Material Guide
Carbon Fiber Plate Material Guide
Coolest Carbon cuts carbon fiber plate to your size. Instant online pricing, no minimum order, ships in the US. This guide covers every plate we cut so you can pick the right one before you order.
Quick comparison
| Family | Construction | Thicknesses | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon Fiber Sheet | Solid carbon fiber plate | 1/32", 1/16", 1/8", 3/16", 1/4", 3/8" | General panels, brackets, covers, hobby plates |
| Carbon Fiber / Aramid Honeycomb | Sandwich — CF skins over aramid honeycomb core | 1/8", 1/4", 1/2" | Stiff, light panels where thickness helps bending stiffness |
| Carbon Fiber Foam-Core | Sandwich — CF skins over foam core | 1/4" | Light sandwich panels when honeycomb is not needed |
| Carbon Fiber Quasi-Isotropic | Plain multi-ply laminate (more balanced in-plane) | 1/16", 1/8" | Parts that see loads from more than one in-plane direction |
Up to 32.5″ × 32.5″ in every plate type and thickness. Thicknesses are nominal; slight variation is normal.
Fiber direction
Carbon fiber plate is anisotropic: strength and stiffness follow the fiber directions.
- Standard woven / solid sheets — typically strongest along the weave axes (often called 0°/90°). Parts bent or loaded diagonally to the weave can feel weaker.
- Quasi-isotropic — stacked plies arranged for more even in-plane properties, so direction matters less than on a simple 0°/90° plate. Still not metal-isotropic.
- Sandwich plates (honeycomb / foam-core) — bending stiffness comes mostly from skin spacing (core thickness). Face skins still have fiber directions.
We don’t publish weave style, fiber grade, resin system or strength figures. If your design needs certified properties, email contact@coolestcarbon.com before you order.
1) Carbon Fiber Sheet (plain / solid)
What it is: Solid carbon fiber plate — continuous CF laminate with no foam or honeycomb core.
When to use: Equipment panels, enclosure lids, drone/RC plates, jigs, fixtures, brackets, covers, and replacement panels cut to a measured opening. Choose thicker sheet when you need more bending stiffness or screw engagement; thinner sheet when weight and cost matter more.
Thicknesses: 1/32", 1/16", 1/8", 3/16", 1/4", 3/8"
- Carbon Fiber Sheet 1/32" — 0.03125"
- Carbon Fiber Sheet 1/16" — 0.0625"
- Carbon Fiber Sheet 1/8" — 0.125"
- Carbon Fiber Sheet 3/16" — 0.1875"
- Carbon Fiber Sheet 1/4" — 0.25"
- Carbon Fiber Sheet 3/8" — 0.375"
Align critical load paths with the weave axes when you can. Mark grain direction on your DXF notes if orientation matters for your install.
2) Carbon Fiber / Aramid Honeycomb (sandwich)
What it is: Sandwich plate with carbon fiber face skins bonded to an aramid (Nomex-style) honeycomb core. You get thickness and bending stiffness with less weight than the same thickness of solid CF.
When to use: Large light panels, covers, and structures where you want sandwich stiffness. Prefer solid sheet instead when you need dense edge bearing, many small fasteners into the thickness, or a fully solid cross-section.
Thicknesses: 1/8", 1/4", 1/2"
- Carbon Fiber / Aramid Honeycomb 1/8" — 0.125"
- Carbon Fiber / Aramid Honeycomb 1/4" — 0.25"
- Carbon Fiber / Aramid Honeycomb 1/2" — 0.5"
Skin fiber direction still matters for in-plane loads. If your part is structural or crush-critical, email us before you order.
3) Carbon Fiber Foam-Core (sandwich)
What it is: Sandwich plate with carbon fiber skins over a foam core. Similar idea to honeycomb (light + thick) with a continuous foam core instead of honeycomb cells.
When to use: Lightweight sandwich panels when the foam-core option fits your thickness and feel better than honeycomb. Use solid sheet if you need a fully solid plate.
Thicknesses: 1/4"
- Carbon Fiber Foam-Core 1/4" — 0.25"
4) Carbon Fiber Quasi-Isotropic (plain laminate)
What it is: Multi-ply carbon fiber laminate laid up so in-plane stiffness/strength is more balanced around the plate (quasi-isotropic), versus a simple 0°/90° woven sheet.
When to use: Fixtures, plates, and parts that see loads from multiple in-plane directions, or when you want less sensitivity to how the part is rotated on the sheet.
Thicknesses: 1/16", 1/8"
- Carbon Fiber Quasi-Isotropic 1/16" — 0.0625"
- Carbon Fiber Quasi-Isotropic 1/8" — 0.125"
More balanced in-plane than a basic woven sheet, but still not isotropic like metal.
How to choose
- Everyday custom plate / bracket / panel → Carbon Fiber Sheet
- Need thick + light bending stiffness → Honeycomb or Foam-Core sandwich
- Loads from many in-plane directions → Quasi-Isotropic
- Need published strength numbers or a cert → email us first; we don’t offer certs
How to order
Open Custom Carbon Fiber Plate, pick the material + thickness, then enter length × width or upload a DXF. See the Measuring Guide for sizing tips.
Related: Measuring Guide · FAQ · Custom Carbon Fiber Plate · Quadcopter frame · Hexacopter frame · RC car chassis · RC car chassis plate · Motor mount ring · Motor mount square · Instant quote