Whether you're planning a wedding in Richland, opening a business in Kennewick, or looking for a one-of-a-kind gift, custom laser engraving is one of the few things that still feels genuinely handmade in a mass-produced world. Here's what to know before you order — from a shop that's been doing it in Pasco since 2020.
What can you actually laser?
Almost anything flat that isn't glossy plastic. The most common materials:
- Wood — walnut, maple, birch, cherry. Best all-around for signs, boards, and gifts.
- Acrylic — clear or colored, cuts and engraves cleanly for modern signage.
- Leather — wallets, patches, keychains, journals.
- Coated metals — anodized aluminum, powder-coated steel, YETI-style tumblers.
- Slate, stone, glass — coasters, awards, memorial pieces.
- Paper and cardstock — invitations, place cards, menus.
What it costs in the Tri-Cities (2026)
- Small personalized items (coasters, ornaments, keychains, cake toppers): $8–$25 each
- Tumblers and drinkware: $25–$45 depending on size
- Cutting boards and charcuterie boards: $35–$120
- Small signs (bar signs, kids' room, home welcome): $45–$150
- Wedding signage sets (welcome + seating chart + bar menu + table numbers): $250–$800
- Large business signage: $200 and up, quoted per project
- Bulk / event favors (25+ pieces): typically 20–40% off single-item pricing
Turnaround times
- Single items: 5–7 business days
- Wedding / event sets: 2–3 weeks (order earlier during May–October)
- Business signage: 1–3 weeks depending on size and finish
- Rush jobs: often possible on small orders — ask.
How to send artwork that actually works
The single biggest thing that speeds up (or slows down) a laser job is the file you send. In order of preference:
- Vector files — SVG, PDF, or AI. These scale to any size without losing quality. Perfect.
- High-resolution PNG — 300+ DPI with a transparent background. Fine for photo-style engraving.
- High-res JPG — usable if it's crisp, not a screenshot of a screenshot.
- Phone photos or low-res web images — these usually have to be redrawn, which adds cost and time.
If you only have a rough idea, sketches on paper are totally fine — a good laser shop will vectorize the design as part of the project.
Common Tri-Cities orders
- Weddings — welcome signs, seating charts, bar menus, cake toppers, favors.
- Realtor closing gifts — engraved cutting boards or house-shaped signs with the address.
- New business signage — wood or acrylic logos for shop interiors.
- Sports and school — awards, plaques, team gifts.
- Corporate gifts — branded tumblers and desk pieces for client thank-yous.
- Memorials — engraved wood or slate pieces with names, dates, or handwriting.
Local pickup vs shipping
If you're in Pasco, Kennewick, or Richland, local pickup is usually free and you get to see the piece before it goes out. For anywhere else in the US, shipping runs $8–$25 depending on size and how well-packed the piece needs to be (glass and slate need more padding).
Ready to start?
RomanThings runs a small laser studio in Pasco, WA. Custom orders welcome — from one-off gifts to full wedding sets to small production runs. See the laser studio or reach out with a rough idea and we'll take it from there.