Lately, I’ve had a couple inquiries for laser-etched acrylic invitations.  Invariably, my first email in response (with a ballpark cost estimate) is met with sticker shock. On their own, laser-etching and an acrylic substrate both add to the cost of an invitation and the combination definitely pushes higher than the average invitation.

A 20″x26″ sheet of Crane’s luxuriously thick 220# Lettra paper costs $5.76 directly from the manufacturer (and purchased in quantity).  A similar (though smaller, at 12″x24″) piece of two-tone acrylic costs $16.98 at this source and is similarly prices elsewhere.  That means:

Acrylic costs nearly 3x as much as a luxury letterpress paper.

No matter what material you use, laser engraving is a costly method of production.  Unlike letterpress, screenprinting, traditional engraving, or most other printing methods, there are no plates or screens to produce.  There are also no colors to mix.  Typically, these costs are spread over the total number ordered.

That means, using traditional print methods, the more you order, the less each one costs.

Laser engraving is usually charged by the time each piece takes to produce and remains the same (or very close) whether you print five or 300.  One of the vendors we work with charges $1.00 per minute and takes a time reading directly from the laser engraver.  The typical 6″x6″ or 5″x7″ invitation costs approximately $13.00 to engrave, bringing the total to $15.00 or so, though some vendors (or designs) cost a little less.

That’s just my cost.

By the time you add in a letterpress RSVP, return envelope, padded envelope or box*, and address sticker

The vendor cost can easily be more than $20.

This is why you’ll likely see costs nearing and exceeding $30 for what seem like rather simple acrylic invitations.  For some perspective, many of the greeting cards in my local grocery store cost more than $5.00 apiece.  While it’s reasonable to expect a nice custom invitation for about double the cost of a greeting card ($10-15), I’d posit that it’s unlikely you’ll find a quality custom engraved acrylic invitation for anywhere near the same price.

There are some amazing aesthetics achievable with acrylic.  From cut-throughs and etchings to screenprinting, frosting, and layering, acrylics can evoke a wide range or style and moods.  One of my favorite effects is to backfill etched acrylic to give color to your design.

If you’d like to discuss a custom acrylic invitation or stationery piece,  please leave a note here.

If you’d like some inspiration, you can follow this Pinterest board.