Laser cutting price: what decides the rate
Customers ask for a rate per square foot. The honest answer is that laser cutting is priced on cutting time and material, and this page explains both so you can predict your quote.
What you are actually paying for
- Cutting length. The laser is charged by the metre it travels. A plain rectangle has a short perimeter; a dense mandala of the same size may have fifty times the cutting length. This is why two panels of the same square footage can cost very differently.
- Piercings. Every hole and every separate cut-out needs the laser to pierce the sheet first. A perforated plate with 500 holes has 500 piercings.
- Material and thickness. Thicker and harder metals cut slower. 2 mm MS cuts many times faster than 12 mm MS or 6 mm stainless, so the per-metre rate climbs with thickness and is higher for SS, aluminium, brass and copper than for MS.
- Who supplies the sheet. If we supply, you pay for the sheet used plus cutting. If you bring material, you pay cutting only. Nesting decides how much sheet a job uses.
- Quantity. Setup, programming and nesting are spread across the batch, so the per-piece price falls with quantity.
- Finishing. Deburring, powder coating, bending and marking are added as needed.
Why per sq ft rates mislead
Listings quote anything from about Rs 100 to Rs 900 per sq ft for laser cutting, because they assume a particular pattern density, metal and thickness. A sq ft rate only works for repeat jobs of one pattern. For anything else, a quote from the drawing is more accurate and usually cheaper, because you pay for the cutting your part needs and nothing more.
How to lower your laser cutting cost
- Share the DXF, not a PDF. It saves redrawing time that gets built into the price.
- Avoid unnecessary holes and tiny features that each need a pierce.
- Choose the thinnest sheet that does the job. 2 mm instead of 3 mm cuts faster and costs less in material.
- Nest several parts in one order so they share a sheet and a setup.
- Order the full batch at once instead of in pieces.
- Bring your own sheet if you already stock it.
Getting an exact quote
WhatsApp the drawing, the metal and thickness, the quantity and whether you supply material. We send the price and lead time within the working day, and flag anything in the design that would cost more than it should. No obligation, no minimum. Our materials guide helps you choose the sheet first.
WhatsApp a DXF, PDF, photo or sketch. We reply with price and lead time the same working day.
Frequently asked
What is the laser cutting rate per sq ft?
There is no single rate. Listings range from roughly Rs 100 to Rs 900 per sq ft depending on pattern density, metal and thickness. We quote per job from the drawing, which reflects the cutting your part actually needs.
Is there a minimum charge?
Small jobs are priced on cutting time plus material, with no minimum order. A single plate costs what it costs to set up and cut.
Is laser cutting cheaper than plasma?
For sheet up to about 10 mm, laser is usually comparable or cheaper once you count the clean edge and accurate holes that need no grinding or drilling. Very thick plate favours plasma.
Do you charge for design or DXF conversion?
Simple conversions from PDF or a clear sketch are included. Complex redrawing or pattern design is quoted separately and shown to you before cutting.