Cutting Guide
Laser Cutting Cost Per Metre: UK and EU Rates
Reference cutting speeds, machine rates and cost-per-metre ranges for mild steel, stainless steel and aluminium—plus the extra work that turns machine time into a real quote.
Laser cutting cost per metre is a useful way to compare processes, machines and suppliers, but it is only the variable cutting portion of a quotation. A laser may travel through thin sheet at tens of metres per minute, making the theoretical beam-on cost very low. The same job still needs a drawing check, programming, material loading, sheet nesting, pierces, unloading and inspection. For a small batch, those activities can cost more than the line itself.
The reference figures below are planning ranges for UK and EU buyers in 2026, not fixed market prices. They represent productive industrial CO2 or fibre laser cutting under normal conditions. Machine power, gas, nozzle, material grade, surface condition, geometry and required edge quality can move speed significantly. Costs shown per metre are machine-only estimates derived from representative hourly rates; they exclude material, VAT, delivery, finishing and supplier margin unless stated otherwise.
Estimate your own laser job
Enter thickness, path length, pierces, quantity and machine rate.
Typical mild steel speed and cost per metre
Mild steel is the most common laser-cut material. Oxygen assist can increase speed on thicker plate through an exothermic reaction, although it leaves an oxide edge that may need removal before powder coating or welding. Nitrogen produces an oxide-free edge but consumes more gas and may run more slowly. The table uses broadly representative production settings and a blended machine rate of £95 per hour or €110 per hour.
| Thickness | Typical speed | UK cut cost/metre | EU cut cost/metre |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mm | 18–30 m/min | £0.05–£0.09 | €0.06–€0.10 |
| 3 mm | 6–12 m/min | £0.13–£0.26 | €0.15–€0.31 |
| 6 mm | 2.5–5 m/min | £0.32–£0.63 | €0.37–€0.73 |
| 10 mm | 1.2–2.2 m/min | £0.72–£1.32 | €0.83–€1.53 |
| 15 mm | 0.65–1.2 m/min | £1.32–£2.44 | €1.53–€2.82 |
| 20 mm | 0.4–0.75 m/min | £2.11–£3.96 | €2.44–€4.58 |
| 25 mm | 0.25–0.5 m/min | £3.17–£6.33 | €3.67–€7.33 |
At high speed, acceleration and cornering prevent a real component from maintaining the straight-line value throughout its contour. Small intricate profiles therefore cost more per metre than long straight ones. Oxygen, nitrogen and compressed-air cutting also have different consumable costs. A quoting system may add gas consumption separately or absorb it into the hourly rate.
Typical stainless steel speed and cost per metre
Stainless is commonly cut with high-pressure nitrogen to preserve a clean, oxide-free edge. Nitrogen volume rises with nozzle size, pressure and material thickness, and can become a major operating cost. Shops with on-site nitrogen generation may price differently from those using liquid deliveries or cylinder packs. These values use the same £95 and €110 hourly basis so that the machine-time relationship stays comparable.
| Thickness | Typical speed | UK cut cost/metre | EU cut cost/metre |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mm | 14–24 m/min | £0.07–£0.11 | €0.08–€0.13 |
| 3 mm | 4.5–8 m/min | £0.20–£0.35 | €0.23–€0.41 |
| 6 mm | 1.8–3.5 m/min | £0.45–£0.88 | €0.52–€1.02 |
| 10 mm | 0.8–1.6 m/min | £0.99–£1.98 | €1.15–€2.29 |
| 15 mm | 0.4–0.85 m/min | £1.86–£3.96 | €2.16–€4.58 |
| 20 mm | 0.25–0.5 m/min | £3.17–£6.33 | €3.67–€7.33 |
Material finish matters. Protective film may need laser-compatible backing, and scratches on decorative stainless may require careful handling. A nominal per-metre comparison does not capture film removal, grain-direction nesting or the extra labour needed to keep visible faces pristine.
Typical aluminium speed and cost per metre
Aluminium conducts heat rapidly and reflects infrared energy, but modern fibre sources cut it efficiently. Thin sheet can be extremely fast; thick plate needs substantial power and assist gas. Alloy grade affects the edge and achievable speed, so 1050, 5083 and 6082 should not automatically share one parameter. The ranges below cover common production rather than a single laser power.
| Thickness | Typical speed | UK cut cost/metre | EU cut cost/metre |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mm | 16–28 m/min | £0.06–£0.10 | €0.07–€0.11 |
| 3 mm | 5–10 m/min | £0.16–£0.32 | €0.18–€0.37 |
| 6 mm | 2–4 m/min | £0.40–£0.79 | €0.46–€0.92 |
| 10 mm | 0.9–1.8 m/min | £0.88–£1.76 | €1.02–€2.04 |
| 15 mm | 0.45–0.9 m/min | £1.76–£3.52 | €2.04–€4.07 |
| 20 mm | 0.25–0.55 m/min | £2.88–£6.33 | €3.33–€7.33 |
Aluminium sheet costs more per kilogram than commodity mild steel but weighs much less for the same volume. Quotes should use the actual alloy price and nested sheet yield rather than a generic weight multiplier. Parts can also mark easily during unloading, making protective handling part of the commercial figure.
CO2 and fibre laser hourly rates
| Machine type | Typical UK rate | Typical EU rate | Commercial position |
|---|---|---|---|
| CO2 laser, 2–4 kW | £60–£100/hour | €70–€115/hour | Established machines; competitive when well utilised |
| Fibre laser, 2–6 kW | £75–£125/hour | €85–€145/hour | Fast general sheet production with lower power use |
| Fibre laser, 8–15 kW | £100–£170/hour | €115–€195/hour | High throughput and stronger thick-sheet capability |
| High-power fibre, 20 kW+ | £140–£220+/hour | €160–€255+/hour | Premium rate offset by exceptional speed on suitable work |
An hourly sell rate is not the electricity bill. It must recover capital, finance, maintenance, optics, consumables, floor space, extraction, gases, software, labour and periods when the machine is not cutting. A £150-per-hour laser can still cost less per metre than an £80-per-hour machine if it completes the path more than twice as quickly. Compare productive output at the required quality, not hourly price in isolation.
CO2 lasers need more electrical input and optical-path maintenance, while fibre lasers generally offer better wall-plug efficiency and simpler beam delivery. Yet an older CO2 machine with low capital burden may offer a sharp rate for repeat work. Automation changes the calculation too: tower storage and automatic load/unload can reduce labour and extend lightly attended production, but the investment must still be recovered.
How to calculate laser cutting cost per metre
Convert speed into metres per minute and the hourly rate into cost per minute. Dividing one by the other gives the direct machine cost for a metre of continuous cutting.
For example, a machine charged at £96 per hour costs £1.60 per minute. If it cuts 6 mm mild steel at 3.2 m/min, the theoretical cutting cost is £0.50 per metre. A component containing 2.4 metres of path therefore consumes £1.20 of straight-line machine time before piercing, positioning or fixed work is counted.
Setup, nesting and piercing change the part price
Setup and programming
A supplier checks CAD files, repairs open contours, applies kerf compensation, selects lead-ins and verifies manufacturability. The operator retrieves material, fits the correct nozzle, confirms gas and loads the sheet. A familiar repeat nest might need only 15 minutes; a new mixed-part job can need an hour or more. Setup is mostly fixed, so its per-part effect falls sharply with quantity. A £45 setup shared by 10 parts adds £4.50 each; across 500 parts it adds nine pence.
Nesting and material utilisation
Material is usually the largest element of a sheet-metal quote. Nesting places parts close together while respecting kerf, heat, edge margin, grain direction and unloading stability. A compact nest may use 82% of a sheet; an awkward shape or strict grain direction may use only 55%. Suppliers may charge the gross nested area, a whole sheet, or net part weight plus a scrap factor. The sheet metal nesting guide explains why orientation, common-line opportunities and remnants matter.
Good nesting also changes time. Shared cuts can reduce total path, while dense layouts can increase heat accumulation or make small parts tip into the slats. Micro-joints prevent tipping but add programming and later dressing. Skeleton removal and sorting hundreds of small pieces takes labour that no per-metre beam calculation sees.
Piercing and rapid movement
Every closed contour usually needs a pierce. Thin sheet may pierce in a fraction of a second, while thick plate can need a staged pierce lasting several seconds. A simple washer has two contours; a perforated grille may have hundreds. Multiply pierce duration by the number of contours and include the machine rate. Then add rapid traverse between contours, acceleration, corner slowdowns and height sensing. Read the pierce time guide when comparing parts with many holes.
A quote may also include deburring, tapping, countersinking, folding, packing, certificates and delivery. Minimum order charges are normal because administration and setup exist even when beam-on time lasts seconds. That is why multiplying total outline length by an internet rate rarely predicts the invoice for a one-off component.
Fully worked laser cutting quote
Consider 100 rectangular mounting plates in 6 mm mild steel. Each finished part is 300 × 200 mm with four 14 mm holes. CAM reports 1.95 m of total cut path and five pierces per part. The supplier uses a fibre laser at 3.2 m/min and £96 per hour. Piercing averages 0.8 seconds, and combined rapid movement and cornering add 12% to theoretical travel time.
1. Straight cutting time: 1.95 m ÷ 3.2 m/min = 0.609 minutes per part. For 100 parts, that is 60.94 minutes.
2. Motion allowance: 60.94 × 12% = 7.31 minutes. Running travel time becomes 68.25 minutes.
3. Pierce time: 5 × 100 × 0.8 seconds = 400 seconds, or 6.67 minutes.
4. Productive machine time: 68.25 + 6.67 = 74.92 minutes, equal to 1.249 hours. At £96/hour, cutting costs £119.92.
5. Setup: CAD/CAM and loading take 35 minutes at a setup rate of £60/hour, adding £35.00.
6. Material: nesting uses 78% of two 2500 × 1250 mm sheets. The sheets cost £118 each, so gross material is £236. A 10% handling and scrap provision makes it £259.60.
7. Unload and deburr: 50 minutes at £42/hour adds £35.00.
8. Quote subtotal: £119.92 + £35.00 + £259.60 + £35.00 = £449.52, or £4.50 per part before VAT, delivery and commercial margin.
The nominal 195 metres of path gives a productive cutting figure of about £0.61 per metre once motion and piercing are included. But the complete manufacturing subtotal is £2.31 per cut metre because material and fixed work are also present. Both figures are valid; they answer different questions. The machine-only rate helps compare cutting performance, while the per-part total supports purchasing.
Getting a comparable laser cutting quote
Send a clean DXF or STEP file, a dimensioned drawing where tolerances matter, material grade, thickness, quantity and finish requirement. State whether grain direction, certification, protective film, oxide-free edges or marking restrictions apply. Identify critical holes and dimensions rather than applying a tight general tolerance to everything. Ask whether the price includes material, deburring, delivery and VAT.
When comparing suppliers, check lead time and scope alongside price. One quote may use stocked material and include edge dressing; another may assume customer-supplied sheet and as-cut parts. For repeat orders, request separate tooling or setup and unit prices so volume changes are transparent. Sensible detail enables the shop to nest accurately and avoids a risk premium.
Frequently asked questions
How much does laser cutting cost per metre in the UK?
Machine-only cost can be roughly £0.20–£0.80 per metre on thin sheet and about £1–£8 or more as thickness rises. Setup, material, piercing, handling, margin and minimum charges determine the invoiced total.
How is laser cutting cost per metre calculated?
Divide hourly machine rate by 60, then divide that cost per minute by speed in metres per minute. Add piercing, setup and handling because a cut-length calculation does not include them.
Is fibre laser cheaper than CO2 laser cutting?
Usually on thin and medium metal: fibre often cuts faster and uses less energy, even if its hourly sell rate is higher. An efficiently loaded, paid-down CO2 laser can still be commercially competitive.
Why is a short laser-cut part expensive per metre?
It may contain several pierces and carries a share of programming, loading and unloading. Those costs are spread across very little path, so the per-metre cutting figure understates its finished price.