What materials can a laser engrave, cut and mark?
With Trotec laser machines, you can laser-cut, engrave or mark many materials, including: plastics, wood, rubber, leather, metals, textiles and many others. In the table below, you can see details about the material processing capabilities of our laser engraving and laser cutting machines. The list of materials is structured according to processing type (cutting, engraving, marking).
Materials you can engrave or cut with a Trotec laser
Trotec offers a variety of laser machines equipped with different laser sources, including CO₂, fiber, and diode lasers. Whether a material is suitable for engraving or cutting depends on its ability to absorb the laser’s energy and undergo the required physical or chemical changes.
To achieve successful results, it is essential to match the laser type (e.g., CO₂, fiber, or diode) and settings (such as power and speed) to the specific material being processed.
General laser-compatible materials
Trotec lasers can process a wide range of materials, including wood, plastics, metal, textiles, paper and cardboard, stone, and many more. You can find the complete list here
Long list | Short list | Engraving/Marking |
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| CO2 | Fiber | Diode | CO2 | Fiber | Diode |
Metal |
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Aluminum | Metal | - |
| ✓ | - | - | - |
Aluminum, anodized | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | - | |
Black oxide finished surfaces | - | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | - | |
Chromium | - | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | - | |
Precious metal | - | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | - | |
Stainless steel | - | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | - | |
Brass | - | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | - | |
Copper | - | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | - | |
Titanium | - | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | - | |
Paladium plated surfaces | - | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | - | |
Metal, painted, e.g. DuraBlack | ✓ | - | ✓ | - | - | - | |
Plastic |
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Acrylic/PMMA, i.e. TroGlass, transparent | Acrylics transparent | ✓ | - | - | ✓ | - | - |
Acrylic/PMMA, i.e. TroGlass, colored | Acrylics colored | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | ✓ |
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) | Plastics | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | ✓ |
Rubber | ✓ | - | ✓ | ✓ | - | ✓ | |
Polyamide (PA) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | ✓ | |
Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | ✓ | |
Polycarbonate (PC), transparent | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | - | - | |
Polycarbonate (PC), colored | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | - | |
Polyethylene (PE) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | ✓ | |
Polyester (PES) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | ✓ | |
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), transparent | ✓ | - | - | ✓ | - | - | |
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), colored | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | ✓ | |
Polyimide (PI) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | ✓ | |
Polyoxymethylene (POM) -i.e. Delrin® | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | ✓ | |
Polypropylene (PP) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | |
Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | ✓ | |
Polystyrene (PS), transparent | ✓ | - | - | ✓ | - | - | |
Polystyrene (PS), colored | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | ✓ | |
Polyurethane (PUR) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | ✓ | |
Foam (PVC free) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | ✓ | |
TroLase | Plastic sheets | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | ✓ |
Miscellaneous |
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Wood | Wood | ✓ | - | ✓ | ✓ | - | ✓ |
Mirror | Mirror | - | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | - |
Stone | Stone | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | - |
Paper white | Paper | ✓ | - | ✓ | ✓ | - | ✓ |
Paper colored | ✓ | - | ✓ | ✓ | - | ✓ | |
Food | Food | ✓ | - | ✓ | ✓ | - | - |
Leather | Leather | ✓ | - | ✓ | ✓ | - | ✓ |
Fabric | Textiles | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Glass transparent | Glass transparent | ✓ | - | - | - | - | - |
Glass colored | Glass colored | ✓ | - | ✓ | - | - | - |
Trotec materials
In Trotec’s material webshop, you’ll find an extensive selection of materials specifically designed for laser processing. Each material is labeled with an icon that indicates which laser source is suitable for its processing.
For more information and to explore compatible materials, visit the Trotec webshop. With the right laser and material pairing, your engraving and cutting projects will achieve optimal results.

Material testing on Trotec laser systems
You are not sure whether your material is suitable for laser processing? Are you looking for information on a material that was not on the list? The list gives you a general overview of which materials can be processed with the laser. We would be pleased to check special requirements for your laser application in a material and application test.