xTool Laser Settings by Machine and Material
Find xTool laser settings for cardstock, wood, slate, leather, tumblers, glass and more. Search by material or filter by machine to find power, speed, passes and lines per cm for cutting and engraving.
Before you hit start: these are good starting points, but every laser, lens, and batch of material is a little different, so always try them yourself first. Run a material test grid on a scrap of the same material (xTool Creative Space has a Material Test Array built in), then pick the square that looks best. Speed is in mm/s and power is a percent, the way xTool Creative Space shows them.
Laser settings for cardstock
Two cardstock cut settings to start from, both on a UV laser: one for Celebration Warehouse smooth cardstock and one for white starter cardstock. You'll find more paper and cardstock settings at the top of the table below.
Cardstock cutWhite cardstock (starter sheet)
- Machine
- F2 UV
- Job
- Cut
- Power
- 55%
- Speed
- 10 mm/s
- Passes
- 1
- Also
- Frequency 40 kHz
Cardstock cutCelebration Warehouse smooth cardstock
- Machine
- X1 (5W UV)
- Job
- Cut
- Power
- 55%
- Speed
- 10 mm/s
- Passes
- 1
| Material | Machine / laser | Job | Power | Speed | Passes | LPC / DPI | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Celebration Warehouse smooth cardstock | X1 5W UV | Cut | 55% | 10 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| White cardstock | F series | Cut | 29% | 15 mm/s | 3 | - | - |
| White cardstock (starter sheet) | F2 UV | Cut | 55% | 10 mm/s | 1 | - | Frequency 40 kHz |
| White shimmer cardstock 250g | S1 40W diode | Engrave | 19% | 125 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| A4 Color Cardboard - Orange | M1 Ultra 20W diode | Cut | 90% | 120 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| A4 Color Cardboard - Orange | M1 Ultra 20W diode | Score | 20% | 180 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| A4 Color Cardboard - Orange | M1 Ultra 10W diode | Cut | 100% | 40 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| A4 Color Cardboard - Orange | S1 40W diode | Cut | 70% | 160 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| A4 Color Cardboard - Orange | S1 40W diode | Score | 10% | 160 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| A4 Color Cardboard - Orange | S1 20W diode | Cut | 90% | 120 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| A4 Color Cardboard - Orange | S1 20W diode | Score | 15% | 160 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| A4 Color Cardboard - Orange | S1 10W diode | Cut | 100% | 40 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| Shimmer paper | F2 Ultra UV 5W UV | Engrave | 100% | 80 mm/s | 4 | - | - |
| 0.2mm kraft paper | P2 55W CO2 | Cut | 90% | 60 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| 0.2mm kraft paper | P2 55W CO2 | Score | 20% | 160 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| 160g paper | S1 20W diode | Engrave | 60% | 150 mm/s | - | - | Passes not listed; start with 1 |
| 3.5mm corrugated paper | P2 55W CO2 | Score | 25% | 150 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| 3.5mm corrugated paper | S1 40W diode | Score | 14% | 160 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| Chipboard (2mm) | P3 80W CO2 | Cut | 60% | 80 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| Corrugated cardboard (2.5mm) | S1 10W diode | Engrave | 26% | 300 mm/s | - | - | Passes not listed; start with 1 |
| Kraft paper | P2 55W CO2 | Cut | 80% | 70 mm/s | 1 | - | P2 and P2S kraft settings differ a lot; test first |
| Kraft paper | P2S 55W CO2 | Cut | 20% | 250 mm/s | 1 | - | P2 and P2S kraft settings differ a lot; test first |
| Kraft paper | M1 Ultra 20W diode | Cut | 90% | 20 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| Kraft paper | M1 Ultra 20W diode | Score | 30% | 170 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| Kraft paper | M1 Ultra 10W diode | Cut | 90% | 25 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| Kraft paper | S1 40W diode | Cut | 90% | 285 mm/s | 1 | - | Much faster than the 20W setting; test first |
| Kraft paper | S1 20W diode | Cut | 90% | 60 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| Kraft paper | S1 10W diode | Cut | 90% | 30 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| Kraft paper | F1 10W diode | Cut | 90% | 20 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| Kraft paper 12oz (400g) | S1 40W diode | Score | 15% | 90 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| Laser engraving photo paper | F2 Ultra 60W fiber | Engrave | 30% | 4000 mm/s | 1 | 160 DPI | Frequency 50 kHz |
| Laser engraving photo paper | S1 40W diode | Engrave | 10% | 500 mm/s | 1 | 100 DPI | - |
| White corrugated cardboard (3mm) | F2 15W diode | Engrave | 40% | 80 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| 20oz powder-coated stainless tumbler | M1 Ultra 20W diode | Engrave | 80% | 80 mm/s | 1 | - | xTool's blog and library give different numbers; test first |
| 20oz powder-coated stainless tumbler (2mm) | S1 20W diode | Engrave | 100% | 150 mm/s | 1 | - | xTool's blog and library give different numbers; test first |
| 304 stainless steel | F2 Ultra 60W fiber | Engrave | 40% | 3000 mm/s | 1 | 200 DPI | Frequency 50 kHz |
| Acacia wood cutting board | F2 Blue light | Engrave | 100% | 400 mm/s | 1 | 120 | Scan: bi-directional |
| Acacia wood cutting board (photo) | F2 UV | Engrave | 100% | - | 1 | - | Dot duration 1000 DPI 250 Frequency 40 kHz Bitmap: Jarvis Scan: bi-directional |
| Acrylic | P3 CO2 | Cut | 90% | 30 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| Acrylic (cake topper) (3mm) | P3 80W CO2 | Cut | 70% | 22 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| Acrylic with magnet backing | P3 CO2 | Cut | 55% | 10 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| AirPods case | X1 5W UV | Engrave | 40% | 800 mm/s | 1 | 300 | Frequency 40 kHz |
| Anodized aluminum (1mm) | P2S 55W CO2 | Engrave | 20% | 400 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| Anodized aluminum business card | F2 Ultra UV 5W UV | Engrave | 95% | 2000 mm/s | 1 | 300 LPC | Frequency 40 kHz |
| Artificial leather (1mm) | P2 55W CO2 | Cut | 100% | 30 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| Artificial leather (1mm) | P2 55W CO2 | Engrave | 10% | 400 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| Bamboo | P3 CO2 | Engrave | 40% | 600 mm/s | 1 | 120 | - |
| Bare stainless pendant | F2 Ultra UV 5W UV | Engrave | 100% | 200 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| Bare stainless steel card | F2 Ultra UV 5W UV | Engrave | 100% | 50 mm/s | 1 | 800 LPC | Frequency 40 kHz |
| Basswood | F2 UV | Cut | 100% | 3 mm/s | - | - | Frequency 40 kHz |
| Basswood | F2 UV | Engrave | 85% | 225 mm/s | 1 | 120 | Frequency 40 kHz |
| Basswood (photo) | F2 UV | Engrave | 90% | - | 1 | - | Dot duration 1000 DPI 250 Frequency 40 kHz Bitmap: Jarvis |
| Basswood plywood (3mm) | F2 Ultra 40W diode | Cut | 70% | 40 mm/s | 4 | - | - |
| Basswood plywood (3mm) | F2 15W diode | Cut | 90% | 6 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| Basswood plywood (3mm) | P3 80W CO2 | Cut | 80% | 50 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| Basswood plywood (3mm) | P2 55W CO2 | Cut | 90% | 25 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| Basswood plywood (3mm) | P2 55W CO2 | Engrave | 10% | 250 mm/s | 1 | 100 DPI | - |
| Basswood plywood (3mm) | P2S 55W CO2 | Cut | 60% | 27 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| Basswood plywood (3mm) | M1 Ultra 20W diode | Cut | 90% | 10 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| Basswood plywood (3mm) | M1 Ultra 10W diode | Cut | 90% | 5 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| Basswood plywood (3mm) | S1 40W diode | Cut | 100% | 15 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| Basswood plywood (3mm) | S1 20W diode | Cut | 100% | 9 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| Birch plywood, 3.7 mm | P3 CO2 | Cut | 80% | 16 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| Birch plywood, 3.7 mm | P3 CO2 | Engrave | 30% | 400 mm/s | 1 | 120 | - |
| Birch plywood, 3.7 mm | M1 Ultra | Cut | 100% | 5 mm/s | - | - | - |
| Birch plywood, 3.7 mm | M1 Ultra | Engrave | 50% | 80 mm/s | - | - | - |
| Birch plywood, 6 mm | X1 55W CO2 | Cut | 100% | 10 mm/s | - | - | - |
| Black acrylic (3mm) | F2 Ultra 40W diode | Cut | 90% | 15 mm/s | 2 | - | - |
| Black acrylic (3mm) | F2 Ultra 60W fiber | Engrave | 70% | 2000 mm/s | 1 | 200 DPI | Frequency 50 kHz |
| Black acrylic (3mm) | M1 Ultra 20W diode | Cut | 70% | 3 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| Black acrylic (3mm) | S1 40W diode | Cut | 100% | 7 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| Black anodized aluminum | S1 40W diode | Engrave | 28% | 300 mm/s | 1 | 200 DPI | - |
| Black PU leather | F2 Ultra 60W fiber | Engrave | 12% | 3000 mm/s | 1 | 200 DPI | Frequency 48 kHz |
| Black PU leather | P3 80W CO2 | Engrave | 10% | 600 mm/s | 1 | 120 DPI | - |
| Black PU leather | M1 Ultra 20W diode | Engrave | 20% | 200 mm/s | 1 | 100 DPI | - |
| Black PU leather | S1 40W diode | Engrave | 10% | 140 mm/s | 1 | 100 DPI | - |
| Brown cork coaster | P3 80W CO2 | Engrave | 45% | 1000 mm/s | - | - | Passes not listed; start with 1 |
| Cast acrylic, all colors (3mm) | P2/P2S 55W CO2 | Cut | 100% | 30-50 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| Clear acrylic (3mm) | P3 80W CO2 | Cut | 80% | 19 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| Clear acrylic (3mm) | P2 55W CO2 | Cut | 80% | 13 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| Clear acrylic (3mm) | P2 55W CO2 | Engrave | 15% | 350 mm/s | 1 | 200 DPI | - |
| Coated metal | F2 Blue light | Engrave | 70% | 1000 mm/s | 1 | 300 | Scan: bi-directional |
| Coffee felt (1mm) | S1 40W diode | Engrave | 5% | 200 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| Eggshell | X1 5W UV | Engrave | 50% | 1500 mm/s | 1 | 300 | Frequency 40 kHz |
| Faux wood picture frame | F2 Blue light | Engrave | 100% | 400 mm/s | 1 | 100 | Scan: bi-directional |
| Glass (high temperature) (4mm) | P2 55W CO2 | Engrave | 20% | 300 mm/s | 1 | 200 DPI | - |
| Glass beer can tumbler (painted) | F2 UV | Engrave | 100% | 100 mm/s | 1 | 300 | Frequency 40 kHz Scan: bi-directional |
| Glass jar (rotary) (3mm) | S1 40W diode | Engrave | 90% | 190 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| Glass with Cermark spray | P3 CO2 | Engrave | 50% | 100 mm/s | 1 | 100 | - |
| Glass with tempera paint | P3 CO2 | Engrave | 50% | 250 mm/s | 1 | 200 | Scan: bi-directional |
| Gray rubber stamp | X1 55W CO2 | Engrave | 75% | 200 mm/s | 1 | 120 | Scan: bi-directional |
| Gray rubber stamp | X1 55W CO2 | Cut | 100% | 10 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| K9 glass (inner carving) | F2 Ultra UV 5W UV | Engrave inside glass | 50% | 1200 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| Landscape stone | X1 30W Fiber | Relief engrave | 100% | 1500 mm/s | 1 | 300 | Relief type: Emboss Rise 0.04 mm every 10 layers Angle 15° Frequency 40 kHz Feather power 98, speed 2300 Scan: bi-directional |
| Leather | F2 UV | Engrave | 100% | 95 mm/s | 1 | 200 | Frequency 40 kHz Scan: bi-directional |
| Leather | P3 CO2 | Cut | 33% | 228 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| Leatherette journal | M1 Ultra | Engrave | 35% | 250 mm/s | - | - | - |
| Letter-only wax seal stamp (metal) | X1 30W Fiber | Relief engrave | 100% | 1000 mm/s | - | 300 | Relief type: Incise 150 layers Rise 0.04 mm every 10 layers Angle 15° Frequency 50 kHz Feather power 98, speed 2300 Scan: bi-directional |
| Paw print wax seal stamp (metal) | X1 30W Fiber | Relief engrave | 100% | 1000 mm/s | 1 | 300 | Relief type: Emboss 256 layers Rise 0.04 mm every 10 layers Angle 15° Frequency 50 kHz Feather power 98, speed 2300 Scan: bi-directional |
| Porcelain plate | X1 55W CO2 | Engrave | 100% | 80 mm/s | - | 100 | Scan: bi-directional |
| Powder coated tumbler | F2 UV | Engrave | 100% | 202 mm/s | 1 | 300 | Frequency 40 kHz Scan: bi-directional |
| Powder coated tumbler | X1 55W CO2 | Engrave | 50% | 200 mm/s | - | 200 | Scan: bi-directional |
| Powder-coated stainless tumbler (seafoam) | P2 55W CO2 | Engrave | 20% | 100 mm/s | 1 | 200 DPI | - |
| PU leather wallet | F2 Blue light | Engrave | 90% | 500 mm/s | 1 | 120 | Scan: bi-directional |
| PU leatherette (no foam backing) (1mm) | P2S 55W CO2 | Cut | 40% | 45 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| Purple anodized aluminum (1mm) | F2 Ultra 60W fiber | Engrave | 50% | 2400 mm/s | 1 | 200 DPI | Frequency 48 kHz |
| Slate | F2 Ultra UV 5W UV | Engrave | 100% | 300 mm/s | 1 | 550 LPC | Frequency 40 kHz |
| Slate coaster | F2 Blue light | Engrave | 60% | 600 mm/s | 1 | 200 | Scan: bi-directional |
| Slate coaster | M1 Ultra | Engrave | 30% | 250 mm/s | 1 | 200 | - |
| Slate coaster (5mm) | F2 Ultra 60W fiber | Engrave | 50% | 3000 mm/s | 1 | 120 DPI | Frequency 48 kHz |
| Slate coaster (5mm) | P3 80W CO2 | Engrave | 20% | 600 mm/s | 1 | 200 DPI | - |
| Slate coaster (5mm) | P2 55W CO2 | Engrave | 20% | 400 mm/s | 1 | 200 DPI | - |
| Slate coaster (5mm) | M1 Ultra 20W diode | Engrave | 30% | 250 mm/s | 1 | 200 DPI | - |
| Slate coaster | S1 40W diode | Engrave | 10% | 140 mm/s | 1 | - | - |
| Soapstone whiskey stones | F2 Infrared | Engrave | 100% | 25 mm/s | 1 | 300 | Scan: bi-directional |
| Soda-lime glass cup | F2 Ultra 40W diode | Engrave | 70% | 150 mm/s | - | - | Passes not listed; start with 1 |
| Stainless steel bracelet and ring | F2 UV | Engrave | 100% | 306 mm/s | 1 | 300 | Frequency 40 kHz Scan: bi-directional |
| White ceramic plate (photo) | F2 UV | Engrave | 100% | - | 6 | - | Dot duration 300 DPI 500 Frequency 40 kHz Bitmap: Jarvis Scan: bi-directional |
| White ceramic plate (text) | F2 UV | Engrave | 100% | 300 mm/s | 1 | 200 | Frequency 40 kHz Scan: bi-directional |
| Wood | M1 Ultra 10W diode | Engrave | 80% | 150 mm/s | 1 | 60 LPC | - |
| Wood and slate coaster (wood side) | F2 Blue light | Engrave | 100% | 400 mm/s | 1 | 100 | Scan: bi-directional |
Cardstock that cuts clean on a laser
My smooth cardstock is solid core, so the color goes all the way through and you don't get white edges on your cuts. Start with white or a light color while you dial in your settings.
xTool settings FAQ
What are the best xTool settings for cutting cardstock?
On a UV laser I cut cardstock at 55% power, 10 mm/s, 1 pass. That works on both my X1 5W UV module and my F2 UV. Run a small test first, since cardstock weight and color change how fast it cuts.
Can you cut cardstock with an xTool laser?
Yes. Cardstock cuts cleanly on a laser with low power and a slow, single pass. Solid-core cardstock is the best choice because the color goes all the way through, so the cut edges match the sheet.
What does LPC mean in xTool settings?
LPC is lines per centimeter. It controls how tightly the laser packs its engraving lines. Higher LPC gives a darker, smoother engrave but takes longer.
Why do my results look different with the same settings?
Lens focus, the age of the laser, the exact material batch, and even humidity all change the result. Use these settings as a starting point and test on a scrap of the same material.
Is speed in mm/s?
Yes. Speed is in millimeters per second and power is a percent, which is how xTool Creative Space shows them.
Celebration Warehouse is not affiliated with xTool. xTool, F2, P3, M1 Ultra and xTool Creative Space are names of xTool products.
Happy crafting, Ashlee