Laser Hourly Cost Estimator
Quickly estimate the true hourly cost of running your laser system.
Workflow Integration
- 1. Capture assumptions. Start with real utility bills, labor rates, and overhead from your ERP/accounting system. Cross-check power usage with the power consumption reference.
- 2. Run this calculator. Keep the hourly rate output handy for the Price per Meter and Laser Cutting calculators so every quote uses the same burden rate.
- 3. Feed downstream. Plug the total hourly cost into the laser cutting calculator or ROI tool and archive the breakdown for audits or finance reviews.
Enter inputs and calculate to see hourly cost.
Understanding True Hourly Cost
Many shops underestimate their true operating costs. This calculator helps you understand all cost components.
Equipment Depreciation
Spread the equipment purchase cost over its useful life. A $150k laser over 10 years (20,000 total hours) costs $7.50/hour in depreciation. This is a real cost that must be recovered to replace equipment eventually.
Total Power Consumption
Include laser power plus chiller, exhaust, and control systems. For example, if a 6kW laser and its support equipment draw about 10kW in your setup, then at $0.12/kWh that would be around $1.20/hour in electricity. Always use your own nameplate data, measurements, and tariffs for final calculations.
Consumables & Maintenance
Nozzles, lenses, protective windows, and regular maintenance add up. In some shops, these items may end up on the order of a few dollars per hour for consumables and a similar amount for maintenance reserve, but the actual figures should come from your own service contracts, part usage, and experience. Check ourassist gas reference for gas-related examples.
Overhead Allocation
Facility rent, insurance, utilities, management, and administrative costs all contribute to overhead. The example breakdown below shows one possible range, but your hourly overhead should be calculated from your own monthly costs and productive hours rather than a single "typical" value.
Frequently Asked Questions
Typical Cost Breakdown Example
6kW Fiber Laser System - Job Shop Environment
Example billing range: In this scenario, adding a 25-35% margin to the modeled cost would lead to roughly $61-70/hr. Your actual billing rate should be set using your own margin targets, market conditions, and service level requirements.