Looking for laser engraving near me? LaserEngraver.co.za is a free quote referral service for South Africa. You fill in one short form about what you want engraved, and we pass it to independent laser engraving shops, makers and engineering works near you, who quote you directly. We do not engrave, cut or sell anything ourselves, and there is no fee or obligation. Whether it is one personalised gift, 200 branded pens or serial plates for a factory, one request reaches engravers in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Centurion, Durban, Bloemfontein and beyond.
What can be laser engraved?
Laser engraving removes or darkens a thin layer of the surface to leave a permanent mark. Most SA laser engraving services work on:
- Wood, bamboo and plywood: coasters, boards, boxes and keepsakes, see wood laser cutting
- Acrylic: awards, signs and display stands, see acrylic laser cutting
- Glass and crystal: wine glasses, tumblers and 3D crystal blocks
- Leather, slate, tile and card
- Metal: anodised aluminium, coated tumblers, stainless steel and brass, often with a fibre laser, see laser marking
Bare metal needs a fibre or MOPA laser, not a CO2 machine, so mention the material clearly.
CO2, fibre and diode: which laser does the job
A CO2 laser (40 to 150 W) is the workhorse for wood, acrylic, leather, glass and stone, with beds from about 300 x 200 mm up to 1300 x 900 mm. A fibre laser (20 to 100 W) marks metals and hard plastics with fine detail, ideal for serial numbers and QR codes. Diode lasers are popular with hobbyists for light wood and leather work. A good engraver chooses the machine; you just need to say what the item is made of.
Laser engraving prices and what affects them
As a guide in 2026, small engravings on supplied items cost roughly R25 to R90 each, with a set-up or artwork fee of R150 to R450. Price depends on engraved area, depth, the number of items, whether a jig is needed to hold odd shapes, and who supplies the blanks. Bulk orders of 50 or more drop the unit price sharply. Colour fill, rotary engraving on round items and rush jobs cost extra. A photo engraving on a wooden board or slate is usually R180 to R450, and engraved name badges or pet tags around R35 to R80 each.
Files, artwork and turnaround
Send vector artwork (SVG, AI, PDF or DXF) for logos and line work, and a high-resolution PNG or JPG for photos. If you only have a sketch, most engravers offer design help for a fee. Typical turnaround is 2 to 5 working days, longer for large corporate gift runs, and courier delivery across South Africa is common.
What to include in your request
- Name the item and what it is made of
- Give the engraving size in millimetres
- Say how many you need and by when
- Attach artwork as SVG, AI, PDF or PNG
- Say whether you supply the items
Laser Engraving for different customers
- Gifts and keepsakes: a single engraved gift, keepsake box, cutting board or pet tag for someone special
- Weddings and events: engraved place cards, wooden cake toppers and wedding favours for every guest
- Schools, clubs and churches: engraved medals, honours board plates and name badges for a school or club
- Businesses and brands: branded pens, notebooks and drinkware engraved with a company logo for staff and clients
- Shops, restaurants and venues: engraved menus, display stands and wooden signage for a shop, restaurant or wine estate
- Factories, engineering and mines: permanent serial plates, asset tags and part marking for machines and equipment
- Makers and resellers: outsourced engraving of overflow orders or materials a small workshop cannot handle in-house
- Farms and agri businesses: engraved farm-stall signage, gate plaques and branded wooden produce crates
Frequently asked questions
Does LaserEngraver.co.za do the engraving?
Can I bring my own item to be engraved?
How long does laser engraving last?
What should I include in my request?
Laser Engraving by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg