Acrylic is one of the most popular materials for laser cutting and engraving. It is used for letters and logos, sign panels, displays, product parts and decorative pieces. This guide explains the choices that affect how your acrylic parts look, so you can describe what you need when you ask for a quote.

Cast or extruded acrylic?

Acrylic sheet is made in two main ways, and the difference matters most when a design is engraved.

  • Cast acrylic engraves with a bright, frosted white finish, so it is usually the better choice for engraved logos, text and artwork.
  • Extruded acrylic gives a less contrasting engraved finish, but is often chosen for parts that are cut only.

If you’re not sure which you need, tell us how the part will be used and we’ll recommend one when we quote.

Colours and finishes

Acrylic comes in clear, coloured, frosted and mirror finishes. The colours, finishes and thicknesses available for your project are confirmed in your quotation. If you need to match an existing sign or brand colour, say so in your enquiry and send a reference if you have one.

Mirror acrylic

Mirror acrylic can be cut and engraved. Engraving is usually done on the reverse of the sheet: the laser removes the backing so the design shows through the mirrored face, which keeps the front surface smooth.

Edges and surfaces

Laser-cut acrylic usually has a smooth, glossy edge straight from the machine, so separate edge polishing is not normally needed. Acrylic can be cut with its protective film in place to help keep the surfaces clean while it is handled.

Thickness

Choose a thickness that suits how the part will be used: how big it is, whether it needs to stand up on its own, and how it will be fixed. Tell us the thickness you have in mind, or what the part needs to do, and we’ll confirm the options for your design.

Acrylic letters and logos

For cut letters and logos, send your artwork as a vector file (SVG, DXF, PDF or AI) with text converted to outlines, and tell us:

  • the finished height of the letters, or the overall size, in millimetres;
  • the acrylic colour or finish and the thickness;
  • the quantity of each piece;
  • whether you need holes for fixings.

Ready to get a quote?

Send your file, acrylic choice, sizes and quantity through our quote form. Trade customers can use the trade enquiry form. See Acrylic Laser Cutting for more on what we make.