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Thin Wood For Laser Engraving or Cutting

We carry thin wood in 1/16", 1/8", 1/4", 3/8", 1/2" and 3/4" that will work great for your laser cutter or engraver. Try our thin Alder, Basswood, Walnut, Cherry or Hard Maple. We also have lots of other hardwood species for you to try. Our "Project ready" thin wood is guaranteed flat and knot free, so it's ideal for laser cutting as well as scroll sawing. We have a wide variety of sizes to choose from, and can also do custom sizes. Be sure to read this article on proper storage and care of hardwoods.

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Laser Engraved Mahogany Wood Box
Detail of Laser Engraved Alder Wood

What is the best wood for laser engraving?

"Best wood" depends on your machine, how much power it has and the speed you at which are engraving/cutting. Most people who do laser cutting prefer a soft wood that doesn't have a lot of hard grain.
Look for light colored wood to contrast the dark laser etching marks. Alder is a favorite, and we carry thin Alder sheets in 1/16", 1/8", 3/16", 1/4", 3/8", 1/2", and 3/4" that are sure to please. Basswood also works great, along with Aspen, Poplar, Hard Maple, Cherry, and Walnut. Try some of our different hardwoods to see what works best you.

Alder Buy Laserable Alder

Alder is a soft wood, sometimes with knots present. It works great for laser cutting and engraving and produces and nice dark burn. Alder darkens a good bit when a finish is applied and looks similar to Cherry.

  • Common Names: Alder, Red Alder, Western Red Alder, Pacific Coast Alder, Alnus rubra
  • Origin: Coastal Pacific Northwest
  • Color: Light tan to reddish brown wood color, color darkens and reddens with age
  • Sizes: Thicknesses from 1/16" to 3/4" in sheets from 4" to 8" wide available.

Basswood Buy Laserable Basswood

As a soft wood Basswood is very easy to work with and cuts well. Great for laser engraving and cutting as well as carving and woodburning/pyrography. Can easily be painted, stained and finished.

  • Common Names: Basswood, American Basswood, Lime, Linden, Tilia americana
  • Origin: Midwest and eastern United States
  • Color: Creamy white to very light tan
  • Sizes: Thicknesses from 1/16" to 3/4" in sheets from 4" to 8" wide available.

Cherry Buy Laserable Cherry

Cherry has long been a popular wood for cabinet and furniture making in the United States. Cherry is known as one of the best all-around woods for workability. Easy to cut. Laser engraves well. Takes nails and screws well. Glues well.

  • Common Names: Cherry, Black Cherry, American Cherry, Wild Cherry, Prunus serotina
  • Origin: Midwest United States
  • Color: Pale pinkish brown when freshly cut, darkens to rich reddish brown as it ages
  • Sizes: Thicknesses from 1/16" to 3/4" in sheets from 4" to 12" wide available.

Hard Maple Buy Laserable Hard Maple

Fairly easy to work with, though slightly more difficult than Cherry or Walnut due to Hard Maple’s higher density. Hard Maple laser engraves, turns, glues, and finishes very well.

  • Common Names: Hard Maple, Sugar Maple, Rock Maple, Acer saccharum
  • Origin: Midwest and eastern United States
  • Color: Creamy white to light yellow or pale tan
  • Sizes: Thicknesses from 1/16" to 3/4" in sheets from 4" to 12" wide available.

Baltic Birch Plywood Buy Laserable Baltic Birch Plywood

Baltic Birch Plywood comes in large sheets and is one of the few wooden sheet-good materials that is consistently dense enough through its thickness to be cut with a laser. And while it is more stable than solid hardwood the thin stock like 1/8" and 1/4" is simply to thin and wide to always stay perfectly flat. Most pieces will lay flat enough to cut right on your laser bed but consider making a jig or frame to hold more unruly pieces flat. Usually all you need is a few pieces of tape to hold it down to a flat surface.


+ 20 more wood species


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