The best laser cutters and engravers

The best laser cutters are a great piece of equipment to add to your crafting collection if you’re looking to create new and unique pieces of artwork for your home or business. They come in a range of different sizes and with varying levels of power to suit the needs of everyone from hobbyists to businesses.

We've tested and reviewed a wide range of laser cutting machines, and we've found that many recent products are easier and cleaner to use, and can be as convenient as digital craft cutters like the best Cricut machines. In this guide, we've picked out the best options based on our tests, including the best laser engravers and the best laser cutter for a small business. 

We've included options for large and small projects, for the studio and the home and for materials including metal, plastic, wood and glass. Overall, we rate the xTool P2 as the best option for most people since it's powerful, fast and accurate, and ideal for professional projects and high-end crafting. However, there are more affordable options for beginners. 

For more background, read our guides to the best xTool machines and the best Glowforge machines. If you want more equipment for your office, then you may also like our best laminator guide.

Quick list

We start with a brief overview of top picks of the best laser cutters. Scroll down to browse our full selection.

The best laser cutters in full

The best laser cutter overall

Our top pick as the best laser cutter overall is the xTool P2. It has a 55 watt CO2 laser, which makes it the most powerful laser cutter for home use available today and helps overcome some of the limitations of the xTool M1 laser cutter and engraver (see below) offering both more precision and speed. It also features an automated passthrough slot, two 16MP cameras for high definition accuracy, the ability to engrave curved materials as well as rotary engraving.

In my xTool P2 review, I found this to be very accurate and reliable. There's always some trial and error when using a laser cutter and engraver, but the accuracy of the cameras ensured I was able to rework the same project, going over lines that may not have been cut cleanly or redoing a project with tweaked settings.

Like the Glowforge Pro a number 3 in our list, it has a metal casing with a glass lid and inbuilt extractor fa, but its workspace is larger than its rival (600 x 308mm to the Glowforge Pro's 495 mm by 279 mm). It's designed to be clean and easy to use, and it's speedy too: running at 600 mm/s, it cuts 18mm basswood in one pass with ease.

On the downside, Glowforge Pro has a passthrough that works out of the box while P2 requires an add-on, the Automatic Conveyor Feeder, to really make use of its expandable size (3,000 x 500 mm). However, that's also a strength since it fits into xTool's wider ecosystem of add-ons, and you can increase the size of the workspace height using a Riser Base (see my guide to the best xTool accessories). 

Overall, this laser cutter can do pretty much anything, including rotary engraving (purchased separately). After nine months of use, I've found it to be reliable and adaptable. It's large, heavy, and a little more complex than a Glowforge, and I find Glowforge's app easier to use, but the P2 costs less for the amount of power, so overall it just pips ahead.

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The best laser cutter for beginners

Glowforge Aura is one of a new breed of laser machines targeted at crafters and home users rather than studios and small businesses. The aim of the Aura is to offer a small, clean and accurate laser cutter and engraver to use in the home, which is why this is my recommendation as the best laser cutter for beginners.

While the xTool M1 below is a neat laser solution for crafters, as it uses a blade and laser which means you can use vinyl (lasers can cut or engrave vinyl as it releases toxins), the Glowforge Aura focuses on a laser, but a low-powered 6W diode for cleaner use and less fumes, as well as offering eco-friendly vinyl alternatives.

We found that the lower powered laser does mean this is a cleaner machine to use, though it still need regular cleaning for best results. It also makes it a safer laser cutter for the home, and the Aura is smaller squarer and shorter than the xTool S1, for example.

Another aspect of the Aura I love is its software; the Glowforge Print web app is free and incredibly stable and easy to use. It offers free guides and projects, connects to a wider community and is the closest laser app I've used to Cricut Design Space, and includes easy layers, design tools and more. It even includes a generative AI now for quick image creation (these are rendered as laser-ready files not simply flat images).

The cons against the Aura can come down to personal taste and use. You may need a more powerful laser (the 6W diode here can't, for example, score or engrave transparent or reflective materials), in which case the xTool M1 or S1 would be preferable. A further caveat is that you will need the Glowforge Air Filter, which costs extra, but this would be a recommendation for every encased laser cutter on my list.

The best laser cutter for small studios

Glowforge Pro does for laser cutters what Cricut has done for craft cutters. It's a beautifully designed 'laser printer' that removes the mess and fuss and packages with a clean and approachable device. This is the top model from Glowforge laser, which also has a medium Plus edition and a slightly less powerful Basic model. 

It does the same cutting and engraving as many of the best laser cutters on my list, but its design keeps any mess inside the machine (a filter sucks away any dust and debris into an external air filter). Designs are sent to the machine via a bespoke app, and the Glowforge machines support Windows, Mac and tablet devices.

The Glowforge Pro uses a high-spec Class 4, 45 watt laser which is the most powerful you can get outside of an industrial use. (The Plus and Basic use a 40 watt, Class 1 laser, which is still more powerful than most on this list.) When I tested this for my Glowforge Pro review, I was impressed with the machine's speed, ease of use and an excellent design app. It does, however, ideally need to be used with the Glowforge Air Filter accessory.

It's this ease of use and clean approach to laser cutting and engraving that ensures the Glowforge makes it to No.1 on my list. It looks like a standard printer but can engrave everything from metal to wood and tiles to paper and leather – it's perfectly suited to every task that requires accurate cutting too, from costume creation to model work. This Pro model comes with a 'passthrough' slot for large lengths of material, making it an ideal wood laser cutter – you can even make furniture. 

I found the results are always great with the Glowforge Pro, and, again, the app is easy to use. The xTool P2 is cheaper and more powerful (meaning slightly faster), but the ease of use of the Glowforge Pro means it's a great machine for everyone, including small studios or schools. 

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The best mid-range laser cutter

The xTool S1 sits between the xTool P2 and Glowforge Aura, as it's a smaller laser cutter and engraver aimed at crafters and home uses. The 40W diode laser means this trumps the Aura for speed and power, but still can't cut or score transparent acrylic, though it can cut and engrave 3mm opaque acrylic.

That extra power does mean it's larger, about 20cm wider than the Aura, and more powerful lasers scorch and burn more, and release more fumes, so it's also a 'dirtier' machine. Unlike the larger xTool P2 or the Glowforge machines that use cameras for live autofocus, this uses an algorithm. 

If you're a newcomer to these craft machines a camera autofocus and material setup system is definitely more accessible, but lack of cameras is one way in which xTool is able to keep the cost down: the S1 is $1,799 / £1,799 while the Glowforge Basic is around $5,045 / £3,495. Again, I do prefer Glowforge's app and accessibility, but the lower cost is hard to argue with if you're looking for a mid-range option.

See our full xTool S1 review for more details.

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The best small desktop laser cutter

The xTool F1 is a smart little laser engraver and cutter that can sit on your desk, enabling you to create engraved tags, signs and coasters or gifts with ease. This is xTool's answer to the portable laser machines pioneered by LaserPecker. The xTool F1 is a good choice for beginner engravers but it's also an excellent portable, handheld device for experienced laser engraver users who want the flexibility of a smaller desktop / handheld device.

There are some eye-catching specs, including 0.00199mm accuracy, a 4000 mm/s engraving speed (more than enough for small projects) and its 115 x 115 mm workspace can be upgraded to a 400 x 115 mm with a tray accessory (purchased separately). 

In comparison to the larger xTool P2, Glowforge Pro and Gweike laser cutters the F1 is small and somwhat limited, but it is a great device for beginners (though I would say the xTool M1 or Glowforge Aura are the ideal starter machines).

The big advantage of the F1 for me is how little space it takes up (I have a Glowforge Pro, xTool P2 and xTool M1 and let me say, space is getting tight). The F1 can sit on your desk next to your Mac or PC and it doesn't look out of place. If you're looking to get into laser engraving and want to make small gifts for friends, to be sold on Etsy or tags for your craft products, the F1 is a handy addition to have.

Its closest rival is the LaserPecker 4 (below) and its a close call on which is the best in terms of tech; they bother include dual-lasers but the F1 has a super-quick engraving speed of 4000 mm/s while the LaserPecker 4 is 2000 mm/s and it can cut to a 6mm depth as opposed to LaserPecker 4's 5mm. In practice this is marginal but the F1 does feature better, more stable design software and a fuller protective casing which makes it more of an encased but portable laser cutter.

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The best laser cutter for crafters

The xTool M1 laser cutter is something quite different to the other machines on my list as it features both laser and a blade cutting technology inside its curved, neatly designed box of tricks. No wonder it's a Red Dot Award-winning design. The combination of tools plus a compact design means the xTool M1 really stands out. That makes it the best laser cutter for crafter we've used to date. 

Essentially, the M1 allows you to do what the best Cricut machines can, and make use of a laser to engrave, cut and score. The blade can cut cleaner than some lasers, with no scorching, and means you needn't spend time masking materials ahead of cutting. When I tested it for my xTool M1 review, I found that you need the enclosed metal risers and ideally you'll the Air Filter too (see my guide to the best xTool accessories).

The downside is that the laser in the xTool M1 has been surpassed in terms of size, easy of use and design by the new Glowforge Aura, which is a cleaner and simpler machine. Also, I find the Glowforge design app much easier to use and create in than the xTool software, so if you're new to laser machines the Aura is a slightly better choice. Also the blade, while a nice feature and means you can do more with this machine that the Aura, isn't a rotary blade as you'd find in a Cricut Maker 3, but is similar to that found in the best Silhouette machines and it's prone to 'snagging'.

If you don't have a craft machine already, the xTool M1 is a good option as it blends the abilities of a Cricut with those of a decent laser cutter and engraver, and you can extend the height and attach rotary device. You can find out more in my guide to the best xTool machines.

The best handheld laser engraver

The LaserPecker 4 is an eye-catching handheld laser engraver and cutter that has a lot of similarities to the xTool F1 (above) but differs in some ways that mean if you're considering which to get, I can help. Fundamentally the LP4 and F1 share the same dual-laser approach, offering both a 10W Blue Diode Laser and 2W Infrared Laser for cutting and engraving. As mentioned above the LP4 is slower and cuts 1mm less deep, but for many uses you won't notice. But the LP4 also has an excellent automatic mode for raising and lowering its laser head.

In my LaserPecker 4 review this device breezed through engraving a complex illustration into wood, was clean and left little of the smoke and debris you get from larger laser machines. Importantly, the built-in extractor fan worked perfectly and the device is very quiet. One issue I found in my review is with the LP4's design software; it can be a little unstable and hard to use, particularly on iPad and Android phones. 

So, those real world differences – the LaserPecker 4 has a slightly larger workspace than the F1 (16 x 12 cm as opposed to the xTool's squarer 11.5 x. 11.5 cm) and is more of a portable handheld device even with this larger size. The LP4 is designed to be used as a handheld, with protective googles included so it's easier to use. 

If you're looking for a handheld the LaserPecker 4 is the best device on my list, and your choice is really between this and and the older but cheaper LaserPecker 2, as in my view xTool F1 is best used a compact desktop device.

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The best open-frame laser engraver

If you're looking to do a lot of engraving in a short space of time, the iKier K1 Pro has much to offer. The engraving speed of IKIER K1 Pro Max can reach up to 900mm/s, which is significant faster than other machines on the market. 

It's versatile, too, thanks to the 48W to 24W Gear Switching Module. When you need to cut, you can use the 48W gear, and the laser power is fully turned on. This allows you to cut 25mm wood, 19mm black acrylic, and 0.3mm stainless steel sheet with one pass. When you need to engrave, switch to the 24W laser gear, and the engraving is more precise. It can directly carve colored patterns on mirror stainless steel, ceramics and opaque glass.

Usefully, IKIER’s intelligent Z-axis features helps you achieve autofocus by automatically measuring the distance to the object and automatically adjusting the focus. An automatic sinking feature helps you to cut thicker materials. And the K1 Pro Max also boasts an advanced automatic power failure recovery system that remembers the engraving position. When the power comes back on, it uses an algorithm to quickly continue engraving from where it left off. 

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The best value laser cutter

The Gweike Cloud Pro II (50W) is a cheap(er) but powerful encased laser cutter and engraver that, on paper, is a match for both the xTool P2 and the Glowforge Pro. This 50W CO2 laser cutter from Gweike offers exceptional value, but there are a few catches that push it down my list. 

The Gweike Cloud Pro II features a powerful 50W CO2 laser boasts an engraving speed of up to 600mm/s on the X axis, but in tests this is only for single line speed, more complex engraving is slower. However, it lacks the ease of use of Glowforge Pro or Aura or xTool P2 or S1 or the other laser machines at the top of my list. For example there's no autofocus which is a pain after using the likes of the xTool P2 (a more expensive 55W model does include autofocus, and for the $300 more I'd opt for this model.)

This comes with cloud-based laser software but it's not particularly good, for example respected craft machine reviewer Samcraft really didn't rate the app and had issues connecting to his laptop. YouTuber James Dean Designs also found issues connecting the Gweike Cloud software and both advise to use Lightburn instead, which is okay but it's a less approachable design software that either Glowforge or xTool's bespoke apps, and it's not free. 

There's a pre-configured and fully editable material settings library on board, and a built-in 5MP camera for positioning your material precisely (though it loses connection when you begin engraving and then needs reseting afterwards, and many people on the Gweike user-group have similar issues). 

Along with this laser cutter, you get a material pack, including laser plywood, acrylic and corrugated card, an extractor fan and a tool kit, including lens cleaning cotton swabs, Allen key set and laser alignment targets to assist with routine maintenance.

The lack of an autofocus is an issue, as well as the camera problems and lack of a good bespoke app is a major problem. There's also a lack of instructions or guidance for how to use the Gweike Cloud Pro II, which means there's quite a steep learning curve. If you can spend the extra time getting used to its quirks, and costing $3,499, this is a good value CO2 laser machine.

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How to choose the best laser cutter

The best laser cutter for you will depend on what you want to use it for. You'll need to decide if you want a diode, CO2 or fiber cutter, as each of these types of laser cutters work on different materials to different degrees. Diode lasers are more affordable, but the cheapest can only engrave organic material like wood and paper. CO2 lasers can etch any organic material and all acrylics, including clear acrylic, but they're more costly, and fiber lasers are more expensive still and used for metal.

Another thing to consider is speed and accuracy, especially if your aim is to mass produce a product to sell within a limited time. And you'll need to consider how much physical space you have for a machine. Open-frame laser cutters can often be placed on top of large items, while fully enclosed lasers usually demand a dedicated space. You'll also need to consider if the enclosed laser you opt for has a pass through door for working on larger projects.

Also bear safety in mind. A laser that can burn wood can burn your skin and damage your sight. Open-frame laser cutters can be cheaper, but an encased machine is safer. Often safety devices, such as ventilation, are sold as optional extras to keep prices down. There are some accessories that can be shared between tools and some can be picked up at hardware store or solved with DIY.

Finally, software is another selling point. Cheaper laser cutters often require free or paid 3rd party software like LaserGRBL, which is quite basic, or LightBurn, which costs $60 for an annual licence. Brands like xTool and Glowforge have their own software.

You'll also need to consider you budget. If you're going to be monetising this skill, then pushing your budget as high as possible makes sense to get the best end product in the fastest time, and with the lowest usage costs. It is vital to consider the cost of replacement parts – you don't want to find yourself unable to keep the machine running.

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How we tested the best laser cutters

To choose our picks of the best laser cutters and engravers, we tested and reviewed the products just like you'd use them. First we surveyed the market and the specs of of the various laser cutters available from reputable brands. We then brought in the best machines for hands-on testing.

For our tests, we used the machines to cut, engrave and score a variety of materials over a number of days, testing out all of the capabilities promised by manufacturers to make sure there are no false promises. We evaluated the machines for accuracy, speed and support for materials. We also considered ease of use, size and value for money in order to provide options for different needs, including more economical laser cutters and options that can fit on a desk. 

For more details of our processes, see our guide to how we test and review at Creative Bloq.

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FAQs

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