How to Laser Engrave Coir Doormats – Step-by-Step Guide
Are you looking for a unique and customizable laser engraving project? Have you ever wondered if you can laser engrave doormats? 🤯 Well, we put it to the test, and the answer is YES!
In this guide, we’ll show you exactly how to laser engrave a coir doormat, the best laser settings, how to prevent flare-ups, and whether or not this project is profitable for your laser business.
This project is perfect for:
✔️ Personalized home decor
✔️ Custom gifts (weddings, housewarmings, realtor gifts, etc.)
✔️ Selling in your laser craft business
Let’s dive in! 🚀
What Are Coir Doormats? Are They Laser-Safe?
Before jumping into laser engraving, let’s talk about coir doormats (pronounced COY-er).
Coir doormats are made from natural coconut fibers, making them durable, weather-resistant, and perfect for scraping dirt off shoes before entering a home. They usually have a rubber backing to keep them in place.
The good news? Both coir fibers and rubber backing are laser-safe—so you can engrave, cut, or customize them using a laser cutter!
Supplies You’ll Need
To get started with laser engraving coir doormats, you’ll need:
✅ Coir Doormat – We got ours from a local hardware store for $10, but you can find wholesale options for as low as $5 each.
✅ Laser Cutter – We used our AEON NOVA 14 because of its large bed size.
✅ Design Software – We used LightBurn to set up our engraving.
✅ Squirt Bottle with Water – A quick spritz helps prevent fire hazards while engraving.
✅ Material Test Card – Helps find the best settings for clean engraves.
Step 1: Run a Material Test
Laser engraving natural fibers (like wood, leather, or coir) requires dialing in your settings to get the best results.
🔥 Why is testing important?
Coir mats have a rough, uneven texture, and different brands may have varying fiber densities. Running a test grid will help you determine the right speed, power, and LPI for a clean and visible engrave.
Our Test Settings
We started with:
- Speed: 350–550 mm/s
- Power: 20–50%
Then, we narrowed it down with a second test:
- Speed: 400–500 mm/s
- Power: 40–60%
Our final settings:
✅ Speed: 500 mm/s
✅ Power: 50%
✅ Lines per inch (LPI): 250
🎯 Pro Tip: The first three power settings were too weak, while the highest settings burned the mat too much. The sweet spot? 50% power and 500 mm/s speed.
Step 2: Safety First – Preventing Fires 🔥
We highly recommend damping your mat before engraving. Coir fibers are flammable, and a single spark can ignite the whole thing.
🧯 Here’s what we did:
1️⃣ Use a spray bottle to lightly mist the mat with water. 💦
2️⃣ Spray twice—once in one direction, then again in the opposite direction.
3️⃣ DO NOT drench the mat—it only needs to be slightly damp.
Bonus Tip: Stay near your laser while engraving! We worked on design projects while keeping an eye on the laser just in case.
Step 3: Set Up Your Design in LightBurn
Once we found the perfect settings, we set up our design in LightBurn using the following steps:
✅ Upload Your Image or Text
✅ Set the Layer to ‘Fill’
✅ Use Our Final Settings:
- Speed: 500 mm/s
- Power: 50%
-
LPI: 250
✅ Slightly Defocus Your Laser – We placed an 1/8” MDF scrap on top of the mat, then focused to that height. This helped with even engraving and reduced burn-through.
🎯 Pro Tip: Because doormats take a while to engrave, we batch processed multiple mats during our slow season.
Step 4: Time to Engrave!
Now for the fun part! 🎉 Once your mat is in the laser, start engraving!
✔️ Monitor the process to prevent flare-ups.
✔️ Keep a spray bottle nearby in case you need to put out any small flames.
✔️ Let the mat dry before using it.
Step 5: Profit – Is Selling Laser Engraved Doormats Worth It? 💰
📈 Here’s the breakdown:
- Material Cost: $5–$10 per mat
- Engraving Time: ~1 hour per mat
-
Retail Price:
- Basic Designs (non-personalized): $20–$30
- Personalized Names/Monograms: $35–$45
Is it profitable?
✅ As a standalone product: Not highly profitable because it ties up your laser for an hour per mat.
✅ As an add-on: YES! Bundle it with other home decor items like engraved door hangers for a higher profit margin!
✅ Best Use Case: Realtor gifts, wedding gifts, and holiday bundles.
Final Thoughts – Should You Try Laser Engraving Doormats?
✔️ Yes, if: You want a fun, unique laser project and offer personalized gifts.
✔️ Maybe not, if: You need high-volume, quick-turnaround products for your business.
✨ Want to watch the full tutorial? Check out our video here! 👇
📺 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqi9CS3B7cw
💬 What do you think? Would you add these to your laser business? Let us know in the comments!
More Laser Engraving Tutorials
👉 How to Price Laser Engraved Products for Maximum Profit
👉 Best Wood for Laser Engraving – Everything You Need to Know
👉 How to Engrave Tumblers Like a Pro
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