PRODUCT 08 · ARCHITECTURAL METAL · PRICED PER SQ FT
Laser-Cut Decorative Panels and Privacy Screens
Custom pattern work with a structural frame behind it, so it still looks right in year eight.
Laser cut decorative panels and privacy screens, priced by the square foot. Cut, framed, finished, and installed.
2026 pricing
Fabrication only. Installation available after site visit and field review.
| Item | 2026 budget range |
|---|---|
| Laser cut panels | $55 – $95 per square foot |
| Privacy screens | $75 – $120 per square foot |
Budget pricing · 2026 Northern California · Not a quote — Fabrication only. Installation available after site visit and field review.
Applications
| Use | Notes |
|---|---|
| Privacy screening | Patios, balconies, courtyards, and property-line screening |
| Equipment and utility screening | Mechanical units, meters, and transformers. See enclosures |
| Gate and fence infill | Panel infill inside a steel gate or fence frame. See gates |
| Railing infill | Decorative infill in a guardrail or banister. See handrails and guardrails |
| Wall cladding and feature walls | Interior and exterior accent panels |
| Signage and monument panels | Cut lettering and logo work in panel form |
| Sun screening | Solar shading panels on a facade |
Pattern density is the number
The spread from $55 to $120 per square foot is mostly one variable: how much material the laser removes.
A sparse geometric pattern is a fast cut with few pierce points. A dense organic pattern with thousands of small openings is a long cut with a pierce point at every one of them, and pierce points are where laser time goes. Two panels the same size can differ by a factor of three on cut time alone.
The other drivers:
- Material and thickness. Carbon steel, stainless, aluminum, and Corten each cut differently and cost differently. Thicker plate cuts slower.
- Frame. A panel that hangs in a frame needs the frame designed, built, and finished. A panel that mounts directly to a wall needs a mounting system that lets it move and drain.
- Finish. Powder coat, galvanizing, Corten weathering, or specialty coatings.
- Size and quantity. Panels sized to standard sheet dimensions waste less material. Repeat panels amortize programming.
- Design work. A print-ready vector file costs nothing to prepare. A photo of something you saw once needs to be redrawn.
SHOP — FORMING AND MACHINING CELL 
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What we need to quote panels
- Total square footage and the individual panel sizes
- The pattern: a vector file if you have one, a photo or reference image if you do not
- Material preference, or the environment so we can recommend
- Interior or exterior, and whether it is coastal or near a pool
- Mounting: freestanding with posts, wall-mounted, framed panel, or infill in an existing frame
- Whether the panel is structural, decorative, or has to resist wind load
- Finish and color
- Any opacity requirement, if it is doing real privacy work
If your architect has a detail, send it. If you have a picture from a hotel courtyard, send that. Both are workable starting points.
Materials
| Material | Best for |
|---|---|
| Carbon steel, powder coated | Most applications. Best cost per square foot |
| Corten weathering steel | Exterior, where a rusted patina is the intent. Note staining on adjacent surfaces |
| Aluminum | Coastal, poolside, and weight-sensitive applications. |
| Stainless steel | Corrosive, sanitary, and high-visibility architectural work |
Divisions
Related services
Products
Related fabrication products
Steel Awnings, Canopies, and Gazebo Frames
Entry awnings $2,800-4,500, commercial canopies $4,500-9,000+, gazebo frames $8,000-18,000+. Steel frame only, engineered for wind and snow load.
Custom Steel Auto Gates
Residential sliding gates $12,000-25,000, commercial $25,000-60,000+, heavy industrial $60,000+. Engineered, fabricated, installed. Automation coordinated.
Pricing
Published 2026 budget pricing
Miller 3 Engineering publishes budget ranges instead of hiding them. Guardrail runs $165 to $225 per linear foot, a light-duty mezzanine runs $18,000 to $35,000, and a 20 to 30 foot fixed ladder runs $3,500 to $7,500, in 2026 Northern California, fabrication only.
| Item | 2026 budget range |
|---|---|
| Standard steel handrail, 2-line | $140 – $185 per linear foot |
| Guardrail system, 42" OSHA | $165 – $225 per linear foot |
| ADA compliant rail | $180 – $240 per linear foot |
| Fixed ladder, 20–30 ft | $3,500 – $7,500 |
| Steel framed roof access hatch | $3,500 – $8,000 |
| Light duty mezzanine | $18,000 – $35,000 |
| Heavy industrial mezzanine | $35,000 – $75,000+ |
| Standard steel | $450 – $850 each |
Budget pricing · 2026 Northern California · Not a quote — Fabrication only. Installation available after site visit and field review.
Common questions
How much do laser cut metal panels cost?
Laser cut panels run $55 – $95 per square foot and privacy screens run $75 – $120 per square foot in 2026 Northern California, fabrication only. Pattern density is the biggest driver, followed by material, thickness, frame, and finish. Installation is quoted separately after a site visit.
Why are privacy screens more expensive than panels?
A privacy screen is a complete assembly: the cut panel plus the frame, posts, footings, and hardware that make it stand up and stay square outdoors. A panel is the cut sheet. The price difference is the structure behind it.
Can you cut a custom pattern from our design?
Yes. A vector file (DXF, DWG, AI, or EPS) goes straight into production. A raster image or a photo has to be traced and redrawn first, which is design time. Either works. If you send a reference photo we will produce a drawing for your approval before cutting anything.
Will an exterior panel rust?
It depends on the material and the finish. Powder coated carbon steel holds up well when the cut edges are properly prepared and coated, which is a detail cheaper shops skip. Corten is intended to develop a stable patina, but it will stain concrete and stucco below it, so plan the drip detail. Stainless and aluminum avoid the issue at a higher material cost.
Can panels be used as guardrail infill?
Yes, and it is a common request. Be aware that guardrail infill has code requirements for opening size and load, and a decorative pattern designed purely for looks may not comply. We check that before fabrication rather than after inspection.
Send the pattern and the square footage
A vector file, a sketch, or a photo of something you liked. All three work.