Best Laser Cutters and Welders for Metal (October 2026)
These are not engravers. A metal-cutting fiber laser runs hundreds to thousands of watts of continuous power and cuts steel, stainless and aluminium sheet with a gas assist, and the handheld machines also weld and clean. Budget for a dedicated 220 to 240V circuit, assist gas or dried compressed air, fume extraction and proper 1064 nm laser safety.
Top picks
xTool MetalFab 1200W Laser Welder and CNC Cutter
Score 75/100 · from $15,999 at xTool
xTool · $15,999
Gweike M3 Pro 6-in-1 Laser Welder and CNC Cutter
Score 71/100 · from $11,499 at Gweike (out of stock)
Gweike · $11,499
Gweike MCore 400W Fiber and 80W CO2 Desktop Laser Cutter
Score 68/100 · from $6,999 at Gweike (pre-order)
Gweike · $6,999How 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 7 best, ranked
from $15,999 at xTool
- Power 1200 W optical
- Work area 610 × 610 mm
- Form Enclosed
- Air assist Built in
Best for: Small fabrication shops and serious makers who weld thin to medium steel and aluminum and want to cut their own brackets, signs and parts in house
Why we like it
- One 1200W fiber source welds, cuts, cleans rust and engraves metal
- CNC bed cuts up to 10 mm carbon steel with oxygen and 5 mm stainless burr-free, per xTool
- Cutting cabinet is enclosed, with lid and drawer interlocks, a filtered lid and an emergency stop
Watch out for
- $15,999 for the 1200W welder and cutter, and the cutter cannot run without the welder
- Needs a dedicated 200 to 240V circuit of at least 21A plus argon, nitrogen, oxygen or a dry compressed air supply
Full review and specs · Compare with Gweike M3 Pro 6-in-1 Laser Welder and CNC Cutter
from $11,499 at Gweike (out of stock)
- Power 1200 W optical
- Work area 620 × 620 mm
- Form Enclosed
- Air assist Built in
Best for: Small fabrication shops and makers who want welding, sheet metal cutting and CO2 cutting of wood and acrylic from one system and have the space, power and gas for it
Why we like it
- One 1200W fiber source welds, cleans, cuts by hand and drives an enclosed 620 x 620 mm CNC bed
- Adds an 80W CO2 laser for wood and acrylic, which the xTool MetalFab does not have
- $11,499 is about $4,500 less than the xTool MetalFab 1200W welder and cutter
Watch out for
- Out of stock on Gweike's US store, with the next batch due in late October
- 300 kg and delivered by truck: you need a forklift and at least 1 m of clearance on every side
Full review and specs · Compare with Gweike MCore 400W Fiber and 80W CO2 Desktop Laser Cutter
from $6,999 at Gweike (pre-order)
- Power 400 W optical
- Work area 711 × 411 mm
- Form Enclosed
- Air assist Built in
Best for: Sign makers and small product businesses that already cut wood and acrylic and want to add thin steel and aluminum parts without buying a second machine
Why we like it
- Fiber and CO2 lasers in one enclosed cabinet: thin sheet metal plus wood, acrylic and leather on one machine
- Up to 5 mm metal and 20 mm acrylic in one pass, per Gweike
- Door interlock, key switch, E-stop and an OD5+ window, with fiber laser glasses and a duct fan in the box
Watch out for
- Still a pre-sale shipping from China by sea in November, with no independent hands-on review yet
- 400W is modest for metal: read the single 5 mm figure as carbon steel, and clean stainless needs bottled nitrogen
Full review and specs · Compare with OMTech FC-22 1500W Enclosed Fiber Laser Cutter
from $23,000 at OMTech
- Power 1500 W optical
- Work area 600 × 600 mm
- Form Enclosed
- Air assist Built in
Best for: Small fabrication and sign shops that cut steel and stainless sheet every day and have the floor space, power and gas supply for an industrial machine
Why we like it
- Fully enclosed cutting cabinet with an OD8+ viewing window and interlocks
- 1500W source cuts up to 10 mm carbon steel and 4 to 5 mm stainless, per OMTech
- Front and back pass-through slots for sheet longer than the 600 x 600 mm bed
Watch out for
- $22,999.99 plus a $3,000 freight surcharge, before gas, power and installation work
- 1350 kg and 2.7 x 1.8 x 2.1 m: needs rigging, a solid floor and real shop space
Full review and specs · Compare with Gweike M1200 3-in-1 Handheld Laser Welder and Cutter
from $4,899 at Gweike
- Power 1200 W optical
- Work area n/a
- Form Portable
- Air assist Built in
Best for: Makers and small shops that want to start laser welding thin steel, stainless and aluminum and occasionally trim or rough-cut sheet up to 3 mm
Why we like it
- 1200W welder, cleaner and cutter for $4,899
- Air cooled, so there is no chiller to fill or drain
- Gweike publishes a handheld cutting range of 0.5 to 3 mm and welding from 0.2 to 5 mm
Watch out for
- Freehand cuts up to 3 mm, not repeatable parts like a CNC bed
- Open Class 4 beam, and eye protection is not clearly included
Full review and specs · Compare with OMTech FCM-15CW 1500W Handheld Laser Welder, Cleaner and Cutter
from $5,500 at OMTech (pre-order)
- Power 1500 W optical
- Work area n/a
- Form Portable
- Air assist Built in
Best for: Fabricators and repair shops that mostly weld thin to medium steel and stainless and want to trim, clean and rough-cut sheet with the same tool
Why we like it
- 1500W source for $5,499.99 with the water chiller and wire feeder included
- Welds up to 4 mm steel and 2 mm aluminum and brass, per OMTech
- The gun only fires while the nozzle touches the grounded workpiece
Watch out for
- Pre-order only: OMTech lists it as shipping October 30
- Cutting is an auxiliary function rated at 2 mm, freehand and rough compared with a CNC bed
Full review and specs · Compare with Full Spectrum Laser Desktop Metal Fiber Cutter
from $24,999 at Full Spectrum Laser
- Power 800 W optical
- Work area 200 × 300 mm
- Form Enclosed
- Air assist n/a
Best for: Jewelers and small precision shops that cut thin gold, silver, brass and stainless parts and want an enclosed machine with US-based support
Why we like it
- Fully enclosed fiber cutter in a 950 x 815 mm footprint that runs on 110 to 220V single phase
- QCW source option that FSL says cuts small holes and thin webs without blow-out, aimed at jewelry and precious metals
- Claimed cut precision under 0.02 mm and 60 m/min top speed
Watch out for
- $24,999 buys 800W and a 200 x 300 mm bed, more than OMTech asks for its 1500W FC-22 with a 600 x 600 mm bed
- No cut thickness, assist gas, software or safety details published for this model
All 7 compared
| # | Laser | Type | Optical power | Work area | Price | Overall | Value | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | xTool MetalFab 1200W Laser Welder and CNC Cutter | Fiber laser | 1200 W | 610 × 610 mm | $15,999 | 75 | 72 | 55 |
| 2 | Gweike M3 Pro 6-in-1 Laser Welder and CNC Cutter | Fiber laser | 1200 W | 620 × 620 mm | $11,499 | 71 | 78 | 52 |
| 3 | Gweike MCore 400W Fiber and 80W CO2 Desktop Laser Cutter | Fiber laser | 400 W | 711 × 411 mm | $6,999 | 68 | 74 | 85 |
| 4 | OMTech FC-22 1500W Enclosed Fiber Laser Cutter | Fiber laser | 1500 W | 600 × 600 mm | $23,000 | 68 | 62 | 88 |
| 5 | Gweike M1200 3-in-1 Handheld Laser Welder and Cutter | Fiber laser | 1200 W | n/a | $4,899 | 61 | 73 | 36 |
| 6 | OMTech FCM-15CW 1500W Handheld Laser Welder, Cleaner and Cutter | Fiber laser | 1500 W | n/a | $5,500 | 60 | 72 | 42 |
| 7 | Full Spectrum Laser Desktop Metal Fiber Cutter | Fiber laser | 800 W | 200 × 300 mm | $24,999 | 52 | 30 | 80 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best laser for cutting metal?
On our scores it is the xTool MetalFab 1200W Laser Welder and CNC Cutter (75/100, from $15,999 at xTool). Small fabrication shops and serious makers who weld thin to medium steel and aluminum and want to cut their own brackets, signs and parts in house.
Can a fiber laser engraver cut metal?
Not in any useful thickness. A 20 to 100W galvo fiber engraver marks and deep-engraves metal, but cutting sheet steel takes a continuous-wave fiber source of several hundred watts or more, a cutting head and assist gas, which is what the machines on this list have.
What else do I need for a metal-cutting laser?
A dedicated electrical circuit (most need 220 to 240V), assist gas (oxygen for carbon steel, nitrogen or dried compressed air for stainless and aluminium), fume extraction, a fire-safe area and laser safety eyewear rated for 1064 nm for anyone near an open beam.
Laser cutter or plasma cutter for metal?
A plasma cutter is far cheaper and cuts thicker plate, but leaves a wider kerf, more dross and a heat-affected edge. A fiber laser cuts thin sheet with a narrow, clean kerf and fine detail, and the welder versions also join and clean parts.