Wooden sheet material for laser cutting

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

Working with wood sheet material in your laser cutter delivers stunning results. It's one of our most popular categories with customers. We sell various types of thin wood sheets from 0.5 mm, 1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm up to 12 mm thick. They are all LaserGrade, tested and approved for laser cutting or engraving.

With wood sheet material, you can make everything from jewellery to musical instruments, and from furniture to toys. If you treat wood with varnish or oil, you can even use it outdoors. Read on to discover more about this versatile material and the wood sheets in the Lasersheets range.

We sell our wood sheet material from single sheets to large quantities. As soon as you buy multiple sheets, you'll get an attractive volume discount. But also check out our Value Packs if you're looking for a really good price. 

Did you know… Lasersheets also sells FSC® Mix Credit Birch Plywood and FSC® Mix 70% MDF sheets?

Different types of wood sheet material and their properties

You can find various types of wood sheet material here. We sell MDF (standard, veneered, through-coloured, and white-coated), plywood (birch, bamboo, and lime), and solid wood (bamboo). These are available in a range of thicknesses and sizes.

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

1. MDF

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

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

Because MDF is versatile, it's used for all sorts of different applications, including:

• Interior projects
• Furniture making
• Models
• Stencils

Lasersheets offers a wide range of MDF wood sheet material. Here you'll find the different options we offer, including the thicknesses and sizes you can choose from. 

Standard MDF is one of our most popular materials. We sell thin 2 mm MDF sheets, which have no finish, giving you complete freedom to create your own 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 9 mm FSC® Mix 70%.
• Sizes: 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, like Standard MDF, is a brown material. Because these thin MDF sheets come from a different manufacturer, they can be slightly darker in colour. This material is perfect for model making, miniatures, and detailed work. 

• Thickness: 1 mm
• Sizes: 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 are MDF sheets 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.
• Sizes: 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 colour that runs throughout the entire sheet. So, it's not a black coating, but through-coloured. Use it for furniture, enclosures, speakers, or signage. It's heavier and slightly stronger than standard MDF. It also withstands water a little better than normal MDF, although you should coat it for use in humid environments.

• Thicknesses: MDF 3 mm and MDF 6 mm.
• Sizes: 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 needed. With your laser, you can engrave through the coating, exposing the wood. This creates a beautiful contrast and a unique look. Use it for cards, jewellery, furniture, or enclosures.

• Thickness: 3 mm.
• Sizes: 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/Tri-ply

Plywood, tri-ply, and aircraft plywood are not made of glued and pressed fibres but are constructed from multiple layers of wood veneer. Because these are glued crosswise, they are strong in all directions. This makes them better suited for many projects than solid wood, as plywood sheets are less likely to break.

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

However, regular aircraft tri-ply is not suitable for laser cutting. It's difficult to cut and leaves black, sooty edges that rub off. This is because this type of tri-ply is glued with exterior adhesive (it was, after all, intended for aircraft). Our thin plywood doesn't have this problem, as all types of plywood we sell are made with laser-compatible glue. 

Tri-ply means the wood is constructed from three layers, and plywood means it's constructed from more than three layers. In practice, the terms are used interchangeably.

Bear in mind that plywood and tri-ply sheets have a main grain direction. This usually runs along the length of the sheet, except for 600x400 size sheets, where the main grain direction runs across the sheet. Read more here about sizes and grain direction. Naturally, Lasersheets' plywood and tri-ply sheets have an adhesive that's suitable for laser cutters, which results in less charring along the cut edges.

Plywood is used in the laser cutting industry for a variety of applications:

• Model making
• Cards and jewellery
• Home decor
• Furniture making
• Boxes and enclosures

Here, you can choose from birch plywood, bamboo plywood, and lime plywood. The difference between these wood sheet materials isn't just in their appearance, but also in their characteristics and price. 

Birch plywood is available in two variants: one from Europe and one from Asia. Birch plywood from Europe is our strongest plywood, constructed from many thin layers and glued with laser-ready adhesive. The 0.5 mm and 1 mm thicknesses consist of three layers, making them officially birch tri-ply. 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 tri-ply 0.5 mm, birch tri-ply 1 mm, birch tri-ply 2 mm, birch tri-ply 3 mm FSC® Mix Credit, birch tri-ply 4 mm, birch plywood 6 mm FSC® Mix Credit, birch plywood 9 mm.
  
• Sizes: 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.

We've included birch plywood of Asian origin in our range to ensure greater supply security for these wood types. These wood sheets are also made with laser-ready adhesive. The difference between the two types of birch is their strength and price. Asian birch sheets are slightly less strong but more affordable. They also stay flatter due to having less internal tension.

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

Lime plywood, in contrast to birch plywood, is softer. It's also lightweight, making it an excellent choice if you want to laser cut thicker wood sheet material. The thicker sheets are very strong because they have many thin layers of quality wood. 

Our lime plywood has a uniform colour, the layers contain few knots, and it's exceptionally flat. Lime plywood is used for many different applications, including furniture, art objects, and decorative items. These wood sheets for laser cutting are lightweight.

• Thicknesses: 2 mm, 3 mm, 6 mm, 9 mm, 12 mm, 15 mm.
• Sizes: 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 wood sheet. These sheets are very strong and break-resistant in both directions. Bamboo plywood is constructed from multiple layers of 100% FSC certified bamboo. 

Side-pressed bamboo has been a favourite at Lasersheets for years, but despite its beautiful appearance, this material has some drawbacks. That's why we had a bamboo plywood made. Due to its thin-layer construction, these sheets do not contain thick knots, making it easier for the laser cutter to cut through and reducing product waste from burn marks. While side-pressed bamboo breaks easily due to its long fibres, plywood is break-resistant in both directions.

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

Also, check out the Value Packs to get an affordable price.

• Thickness: 0.5 mm, 1.5 mm, 3 mm, and 5 mm.
• Sizes: 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

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

Bamboo , in addition to our FSC® certified wood, is also a sustainable choice. Bamboo grows very quickly, so every harvested 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 prone to breakage along the grain. Across the grain, however, it is extremely strong. So, don't make bamboo designs too thin, or consider using bamboo plywood instead. 

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

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

How to process wood sheet material in your laser cutter

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

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

• Laser cutting (create 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 buying wood sheet material

At Lasersheets, you're guaranteed that the sheet material is perfectly suitable for laser cutting. Of course, that doesn't mean you can't use it in other ways too. Because the choice is extensive, we're sharing our tips to help you buy the best wood for your purposes. If you still have questions, you can always reach out to us for specialist help with your selection. 

1. Avoid Aircraft Tri-ply

If you're looking for a thin 2 mm wood sheet, you'll undoubtedly come across the term 'aircraft tri-ply'. It's often used for plywood sheets thinner than 3 millimetres. That sounds ideal, but real aircraft tri-ply is bonded with waterproof glue, which isn't ideal for your laser cutter.

We therefore advise you to avoid aircraft tri-ply and only use plywood sheets with laser-friendly glue. All our sheets, for example, are bonded with interior glue, which does give good results.

2. Wood sheet material cannot simply be used outdoors

Acrylic is a material suitable for both outdoor and indoor use, but wood sheet material isn't. It must first be finished to become weather, UV, and moisture resistant. This is important if you're using it for, among other things, signboards or garden furniture.

Outdoor sheets from the DIY store are bonded with waterproof glue, making them, like aircraft tri-ply, less suitable for laser cutting. You can waterproof wood sheet material, for example, by using stain, varnish, or lacquer.

Note: wood sheet material that is frequently exposed outdoors must be regularly maintained and re-treated. This will keep it looking good for longer and prevent drying out, mould 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's an easy material to laser cut. Once you've determined the correct settings, cutting generally goes smoothly. With natural wood, especially low-quality plywood, knots can sometimes be present. Sometimes they're in the outer layer and visible, but knots can also be in the inner layer, unseen on the surface. Knots are made of a much harder type of wood, and many lasers struggle to cut through them, at least not with the same settings you use for the rest of the sheet. It's 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 laser cutting flat wood.

Want to delve deeper into flat wood and warping? We've written two comprehensive blogs to help you further with choosing, storing, and using wood for laser cutting:

• Why wood warps and what you can do about it can be read in our blog Help, mijn berkenhout trekt krom! on Lasersheets. There you'll find practical tips on preventing and fixing warping in birch plywood. Help, mijn berkenhout trekt krom

• Where to find flat wood for laser cutting and what to look for in quality and flatness can be found in our blog Waar vind ik vlak hout voor lasersnijden?. Where can I find flat wood for laser cutting?

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

5. Want to know more about how you can save costs when buying sheet materials?

You can read about that in this blog.

Lasersheets for all your wood sheet material

All the wood we sell, from thin 2 mm wood sheets to 15 mm lime plywood, has been carefully selected for laser cutting machines. Our customers include hobbyists, designers, entrepreneurs, technical high schools, fab labs, and manufacturers. We offer all materials in small and large quantities, and we ship by post or on small pallets, so you can receive it 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. So, check out our extensive webshop. If in doubt, contact us so we can help you choose your ideal wood sheet material. Because laser cutting is our passion and speciality.