Best Laser Cutters and Engravers 2024 | Tom's Hardware

Oct 31, 2024

Slice through wood, acrylic and other materials or burn text and images onto them.

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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.

Best Overall

Best CO2 Laser Cutter

This $4,999 CO2 Laser is a powerhouse machine, but it's simple enough for a beginner to use and has lots of built-in features great for various print projects or running a small business. Get it for $1,200 off its original MSRP at Amazon.

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For Home Crafting

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 like paper, thin wood, faux vinyl, and leather. Currently on sale at Best Buy for $999.

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Best Portable

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 $400 coupon.

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Best Budget Laser Cutter

Best Budget Laser Cutter

At $219, this low-cost, no-frills diode laser is still capable of producing nice dark engraving quickly. It comes with safety glasses and a tinted acrylic shield but no base plate. It is now only $169 at Amazon.

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Best Premium Laser for Home Business

Best Premium Laser Cutter for Home BusinessFully 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 $1,749 with a $350 coupon - discounted from the original MSRP of $2,499.

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Best Laser for Home Business

Best Laser Cutter for Home BusinessThe WeCreat Vision is a powerful, fully enclosed 20-watt laser engraver that costs under $2,000. Its premium features include an integrated 12 MP camera, an air assist module, and an LED light bar in the chassis. It is available at Amazon for $1,799 with a $400 coupon.

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Best Open Frame

Best Open Frame Laser Cutter

This open-frame diode Laser features a manual focusing system and a powerful exhaust fan. It can easily slice through 5mm thick wood and provides excellent engraving performance. Available for $310 at Amazon.

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3-in-1

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.

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Why you can trust Tom's Hardware Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Our expert review:

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

Our expert review:

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

Our expert review:

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

Our expert review:

The TTS-55 by Two Tree’s is a no-frills 5 watt diode laser cutter / engraver that’s a good starting point for budget minded buyers. It's easy to use and produces nice dark engravings in a short amount of time.

The Two Tree’s laser retails at $219, and doesn’t include a base plate. If you plan to mostly use the machine for engraving instead of cutting, you can protect your work surface with a sacrificial sheet of fireproof material – we used a cement board from the hardware store.

It comes with a tinted acrylic shield around the tool head and one pair of safety glasses. Two Tree’s sells an optional enclosure for $129 which will make the laser safer to run while also assisting with smoke removal. They offer a wide variety of upgrade options to customize your set up, such as a honeycomb work surface, frame extensions, air assist and rotary machine.

There is no native software for the TTS-55, however it is compatible with LaserGRBL and LightBurn.

Materials: Wood, bamboo, cork, stone, leather, fabric, cardboard and most acrylic.

More: Two Trees TTS-55 Review

Our expert review:

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

Our expert review:

The WeCreat Vision is a 20 watt diode laser engraver / cutter that features a fully enclosed workspace, an included air assist for clean cuts, and a simple and intuitive software package for preparing builds. The integrated auto-focus allows for objects up to 140mm tall to be engraved without requiring manual setup work, and lifts the entire frame up and down to avoid manual setup. The Vision is ideal for professionals and hobbyists interested in expanding their capabilities or entrepreneurs looking to start making products in their garages.

The Vision includes an integrated 12 MP camera and an LED light bar in the chassis that provides a real-time picture of the material currently in the workspace. This makes it easy to prepare cuts and avoid accidentally cutting into a void or pocket in a sheet of material. In addition, the MakeIt! software makes laying out multiple pieces a simple task by placing them around the workspace and selecting a mode for the cut.

If you’re interested in the complete package (Vision, rotary engraving kit, and fume extractor), the package price is currently $1,999.98 direct from the WeCreat site. Less expensive options are available, and the Vision by itself is listed at $1,249.99. The fume extractor is worth every penny if you’re going to be operating the Vision in a garage, and the rotary engraving kit is a must-have for small businesses interested in making custom tumblers. It’s not a cheap machine, but it’s perfect for users wanting to go beyond simple inexpensive diode lasers but not ready for the jump to a CO2 laser.

Materials: Wood, bamboo, cork, food, stone, leather, fabric, cardboard, and most acrylic.

More: WeCreat Vision Review

Our expert review:

Want to try out laser cutting / engraving without a huge investment? The Creality CR Laser Falcon will get you started for just $299. Produced by a popular 3D printing company, this was the first desk top laser we tested and it impressed us with its simple build and ease of use.

The Laser Falcon is an open frame diode laser with a manual focusing system and a surprisingly powerful exhaust fan with a carbon filter attached to the tool head. The tool head is wrapped with a laser proof acrylic shield and comes with safety glasses. You can purchase an optional enclosure from Creality for $79.

Cable management is pretty basic, but mesh sleeves manage to contain the wiring. No base plate is included with this machine, but if you’re only using it to engrave you can make do with a sheet of fireproof material like cement board from the hardware store. There’s no WiFi, so it is best used tethered to a laptop. You have the option of loading files onto an SD card and operating it with a single button on the machine.

The Laser Falcon we tested is the low power 5 watt model, which is excellent at engraving and can slice through wood up to 5 mm thick.

Materials: Wood, bamboo, cork, stone, leather, fabric, cardboard and most acrylic.

More: Creality CR Laser Falcon Review

Our expert review:

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

We recently reviewed the WeCreat Vista, 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 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.

We also tested the Mecpow X4 Pro, a mid-range enclosed 22-watt diode laser with many safety features. But while this product offered a lot of protection for the user, we wanted to see more from its performance. Check out our review for more details and find out why it fell short of making our best list. The X4 Pro has a list price of $799, but right now, you can get it for $100 less at Amazon with a coupon.

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.

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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Anj Bryant is the Assistant Managing Editor at Tom's Hardware. She provides content layout and development support, and coordinates editorial initiatives for all the talented groups of freelancers, contributors, and editors in the team.

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