Reference specs, per-sheet math, and laser settings for 3mm 100%-wool felt — the standard for coasters, ornaments, and no-fray textile parts. Punch in your sheet price below for an instant per-part quote.
100% wool felt is the laser-crafter's favorite textile because the fibers singe and seal at the cut edge instead of fraying — no hemming, no pinking shears, just a clean edge straight off the bed. It takes fine detail well, which is most of the appeal for coasters, ornaments, and layered applique work.
Check the blend before you cut. Polyester and acrylic felt blends melt rather than singe, which can look fine or can leave a hard, slightly plasticky bead depending on the blend ratio — 100% wool gives the most predictable, textile-looking edge, which is why it's the reference material here.
The same math the calculator above runs — worked out longhand, so you can sanity-check it against your own numbers.
Felt sheets run smaller than most wood or plastic stock, so — like basswood — double-check that your part actually nests efficiently on a 12″×18″ sheet rather than assuming the per-square-inch math from a bigger panel carries over.
This is the material line only. A full shop quote adds machine time, labor, and finishing — KraftyQuote's cost engine rolls all of it into one number automatically.
Ballpark settings for a through-cut in one pass — felt runs hot and fast; too much power scorches a wider halo around the cut than the fabric itself needs. Always run a test strip first.
That's scorch from too much power relative to speed — felt needs surprisingly little energy to cut cleanly, so if you're getting heavy discoloration, drop power before you try raising speed.
It helps — a quick wash removes most of the burnt smell and surface soot that clings to the fibers near the cut edge. It's an extra step but a common one for anyone selling finished felt goods.
3mm is the sweet spot for coasters — enough body to feel substantial and absorb condensation without curling. Thinner 1–1.5mm felt is more common for ornaments and layered applique where drape and light weight matter more than rigidity.
KraftyQuote's full cost engine handles materials, machine time, labor, and margin in one quote — free to build, no card required.