Wooden sheet material for laser cutting

What you need to know about wood sheet material for laser cutters

Working with wood sheet material in your laser cutter yields brilliant results. It is one of our most popular categories among our customers. We sell various types of thin wooden sheets, 2 mm thick, but also with thicknesses ranging from 0.5 mm, 1 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm up to 12 mm. They are all LaserGrade, tested and found suitable for laser cutting or engraving.

With wood sheet material, you can make anything from jewelry to musical instruments and from furniture to toys. If you treat wood with varnish or oil, it can also be used outdoors. Read more here about this versatile material and the wooden sheets from Lasersheets' assortment.

We sell our wood sheet material from single sheets to large quantities. As soon as you buy multiple sheets, you receive an attractive volume discount. But also take a look at the Value packs if you're really looking for a good price. 

Did you know that… Lasersheets also sells FSC® mix credit Birch Plywood and FSC® mix 70% MDF sheets?

Different types of wooden sheet material and their properties

With us, you can find various types of wood sheet material. We sell MDF (standard, veneered, through-colored, and white coated), plywood (birch, bamboo, and basswood), and solid wood (bamboo). These are available in a number of different thicknesses and sizes.

Each material has different characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages. To help you choose your ideal material, we will discuss them in detail here.

1. MDF

MDF stands for Medium Density Fibreboard (or Fiberboard). These are sheets of pressed and glued wood fibers. For Lasersheets' MDF sheets, only laser-friendly interior glue is used, ensuring they come out perfectly from the laser cutter. MDF sheets are strong, rigid, and very affordable. You use them for projects that still require finishing, but you can also use them without painting or treating them.

The thin 2mm wooden MDF sheets are exceptionally strong for their thickness and can even be cut well with low-power lasers. Because it is affordable, strong, and very easy to laser cut, it is one of the most commonly used materials for laser cutting. Of course, we also have other thicknesses in stock. 

Because MDF is versatile, it is used for various applications, including:

• Interior projects
• Furniture making
• Models
• Stencils

Lasersheets' assortment of MDF wood sheet material is extensive. Here you will find the various options we offer, including the thicknesses and sizes you can choose from. 

Standard MDF is one of our most popular materials. We sell the thin 2 mm wooden MDF sheets of this type. This MDF has no finish, so you have complete freedom to achieve your desired look.

• Thicknesses: MDF 2 mm, MDF 3 mm FSC® mix 70%, MDF 4 mm FSC® mix 70%, MDF 6 mm FSC® mix 70% and MDF 9mm FSC® mix 70%.
• Dimensions: 20 x 30 cm, 40 x 30 cm, 60 x 30 cm, 60 x 40 cm, 60 x 60 cm, 90 x 60 cm, 120 x 60 cm.
  

MDF 1 mm is a brown material, just like Standard MDF, but because these thin MDF sheets come from a different manufacturer, they may be slightly darker in color. This material is perfect for model making, miniatures, and detailed work. 

• Thickness: 1 mm
• Dimensions: 20 x 30 cm, 40 x 30 cm, 60 x 30 cm, 60 x 40 cm, 60 x 60 cm, 90 x 60 cm, 120 x 60 cm.

Oak, walnut, ash and mahogany is an MDF sheet with real wood veneer on both sides. This gives you a beautifully finished sheet with a natural look, ideal for interior applications, product displays, and model making.

• Thickness: MDF between 4 mm and 4.4 mm, varying by type.
• Dimensions: 20 x 30 cm, 40 x 30 cm, 60 x 30 cm, 60 x 40 cm, 60 x 60 cm, 90 x 60 cm, 120 x 60 cm.

Black MDF has a black color that is applied throughout the entire sheet. It is therefore not a black coating, but through-colored. Use it for furniture, enclosures, speakers, or signage. It is heavier and slightly stronger than standard MDF. It also has slightly better water resistance than normal MDF, although you should coat it for use in humid environments.

• Thicknesses: MDF 3 mm and MDF 6 mm.
• Dimensions: 20 x 30 cm, 40 x 30 cm, 60 x 30 cm, 60 x 40 cm, 60 x 60 cm, 90 x 60 cm, 120 x 60 cm.

Colored MDF is made in the same way as Black MDF; it is a through-colored sheet rich in pigment. Due to the pigment, it is slightly heavier and stronger than standard MDF. These sheets are suitable for CO2 and diode lasers. Colored MDF comes in six beautiful colors: yellow, orange, red, green, blue, and grey. This is used for various decorative applications, such as toys, displays, and cut-out letters.

• Colors: yellow, orange, red, green, blue, grey.
  
• Thickness: 5 mm.
• Dimensions: 20 x 30 cm, 40 x 30 cm, 60 x 30 cm, 60 x 40 cm, 60 x 60 cm, 90 x 60 cm, 120 x 60 cm.

White coated MDF features a decorative top and bottom layer. Its characteristics are the same as standard MDF, but no further finishing is required. With your laser, you can engrave through the coating, exposing the wood underneath. This creates a beautiful contrast and a unique look. Use it for cards, jewelry, furniture, or enclosures.

• Thickness: 3 mm.
• Dimensions: 20 x 30 cm, 40 x 30 cm, 60 x 30 cm, 60 x 40 cm, 60 x 60 cm, 90 x 60 cm, 120 x 60 cm.

2. Plywood/triply

Plywood, triply, and aircraft-grade plywood are not made of pressed and glued fibers, but are constructed from multiple wood veneer layers. Because these layers are glued cross-wise, they are strong in all directions. This makes them better suited for many projects than solid wood, as plywood sheets are less prone to breaking.

The terms aircraft-grade triply, aircraft-grade plywood, triply, and plywood refer to the number of layers and the thickness. Aircraft-grade triply is a term used for thin plywood or triply sheets less than 3mm thick. 

However, normal aircraft-grade triply is not suitable for laser cutting. Normal aircraft-grade triply is difficult to cut and results in black, sooty edges that rub off. This is because this type of triply is glued with exterior adhesive (it was, after all, intended for use in aircraft). Our thin plywood does not suffer from this, as all types of plywood we sell are made with laser-compatible glue. 

Triply means that the wood is made of three layers, and plywood means it is made of more than 3 layers. In practice, the terms are used interchangeably.

Please note that plywood and triply sheets have a main grain direction. This typically runs along the length of the sheet, except for the 600x400 size sheets. For those, the main grain direction runs across the sheet. Read more here about dimensions and grain direction. Naturally, Lasersheets' plywood and triply sheets have an adhesive suitable for laser cutters. This adhesive ensures less soot along the cut edges.

Plywood is used in the laser cutting sector for various applications:

• Model making
• Cards and jewelry
• Home decoration
• Furniture making
• Boxes and enclosures

With us, you have a choice of birch plywood, bamboo plywood, and basswood plywood. The difference between these wooden sheet materials lies not only in their appearance but also in their characteristics and price. 

Birch plywood is available in two variants, one originating from Europe and the other from Asia. Birch plywood from Europe is our strongest plywood, constructed from many thin layers and glued with laser-suitable adhesive. The 0.5 mm and 1 mm thicknesses consist of three layers, and are therefore officially birch triply. 2 mm and 3 mm are made with four layers of birch veneer. 4 mm sheets are made with five layers, 6 mm thick with seven layers, and 9 mm with ten layers. The 3 mm and 6 mm sheets are also FSC® Mix Credit certified (see below). Birch is strong, beautiful, natural, and has a clearly visible grain.

• Thickness: birch aircraft-grade triply 0.5 mm, birch aircraft-grade triply 1 mm, birch aircraft-grade triply 2 mm, birch triply 3 mm FSC® mix credit, birch triply 4 mm, birch plywood 6 mm FSC® mix credit, birch plywood 9 mm.
  
• Dimensions: 20 x 30 cm, 40 x 30 cm, 60 x 30 cm, 60 x 40 cm, 60 x 60 cm, 90 x 60 cm, 120 x 60 cm.

Birch plywood of Asian origin we have included in our assortment to ensure more supply security for these wood types. These wooden sheets are also made with laser-suitable glue. The difference between the two types of birch wood is the strength and the price. Birch sheets from Asia are slightly less strong, but more affordable. They also remain flatter because they have less internal tension.

• Thickness: 3 mm, 4 mm, 6 mm and 9 mm.
• Dimensions: 20 x 30 cm, 40 x 30 cm, 60 x 30 cm, 60 x 40 cm, 60 x 60 cm, 120 x 60 cm.

Basswood plywood is, in contrast to birch plywood, somewhat softer. It is also lightweight. That makes it an excellent choice if you want to cut thicker wood sheet material with your laser. The thicker sheets are very strong, as they have many thin layers of quality wood. 

Our basswood plywood has a uniform color, the layers contain few knots, and it is particularly flat. Basswood or Linden plywood is used for many different applications, including furniture, art objects, and decorative objects. These wooden sheets for laser cutting are lightweight.

• Thicknesses: 2 mm, 3 mm, 6 mm, 9 mm, 12 mm, 15 mm.
• Dimensions: 20 x 30 cm, 40 x 30 cm, 60 x 30 cm, 60 x 40 cm, 60 x 60 cm, 120 x 60 cm.
  

Bamboo plywood is a unique and eco-friendly type of wooden sheet. These sheets are very strong and fracture-resistant in both directions. Bamboo plywood is constructed from multiple layers of 100% FSC certified bamboo. 

Side-pressed bamboo has been a favorite at Lasersheets for years, but despite its beautiful appearance, this material has some drawbacks. That's why we had bamboo plywood created. Due to its construction in thin layers, these sheets contain no thick knots. This allows the laser cutter to pass through more easily and also reduces product failure due to burn-ins. While side-pressed bamboo easily breaks due to its long fibers, plywood is fracture-resistant in both directions.

Bamboo plywood 0.5 mm is the thinnest sheet of this material; it is as flexible as stiff paper. Bamboo plywood 1.5 mm is slightly flexible. The other thicknesses are not flexible under normal conditions. This material is sensitive to humidity, which can cause the edges to curl.

Also check out the Value packs to get a favorable price.

• Thickness: 0.5 mm, 1.5 mm, 3 mm and 5 mm.
• Dimensions: 20 x 30 cm, 40 x 30 cm, 60 x 30 cm, 60 x 40 cm, 60 x 60 cm, 120 x 60 cm

Solid wood

Are you looking for wood sheet material with a luxurious appearance? Then our solid wood (bamboo) is highly recommended. These sheets are made from long bamboo fibers that have been compressed. They consist of 100% solid wood and have a very natural appearance.

Bamboo is also a sustainable choice, in addition to our FSC® certified wood. Bamboo grows very quickly, so every used stem is quickly replaced. The outer layers of the bamboo stem are glued together, resulting in a hard and smooth sheet.

Note: solid wood sheet material is beautiful, but it is susceptible to breaks along the grain. Across the grain, it is extremely strong. Therefore, do not make bamboo designs too thin, or consider using bamboo plywood. 

Our solid bamboo wood sheets are widely used for front panels, displays, and enclosures.

• Thickness: solid wood 5 mm.
• Dimensions: 20 x 30 cm, 60 x 30 cm, 60 x 60 cm, 90 x 60 cm, 120 x 60 cm.

How can you process wood sheet material in a laser cutter?

Many of our customers choose thin wooden sheets 2 mm thick or even less for use in their laser cutter. You can do and make anything with them. You can even cut these with lower-power lasers such as the Glowforge or diode lasers. There are a large number of websites with ideas and ready-made vector files for use in your laser cutting machine.

How can you process wood in your laser cutter? Our wood sheet material and thin 2 mm wooden sheets are ideal for:

• Laser cutting (make a box, a kitchen cabinet, or parts for model making).
• Engraving (engrave a photo, sketch, or logo into the wood for a natural and stylish result).
• With halftone, you can turn a photo into an image consisting of thousands of holes of different sizes.

Tips for purchasing wooden sheet material

At Lasersheets, you have the guarantee that the sheet material is perfectly suitable for laser cutting. Of course, that doesn't mean you can't use it in other ways. Because the choice is vast, we share our tips so you can buy the best wood for your purposes. Do you have any questions? You can always contact us for expert help with your selection. 

1. Avoid aircraft-grade triply

If you are looking for a thin 2 mm wooden sheet, you will undoubtedly come across the term 'aircraft-grade triply'. It is often used for plywood sheets thinner than 3 millimeters. That sounds ideal, but true aircraft-grade triply is glued with waterproof adhesive, which is not ideal for your laser cutter.

We therefore advise you to avoid aircraft-grade triply and only use plywood sheets with a laser-friendly adhesive. For example, all our sheets are glued with interior adhesive, which does yield good results.

2. Wood sheet material cannot simply be used outdoors

Acrylic is a material suitable for outdoor and indoor use, but wood sheet material is not. It must first be finished before it is weather, UV, and moisture resistant. That is important if you use it for, among other things, signboards or garden furniture.

Outdoor sheets from the hardware store are glued with waterproof adhesive, which makes them, like aircraft-grade triply, less suitable for laser cutting. To make wood sheet material waterproof, you can use stain, varnish, or lacquer, for example.

Note: wood sheet material that is frequently outdoors must be regularly maintained and re-treated. This way, it stays beautiful longer and you prevent drying out, mold formation, and rot.

3. MDF wood is the easiest to laser cut

Because MDF sheets are homogeneous and contain no knots or natural variations, it is an easy material to laser cut. Once you have determined the correct settings, cutting generally always goes well. With natural wood, especially low-quality plywood, it can sometimes happen that there are knots in the wood. Sometimes they are in the outer layer and you can see them, but it can also be that there are knots in the inner layer that you don't see on the surface. Knots are made of a much harder type of wood, and many lasers have difficulty cutting through them. At least not with the same settings you use to cut the rest of the sheet. It is therefore advisable to use the highest possible quality plywood with few knots when laser cutting. 

4. Has your wood warped? Check out our tips for flat wood laser cutting.

Do you want to dive even deeper into the subject of flat wood and warping? We have written two extensive blogs on this topic that will help you further with choosing, storing, and using wood for laser cutting:

• Why wood warps and what you can do about it you can read in our blog Help, my birch wood is warping! on Lasersheets. There you will find practical tips on preventing and remedying warping in birch plywood. Help, my birch wood is warping

• Where to find flat wood for laser cutting and what to look for in terms of quality and flatness can be found in our blog Where can I find flat wood for laser cutting?. Where can I find flat wood for laser cutting?

Both articles provide useful insights and practical advice for better results with your laser wood.

5. Do you want to know more about how you can save costs when purchasing sheet materials?

You can read that in this blog.

Lasersheets for all your wood sheet material

All the wood we sell, from thin 2 mm wooden sheets to 15 mm basswood plywood, is carefully selected for laser cutting machines. Our customers include hobbyists, designers, entrepreneurs, technasiums, fab labs, and producers. We offer all materials in small and large quantities and ship by post or on small pallets, so you can receive them even in a smaller workshop. 

Because we have 15 years of experience with our sister company Snijlab we stand 100% behind all the information on this website and the quality of our materials. Therefore, check out our extensive webshop. If in doubt, contact us so we can help you choose your ideal wood sheet material together. Because laser cutting is our passion and specialty.