Laser 101 · Materials
Laser cutting leather.
A laser cuts leather to a clean, sealed edge that is hard to match by hand. But only one kind of leather is safe to cut.
Natural leather only — the rule that matters most
There is one hard rule with laser-cut leather: it has to be natural, vegetable-tanned leather. Chrome-tanned leather is tanned with chromium salts, and when those are burned by a laser they release toxic fumes — it is never run on our machines. Vegetable-tanned hide, tanned with natural tannins, cuts cleanly and safely.
Telling them apart is easy once you know what to look for. Veg-tan is firmer, usually a natural tan color, and burnishes to a glossy edge; chrome-tan is softer, dyed all the way through, and often shows a pale blue-grey core when you cut it. If you are not certain how a hide was tanned, ask the supplier or send us a small sample first. Faux and “vegan” leather is a separate no — almost all of it is coated in PVC or polyurethane, which melts, off-gasses, and in the case of PVC releases corrosive chlorine gas. Real hide only.
What the laser-cut edge looks like
As the beam passes through, it lightly cauterizes the edge of natural leather. That sealed edge resists fraying and stretching and takes on a smooth, slightly darker burnished finish — the same look leatherworkers spend time creating by hand with gum tragacanth and a slicker. For most leather goods, that finished edge is exactly the look people want.
We cut leather up to about 1/8″ thick. Thicker vegetable-tanned stock can sometimes be cut at slower speeds — ask us. A faint smoke smell is normal right after cutting; it airs out, and we can wipe pieces down before they go back to you.
Engraving and marking leather
Leather engraves exceptionally well. The laser darkens and lightly removes the surface to leave crisp logos, names, monograms, patterns, and artwork with strong natural contrast — no ink, no foil, nothing to peel. Use vector artwork for line work and lettering, and grayscale raster images for photos and shaded designs.
Engraving is shallow by design — it marks the surface without weakening the piece — which makes it ideal for branding wallets, journal covers, straps, patches, and pet tags. We can cut and engrave in the same pass by mapping the operations to colors in your file.
Designing for leather
Send vector files (AI, DXF, or PDF) at 1:1 scale. Leather is forgiving, but very fine islands and thin bridges can curl, so give small details a little extra room. Natural hides also carry range marks, brands, scars, and thinner areas near the belly — send your artwork and we nest the pieces around the best parts of the hide, or tell us if exact placement matters.
Kerf — the small amount of material the beam removes — is minimal on leather, but for press-fit assembly or stitching holes we account for it so everything lines up. For unusual or pre-finished hides, we run a quick test on scrap before committing to the full job.
What people make with laser-cut leather
Wallets and cardholders, bag panels and gussets, straps, belts, and watch bands, patches and appliqué, earrings and jewelry, keychains and luggage tags, coasters, journal and notebook covers, garment pieces, and dog collars. Anywhere you need identical, repeatable pieces — dozens or hundreds at a time — is where the laser clearly beats hand-cutting on both speed and consistency.
Common questions
Can you laser cut faux or vegan leather?
No. Most faux and “vegan” leather has a PVC or polyurethane coating — PVC releases chlorine gas when lasered, and other coatings melt and off-gas. We cut real, vegetable-tanned hide only.
How can I tell if my leather is vegetable-tanned?
Veg-tanned leather is firmer, usually a natural tan color, and burnishes well; chrome-tanned leather is softer and often shows a grey-blue core. If you are not sure, ask your supplier or bring us a small sample to test.
How thick can you laser cut leather?
Up to about 1/8″. Thicker vegetable-tanned leather can sometimes be cut at slower speeds — send the details and we will confirm before quoting.
Does the laser really seal the edge?
Yes. The cut edge is lightly cauterized as the beam passes, so it resists fraying and stretching and takes a clean, burnished finish without hand-tooling.
Can I bring my own hides?
Yes — bring your own vegetable-tanned leather and we do not mark it up. Just confirm the tanning method first so we know it is laser-safe.
Cutting a leather project?
Industrial CO₂ lasers, beds up to 46 by 58 inches, in downtown Los Angeles. A real person checks every job.