Recent interests with copper nanoparticles (Cu-NPs) has arisen because of its low cost and antibacterial properties, as it may be one of the very important alternatives to silver NPs. Pulsed laser ablation of a solid target (copper) in liquid media is used to synthesize colloidal oxide copper (Cu₂O and CuO NPs) NPs. These oxides of copper NPs were synthesized using Nd:YAG laser energy to maintain a 40 mJ/pulse wavelength at 1064 nm. During the synthesis of colloidal NPs only two conditions were opted, employing double distilled water (without PEG) and 10% preparation of PEG. Both NPs were prepared under the similar parameters such as optimized instrument settings, laser energy and time of laser exposure (1 h ablation). Further, these copper oxide NPs were characterized by advance technologies including UV–visible, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy techniques. The significant antibacterial properties of synthesized materials were also observed. The cuprous oxide NPs, showed remarkable antibacterial effect conducted using disc diffusion techniques. The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration of synthesized Cu₂O NPs were recorded as 120 and 140 μg/L respectively against Staphylococcus aureus used as positive control. Therefore, based on the findings of present study Cu₂O NPs can be exploited as stable antimicrobial agents for multipurpose uses.