When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
Cut, score and engrave a variety of materials using the best laser cutters for ultimate precision. Pn Junction Laser Diode
Jump to the quick list↴ 1. Best overall 2. Best budget 3. Best premium 4. For beginners 5. Best compact 6. Best for crafters 7. Best handheld 8. Best open-frame 9. Best value How to choose How we test FAQs
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're creating your own designs you may want one of the best drawing tablets too.
We start with a brief overview of top picks of the best laser cutters. Scroll down to browse our full selection.
The xTool P2 offers a powerful laser and fully encased metal frame. We found it to be accurate and reliable, and it can be upgraded to include an auto feeder passthrough and base riser. Read more below
The Glowforge Spark is the newest, smallest and also least powerful laser machine on my list… but it's also the cheapest and is ideally suited to home crafting. If you want a faster machine for a little more money, Glowforge Aura at No.4 is a good choice. Read more below
Best for small studios
We found the Glowforge Pro to be a well-made, easy to use and powerful laser cutter. We love the macro camera and autofocus, which make this one of the best for a small business. Read more below
The Glowforge Aura is a small encased engraver and cutter aimed at home use. It's powerful enough for crafting, and it features autofocus, live preview and work with Glowforge's superb design app. Read more below
The xTool F1 is smart and portable. We found it to be fast enough for small projects, and it's neat, compact design takes up little space on a desk. Read more below
This unique option provides a laser and blade cutter in one box, which means it can work like a Cricut Maker and then engrave. It's easy to use and can handle most craft tasks. Read more below
With a similar dual-laser setup as the xTool F1, this has a larger workspace and is designed as a handheld tool as much as a desktop device. It provides excellent results, but LaserPecker's software isn't as good as xTools. Read more below
We found this to be significantly faster than other machines on the market. It's versatile, too, allowing you to switch between 48W cutting and 24W engraving. Read more below
It has a steep learning curve, but this affordable laser cutter is a powerful value option if you're not ready to splash out but you sacrifice some precision and there's no autofocus. Read more below
Why you can trust Creative Bloq 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.
✅ You need large workspace: for an enclosed laser machine the P2 has a large work area and it can be extended. ✅ You need ease of use: this is a powerful one-button plug and go laser cutter and engraver. Super easy to use.
❌ You have a small desk: this is a large and heavy laser cutter and you need the space and a solid bench to use it.
❌ You you're new to laser cutters: despite being easy to use the P2 is still a pro machine with complex uses, the xTool M1 or Glowforge Aura are better beginner machines.
🔎 The xTool P2 is a large, enclosed, clean and safe laser cutter that can be upgraded with accessories extend its uses. The app isn't quite as good as Glowforge. ★★★★★
Need to know: My 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.
I've 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 on my list, it has a metal casing with a glass lid and inbuilt extractor fan, 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.
Price: The xTool P2 costs $4,999 / £4,699 for the basic machine. You can usually get discounts from the xTool site of around $700 / £500. My advice would be to opt for a bundle, ideally the xTool P2 All-in-1 Bundle for $6,955 / £6,349 that includes the RA2 Pro, Automatic Conveyor Feeder, Riser Base and Smoke Purifier.
Read the full review: xTool P2
✅ You need an affordable laser cutter: Glowforge make great laser machines, with a good range of materials and an excellent app - all that for a low price. ✅ You want a good craft laser: the lower wattage diode laser means less smoke, making this a really nice home craft machine.
❌ You need more power: the 6W laser isn't too powerful, which means this is slower that Glowforge Aura and Pro, so opt for one of those if speed is important.
❌ Size matters to you: this is one of the smaller laser machines on my list, so you won't be making large projects.
🔎 The Glowforge Spark is the ideal budget laser cutter and engraver for crafters. It's small and affordable but lacks the speed and size of others on my list. ★★★★
Need to know: The Glowforge Spark is about the size of a small home printer and weighs just 10.8 lbs, which in laser cutter terms is lightweight. The Spark is a cheaper and less powerful version of the Aura on my list at No.4. If you're new to laser cutting and engraving, or simply want a machine for small craft projects the Spark is ideal.
The Spark's workspace measures 8.5 x 11 inches and it can cut a maximum material size of 12 x 12 inches, and it's 6W diode laser isn't as powerful as others on my list. But that lack of power really comes down to speed, so expect this to cut and engrave most materials but more slowly and in smaller sizes. The diode laser does have some limitations, for example it can't work with clear, white, translucent or blue acrylic materials.
On the up side, the Spark uses the same excellent design app as all Glowforge laser machines and it's compatible with the brand's range of Proofgrade materials, these have been tried and tested on Glowforge machines and in practice reduce waste. Each Proofgrade material comes with a code the machine reads, so it automatically adjusts power, speed and depth settings.
Despite the low price the Spark still comes with built-in cameras for live previews, material positioning and auto focus - for me this remains the best system. Overall the Spark is a neatly designed laser cutter that comes in sharp white and orange, features a snug lid for clean use and the usual safety features Glowforge is known for - sensors detect any errors and heat anomalies, and it shuts down automatically.
Overall the Spark is a smart laser machine for crafters and anyone who wants to try this hobby for less. It's a one-button machine, which means you simply create your design in the app and send it to 'print'. Don't be misguided by the price either, the Spark offers the same build quality and reliability as Glowforge's more expensive machines.
Price: The Glowforge Spark costs $699 / £568.63.
Read more: Glowforge Spark offers.
✅ You need the best laser crafting app: Glowforge's app is the best easiest and best I've used, with few glitches or errors. Now includes AI image generation. ✅ You're need a powerful laser: while technically a step below the xTool P2, you'll be able to do everything on this and it's drop in power often results in cleaner cuts.
❌ You have a small desk: Glowforge Pro is smaller than the P2, but still one of the larger laser machines on my list, so you'll need a large bench.
❌ Price is an issue: while Glowforge has cut the price this is still a hefty $4,995 / £4,053.43 in the sale but you get a lot of laser machine tech for your money.
🔎 The Glowforge Pro is a personal favourite of mine, and while it's always been costly the tech, build and app is unrivalled. If you can get it reduced, you won't be disappointed. ★★★★★
Need to know: Glowforge Pro is 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, which also has a medium Plus edition and a slightly less powerful Basic model as well as the Cricut-like Aura (at no. 2) and Spark (below).
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 one of the most powerful you can get outside of an industrial use or the xTool P2 at No.1. (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) and a little larger, but the ease of use of the Glowforge Pro means it's a great machine for everyone, including small studios or schools.
Price: The good news is Glowforge is cutting the price of Pro, to focus on Aura and Spark. This means you can now but Glowforge Pro for $6,995 $4,995 / £5,676.42 £4,053.43, which brings it down in price considerably. This offer is only in the Glowforge website.
Read the full review: Glowforge Pro
✅ You're new to laser crafting: well made, reliable and easy to use thanks to its camera positioning and app. ✅ You're a home crafter: the size and versatility of the Aura makes it suitable for home use (I'd recommend buying the Personal Filter).
❌ You make larger projects: if you make large or multiples of designs then you'll need the bigger xTool P2 or Glowforge Pro.
❌ You want to do it all: this doesn't have the most powerful laser, which means it can't engrave or cut as many materials as the larger laser machines.
🔎 The Glowforge Aura is a small and compact laser cutter aimed at crafters. It's a perfect beginner machine but can't cut or engrave every material. ★★★★½
Need to know: 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 S1 would be preferable. A further caveat is that you will need the Glowforge Personal Filter, which costs extra, but this would be a recommendation for every encased laser cutter on my list.
Price: The Glowforge Aura costs $1,199 / £972, but I'd advice buying the Personal Filter for an extra $399.99 / £323.79 to extract and clean the air from inside the machine.
✅ You need a desktop laser engraver: the F1 fulfils a specific need to have a desktop laser engraver to hand, and it has a large-ish workspace. ✅ You want a speedy engraver: don't let the size and 10W dual-laser setup fool you, the F1 is quick and quiet for specific, small projects.
❌ You a larger workspace: if you have the room and want to create larger projects, there are bigger enclosed laser machines on my list.
❌ Price matters: despite the size and using diode lasers, the F1 is still a costly machine. considering you can get the excellent Glowforge Aura for less.
🔎 The xTool F1 is the ideal budget laser cutter and engraver for crafters. It's small and affordable but lacks the speed and size of others on my list. ★★★★
Need to know: 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 somewhat limited, but it is a great device for those who want a second laser engraver for small projects (I would say the xTool M1 or Glowforge Aura and Spark 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.
The Diode Laser Price: The xTool F1 is priced at $1,999 / £1,699 but the xTool site usually sells this for around $400 / £200 less.