When working with non-metal materials — such as wood, acrylic, leather, plastics, fabric, paper, glass, rubber, foam, or cork — choosing the right laser technology is crucial for achieving clean cuts, detailed engravings, smooth edges, and efficient processing.

The two main contenders are CO2 lasers (gas-based, wavelength ~10.6 µm) and fiber lasers (solid-state, wavelength ~1.06 µm). While fiber lasers dominate metal processing in 2026 due to speed, efficiency, and precision on metals, the picture flips for non-metals.

Why CO2 Lasers Excel on Non-Metals

CO2 lasers remain the industry standard and preferred choice for most non-metal applications. Their longer wavelength is absorbed very effectively by organic and many non-metallic materials, allowing:

• Superior absorption — Materials like wood, acrylic, leather, and textiles heat up and vaporize cleanly without excessive reflection or poor interaction.
• Excellent edge quality — Cuts on acrylic produce flame-polished, glossy edges; wood and leather show minimal charring when settings are optimized.
• Deep cutting capability — CO2 lasers routinely cut thicker non-metals (e.g., 10–20 mm acrylic or plywood) with high power (80–150W+ models common in hobby/professional machines).
• Versatile engraving and cutting — Ideal for detailed engraving on glass, stone (with some limitations), paper, fabric, and foams, plus clean through-cuts on many organics.

Common non-metal examples where CO2 shines:

• Wood (MDF, plywood, basswood) for signage, puzzles, crafts
• Acrylic (clear, colored, mirrored) for awards, displays, boxes
• Leather and fabrics for custom goods, wallets, apparel
• Plastics, rubber, and foam for gaskets, models, packaging
• Paper, cardstock, and cork for intricate designs

Fiber Lasers on Non-Metals: Limited and Often Inferior

Fiber lasers can mark or engrave some non-metals (e.g., certain hard plastics, coated materials, stone, or leather with surface marking), but they generally underperform compared to CO2 for true non-metal work.

Key limitations include:

• Poor absorption on organics — Wood, clear acrylic, paper, and many fabrics barely interact with the short wavelength, resulting in weak, inconsistent, or no marking/cutting.
• Burning or charring — When they do work (e.g., on dark plastics or leather), results often show more heat damage and rougher edges than CO2.
• No effective cutting on most organics — Fiber lasers are not designed for thick non-metals; attempts on wood or acrylic typically fail or produce very poor quality.
• Niche uses only — Fiber excels on metals, some ceramics, and select plastics (e.g., ABS, POM), but for broad non-metal versatility, it's not competitive.

In practice, fiber lasers are rarely chosen as the primary tool for non-metal-focused workshops, crafters, or small businesses.

Quick Comparison Table

When Might Fiber Make Sense for Non-Metal Work?

• You already own a fiber laser and only need occasional marking on plastics, leather, or stone.
• You're doing hybrid work (mostly metals with some non-metals) and accept compromises.
• You want a galvo-style fiber for ultra-fast surface marking on compatible non-metals (but still limited range).

For dedicated or primary non-metal work, these scenarios are rare.

Bottom Line (2026 Perspective)

CO2 laser is clearly the best choice for non-metal work. It offers unmatched versatility, better results, and proven performance on the materials most makers, crafters, sign shops, and small businesses use daily.

Fiber lasers revolutionized metal processing and are now the go-to for industrial metal cutting/marking, but they haven't displaced CO2 for non-metals — and experts agree they likely never will for organic and transparent materials.

If your projects center on wood, acrylic, leather, fabric, glass, or similar non-metals, invest in a good CO2 laser (e.g., 60–150W models from brands like xTool, OMTech, or Trotec). You'll get cleaner, faster, and more professional results without fighting the technology.

For mixed metal + non-metal needs, consider a dual-source setup or separate machines — but pure non-metal work? CO2 wins every time.