While the best 3D printers can turn a spool of filament or a vat of resin into a working model, sometimes the best way to build something is by cutting through layers of acrylic, wood or metal to get the shapes you need. Other times, you just need to imprint an image or text on an existing surface. For these use cases, you need a laser cutter/engraver.
Laser cutters, also sometimes called laser engravers, come in all shapes and sizes, allowing you to safely work with a variety of materials, from oak to iron-on transfers. You can get one of the best low power laser cutters for as little as $220. Low-wattage lasers are cheaper and perfect for engraving images and cutting thin materials. Higher wattage machines are more expensive and can cut through thicker material in one pass. To help you choose, we’ve tested several models and listed the best laser cutters below.
Lasers are tested using both the supplied samples as well as popular project blanks, such as basswood sheets and bamboo cutting boards. We completed several test projects to evaluate how the laser performs while engraving text and images, whether it can cut acrylic or etch something more difficult like stone or metal. Finally, we put the laser to work, cutting thicker pine boards to determine if it meets the manufacturer's stated capabilities.
Quick List
Best CO2 Laser Cutter
This $4,999 CO2 Laser is a powerhouse machine, but it's simple enough for a beginner to use and features numerous built-in capabilities ideal for various print projects or running a small business. Get it for $800 off its original MSRP at Amazon.
Best Home Crafting Laser Cutter
At $1,199, the Aura is great for beginner crafters. It comes with a low-power laser and a 39x25x10-inch footprint, designed to cut and engrave typical craft materials such as paper, thin wood, faux vinyl, and leather. Currently on sale at Amazon and Best Buy for $999.
Best Portable Laser
Designed with craft vendors in mind, this diode/IR Galvo laser engraver is super portable and can easily customize jewelry or various ornaments. Its compact size also makes it ideal for smaller workspaces. Drops down to $1,399 with a $300 coupon.
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Best Premium Laser Cutter for Home Business
Fully enclosed, upgradeable, and versatile, the S1 is the ideal premium laser for crafters eager to start a small business but without paying the price tag of a huge CO2 machine. Get it for $1,849 with a $550 coupon, discounted from the original MSRP of $2,399.
Best Laser Cutter for Home Business
The WeCreat Vision Pro is an impressive and powerful 45-watt laser engraver, available for $2,399.99 for the Basic Pack and $3,749.99 for the Super Pack. Its premium features include automatic focusing, an intuitive software platform, and a range of add-ons to cater to the needs of most small businesses.
Best Laser Cutter Attachment for a 3D Printer
The SnapMaker artisan is the perfect all-in-one machine that functions as a laser, printer, and CNC combo. It is not for the budget-conscious, as it will set you back $2,999. However, it is currently on sale at Amazon for $2,499.
Best Laser Cutters and Engravers You Can Buy
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Best CO2 Laser Cutter
If you want to laser all the things, the xTool P2 does nearly everything with speed and accuracy. It can engrave and slice a wide assortment of materials, including 20mm thick Walnut and clear acrylic. It's fully enclosed with a camera for remote operation, air assist, exhaust fan, and metal grill. The lid locks for extra safety and pushing the release button will automatically stop the laser.
The P2 comes with all the bells and whistles, and is priced accordingly. At $4999 it may not be in the budget for the average hobbyist, but is definitely a good investment for a small business. The only downside of this “desktop” machine is its size. Weighing in at 99 pounds and taking up 39 inches of counter space, this laser cutter practically needs its own workshop.
xTool offers plenty of support for budding entrepreneurs with a website full of advice and a shop stocked with unbranded materials to engrave. Sure, you could source all your own materials, but everything that xTool sells has a preset profile in the laser’s custom software to make engraving and cutting effortless.
Materials: Wood, bamboo, cork, stone, leather, fabric, cardboard and all acrylic.
More: xTool P2 Review
Best Home Crafting Laser Cutter
Glowforge is known for premium CO2 lasers cutters for small businesses, so it was surprising when the company introduced a 6-watt diode laser aimed at family crafters, for a fraction of the cost. The Glowforge Aura is a fully enclosed laser that’s incredibly lightweight and can be used anywhere you have a WiFi connection – including your dining room table.
The enclosure and optional air purifier makes the laser safe for use around kids and pets, a real plus for anyone without a dedicated workshop or craft room. It’s designed to appeal to paper crafters who want a little more power for cutting wood and leather, but don’t have the budget for Glowforge’s CO2 cutter or want the hassle of an open frame laser.
The Aura’s software is online and can be used with any computer or mobile device. A Premium Membership unlocks hundreds of ready to burn designs, but it can also be used with simple clip art familiar to paper crafters. Aura’s camera can also scan hand drawn designs and quickly make them laser ready.
Retailing at $1,199, the Glowforge Aura is not exactly cheap, but it’s extremely easy to use. When coupled with Glowforge’s line of QR coded materials, the laser is as easy to use as a paper printer. You can purchase the Aura at Amazon, Best Buy, and directly from the Glowforge store.
Materials: Thin wood, leather, faux vinyl and paper.
More: Glowforge Aura Review
Best Portable Laser
If you want to laser on the go, the xTool F1 is a perfect choice. It was made with craft fair vendors in mind and can safely customize small objects on the spot. It has both a diode and IR Galvo laser under the hood, which allows it to engrave pretty much anything from silver bracelets to wooden ornaments. When used with the lid down, the laser is rated as a Class 1, making it safe to operate around customers, kids and pets.
The F1 doesn’t come with safety glasses, so if you plan to laser anything bigger than 4.5 inches you’ll need to find a pair. xTool sells the glasses separately, though they are not offered in a bundle.
The laser is able to display a harmless blue preview image right on the object you’re customizing, which is incredibly helpful for adding engraving to objects you’ve previously cut.
Its compact size is also great for crafters short on space – its tiny footprint takes up no more space than a toaster.
Materials: Wood, bamboo, cork, stone, leather, fabric, metal.
More: xTool F1 Review
Best Premium Laser Cutter for Home Business
The xTool S1 is a fully enclosed, 40w diode laser with cutting power you might expect from a CO2 laser at half the price. It can slice a 20 mm piece of pine in one pass at low speeds, and quickly etch designs with speeds up to 600mm/s. Its large, well-lit interior can accommodate boards up to 23 x 19 inches, with an optional conveyor system to handle infinitely long boards.
Though it lacks a camera for automatic positioning, it has a clever system to physically probe the material and pinpoint exact edges and curves. These points are transferred to the xTool software, which allows designs to be precisely placed within a fraction of a millimeter and eliminates the need for complex jigs.
xTool offers a variety of feature packages for the S1, so you can customize the laser to fit your needs and budget. Three swappable tool heads are available: 20 and 40-watt blue 455 nm diode lasers for cutting organic materials and a 2-watt Infrared 1064 nm for etching metals. The basic 20-watt laser is currently on sale for $1699.
A big bonus is xTool’s ecosystem, which offers support for makers wanting to spin their hobby into a business. Its website has a fully stocked shop of unbranded materials to engrave, plus ideas and tutorials to inspire you.
Materials: Cardboard, wood, bamboo, rubber, leather, stone, some acrylic, painted glass
More: xTool S1 Review
Best Laser Cutter for Home Business
The WeCreat Vision Pro is a 45-watt laser engraver equipped with powerful features, including auto-leveling, an integrated camera, and a solid metal enclosure. There’s a good reason this engraver is on our list of the best laser engravers and cutters, and that’s the ability to add modules like rotary engraving, automatic pass through, and a specific laser for engraving on metal.
The WeCreat Vision Pro Super Pack, which includes all the accessories used in the review, will set you back $3,449.99. This puts the Vision Pro out of impulse buy territory and into the realm of prosumer equipment, which is where it really belongs. If you have a small business making customized products and want to expand your offerings to larger materials, cylindrical objects, or metals, the Vision Pro will be a powerful tool in your collection.
Materials: Wood, bamboo, cork, food, stone, leather, fabric, cardboard, and most acrylic.
More: WeCreat Vision Pro Laser Engraver Review
Best Laser Cutter Attachment for a 3D Printer
Laser attachments for 3D printers seems like a no-brainer – after all, you already have a perfectly good motion system, right? But the hassle of unscrewing your normal tool head and reprogramming the main board isn’t always so easy. Plus, laser safe enclosures for 3D printers are hard to find.
Enter Snapmaker Artisan, a 3-in-1 printer, laser and CNC combo that literally has it all. The machine has a handy auto focusing program, plus it uses a camera to guide material placement. Custom software from Luban is included with the machine to operate all three functions.
Switching between printing, lasering and milling is simple with quick release tool heads and snap in place work surfaces. A well vented, laser safe enclosure comes standard with the machine.
The Artisan has two drawbacks – it is very, very large and rather expensive. Priced at $2,999 it is more than an xTool D1 Pro with all the extras. But if you’re interested in lasers, 3D prints and milling – it may be the perfect all in one workshop tool for you.
The Artisan comes standard with a capable 10 watt laser and roomy 400 x 400 build surface. The machine can be upgraded with 20 and 40 watt tool heads that also have air assist.
Materials: Wood, bamboo, cork, stone, leather, fabric, cardboard and most acrylic.
More: Snapmaker Artisan 3-in-1 Review
Other Laser Engravers We Tested
Creality Falcon2 Pro 60W
The Creality Falcon2 Pro 60W brings serious cutting power to the table, using a high-power laser toolhead that can cut through thick material at high speeds on a 400 x 400mm working area. The 60W laser features adjustable output between 60W, 40W, and 22W for various applications, and the entire toolhead can be swapped out for a 1.6W laser for higher-resolution engraving. A removable debris tray, external air assist, and integrated USB webcam all come together to create a versatile, home workshop-ready laser.
In testing, the Falcon2 Pro impressed us with the fast cutting ability of the 60W laser, but there were some issues that kept this machine from being added to our list of the best laser engravers. The thin acrylic cover on the Falcon2 Pro 60W left us less than impressed, and the visible light leakage is something to take into consideration if you plan on using this laser in an area with other people. The thin and wobbly slats that are included with the machine don’t inspire much confidence, and a honeycomb table is a must-have if you plan on using the Falcon2 Pro for any detailed engraving.
The modularity of the high-power 60W laser and 1.6W laser toolheads gives the Creality Falcon2 Pro the ability to cut thick material as well as achieve fine detail on engraving, effectively acting as a 2-in-1 machine. If you’re comfortable working with the flimsy enclosure and have a ventilation solution in place, the Falcon2 Pro 60W could be a good place to start for users looking for one of the highest-wattage diode lasers in the sub-$2,000 price bracket.
Read: Creality Falcon2 Pro 60W Review
Creality Falcon A1 Pro
The Creality Falcon A1 Pro is a 20W diode laser engraver with a fully enclosed build volume, automatic laser alignment, and an integrated camera that helps users plan jobs on the 358 x 268mm build area. Coupled with the first-party Creality Falcon Design Space software, new users can get started in minutes after pulling the laser out of the box. Safety features like a flame sensor, E-Stop, and keyed lockout are welcome inclusions for most home users.
The side-mounted LCD on the Falcon A1 Pro feels like an afterthought on an otherwise well-designed machine, and the lack of included safety goggles was also something noted during our review. The overall build quality on the Falcon A1 Pro is high, and the external air assist minimizes discoloration from deep cuts and engravings.
The Creality Falcon A1 Pro offers a polished, safety-first approach to laser engraving that sits between inexpensive open-frame laser engravers and large CO2 lasers. For hobbyists and makers who already have an enclosed CoreXY 3D printer and are serious about their craft, the Falcon A1 Pro is a great fit.
Read: Creality Falcon A1 Pro Review
Mecpow X4 Pro
The Mecpow X4 Pro brings a fully enclosed 22W diode laser with Wi-Fi, an integrated webcam, and included air assist to the sub-$1,000 price point. This laser is closer to a piece of industrial manufacturing equipment than a hobbyist machine, which is reflected in the large working area of 410 x 400mm, integrated light bar, and safety features like tilt/flame sensors, a lid interlock, E-Stop, and security lock.
Mecpow doesn’t provide any first-party software for the X4 Pro, which can be either a non-issue or a major obstacle depending on the experience level of the user. The acrylic enclosure is a weak point on this laser; the review unit arrived with cracks and gaps in the panels, which could raise concerns about smoke escaping and light leakage.
The Mecpow X4 Pro offers a good deal of laser wattage for the price, but the catch is you’ll need to have experience with setting up the software yourself to get the most out of the laser. If you already have a workshop with ventilation, safety goggles, and experience with LaserGRBL and LightBurn, the Mecpow X4 Pro will feel right at home on your bench. If you’re a beginner and need help getting started, finding a different laser with first-party software is a safer bet.
Read: Mecpow X4 Pro Review
WeCreat Vista 10W
The WeCreat Vista is a fully enclosed, 10-watt laser with a slightly smaller build area than its big brother, the WeCreat Vision. The Vista had great features, like a smoke purifier and an IR laser for metal engraving, but it did not make our best laser cutter and engraver list. Check out our review for more details. It is on sale at Amazon for $1,059 with a $160 coupon.
Shopping Tips for Laser Engravers and Cutters
There are several factors to consider before buying the best desktop laser for you, so be sure to consider these questions before making a choice.
Includes Enclosures for Safety?
Any laser that can burn wood can burn your skin and damage your vision just by looking at it. The price of open frame machines is tantalizingly low, but this is because you get what you pay for: a motion system, a laser and little else. If your laser cutter doesn’t come with an enclosure, buy a third-party one; enclosures don’t need to be made by the same manufacturer as the laser equipment.
Diode, CO2 or Fiber?
The three most popular styles of desktop lasers work on different materials to varying degrees. Diode lasers are more affordable, but at the low end are only good at etching organic material. CO2 lasers can slice and dice nearly any organic material and all acrylics, but their price and large size are more suitable for entrepreneurs or hobbyists with a large budget. Fiber lasers are very niche and primarily work on metal.
How much workspace do you need?
If you want to engrave large items, like signs or cutting boards, you’ll need a laser cutter with a suitable work space. Open frame lasers can often be placed on top of large items, while fully enclosed lasers might be more limited. Check to see if an enclosed laser has a pass through door for working on oversized projects.
What materials are you working with?
If you only want to etch wood and cut paper, a low power diode laser will do the trick. If your projects require slicing a lot of wood and acrylic, a higher power diode can provide all the slicing power you need. A CO2 laser not only cuts thicker material faster, it can also slice blue and clear acrylic – materials that are invisible to the blue light of a diode laser.
What accessories are available?
Important safety devices are often sold as extra accessories by manufacturers. This is only about reducing prices, it can also save you money. Some accessories can be shared between tools while others can be purchased from your local hardware store or solved with a little DIY. For example, good ventilation is very important, but you don’t need an expensive air purifier if an open garage door is available. Also, if you’re upgrading to a new laser cutter from an old one, you can often repurpose an enclosure and air assist rather than needing to buy new equipment.
Is software provided?
Budget laser cutters may rely on free or paid 3rd party software. Free programs like LaserGRBL are very basic, while LightBurn is the industry gold standard and costs $60 for a yearly license. Premium laser manufacturers may include custom software, for example both xTool and Glowforge include proprietary software for their machines.
How We Test Laser Cutters
How We Test Laser Cutters
Each laser we review is carefully vetted for safety, performance, and ease of use. Depending on the laser cutter's capabilities, we will use it to engrave on or cut patterns out of various materials, including wood and acrylic.
We always first test the laser using the supplied safety gear, but we reserve the right to move the equipment into a third-party enclosure if necessary.
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