Laser 101 · Ordering
How to order laser cutting online
Send a file, approve a quote, and we cut and ship the finished parts back to you, anywhere in the US.
Last updated: November 10, 2026
The short answer
You do not need to live in Los Angeles to use our shop. Send a vector file (AI, DXF, or PDF) through the quote form, and a real person reviews it and sends an itemized quote, usually the same business day. Approve the quote, and we cut your parts and ship them back to any of the 50 states. Every project has a $65 minimum.
Step by step
- Send your file. Use the quote form with your AI, DXF, or PDF file and a short description of what you are making. PDF is usually the safest export.
- Get a human review. We check the design, the nesting, and the material before anything is charged. If something is off, we flag it first.
- Receive an itemized quote. Laser time and material are listed separately. Most quotes come back the same business day.
- Approve and send material, or use ours. Mail your own laser-safe material to our Bonvue Ave mail-in address, or add our stocked acrylic, wood, mylar, or foam to your quote and we include it in the box.
- We cut and ship. We cut your parts, usually 1 to 3 business days after you approve the quote, and ship them back with UPS Ground, or USPS for small packages, or your preferred carrier.
Where to mail your material
If you are sending your own material, mail it to: American Laser Cutter, 4841 Bonvue Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027. Our shop at 1319 S Los Angeles St is for drop-off and pickup by appointment, not for mail.
What we can and cannot cut
We cut and engrave acrylic, wood, plywood, leather, fabric, paper, foam, and mylar. We do not cut metal or glass, and we never cut PVC or vinyl. If you are not sure about a material, email a photo and ask before you ship it. See what cannot be laser cut and the full materials list.
Rush orders and timing
Rush service is available when you are up against a deadline, and the surcharge is confirmed in your quote before you commit. Put your deadline in the quote form notes so we can tell you what is possible.
Get your files ready first
Quotes come back fastest when the file is set up correctly: a true vector, parts nested tightly, one file per material and thickness, and no overlapping shapes or dimension lines. Our logo file checklist covers the most common problems.
Get a real price on your job.
Send your file for an itemized quote. A real person reviews every request, usually the same business day. $65 minimum.
Related guides
- Mail-in laser cutting to all 50 states
- How much does laser cutting cost?
- How to prepare files for laser cutting
Or get a quote for your project.