Laser Cutting Parameters Guide 2026: Every Material Covered

Why Laser Cutting Parameters Matter

Laser cutting is not just about pointing a beam at metal and hoping for the best. Every material has an optimal combination of laser power, cutting speed, assist gas type, gas pressure, focal position, and nozzle distance. Get these parameters right, and you achieve clean edges, minimal heat-affected zone (HAZ), and maximum productivity. Get them wrong, and you face incomplete cuts, excessive dross, discolored edges, or even machine damage.

This guide provides reference parameters for both fiber lasers (1070nm wavelength, ideal for metals) and CO2 lasers (10.6 micron wavelength, ideal for organic materials). Values are based on industry-standard machines in the 1000W-6000W range. Your specific machine, lens, and gas quality may require fine-tuning from these starting points.

Mild Steel (Carbon Steel)

Mild steel is the bread and butter of laser cutting. Fiber lasers excel here, and oxygen assist gas is standard for most thicknesses because the exothermic oxidation reaction adds energy, enabling faster cuts.

Thickness	Power (W)	Speed (mm/min)	Assist Gas	Pressure (bar)
1 mm	1000	25,000-30,000	Oxygen	0.6-0.8
2 mm	1000	10,000-14,000	Oxygen	0.6-0.8
3 mm	1500	6,000-8,000	Oxygen	0.6-0.8
5 mm	2000	3,000-4,000	Oxygen	0.8-1.0
8 mm	3000	1,800-2,500	Oxygen	0.8-1.2
10 mm	4000	1,200-1,800	Oxygen	1.0-1.5
12 mm	4000	900-1,200	Oxygen	1.0-1.5
16 mm	6000	600-900	Oxygen	1.2-1.8
20 mm	6000	400-600	Oxygen	1.5-2.0

Note on oxide-free cutting: If you need clean edges without the oxide layer (for welding or painting), switch to high-pressure nitrogen. Expect speed to drop by approximately 40-50% compared to oxygen cutting. Nitrogen pressure should be 12-20 bar depending on thickness.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel (304, 316, etc.) is almost always cut with nitrogen to avoid oxidation and achieve bright, clean edges. High-purity nitrogen (99.95%+) is essential for edge quality.

Thickness	Power (W)	Speed (mm/min)	Assist Gas	Pressure (bar)
1 mm	1000	20,000-25,000	Nitrogen	10-12
2 mm	1500	8,000-12,000	Nitrogen	12-14
3 mm	2000	4,000-6,000	Nitrogen	14-16
5 mm	3000	2,000-3,000	Nitrogen	16-18
8 mm	4000	800-1,200	Nitrogen	18-20
10 mm	6000	600-900	Nitrogen	18-20

Aluminum and Alloys

Aluminum presents unique challenges for laser cutting due to its high reflectivity and thermal conductivity. Fiber lasers handle aluminum far better than CO2 lasers because the 1070nm wavelength is absorbed more efficiently. Modern fiber lasers with anti-reflection protection make aluminum cutting routine.

Thickness	Power (W)	Speed (mm/min)	Assist Gas	Pressure (bar)
1 mm	1500	15,000-20,000	Nitrogen	12-14
2 mm	2000	6,000-9,000	Nitrogen	14-16
3 mm	3000	3,000-5,000	Nitrogen	16-18
5 mm	4000	1,500-2,500	Nitrogen	18-20
8 mm	6000	600-1,000	Nitrogen	18-20

Warning: Always verify your laser has back-reflection protection before cutting aluminum. Older fiber laser sources can be damaged by reflected light. Consult your machine manufacturer if unsure.

Wood and MDF (CO2 Laser)

Wood cutting requires CO2 lasers. Fiber lasers at 1070nm are ineffective on organic materials because the wavelength is not well absorbed. CO2 laser parameters for wood are measured at much lower power levels (40-100W range for typical hobby/small-shop machines).

Material	Thickness	Power (W)	Speed (mm/min)	Notes
Plywood	3 mm	40-60	15-25	Watch for glue layers
Plywood	6 mm	60-80	8-15	May need two passes
MDF	3 mm	40-50	18-25	Edge charring is normal
MDF	6 mm	60-80	8-12	Ventilation required
Balsa	3 mm	20-30	25-35	Very easy to cut
Hardwood (Oak)	5 mm	60-80	6-10	Slow and steady

Safety note: Always ensure adequate ventilation when cutting wood. The smoke contains harmful particulates and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). A fume extraction system with appropriate filters is strongly recommended.

Acrylic (Plexiglass)

Acrylic is a dream material for laser cutting when done correctly. With the right parameters, you get flame-polished, glass-clear edges. Use cast acrylic (not extruded) for best results — extruded acrylic tends to produce frosted edges.

Thickness	Power (W)	Speed (mm/min)	Notes
2 mm	30-40	20-30	Crystal-clear edges
3 mm	40-50	15-22	Single pass sufficient
5 mm	50-70	8-15	Beautiful edge finish
8 mm	70-90	5-8	Slow and steady
10 mm	80-100	3-6	Consider two passes

Parameter Optimization Tips

• Build a test matrix: When working with a new material, cut a grid of small squares at different power/speed combinations. Label each square and keep the results as a reference. Over time, you build an invaluable parameter library.
• Focal position matters: The focal point is typically set at the material surface or at 1/3 of the thickness. For thick materials, placing focus slightly below the surface can improve cut quality.
• Gas purity is critical: Low-purity assist gas dramatically reduces edge quality. For stainless steel, use minimum 99.95% nitrogen purity. The cost difference between 99.5% and 99.99% nitrogen is small compared to the quality improvement.
• Nozzle standoff distance: Maintain 0.5-1.5mm between the nozzle tip and the material surface. This distance affects gas flow dynamics and, consequently, cut quality.
• Corner deceleration: Sharp corners require automatic speed reduction. Without it, the laser dwells at corners, causing burn marks. Most modern CNC controllers handle this automatically.

How SnapCAM Helps

SnapCAM includes a built-in laser cutting parameter database. When you select a material type and thickness, the app automatically embeds appropriate power, speed, and gas settings into the generated G-code file. This means you can go from photo to production-ready cut file without manually looking up parameters.

For the complete workflow from photo capture to finished cut, see our photo-to-CNC guide.