When it comes to back-to-school stuff, a laser engraving machine offers endless opportunities to create and sell unique items just in time for the new semester. In this post, we'll explore smart, low-cost business ideas that are easy to start. Or what, check this blog as a back to school list for your little ones.
1. Back to school supplies
Welcome back to school! As the back-to-school season kicks off, students and teachers alike are gearing up for a fresh start—new classes, new supplies, and for some, new ways to make money. Anyway, if a DIYer has spark ideas plus a home-used desktop laser engraver, this could be the perfect time to turn your skills into a profitable side hustle.
No matter the grade, every student needs school essentials—and personalized gear is hotter than ever. Parents love products that help kids keep track of their items, and students love expressing themselves. That's where a desktop laser engraving machine wins.
1.1 Personalized supplies
- Real Case: Etsy shops are cashing in with 10-pencil sets going for $10–$15.
- Breakdown: Pencil + packaging ≈ $0.40. Sell it for $1.
- Machine: Diode lasers like EM-Smart Dual, plus LightBurn software to get fancy.
1.2 Self-made pencil holder
Design and build wooden or acrylic pencil holders, then laser cut student names or inspirational words like "Think Big," "Study Mode," or "Future CEO." It’s an easy way to upsell a back-to-school item that feels personal and useful.
- Cost & Profit: Build for $6–7, sell for $20+. Not bad for 15 minutes of work.
from Etsy.com
- Materials: Birch plywood for a classic vibe; acrylic for that modern flair.
- Machine: CO2 lasers shall be the best choice, and yes, LightBurn again. Batch that stuff.
2. Back to school outfits
New semester, new look! As August rolls in, students start shopping for fresh outfits. Why not help them stand out with wearable pieces they helped design?
As usual, there will be the back to school giveaway which take place in the late August or early September. Instead of only being the buyer, we can also be salers.
2.1 Self-designed T-shirt
Offer laser engraving on cotton T-shirts with fun phrases, club logos, school mascots, or original art. If you're working with a diode laser, stick to light materials or pre-treat your surface. These can be sold online, at craft fairs, or even on-campus pop-up events.
- Cost & Profit: Cost ~$10, sell for $25–30. That's a smooth $15+ profit.
- Materials: Use light cotton, pre-treat if needed.
- Machine: Diode laser + creative brain + maybe Photoshop. Pre-design the patterns in app like Photoshop and import the file into LightBurn. Simple ones can be done in LightBurn.
2.2 Laser engraved shoes
Got a laser with a 20-watt laser power output or more? Try customizing canvas or leather shoes with engraved cartoons, initials, or trendy graphics. Add your customer's flair to their kicks and watch word-of-mouth marketing go wild!
- Cost & Profit: Cost ~$20, sell at $50+. That’s a power step.
- Materials: Canvas can be best for a pair of shoes, if possible, leather either.
2.3 Custom Sun Hats or Baseball Caps
Back-to-school happens during peak summer in many states, making custom sun hats a fun and practical item. Laser etch names, school logos, or beachy icons like waves or palm trees. Want something trendier? Try laser engraving cowboy-style felt hats or foam trucker caps.
- Cost & Profit: Cost ~$10, sell at $20+
- Materials: Fabric and leather, the most common material for hats.
2.4 DIY Jewelry & Accessories
Laser cutting and engraving necklaces, bracelets, rings, or earrings from wood, acrylic, or lightweight metals. Great for micro-brands targeting younger students. Encourage them to co-design pieces—they’ll love it even more.
- Cost & Profit: Cost between $2~, sell at $10+
- Materials: Metal materials like aluminium, brass, stainless steel, sliver and so on, or acrylic and wood all can be great materials for laser engraving.
3. Back-to-School Daily Items
One of the greatest time during school days is to have meal with friends. School life = snack life. Help kids, teens, and even teachers personalize their daily go-tos.
3.1 Lunch Boxes & Tumblers
Customize metal lunch boxes, bento boxes, or insulated tumblers with names, emojis, or motivational quotes like “Refuel Mode On” or “Lunch Goals.” They’re both practical and stylish.
- Cost & Profit: Cost $12–16, flip it for $30.
- Materials: Stainless steel lasts longer and looks cooler.
- Tools: Fiber laser engraving machine is best for metal laser marking, of course we need a laser rotary attachment for laser engraved tumbler.
3.2 Backpack Tags
Offer laser cut acrylic, wood, or faux leather backpack tags with engraved initials or cute animal shapes. Parents will appreciate how it helps prevent lost items, and students will love adding a little flair to their bags.
- Cost & Profit: Make for $2, sell for $8.
- Materials: Acrylic for color, wood for warmth.
4. Back to school gifts
Whether it's for a best friend or a favorite teacher, custom back-to-school gifts made with your desktop laser engraver offer a memorable, one-of-a-kind touch.
4.1 Gifts for friends
What to get your friend as a gift? Use the "5-gift rule": something they want, need, wear, read, and do. Read? You will get a lot of books to read with friends; Maybe we can choose the first two.
For friends who like small ornaments, a laser engraved friendship keychain can be a good start. Using a diode laser to laser cut and engrave the patterns they like.
For friends who like to read, or we can call "nerd", mark a bookmark as a back to school gift. Maybe laser engraving some words, like "Study hard. Nap harder", "This is where I stopped pretending to read" or some secret signals between you two.
For friends who like to eat, make them cookies or biscuit. Try light engraving on cookies or biscuits for a sweet and silly surprise (test settings carefully!). Laser engraving can happen on food!
4.2 Gifts for teachers
Engrave a thank-you message onto a wooden flower, apple-shaped desk sign, or custom pen holder. Teachers love heartfelt, handmade items—and these can easily become part of your core product line.
4.3 Gifts for Yourself
Sometimes the best person to reward is you. Back-to-school season isn't just about checklists and new notebooks—it's also a fresh start.
Try engraving a stainless-steel tumbler with a personal mantra like “Still Enrolled, Still Slaying” or “Refill & Refocus.” Add some personality to your desk with a nameplate that reflects your vibe or a minimalist pencil holder with clean lines and engraved affirmations.
Whether you're a student, parent, or teacher, this is your season too.
4.4 Gifts for Family
The back-to-school rhythm changes things for everyone at home, so why not show your appreciation? A small engraved keychain that says "Thanks for the ride, Mom" or a subtle wooden tag for Dad that reads “Driver. Banker. Legend.” can bring real smiles.
Younger siblings might love a custom locker magnet with a funny message or a first-day keepsake sign with their name and grade. For parents making gifts for their kids, milestone plaques or simple daily routine charts engraved onto wood can make transitions smoother and more memorable.
5. Where to Sell my Laser Engraved Crafts?
We start from the closest place for crafts selling, which means your community. Host a small craft market for laser engraved crafts selling, in front of your yard, any neighbor can be your first customer.
Secondly, providing people with "laser engraving near me" service. This is the easiest way to fully use your desktop laser engraver, which means you even do not have to prepare the materials. All you need to do is: place, import, engrave and cha-ching! But there is one thing we need to pay attention, do some survey in your community or places around, we need to know what is going on in your competitors, and set a reasonable fees.
Join the Back-to-School sales at schools which will host one. This is the best place to sell anything related to school stuff. And for the price making, implement the 4-to-6 pricing rule (setting retail prices at 4-6 times cost) while driving down unit procurement costs through bulk purchasing of materials like wood slices, cups, and keychain blanks; furthermore, expand market reach by promoting personalized series and bundled sets via channels such as Etsy and campus markets.
6. Back to School List
Here's a clear and concise list of the most common and must-have back-to-school supplies:
📝 Must-Have Back-to-School Supplies
- Backpack
- Notebooks (spiral or composition)
- Loose-leaf paper (lined)
- Binders
- Pocket folders
- Pens (black/blue/red)
- Pencils (No. 2 or mechanical)
- Erasers (block and cap)
- Highlighters
- Markers or colored pencils
- Pencil case
- Ruler
- Scissors
- Glue sticks
- Index cards
- Sticky notes
- Planner or calendar
- Reusable water bottle
- Lunch box or bag
- Headphones or earbuds (if allowed)
- Hand sanitizer
- Tissues
7. Trending in 2025: What's Next for Laser Crafting?
Laser technology is getting smarter, faster, and more portable. Machines like the EM-Smart now offers compact, portable desktop laser engraver that fits in any craft room or small business setup. Custom, one-off products are in demand more than ever—especially with younger shoppers who value personal expression over mass production.
Combine this with eco-friendly materials, AI-powered design templates, and a growing “side hustle” economy, and the future of laser cutting looks bright.
8. Final Thoughts
Whether you're a parent with a creative streak, a student with an entrepreneurial mindset, or a hobbyist with a trusty EM-Smart desktop laser engraver, back-to-school season in 2025 is your moment to shine.
Start small: engrave a pencil, cut a keychain, design a custom hat. Once you see that first smile from a happy customer—or better yet, make your first sale—you'll be hooked.
Grab your laser, fire up your ideas, and let the back-to-school hustle begin!
