Quote a laser-engraving order using material blanks, machine depreciation, extraction and power, setup and active labor, expected rejects, packaging, and selling fees. The result is a quote for the whole order and each finished unit.
Calculation results
| Blanks including rejects | $80.84 |
|---|---|
| Machine + ventilation + energy | $4.29 |
| Artwork, operation and finishing labor | $38.58 |
| Consumables, packaging and other | $22.20 |
| Estimated selling fees | $7.43 |
All monetary inputs must use the same denomination. Selecting a currency changes the symbol only, not your values, fee rules, or exchange rates. Results exclude tax and any cost not entered.
Expected attempts = successful units ÷ (1 − reject rate). Blank cost, machine runtime, and active tending labor apply to expected attempts. Artwork/setup labor happens once per order, while finishing and packaging apply only to completed items. Machine-hour cost combines equipment price divided by operating life, maintenance, electrical consumption, and extraction. Required quote = (production cost + fixed fee) ÷ (1 − percentage fee − target margin). The minimum charge is applied after solving the target-margin quote.
Worked example
For 24 engraved items at $3.20 per blank, 3.5 laser minutes per attempt and 5% rejected attempts, the calculator estimates 25.26 blanks attempted. It includes one-off artwork time, per-item finishing, machine depreciation and exhaust, then solves for an order price meeting the selected net margin.
What the result does and does not include
These outputs are production and selling estimates built from the editable fields. They are not market-rate predictions, professional quotations, or guarantees of profitable sales. Measure actual machine usage, use your own supplier prices, and confirm selling fees and taxes before accepting an order.
Frequently asked questions
Should setup time be charged for every piece?
Usually not. Artwork preparation, jig creation and file setup often occur once per order. Enter that work separately from per-attempt operating and per-finished-item labor.
What if my laser engraves several blanks in one pass?
Enter the effective machine minutes per attempted blank. Divide total batch run time by blanks processed, then account for batch setup separately.
Does this include the cost of scrap?
The rejection percentage increases expected attempts, which raises blank cost, machine time, and active tending work. Use actual shop records where possible.
Does the quote include shipping, taxes, or design royalties?
No. Add those separately where applicable, or include costs you own in the other direct order cost field. Taxes and shipping revenue need their own treatment before making a binding quotation.
Further reading
For an independent overview of the importance of separating prep, production and postprocessing, see Prusa Research’s cost-methodology discussion (3D printing principles transfer to many small-batch workflows).
See our calculation methodology and disclaimer for more information about assumptions.