How to Laser Engrave Mirror with a Diode Laser

Need to laser engrave mirror for your next project, but aren’t sure if your diode laser can handle it? You’re in the right place.

I recently engraved a glass mirror using my xTool M1 for a custom project requested by a local business and it was a big hit! A nice, clean laser engraved logo on a mirror can add functionality to a space while subtly promoting the business.

The process isn’t as complex as it may seem. It involves some testing to dial in the perfect settings, a small alignment trick using tape, and a bit of post-engraving clean up.

Here’s how to laser engrave a glass mirror with your diode laser, along with the settings I used to get you started.

Materials Needed

• A glass mirror (2.5mm thick or more)
• xTool M1 or other diode laser machine
• Alcohol
• Paper towel or rag
• Scratch resistant surface to stick under your mirror
• Painters tape or masking tape (optional)
• Ruler (optional)

Watch Full Tutorial

Steps for Laser Engraving a Mirror

Important Tips Before Starting

One of the most important things to note when laser engraving a glass mirror is that you’ll need to flip it over and engrave the backside. Mirrors are layered with glass, a reflective coating, and a protective painted backing. Essentially, you’ll be engraving, or burning away, the coatings leaving only the glass exposed.

You’ll also want to protect the face of your mirror by laying it down on a scratch resistant surface.

You can get rid of any labels or stickers using a heat gun to loosen adhesive and cleaning up any left over residue with Goof Off.

Nail Down Your Engrave Settings for a Mirror

Before laser engraving my official project mirror, I decided to run an engraving test grid on a small sample mirror I picked up at my local Dollar Tree. I highly recommend doing the same. Note, before laser engraving your test, you’ll want to reverse your grid.

Below is the engrave test grid I used to find my ideal settings. Sticking within this range should provide you with the results you’re looking for. You can save some time and download the test grid here.

If you want a completely clear engraving, you’ll want to go with higher power and lower speed.

If you want a more frosty looking engraving, you’ll want to go with lower power and higher speed.

Not all mirrors are designed exactly the same. Some mirrors have a darker painted coating on the back than others, which may require you to either raise your power a bit or reduce your speed slightly.

After running my test, I personally chose to go with 95 power and 190 speed, as I thought it had the cleanest and clearest result.

Properly Aligning Your Mirror

Depending on the size of your mirror, you may need to create a workaround for properly aligning the engraving.

For my test piece, I engraved directly inside of my xTool M1 using the triangular prisms on top of the honeycomb bed, but for the final 36”x30” mirror, I needed to remove the baseplate and place my machine on top of it.

If you also have a large mirror that won’t fit within your machine, here is how you can go about it.

• First, determine the placement and dimensions of your engraved image or text.
• Next, measure the length and width of your mirror.
• If you’re looking to center your engraving, subtract the width of your design from the width of your mirror then divide by two. This will give you the measurement of the left and right margin from the edge of your material to the edge of your design.
• You can use painters tape or masking tape to mark these off.
• Depending on the placement of your logo you can choose to repeat the same process for the length of your mirror, if you’re going for a true center. Alternatively, you can just mark the top or bottom edge inward however many inches you’d like it to be.

Here is an example of how I chose to mask off my mirror for a centered horizontal alignment and 2” up from the bottom edge.

Time to Engrave Your Mirror

Before laser engraving your mirror, you’ll need to reverse your image or text using the reflect feature.

Next, you’ll want to add a material underneath your mirror as there may be some flash back, which can damage table or working surface if you’re engraving without the baseplate.

With your area masked off with tape, it will now be easier for you to position your laser on top of your mirror and frame it within the space. This is even easier if your laser engraver has a built in camera for easier framing, like the xTool M1.

Note: It’s important that your mirror is thick enough to support the weight of your mirror or it may result in cracking.

After confirming that your framing is correct, it’s time to engrave with your chosen settings.

Post Engraving Clean Up

Now that your engraving is done, you’ll just need to wipe it clean with alcohol.

You’ll be able to see your clean and clear engraving!

Final Touches & Thoughts

You can choose to leave the laser engraving as is or you can add some cool effects to make you laser engraved mirror pop. This blog post includes ways you can add color to a laser engraved mirror.

Overall, laser engraving a glass mirror is fairly simple and a nice way to create personalized gifts and products. I’d love to see what you’ve created with your laser and mirror, share your project and tag me on Instagram or TikTok.