Display omitted •Nanosecond lasers create micro/nano-structures on stainless steel, enabling superwetting for efficient water collection.•Adjusting laser parameters enables rapid water droplet spreading (0.2 s) for superhydrophilic surface creation.•Superhydrophilic surface modified with lauric acid achieves superhydrophobicity, with a 159° contact angle and 1° sliding angle.•Triangular pattern with 111° tip angle enhances water collection by 144%, ideal for water-scarce fog environments. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of nanosecond pulsed laser technology in creating micro/nano-structures on stainless steel surfaces to produce superwetting properties, which can enhance water collection. By tuning laser parameters, a superhydrophilic surface was initially formed on stainless steel, enabling water droplets to spread entirely within 0.2 s. The surface was subsequently modified using lauric acid to achieve superhydrophobic characteristics, exhibiting a 159° contact angle and a 1° sliding angle. Water collection tests revealed that the superhydrophobic surface outperformed the original one, collecting 0.3922 g of water, an 86.76% improvement. Further optimization by introducing non-uniform wetting patterns led to even better results, with the triangular design featuring a 111° tip angle yielding the highest collection weight of 0.5129 g – a 144% increase compared to the unaltered surface. This efficient and convenient method holds promise for fog-based water collection in regions facing water scarcity.