How much does laser cutting cost?

Most shops bill machine time plus a setup fee: roughly $1–2 per minute on a CO2 laser for acrylic, wood and MDF, $2–5 per minute on a fiber laser for steel, stainless and aluminum, with setup of $15–40 per job. A batch of 50 acrylic keychains runs $120–180; 100 flat steel brackets $320–480. See the price guide for the full tables.

What file formats do laser shops accept?

DXF is the safest, followed by SVG, AI, EPS and vector PDF. Draw at 1:1 scale, state the units, close every path, delete duplicate lines and put cuts, scores and engraving on separate layers. A PNG or JPG can be traced, but the shop will charge for the conversion.

Is there a minimum order?

The platform doesn't set one. One-offs and prototypes are fine to post; a shop's setup fee is what makes a single part relatively expensive. If you need one sign or one prototype enclosure, post it.

Fiber laser vs CO2 — which do I need?

CO2 lasers cut and engrave organics and plastics: acrylic, plywood, MDF, leather, paper, and can mark coated metals. Fiber lasers cut sheet metal — mild steel, stainless, aluminum, brass — and are the right choice for brackets, panels and enclosures. Say which material you need so the right shops can bid.

How accurate is laser cutting?

Typical tolerance is ±0.1–0.2 mm (±0.004–0.008 in) on thin sheet, with a kerf of about 0.1–0.3 mm on CO2 and 0.1–0.2 mm on fiber. If parts need to press-fit or slot together, say so and the shop will offset for kerf. Thick acrylic edges taper slightly; note it if it matters.

Can I get engraving as well as cutting?

Yes. Raster engraving (logos, photos, names) and vector scoring (fine lines) are billed on top of cutting, usually by area or minutes. Personalized runs — place cards, tags, awards — are common; supply names in a spreadsheet and the shop will merge them.

How long does laser cutting take?

Small acrylic, wood and MDF jobs ship in 2–5 days; sheet-metal jobs in 3–7; larger runs and anything with finishing in 1–2 weeks. Under 48 hours is a rush at +30–50%. Post early: rushed deadlines cost more.

Do shops ship, and can I find one near me?

Shop profiles can show a location, and you can ask about shipping before you accept a bid; flat parts pack cheaply. Say 'local pickup preferred' in the post if you want to collect a large sign or check a first article in person. For bigger batches, a shop in another country can be worth it.

How a laser cutting job works

Four steps. The platform holds your payment until you confirm delivery.

From file to finished parts

Post your jobUpload the cut file (DXF, SVG, AI or PDF), name the material and thickness, the quantity, the date you need it, and a budget range.
Compare bidsShops reply with a price and a lead time. Check their profiles, completed jobs and reviews, and ask questions before you pick.
Accept and payPay by card through Stripe. The platform holds the payment and releases it to the maker only when you confirm delivery.
Receive and releaseThe maker can post progress photos in the app. When it arrives and you confirm delivery, the payment is released to the maker.

Prototyping · small business · custom gifts

Prototype to product. No minimums.

Etsy sellers, sign shops, product designers, event planners and architects: one brief, several laser shops bidding, payment held until the parts arrive. One prototype today, five hundred next month, same shop. No factory minimums, no six-week lead times.

Post your job →

You're early, not late

$7.4Blaser cutting machines market, 2024

5.7%annual growth forecast to 2030

$10.4Blaser cutting machines market by 2030

Market figures are industry estimates (Grand View Research, 2024).

Why post on The Spool List instead of a DM

Payment held until delivery

You pay when you accept a bid. The platform holds the payment and releases it to the maker when you confirm delivery.

Makers compete for you

Post once and verified makers can send quotes. Compare price, turnaround, reviews and past work before you choose.

No buyer fee on top

You pay the maker's quoted price. No platform fee is added on top for buyers.

Reviews from real orders

Reviews are tied to completed orders, so ratings come from buyers who actually ordered.

No design? No problem

Need a design first? Post that too: CAD, STL repair, vector conversion or 3D scanning. Makers who offer it can quote.

Dispute resolution

Something wrong? Open a dispute in the app. Unresolved disputes are reviewed by The Spool List.

Every job on The Spool List is a written scope: file version, material, thickness, quantity, finish and deadline. That's what the shop is bidding on, and what you check the parts against before you confirm delivery.

On longer jobs the maker can post milestone updates with photos, so you see progress before anything ships. The payment itself is released in one go, when you confirm delivery.

If parts arrive out of tolerance, scorched, or cut from the wrong sheet, the dispute process reviews the file, the scope and the photos. That's the part a one-line email quote can't give you.