small, so cutting doesn’t meaningfully harden the bulk material.
Fiber cuts stainless cleanly
Stainless cuts beautifully on a fiber laser. The key to a clean result is assist gas: nitrogen gives a bright, oxide-free, ready-to-use edge; oxygen cuts faster but oxidizes the edge. Boss FC Series fiber cutters handle stainless from thin sheet through plate by power.
Thickness by power, and why CO2 wattages fall short
- ~1 kW fiber: up to ~10 mm stainless.
- ~3 kW fiber: up to ~12 mm.
- ~6 kW fiber: up to ~20–25 mm.
- High-power CO2 (155–250 W): thin sheet only (up to ~18-gauge).
A “130 W” or “150 W” laser only cuts thin stainless because those are CO2 wattages. Real thickness is a kilowatt fiber job.
Does laser cutting harm the stainless?
Laser cutting puts little heat into the part, so the heat-affected zone is small and it doesn’t meaningfully harden the bulk. Nitrogen assist keeps the edge corrosion-resistant; oxygen oxidizes the edge and may need cleaning before welding/finishing.
More ways this gets asked
Can you laser cut stainless steel?
Yes — stainless is one of the best metals to fiber-cut. With nitrogen assist you get a clean, bright, oxide-free edge that often needs no finishing. Thickness depends on power, from about 10 mm at 1 kW to 20–25 mm at 6 kW.
Can a laser cutter cut stainless steel / can stainless steel be laser cut?
Yes, on a fiber laser cutter. Stainless absorbs the fiber wavelength well and cuts cleanly with an assist gas. A high-power CO2 laser manages only thin stainless sheet, so for plate you need a fiber machine.
How do you laser cut stainless steel?
Use a fiber cutter with nitrogen assist for clean, oxide-free edges (or oxygen for faster, oxidized cuts), set focus and gas pressure for the thickness, and pierce before cutting. Match power to thickness, and run a test on the same grade and gauge first.
Does laser cutting harden stainless steel?
Not meaningfully. The heat-affected zone is small, so the bulk material’s properties are largely unchanged. With nitrogen assist the cut edge stays corrosion-resistant; an oxygen-cut edge oxidizes and may need cleaning before welding or finishing.
How to cut stainless steel with a 130 or 150 watt laser?
Those are CO2 wattages, and at 130–150 W a CO2 laser cuts only thin stainless sheet (roughly 18-gauge and under). For anything thicker, you need a kilowatt-class fiber cutter — watts in that range will not cut stainless plate.
Related: How thick of metal can a laser cut? · Can a laser cutter cut metal? · How do you laser engrave metal?
Cost
How much does metal laser cutting cost?
Short answer
A fiber metal laser cutter is an industrial machine, so it costs far more than a CO2 or diode engraver: Boss’s FC-series fiber cutters start around $45,000 (for an entry 2 kW machine) and climb into the six figures for high-power, large-format, and automated systems. Price is driven mainly by laser power (kW), work area, and automation. Per-part cutting cost is low once you own the machine — mostly electricity, assist gas, and consumables — which is why fiber pays off at volume. If you only need occasional parts, a job shop that charges per cut or per minute may be cheaper than buying.
What a metal laser cutter costs
Boss FC Series fiber cutters start ~$45,000 (entry 2 kW FC-EcoCut), with full-size/higher-power machines ~$48,000–$117,000+, and the largest high-power/automated systems quoted per project. Market-wide, industrial fiber cutters run ~$15,000–$25,000 at the low end to several hundred thousand for automated lines.
What drives the price
- Laser power (kW) — biggest factor.
- Work area & format — small vs 5×10 ft vs oversize.
- Enclosure & class — open vs enclosed Type-1.
- Automation — pallet changers / material handling.
- Pipe/tube capability and add-ons.
Cost to cut a part
Once owned, per-part cost is low: electricity, assist gas (nitrogen/oxygen), consumables (nozzles, lenses), plus labor. That’s why fiber pays off at volume. For occasional parts, a job shop charging per cut/minute is usually cheaper than buying. For general laser pricing across every machine class, see how much a laser cutter costs.
More ways this gets asked
How much does a metal laser cutter cost?
Fiber metal cutters start around $45,000 for an entry 2 kW machine and climb into the six figures for high-power, large-format, and automated systems. Power, work area, and automation drive the price. Boss’s FC series spans this range, with the largest systems quoted per project.
How much does it cost to laser cut metal (per part)?
Once you own the machine, per-part cost is low — mainly electricity, assist gas, consumables, and labor. At a job shop, you typically pay per cut or per minute of machine time, which varies with thickness and complexity. High volume favors owning; occasional parts favor outsourcing.
How much is a laser cutter for metal?
Entry fiber cutters begin around $45,000, and full-size or higher-power machines run from roughly $48,000 into six figures. A high-power CO2 laser that cuts only thin sheet costs less (around $13,000–$15,000), but it is not a substitute for a fiber cutter on real thickness.
How much is a metal laser cutting machine / what is the price?
Plan on tens of thousands of dollars at minimum for a fiber cutter, scaling to several hundred thousand for high-power automated production lines. The exact price depends on power, sheet size, enclosure, and material handling. Ask for a quote based on the metal and volume you cut.
Is it cheaper to buy a metal laser cutter or use a job shop?
If you cut metal regularly, owning a fiber cutter lowers your per-part cost and pays back over time. If you need parts only occasionally, a job shop that charges per cut or per minute avoids the large upfront investment. The crossover depends on your volume.
Related: How much does a laser cutter cost? · Can a laser cutter cut metal? · How many watts to cut metal?
Cutting metal? That’s fiber territory — the FC Series.
Boss’s FC Series fiber cutters cover entry 2 kW machines through high-power, large-format, and automated systems, plus pipe and tube. If your material is wood, acrylic, or leather, a CO2 machine is the right tool — and costs a lot less.