Lately, it seems like more and more people have been exploring their creative sides, and new products are arriving to scratch that creative itch every day. Machines like 3D printers, vinyl cutters and laser cutters are now available at prices to fit just about any pocketbook, and they allow people to bring their creations to life in new and interesting ways. If you have the right materials and machines, you can even turn a profit on stores like Etsy, TikTok and Shopify. I’ve used laser cutters for years to create anything from small dog tags to leather patches for caps. Each laser engraver I use has various pros and cons, so along with my CNET colleague Russell Holly, I’ve developed testing criteria to assess the best laser cutters.
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What’s the best laser cutter?
The xTool P2 is our top pick for the best laser cutter. It isn’t the cheapest laser cutter around, but with a host of amazing accessories, fantastic software, and a cutting size and speed that are hard to ignore, it takes the crown from the Glowforge Pro, but just barely. It’s huge, so make sure you have room in your workshop to house it. If you’re looking for a smaller craft laser, then the Glowforge Aura is great for small projects.
You may notice that there are no open laser engravers on this list. After testing several, I find them too dangerous for the average hobbyist. They could be good for commercial spaces, but having an open laser in a garage is too dangerous to recommend. An enclosed laser beam is far less likely to catch the material on fire.
What we updated: March 2025
Added the Algolaser Pixi to our top laser engravers and increased the detail in each of my choices to give you more information on what I consider the best and why they won the top spots.
Best laser cutters of 2025
Cons
- The price is aimed at small businesses, so it might be too steep for hobbyists
- Massive footprint means you’ll need a large workshop with good ventilation to use it
Why I like it:
The xTool P2 is the complete package for fast, powerful laser cutting at home or in a small workshop. With a full suite of accessories that let you cut 3-meter-long materials and round tumblers and glasses, the P2 can cut or etch any material you could hope for, including glass (etching) and transparent acrylic (etching and cutting).
The software is excellent and can help you design your creations to better fit your cutting needs. The camera works well to help you align your materials, but be careful when working near the edge of the camera limits, because the fisheye distorts a little. This bundle comes with some materials to get you started and a fire safety system to give you peace of mind.
Who should get it:
If you’re serious about your laser cutting and want to make large projects or large batches, then the xTool P2 (or the new P2S) is for you. It’s powerful and easy to use for just about any project.
Who should avoid it:
If you have a small workroom or only need to etch onto easy materials, then you can skip the P2. It’s for big complicated projects.
Read more: xTool P2 review.
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Pros
- Simple, intuitive interface using the Glowforge software
- Practical, compact design makes it great for a small office or workroom
- Extremely responsive community can help you with material settings
Cons
- The cutting area needs a slotted version for cutting
Why I like it:
I am always on the lookout for small lasers that can be portable. Being able to customize products for people at conferences, Renaissance fairs, or farmers’ markets can give you a unique advantage over your competition. The Pixi is lightweight, easy to use with the supplied app — at least for small work — and works with Lightburn to produce excellent results. It may not be the fastest laser of all time, but the results were excellent on everything I tried it with, including colored acrylic, leather, leatherette, wood and even stainless steel.
Who should get it:
Not only is this perfect for taking to shows and conventions, but it’s a great way to start learning about lasers in a safe way. The enclosure and exhaust fan make it much safer than other laser engravers in the price bracket. It would also be a fun product for a school STEM class.
Who should avoid it:
If you’re looking to cut materials, I wouldn’t buy the Pixi. In theory, the 5W or 10W machine can cut through wood or acrylic, but in my testing, it took a long time to cut through. And, because the base doesn’t have slats, the heat reflection from the cut can burn the underside of the material. You would be better off with a more powerful machine on this list.
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Pros
- Creates 3D carvings on metal with high precision in very little time
- Perfect for transporting to conventions for customized orders
- Smart batch processing allows you to etch a lot of products quickly and easily
Cons
- The small area is fine for small jobs, but the price is high for such a small footprint
Why I like it:
It’s been a while since I’ve had as much fun with a maker tool as I have had with the xTool F1. It’s lightweight and very easy to transport if you go to many trade shows, conferences or farmer’s markets and, with the accessories in this bundle, you can etch batches of products as easily as one. The software is excellent too, making it easy to line up projects or trace out new projects from a photo.
I recently took the F1 to a STEM fair for primary school kids, and everyone enjoyed watching as it whizzed around cutting out the school logo onto metal business cards. While the price is high for a cutting area this small, you could easily make your money back with just a little work at a farmer’s market stall or two. It’s well worth the investment.
Who should get it:
The F1 is such a fun machine and feels custom-built for conventions and farmers’ markets. It’s highly portable, and if you add the filter to your bundle — and the wheeled carry case — you can use it wherever you have power. If you spend any amount of time making things for people away from your workshop, this is an excellent choice.
Who should avoid it:
Like the F1 Ultra, you won’t be able to cut clear materials. Look for a different machine if you want to do that.
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Pros
- Compact footprint makes it the perfect fit for most well-ventilated spaces
- The on-device LED controls are useful when your laptop is not near the laser.
- Cost-effective CO2 lasers like this are hard to come by
Cons
- Software is a little rough around the edges so you may want to use Lightburn
Why I like it:
The WeCreat is a fun little box that can etch and cut several materials. It isn’t going to carve through thick wood or steel, but it makes fun projects for family fun time. I think it’s perfect for schools, especially with its exhaust filter, as the enclosure and air assist make it safe for classrooms and stop little fingers from getting burned. I created several projects for my kids’ kindergarten class, and the teachers all loved it.
While the software isn’t quite as good as xTool or Glowforge, the camera is accurate and lets you mark where your material is well. It even has testing squares, so you can try out any material and see what power level you need. That’s something all laser cutters should have.
Who should get it:
Teachers and small businesses would do well with the WeCreat Vision. It’s fast, accurate and fun to watch as it does its work. Kids will get a kick out of making fun projects in a STEM class.
Who should avoid it:
The WeCreat is a diode laser, albeit a powerful one. It will cut through 5mm wood easily enough, but if you’re looking to cut thicker materials or clear acrylic, you should look elsewhere.
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Pros
- Impressive power and speed make this a best in class laser product
- That “best-in-class” honorific also extends to the software
- Fantastic collection of accessories and materials if you’re willing to pay first-party prices
Laser cutter specifications
How do these laser cutters match up
Indiana is the perfect test subject for laser engraving.
I created an accuracy test for laser cutters with cameras by designing a file with 10mm and 5mm increments. The file is printed on standard paper and imported into the laser cutter software. From there, we use the laser cutter camera to align the physical marks to the digital and set the laser to cut. Once the laser is finished, we measure the offset using a micrometer to see how accurately the camera represents the paper image. This is especially helpful for lasers with fisheye lenses.