How long does it take to laser engrave?

Most people think laser engraving is slow, expensive, and only for big factories. But that’s outdated thinking. I’ve seen clients cut engraving times from 30 seconds to 4—with the right machine.

The time it takes to laser engrave depends on your machine’s power, the material, and how fast your galvo or gantry moves. A fiber laser can engrave a stainless steel logo in under 3 seconds. A CO₂ machine might take 10x longer on wood.

That’s just scratching the surface. If you’re comparing machines, running a shop, or just curious about the difference between CO₂ and fiber lasers, keep reading.

How long does a laser engraving take?

Some folks think every laser engraving job takes minutes. That’s a myth. I’ve clocked stainless steel logo jobs under 3 seconds. But I’ve also seen hardwood jobs take 30.

A laser engraving job can take anywhere from 2 seconds to over 2 minutes depending on the machine type, material, and size. Fiber lasers are typically faster on metals. CO₂ lasers are better for wood, acrylic, and leather—but slower.

Material Matters by Laser Engraving

Different materials absorb laser energy differently. Here's a quick breakdown:

Material	Ideal Laser Type	Typical Speed (mm/s)	Time for 25mm Engraving
Stainless Steel	Fiber Laser1	10,000 mm/s (Galvo)	2–4 seconds
Wood (Hardwood)	CO₂ Laser2	500–1,000 mm/s	15–30 seconds
Acrylic	CO₂ Laser	1,000–2,000 mm/s	5–10 seconds
Aluminum (Anodized)	Fiber Laser	5,000–7,000 mm/s	4–6 seconds

At Kirin Laser, we always ask what material a client works with before recommending a machine. Speed isn’t just about wattage—it’s about wavelength and absorption. Fiber lasers excel at metal. CO₂? More versatile with organics, but slower.

How much time does engraving take?

You can’t manage a production schedule without knowing timing. That’s why we benchmark every machine we ship.

Engraving time depends on laser type, power (watts), material density, and beam path design. Fiber lasers finish typical industrial logos in under 5 seconds. CO₂ machines need more time—10 to 40 seconds is common.

What Influences Time?

Let’s break it down into specifics:

1. Power (Wattage)³

More power usually means faster engraving, up to a point. Our 50W fiber beats a 20W unit every time—especially on metals.

2. Beam Delivery System⁴

Galvo lasers (like most fiber types) are faster because they deflect the beam with mirrors instead of moving a gantry. Think 10,000 mm/s vs 500 mm/s.

3. Resolution and Passes⁵

Higher DPI (dots per inch) means slower engraving. Multiple passes also add time. Deep engravings or color markings? Expect more seconds.

Factor	Fast Setting (Example)	Slow Setting (Example)
Power	50W Fiber (Metal)	30W CO₂ (Wood)
Motion Type	Galvo	Gantry
DPI	200 DPI	1,200 DPI
Engraving Depth	0.05 mm (Surface)	0.5 mm (Deep mark)
Passes	1	3 or more

Our customers always ask for “as fast as possible.” But quality still matters. That’s why we guide them to optimize settings, not just max out speed.

Why does laser engraving take so long?

If your jobs feel slow, chances are you’re using the wrong machine—or the wrong settings.

Laser engraving seems slow when using underpowered machines, poor beam control, or when trying to cut corners on settings. CO₂ lasers, in particular, engrave slower on hard materials. Fiber systems are much faster for metals due to higher absorption efficiency.

Real-World Example

One of our clients was engraving stainless steel pens for a promotional company. They used a 40W CO₂ laser⁶—each pen took 30 seconds. Their backlog kept growing. We switched them to a 30W fiber laser from Kirin. The same job took 4 seconds. They doubled their weekly output, kept up with demand, and avoided overtime.

Why Slow Happens

➤ Wrong Machine for the Material

If you try to engrave metal with a CO₂ laser, it’ll be inefficient—even with coating tricks. Fiber lasers are built for metals.

➤ Gantry Systems Are Slower

CO₂ lasers use gantry motion—moving motors across X and Y axes. It’s precise, but slow. Galvo scanners (like on fiber laser⁷s) use mirrors, not motors.

➤ High Detail = More Time

Clients often request “photo-quality” results. That means more DPI, more passes, more time. You can’t cheat physics.

Problem	Resulting Delay	Fix
CO₂ on metal	Low contrast, slow	Switch to fiber laser
Deep engravings	Multiple passes	Optimize depth per pass
Over-detailed vector files	Long beam paths	Simplify artwork
High resolution settings	Lower speeds	Use 300–500 DPI unless needed

At Kirin Laser, we help clients find the right balance between speed and quality. Our goal? Get the job done fast—without rework.

How fast is a laser engraver?

This is the first question people ask when they see our machines run. And the answer blows them away.

A galvo fiber laser can move its beam at over 10,000 mm/s. Gantry CO₂ systems top out around 1,000 mm/s. But actual engraving speed depends on pattern complexity, resolution, and material.

Speed Doesn’t Equal Output—Alone

Let’s say your machine can move at 10,000 mm/s. That doesn’t mean every job takes 1 second. You have to factor in:

➤ Acceleration Curves

Just like a car, the laser has to accelerate, decelerate, and corner. Simple shapes are faster. Complex vectors or photo engravings take longer.

➤ Overhead Time

Setup, focusing, material loading—it all adds up. Fast engraving only matters if your workflow is dialed in.

➤ Job Repeats

If you’re engraving 500 parts per day, every second saved matters. That’s where a fiber laser⁸ pays off fast.

System Type	Max Speed (mm/s)	Typical Logo Time	Notes
30W Fiber Laser	10,000+	2–5 seconds	Galvo system, best for metals
100W CO₂ Laser	800–1,200	10–30 seconds	Good for wood, acrylic
MOPA Fiber	7,000–9,000	3–6 seconds	Color marking possible

We often get asked if our machines can hit “X” units per hour. The answer is always: what are you engraving, and how detailed is it? Once we know that, we simulate the job, test it on sample stock, and then recommend the fastest and most cost-effective configuration.

Conclusion

Laser engraving⁹ speed isn’t one-size-fits-all. A fast fiber laser can do in 3 seconds what a CO₂ machine takes 30 seconds to finish. But your materials, power, settings, and even design complexity all play a role. At Kirin Laser, we help you pick the right machine for your job—not just the fastest one. Because speed without reliability doesn’t help your bottom line.