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2026-03-31T19:14:13-04:00

Can You Make Money with a Laser Engraver in 2026? Realistic Profit Examples

If you've spent any time on TikTok or YouTube, you've probably seen the hype: "Make $10,000 a month with your laser engraver from home!" But let's be real – how much of that is actually true, and how much is just people selling you courses?

The good news is: yes, you absolutely can make money with a laser engraver in 2026. But the reality is more realistic than the hype. I've been in the laser engraving business for 5 years, and in this article, I'm going to break down realistic profit numbers, the best business models, and what you can actually expect to make as a beginner.

If you're just getting started, check out our guide to the best starter laser engravers under $200 for beginners, and if you're looking for product ideas, don't miss our list of the 10 most profitable products to sell with your galvo laser engraver. If you're looking for a quality galvo laser, don't miss our in-depth review of the Tyvok P2 10W and our complete best budget galvo laser engraver buying guide.

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The Realistic Truth About Laser Engraving Profits in 2026

Let me get this out of the way first: laser engraving isn't a get-rich-quick scheme. But it is a legitimate business that can generate solid income, either as a side hustle or full-time.

The difference between the people who succeed and the people who fail usually comes down to two things: 1. Starting with the right machine (you don't need to spend $5,000+ to start) 2. Choosing profitable business models that match your machine's capabilities

In 2026, the market for personalized laser engraved products is actually growing. More people want custom, personalized items for gifts, events, and their businesses. The barrier to entry is lower than ever, especially with affordable galvo lasers like the Tyvok P2 10W hitting the market.

But let's talk real numbers – not the fake screenshots you see in online courses.

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Why Starting with a Budget Machine Like the Tyvok P2 10W Galvo Is Smarter

Before we dive into profit numbers, let's talk about why starting small is actually better for your bottom line.

A lot of beginners think they need to drop $3,000-$10,000 on a big industrial laser to make money. That's simply not true in 2026. Here's why starting with a budget 10W galvo like the Tyvok P2 (which costs under $500) is actually smarter:

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1. Faster payback period

When your machine only costs $500, you only need 10-20 good jobs to pay it off completely. With a $5,000 machine, you need 100+ jobs just to break even. That means you start making profit much sooner with a budget machine.

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2. Less risk if it doesn't work out

If you try laser engraving and decide it's not for you, you've only lost $500, not $5,000. That's a much safer way to test the waters.

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3. Galvo speed = more jobs per day

A 10W galvo is 15-20x faster than a traditional gantry laser. A job that takes 10 minutes on a gantry takes 30 seconds on a galvo. That means you can do 5-10x more jobs in the same amount of time – which directly translates to more revenue.

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4. Perfect for high-margin small items

Most of the most profitable laser engraving work is on small items: keychains, pet tags, jewelry, wedding favors, corporate gifts. These fit perfectly in a 100mm x 100mm engraving area (the standard size for the Tyvok P2), and they have excellent profit margins (usually 70-80%).

For a new business, this is the perfect sweet spot. Let's break down the profit numbers for each major business model.

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Profit Breakdown: Different Business Models, Real Numbers

There are four main ways people make money with laser engravers in 2026. Let's go through each one with real examples of how much you can make, what your costs are, and what your profit margin looks like.

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Business Model 1: On-Demand Event Work (Craft Fairs, Markets, Festivals)

This is one of the fastest ways to start making immediate cash with a laser engraver. You bring your portable galvo to an event, and engrave items on the spot for customers.

What you'll do:

Set up a booth at a local craft fair, farmers market, festival, or corporate event

Sell blank items (keychains, pet tags, tumblers) that you engrave on the spot

Or engrave items customers bring in for a fee

Real profit example from one weekend event:

| Item | Quantity | Price Each | Revenue | Cost Each | Total Cost | |------|----------|------------|---------|-----------|------------| | Pet Tags | 18 | $20 | $360 | $3 | $54 | | Keychains | 24 | $15 | $360 | $2 | $48 | | Tumbler Engraving | 12 | $30 | $360 | $0 (customer provided) | $0 | | Total | 54 | | $1,080 | | $102 |

Additional costs:

Booth fee: $75

Travel/gas: $25

Total profit for the weekend: $1,080 - $102 - $75 - $25 = $878

That's not bad for two days of work, right? And remember, your machine only cost $499, so you paid it off in your first event and still have profit left over.

What to expect:

Good event (1,000+ attendees): $500-$1,500 revenue, $300-$1,000 profit

Average event: $200-$500 revenue, $100-$300 profit

Profit margin: 60-70%

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Business Model 2: Etsy/Online Sales of Custom Products

Selling custom engraved products on Etsy, Shopify, or Facebook Marketplace is the most common way people build a steady laser engraving business.

The key here is focusing on high-demand, high-margin products that are small enough for your galvo laser.

Let's look at two of the most popular products:

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Example 1: Custom Pet Tags

Everyone with a pet needs a pet tag, and custom engraved tags are always in demand.

Selling price: $15-$25 each (average $20)

Blank tag cost: $2-$4 (average $3)

Engraving time: 30-60 seconds

Profit per tag: $17

Profit margin: 85%

If you sell just 5 tags per day, that's $85 profit per day = $2,550 profit per month. If you sell 10 tags per day, that's $5,100 profit per month.

Not bad for a few minutes of work per order.

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Example 2: Custom Keychains

Keychains are another staple – people buy them for groomsmen gifts, birthdays, company events, souvenirs, and more.

Selling price: $10-$15 each (average $12)

Blank keychain cost: $1-$3 (average $2)

Engraving time: 20-30 seconds

Profit per keychain: $10

Profit margin: 83%

If you sell 20 keychains per week, that's $800 profit per month. If you sell 50 keychains per week, that's $2,000 profit per month.

What to expect for online sales:

New shop (less than 3 months): 2-5 orders per day = $600-$2,000 profit per month

Established shop (6+ months): 5-15 orders per day = $1,500-$5,000 profit per month

Profit margin: 70-85% for most small products

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Business Model 3: Bulk Custom Orders (Wedding Favors, Corporate Gifts)

Bulk orders are where you can really make good money quickly. Wedding planners and local businesses always need bulk engraved items, and they're willing to pay good money for someone who can do the job quickly.

Common bulk orders:

100 wedding favor keychains

50 corporate gifts for employees

200 custom pet tags for a vet clinic

75 event giveaways for a conference

Let's take a real example: 100 wedding favor keychains.

Total price charged: $400

Blank keychain cost (100): $150

Engraving time with galvo: 45 minutes

Profit: $250

Profit margin: 62.5%

That's $250 for 45 minutes of work. Not bad at all.

Another example: 50 corporate logo tumblers.

Total price charged: $1,000

Blank tumbler cost (50): $300

Engraving time: 25 minutes (about 30 seconds per tumbler)

Profit: $700

Profit margin: 70%

Because your galvo is so fast, bulk orders are extremely profitable. You're making most of the money just for your machine time, which doesn't take long at all.

What to expect for bulk orders:

Average bulk order: $200-$1,000

Profit per order: $150-$700

1-2 bulk orders per month: $150-$1,400 extra profit

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Business Model 4: Local Business Services

Local businesses need laser engraving services, and most don't have their own machine. This is a great B2B model that can give you steady recurring work.

What services can you offer local businesses:

Engraving logos on employee gifts and awards

Custom signage for storefronts and offices

Engraving product tags and labels for local craftspeople

Custom engraving on furniture for furniture makers

Personalized products for gift shops to sell

Real example: Engraving 20 employee of the month awards for a local company:

Price charged: $40 per award = $800 total

Blank award plaque cost: $15 each = $300 total

Engraving time: 5 minutes per award = 100 minutes total

Profit: $500

Profit margin: 62.5%

Another example: Monthly bulk pet tags for a local vet clinic (50 tags per month):

Price charged: $8 per tag = $400 per month

Blank cost: $2 per tag = $100 per month

Engraving time: 30 minutes total per month

Recurring profit: $300 per month

This is steady, recurring revenue that comes in every month without any extra marketing.

What to expect for local business services:

Average job: $200-$800

1-3 jobs per month: $200-$2,000 profit per month

Great for adding steady income to your other revenue streams

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Realistic Monthly Earnings: Side Hustle vs Full-Time

So how much can you actually make per month in 2026? Let me give you realistic numbers based on talking to dozens of laser engravers.

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Side Hustle (10-15 hours per week):

If you're just working on your laser business in the evenings and weekends, here's what you can realistically expect:

Beginner (first 3 months): $300-$800 profit per month

Established (3-6 months): $800-$2,000 profit per month

This is extra income that can help pay bills, save for a vacation, or invest back into your business. And remember – your machine is already paid off, so almost all of this is pure profit.

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Full-Time (40+ hours per week):

If you're running your laser engraving business full-time, here's what's realistic:

First year: $3,000-$5,000 profit per month

Established (after 1 year): $5,000-$10,000+ profit per month

This is solid middle-class income that you can build from home with a relatively small investment. The key is to diversify your revenue streams – do some online sales, some events, and some local business work so you're not dependent on just one source of income.

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How to Get Started: Actionable Next Steps

If you're ready to start making money with a laser engraver in 2026, here's what I recommend you do next:

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1. Start small with a budget galvo

Don't drop thousands on a big machine to start. Get an affordable 10W galvo like the Tyvok P2 for under $500. This lets you get started with minimal risk and pay off your machine quickly.

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2. Pick 1-2 business models to start

You don't need to do everything at once. I recommend beginners start with either:

Option A: Local events – this gets you making money immediately

Option B: Etsy with 2-3 core products (pet tags, keychains) – this builds long-term steady income

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3. Calculate your pricing correctly

Always factor in:

Material cost

Your time (price your time at $20-$50 per hour depending on where you live)

Overhead (electricity, supplies, marketing)

Don't underprice your work – personalized custom work is worth more than mass-produced stuff.

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4. Start marketing where your customers are

For local events: Apply to craft fairs and farmers markets in your area

For online: Set up an Etsy shop and post examples of your work on local Facebook groups and Instagram

For local businesses: Visit local businesses in person with a portfolio of your work

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5. Reinvest your profits to grow

Once you start making profit, reinvest some of it back into your business:

Buy more blanks in bulk (to get better pricing)

Upgrade your tools and workspace

Try new product categories

Invest in marketing

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Final Verdict: Can You Really Make Money with a Laser Engraver in 2026?

Absolutely – but it's not the "get rich quick" scheme you see in the online hype. It's a real business that requires work, but the profit potential is very real.

With the right approach:

You can start with under $500

Pay off your machine in your first 1-2 events or 10-20 online orders

Build a side hustle that generates $500-$2,000 per month in extra income

Eventually grow it to a full-time income if that's what you want

Starting with an affordable galvo like the Tyvok P2 10W is actually the smartest way to start in 2026. You get all the speed you need for high-volume work, with minimal upfront risk.

The market for personalized engraved products is growing every year, and there's plenty of room for new engravers. If you're willing to put in the work, you absolutely can make good money with a laser engraver in 2026.

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Ready to Get Started?

If you're a complete beginner, start with our guide to the best starter laser engravers under $200. If you're looking for a galvo laser on any budget, check out our best budget galvo laser engraver buying guide.

If you want to learn more about our full hands-on testing, check out our complete Tyvok P2 10W Galvo Review to see why it's our top pick for beginners in 2026.

Once you've got your machine, be sure to check out our detailed guide to the 10 most profitable products to sell with your galvo laser engraver.

And if you're looking for more laser business ideas, check out our guide to the 5 Most Profitable Laser Engraving Business Ideas for Beginners in 2026.