How much does laser cutting cost per hour?

Some manufacturers (including Boda) don't quote laser cutting per hour. Instead, laser cutting jobs are priced based on material and thickness, surface finish, and order quantity. For a better comparison, evaluate suppliers based on their quoted price per part, not an hourly rate.

Why is laser cutting so expensive for one part?

Because every production run has some fixed costs, which stay the same whether you're ordering one part or one thousand. When you order just one unit, all those fixed costs fall on that single part. But when you order higher volumes, those fixed costs get distributed across each individual part. In our test, ordering a single 2.0 mm steel plate cost $27.98, but ordering ten dropped the per-unit price down to $8.06 (a 71% reduction).

How do you calculate laser cutting cost?

First, calculate the fixed costs for the production and divide that number by the quantity of parts ordered. Then, add up the cost of materials, cutting time, and surface finishing. And be aware that the cost of materials and cutting time increase when using thicker sheet. By far the easiest way to calculate the price is to upload your 3D model to an instant quote platform, which will automatically run the numbers for you.

Does thicker material cost more to laser cut?

Yes, because a thicker sheet takes longer to cut and uses more material. On our reference plate (1,000 pieces in SPCC steel), the cost moves from $3.56 in 1.0 mm sheet, to $4.69 in 2.0 mm sheet, and $5.98 in 3.0 mm sheet. But when we ran the numbers for a single unit, there was only a 12% price difference between 1.0 and 3.0 mm sheet, which shows that thickness has a bigger impact at production volumes.

How much does powder coating add to the cost of a laser cut part?

On a 2.0 mm steel plate, powder coating added $0.80 per part at 1,000 pieces (17% more expensive than antirust oiling). At 10,000 pieces, e-coating added 10% and zinc plating added 7%. But for a single piece, powder coating added only 1.7%, so compare finish options at your production quantity to get accurate numbers.

Is laser cutting cheaper in Mexico or China?

It depends whether you're looking at factory price or the full landed cost. Across Boda's facilities, China comes out cheaper on factory price ($4.69 per part at 1,000 pieces in steel plate vs. $6.06 from Mexico). But for North American buyers, USMCA-qualified parts from Mexico ship duty-free with shorter transit, which can change the comparison. Compare landed cost.