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Cut, score and engrave a variety of materials, using the best laser cutters for ultimate precision. Our expert tester picks the top laser machine for home and studio use. Industrial Wood Cnc Machine
Quick list 01. Best laser cutter overall 02. Best for small studios 03. Best value 04. Best for crafters 05. Best for speed 06. Best powerful 07. Best for hobbyists 08. Best portable 09. Best beginner 10. Best miniature 11. Best versatile 12. Best simple 13. FAQs
The best laser cutters are both increasingly capable and increasingly affordable. And so you don't have to be a big business or professional manufacturer to use them: hobbyist and small business owners are finding they can greatly enhance their productivity and creativity too.
The best laser cutters can be used to cut materials, of course, but also engrave and score. Working with digital drawing software, you can transfer the most meticulous designs to a material of your choice. Most of the best laser cutters now come with bespoke apps too and can be used on desktop, tablet or mobile. Laser cutters are becoming more accessible and match up to the best Cricut alternatives and Cricut machines for modern digital crafting.
But which model should you buy? With so many options on the market, it can be challenging to choose the right one for your specific needs. In this article, I bring together the best laser cutters available today, considering factors such as cutting power, precision, software compatibility, and ease of use. I've personally tested many of the laser cutters below.
The best overall The xTool P2 offers a powerful 55W CO2 laser, 600 mm/s speed and fully encased metal frame for professional and clean use. The P2 is a very capable laser cutter and it's biggest strength is it can be fully upgraded to include an auto feeder passthrough and base riser. Overall, it is a very versatile laser cutter. Click for more details.
Best for small studios
The best for small studios The Glowforge Pro is a well-made, easy to use and powerful laser cutter. It's 45W CO2 laser is a little less powerful than the newer P2. However, 45W CO2 is still good. Glowforge Pro's macro camera and autofocus ensure this remains the most accurate laser cutter I've used. A pro machine. Click for more details.
The best value The xTool M1 is a Red Dot Design Award winning laser cutter that uniquely uses a laser and blade cutter in one box. This can work like a Cricut Maker and then engrave like a laser cutter, all in one project. The M1 is a perfect laser cutter for beginners, as it's not large, easy to use, and can do most craft tasks. Click for more details.
Best for crafters
The best for crafters This machine features both laser and a blade cutting technology. The blade can cut cleaner than some lasers, with no scorching, but its 5/10 watt diode laser is not as powerful as others on this list. Click for more details.
Best for speed
The best for speed The xTool F1 is smart and portable, and a great choice for beginners with some great specs, including 0.00199mm accuracy, a 4000 mm/s engraving speed (more than enough for small projects). It takes up very little space and has a neat design, too. Click for more details.
Best for power
The best powerful beginner's laser cutter This approachable, more basic version of the Glowforge Pro with a slower cooling system and a 40-watt laser rather than a 45-watt beam. However, it's still very powerful and quick, moreso than the xTool M1, and offers great app support. Click for more details.
Best for hobbyists
The best laser cutter for hobbyists This trendy machine makes use of new laser tech that sends four beams through the reflector to combine into one 20W laser, oxidising metallic surfaces in an instant so you can create over 300 colours. It does this at a respectable speed of 400 mm/s. Click for more details.
The best portable laser cutter Compact in size (162.5 x 60 x 122mm), weighing just 2.2kg and with a useful handle, this is a lovely and portable laser cutter which can cut wood, paper, acrylic and leather that's 5mm thick or less, and offers a maximum engraving size of 100x2000mm. Click for more details.
Best for beginners
The best for beginners Highly capable and relatively straightforward to use, this device can slice through a wide variety of materials, including wood, leather, plywood, acrylic, density board, bamboo, cloth, double colour plate and glass. Note that it won't cut through metal, though. Click for more details.
The best mini laser engraver This cheap, non-power-intensive laser cutter is nice and portable, and can cut cardboard, non-woven fabric, veneer, acrylic, some thin plastic board, sponge, MDF and leather, and engrave materials like wood, bamboo, cardboard, plastic, leather, MDF, slate, lacquered metal and stainless steel. Click for more details.
Best for versatility
Cnc Machine Carving Wood The best versatile laser engraver This laser cutter works with a fantastic range of materials, including bamboo, acrylic, fabric, glass, ceramic, delrin, cloth, leather, marble, matte board, melamine, paper, mylar, pressboard, rubber, fibreglass, anodised aluminium, tile, plastic and Corian. Click for more details.