Best Laser Engravers and Cutters (October 2026)
Laser engravers range from $160 open-frame diode kits to $8,000 CO2 machines, and the right one depends far more on what you want to cut than on the wattage on the box. This list ranks every laser we cover on the same scale.
Top picks
How we rank: by our own scores for power, speed, ease of use, safety and value, from the maker's published specs and independent tests where they exist. Some links earn us a commission (for example TwoTrees, SainSmart, Gweike and Amazon). That never changes a score or the order of a list (disclosure).
The 8 best, ranked
from $2,999 at xTool, checked Oct 2
- Power 55 W optical
- Work area 600 × 308 mm
- Form Enclosed
- Air assist Built in
Best for: Makers and small businesses who want a real CO2 cutter for wood and acrylic products without building a dedicated laser room
Why we like it
- Cuts acrylic in any color, including clear, which no diode can do
- 55W CO2 cuts 18 mm hardwood in one pass, far faster than any diode
- Dual 16MP cameras and LiDAR autofocus make placing jobs close to point and shoot
Watch out for
- 45 kg with a 1000 x 639 mm footprint, so it needs a solid bench and two people to move
- The glass CO2 tube is a consumable rated for about 6,000 to 8,000 hours
from $4,299 at xTool, checked Oct 2
- Power 60 W optical
- Work area 220 × 220 mm
- Form Desktop galvo
- Air assist None
Best for: Small businesses doing paid metal personalization, such as jewelry, tumblers, tools and nameplates, at volume
Why we like it
- 60W MOPA gives controllable color marking and deep black marks on metal without spray
- Cuts up to 2 mm stainless and brass, enough for jewelry and small signs
- 15,000 mm/s galvo speed for real batch production
Watch out for
- At $5,299 it is a business tool, not a hobby purchase
- No LightBurn: xTool dropped compatibility, so you are locked into xTool Studio
from $639 at Creality, checked Oct 2
- Power 40 W optical
- Work area 400 × 415 mm
- Form Open frame
- Air assist Built in
Best for: Makers who cut a lot of plywood and hardwood and want the most diode power per dollar on an open frame
Why we like it
- 40W optical output for $639, a lot of diode power for the money
- Adjustable beam with a finer 22W mode for detail work
- Built-in air assist pump with airflow monitoring
Watch out for
- Open frame: a 40W diode makes a lot of smoke and needs goggles, ventilation and a fire-safe space
- Manual focus with a focus block, no autofocus or camera
from $1,299 at xTool, checked Oct 2
- Power 40 W optical
- Work area 498 × 319 mm
- Form Enclosed
- Air assist Included
Best for: Hobbyists and small sellers who want a powerful diode cutter for wood and dark acrylic that is safe to run in a shared space
Why we like it
- Class 1 enclosure means no safety glasses or laser curtain for normal use at home
- 40W optical diode cuts 15 mm plywood or black acrylic in a single pass
- Large 498 x 319 mm work area plus a passthrough for long boards
Watch out for
- No camera, so you place jobs with the red-dot pointer instead of a live preview
- Cannot cut clear or blue acrylic, and bare metal needs the optional IR module
Full review and specs · Compare with SainSmart Genmitsu L8 20W
from $699 at SainSmart, checked Oct 2
- Power 20 W optical
- Work area 400 × 400 mm
- Form Enclosed
- Air assist Included
Best for: Home users who want a 20W diode in a real Class 1 enclosure with camera and air assist in the box
Why we like it
- Class 1 enclosure with door interlock, flame sensor, tilt stop, e-stop and key switch
- Ships pre-assembled with air pump, honeycomb and a LightBurn-compatible camera
- 40,000 mm/min rated speed is fast for a diode
Watch out for
- Manual focus with gauge blocks; one owner found the supplied gauges did not match the manual
- No published machine weight, and the box is a large 715 x 621 mm
from $2,999 at xTool, checked Oct 2
- Power 20 W optical
- Work area 220 × 220 mm
- Form Desktop galvo
- Air assist None
Best for: Small businesses and serious hobbyists personalizing metal and wood items in batches, such as tags, jewelry, tumblers and coins
Why we like it
- Fiber and diode in one box: metal marking and wood or leather engraving without swapping machines
- Galvo speed of up to 10,000 mm/s makes batches of tags, coins and keyrings fast
- Arrives preassembled and fully enclosed, with a camera for placement and autofocus
Watch out for
- Small 220 x 220 mm field, so it is for small parts, not signs or panels
- Standard 20W fiber, not MOPA, so color range and black marking on metal trail the F2 Ultra
from $2,200 at OMTech, checked Oct 2
- Power 55 W optical
- Work area 510 × 300 mm
- Form Enclosed
- Air assist Built in
Best for: Small shops and serious hobbyists who want an all-in-one enclosed CO2 that runs LightBurn offline
Why we like it
- Water chiller, 18.8 cfm air assist pump and 282 cfm exhaust fan are all built in
- Runs RDWorks or LightBurn offline over USB, Wi-Fi or Ethernet, with no cloud account needed
- 5MP camera and one-click autofocus for quick placement
Watch out for
- RDWorks is dated and clunky, and LightBurn costs extra in the base package
- Rotary is not included in the base package
Full review and specs · Compare with Gweike Cloud Pro II 50W
from $1,659 at Gweike, checked Oct 2
- Power 50 W optical
- Work area 510 × 300 mm
- Form Enclosed
- Air assist Built in
Best for: Makers who want an all-in-one enclosed 50W CO2 with the rotary included, if they can catch it in stock
Why we like it
- Water chiller, air assist compressor and exhaust fan are all built in, so there is no external plumbing to buy
- Rotary included in the price, which most rivals sell as an extra
- 5MP wide-angle camera plus autofocus for placing designs on scrap and odd shapes
Watch out for
- Shown as sold out on Gweike's US store, as are the 55W and RF tube versions
- Gweike's browser software runs jobs slower than the offline app or LightBurn
All 19 compared
| # | Laser | Type | Optical power | Work area | Price | Overall | Value | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | xTool P2S | CO2 laser | 55 W | 600 × 308 mm | $2,999 | 82 | 80 | 85 |
| 2 | xTool F2 Ultra | Dual laser | 60 W | 220 × 220 mm | $5,299 | 80 | 62 | 78 |
| 3 | Creality Falcon2 40W | Diode laser | 40 W | 400 × 415 mm | $639 | 78 | 86 | 40 |
| 4 | xTool S1 40W | Diode laser | 40 W | 498 × 319 mm | $1,699 | 78 | 76 | 90 |
| 5 | SainSmart Genmitsu L8 20W | Diode laser | 20 W | 400 × 400 mm | $699 | 76 | 80 | 90 |
| 6 | xTool F1 Ultra | Dual laser | 20 W | 220 × 220 mm | $2,999 | 76 | 72 | 82 |
| 7 | OMTech Polar Lite 55W | CO2 laser | 55 W | 510 × 300 mm | $2,200 | 75 | 78 | 88 |
| 8 | Gweike Cloud Pro II 50W | CO2 laser | 50 W | 510 × 300 mm | $1,659 | 74 | 84 | 88 |
| 9 | Creality Falcon2 22W | Diode laser | 22 W | 400 × 415 mm | $549 | 72 | 72 | 40 |
| 10 | LaserPecker LP5 | Dual laser | 20 W | 100 × 100 mm | $2,699 | 72 | 58 | 50 |
| 11 | Gweike G2 20W | Galvo fiber laser | 20 W | 150 × 150 mm | $1,349 | 70 | 74 | 35 |
| 12 | AtomStack A70 Max | Diode laser | 70 W | 850 × 800 mm | $1,639 | 70 | 68 | 38 |
| 13 | Creality Falcon A1 10W | Diode laser | 10 W | 305 × 381 mm | $549 | 70 | 66 | 88 |
| 14 | Ortur Laser Master 3 | Diode laser | 10 W | 400 × 400 mm | $299.99 | 66 | 84 | 40 |
| 15 | LONGER Ray5 20W | Diode laser | 20 W | 400 × 365 mm | $419.99 | 66 | 76 | 38 |
| 16 | Glowforge Pro HD | CO2 laser | 45 W | 495 × 279 mm | $7,999 | 66 | 38 | 82 |
| 17 | Sculpfun S30 Pro Max | Diode laser | 20 W | 370 × 360 mm | $479.99 | 64 | 78 | 28 |
| 18 | TwoTrees TS2 10W | Diode laser | 10 W | 450 × 450 mm | $257 | 62 | 78 | 35 |
| 19 | TwoTrees TTS-55 Pro | Diode laser | 5.5 W | 300 × 300 mm | $159 | 48 | 62 | 25 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best laser engraver overall?
On our scores it is the xTool P2S (82/100, from $2,999 at xTool, checked Oct 2). Makers and small businesses who want a real CO2 cutter for wood and acrylic products without building a dedicated laser room.
Do I need ventilation for a laser engraver?
Yes. Every laser on this list makes smoke and fumes. Vent it outside through a window kit or duct, or use a proper fume extractor, and never cut PVC or vinyl, which release chlorine gas.
Diode, CO2 or fiber?
Diode for affordable wood and leather work, CO2 for clear acrylic, thick wood and production speed, fiber for marking and engraving metal.