Laser cutting vs waterjet: cost comparison
Short answer: Lasers are faster and cheaper on sheet up to ~15-20 mm steel; waterjets cut anything - hardened steel, aluminum over 25 mm, glass, stone - with no heat-affected zone, at a higher hourly cost (typically $70-150/hr all-in).
Cost comparison at a glance
| Sheet Metal Cutting | Waterjet | |
|---|---|---|
| One-off part | $10-40 | $20-80 |
| Batch of 100 (per part) | $4-12 | $8-30 |
| Production volume (per part) | $2-6 | $5-20 |
| Typical lead time | 2-4 days | 2-5 days |
| Tolerance | ±0.1 mm | ±0.1 mm |
| Materials | mild steel, stainless, aluminum sheet | any material incl. hardened steel, glass, stone, thick plate |
These are indicative service-market ranges for a palm-sized part — your own costs depend on your machines, rates and region. Both calculators below let you price the same part both ways with your numbers and see the crossover for yourself.
Choose Sheet Metal Cutting when…
- sheet metal up to ~15 mm
- speed and per-part cost
- fine detail and narrow kerf
- high-volume nested production
Choose Waterjet when…
- thick plate and hard materials
- no heat-affected zone allowed
- glass, stone, composites, rubber
- reflective metals that fight lasers
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