How much does it cost · laser marking
Laser marking comes down to a few seconds of beam time: with a 100 W fiber laser, a 25 x 25 mm Data Matrix code takes from 7.2 s on magnesium to 11.1 s on titanium, according to the times published by Laserax. RFQdecoder charges that time at the fully burdened rate published by QuoteBuddy, €30 to €55 per hour including the operator. On a small order, the subcontractor’s minimum sets the price: QuoteBuddy publishes €30 to €80 per job, and the tool raises any lower amount to €30. As a benchmark, QuoteBuddy also publishes €0.15 to €0.60 per part for a simple serial or logo, in batches of 100 parts or more.
RFQdecoder prices marking with a 100 W fiber laser and the times Laserax publishes for that laser. A 25 x 25 mm Data Matrix code takes (source: Laserax, June 2018):
Laserax notes that the stainless steel figure is for laser engraving. On aluminum, the same page breaks the time down by code type: 9.6 s for a dark code on a pale background, 6.3 s without background, 1.8 s for a pale mark. Its introduction also states that a 25 x 25 mm code can be engraved in aluminum in as little as 8.6 s; the tool uses the figure from the table by material, 9.6 s (source: Laserax, June 2018).
For human readable text, Laserax publishes the time for a string of 31 characters, 10 mm high, measured on aluminum: 11.9 s in a filled font, 6.2 s in outline, 1.4 s in single stroke (source: Laserax, June 2018). The tool converts this time to a per-character figure (11.9 / 31 ≈ 0.38 s, 6.2 / 31 = 0.2 s and 1.4 / 31 ≈ 0.045 s), then multiplies it by the number of characters to mark.
The tool uses the times Laserax publishes for six metals. For other cases it applies three approximations, and the quote states them:
This last approximation is the fastest of the three fonts: in the Laserax table, a filled font takes 8.5 times as long as single stroke, 11.9 s against 1.4 s (source: Laserax, June 2018). Jimani, a US marking job shop, describes the same gap: the word “Jimani” in 0.1 inch bold characters on anodized aluminum takes 2 to 3 seconds, the same text in a single-line stick font about 300 milliseconds (source: Jimani, September 2026).
Since 4 October 2026, the tool charges marking time at the fully burdened rate for a fiber laser marking station published by QuoteBuddy: €30 to €55 per hour, operator included (source: QuoteBuddy, September 2026). QuoteBuddy adds that the rate matters less than most estimators think, precisely because beam-on time is so short: moving from €35 to €50 an hour changes a fifteen-second mark by six cents (source: QuoteBuddy, September 2026).
QuoteBuddy also publishes a minimum charge of €30 to €80 per job (source: QuoteBuddy, September 2026). When the amount calculated for the order is lower, the tool raises it to the bottom of that range, €30, and the quote shows it on a line headed “subcontractor’s order minimum”. For example, the UK company Fine Cut publishes a minimum order charge of £60 plus artwork (source: Fine Cut, January 2024).
For comparison, Jimani states that laser marking job shops typically run shop rates of $60 to $100 per hour, and that its own standard shop rate for marking is $97.00 per hour (sources: Jimani, September 2026; Jimani, February 2025).
Published benchmarks to put a quote in context: €0.15 to €0.60 per part for a simple serial or logo, €0.30 to €1.00 for a serial plus Data Matrix code, in batches of 100 parts or more, and €20 to €80 of setup and programming per job (source: QuoteBuddy, September 2026).
Assumptions (chosen to illustrate, they do not come from a source): stainless steel part; one 25 x 25 mm Data Matrix code and a 10-character serial number, outline font specified on the drawing; orders of 10, 100 and 1,000 parts. The calculation is done at both ends of the published rate, €30 and €55 per hour.
Published values used: 8.0 s for the code on stainless steel and 6.2 s for 31 characters in outline (source: Laserax, June 2018); €30 to €55 per hour and a minimum of €30 to €80 per job (source: QuoteBuddy, September 2026).
Effect of quantity. The minimum stops applying once marking reaches €30: at €30 per hour that takes 3,600 s, or 360 parts; at €55 per hour, about 1,964 s, or 197 parts. Below that, the order stays at €30 and only the price per part falls with quantity: €3.00 for 10 parts, €0.30 for 100 parts.
Effect of the font. With no font specified, the tool uses single stroke: 10 × 1.4 / 31 = 0.4516 s of text, 8.4516 s per part, so 8,451.6 s and €70.43 to €129.12 for 1,000 parts. In a filled font: 10 × 11.9 / 31 = 3.8387 s of text, 11.8387 s per part, so 11,838.7 s and €98.66 to €180.87 for 1,000 parts.
At 100 parts, the result of €0.30 per part sits at the bottom of the range QuoteBuddy publishes for a serial plus Data Matrix code, €0.30 to €1.00 per part (source: QuoteBuddy, September 2026).
The calculation above counts the marking time of the code and text at the hourly rate, then applies the order minimum. The following items are outside that calculation; QuoteBuddy and Jimani publish their order of magnitude:
QuoteBuddy publishes €0.15 to €0.60 per part for a simple serial or logo and €0.30 to €1.00 with a Data Matrix code, in batches of 100 parts or more, plus €20 to €80 of setup and a minimum of €30 to €80 per job. RFQdecoder calculates the marking time and charges it at €30 to €55 per hour.
With a 100 W fiber laser, Laserax publishes these times for a 25 x 25 mm code: 11.1 s on titanium, 9.6 s on aluminum, 9.3 s on zinc, 8.8 s on nickel, 8.0 s on stainless steel and 7.2 s on magnesium.
Because the beam only runs a few seconds per part and the order minimum applies: below €30, the tool raises the price to €30. In the example on this page, 10 and 100 parts both cost €30, or €3.00 and €0.30 per part.
Yes. For a string of 31 characters, 10 mm high, Laserax publishes 11.9 s in a filled font, 6.2 s in outline and 1.4 s in single stroke. With no font specified, RFQdecoder uses single stroke and the quote says so.
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