A capacitor having improved surface breakdown voltage performance and a method for applying laser marking to capacitors which does not reduce capacitor surface breakdown voltage, can be applied using existing laser marking technologies and apparatus, and which results in a mark that is legible and clear, is disclosed. In a first exemplary embodiment a capacitor includes a laser mark which is located near one of the capacitor terminals. The exact location is not critical as long as the mark does not make physical contact with the terminal. Conventional laser marking technologies and apparatus may be used to fix the mark in the new location. In a second embodiment the laser mark is oriented so that a flat portion of the mark is is oriented closest to the adjacent terminal.