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Best Laser Engravers of 2024

Updated February 2024
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Ortur Laser Master 3
Ortur
Laser Master 3
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Best overall
Bottom Line

This laser engraver is fast and powerful with a 10-watt laser module that cuts through thick plywood and up to 1.1 inches of black acrylic in a single pass.

Pros

It weighs less than 1 pound and comes with seven forms of protection, including a safety lock, sloping position protections and an emergency stop switch. It also features one of the largest engraving areas of 15.57 inches.

Cons

It is not suitable for cylindrical objects

Best Bang for the Buck
Daja  DJ6 Pro Laser Engraver
Daja
DJ6 Pro Laser Engraver
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Best small engraver
Bottom Line

The laser engraver is a compact tool for decorating items with limited space, and the 3-watt laser head module is fast and efficient.

Pros

It includes built-in eye protection and cooling fans for safer operation. The tool has four engraving modes: Black and White, Grayscale, Outline and Sketch, suitable for materials such as paper, wood, ceramic, leather, plastic, bamboo and painted metal.

Cons

The laser module is of relatively low strength, and the engraving area is much smaller compared to other models.

LaserPecker  2 Laser Engraver
LaserPecker
2 Laser Engraver
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Best product for small areas
Bottom Line

The engraver is suitable for carving into wood, metal, glass and leather, and the cutting plate is corrugated to prevent sliding.

Pros

It comes with a “Batch Engraving” button that simplifies batch processing, allowing you to create batches and replace engraved products without resetting the engraver or using an app each time.

Cons

It doesn’t have a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection.

Bisofice  K6 Mini Laser Engraver
Bisofice
K6 Mini Laser Engraver
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Best for portable engraving
Bottom Line

This laser engraver is the best tool if you want to engrave items on the go.

Pros

It features a 3-watt laser capable of engraving on harder surfaces. It’s an incredibly compact and lightweight device that weighs only 2 pounds.

Cons

It has a small engraving area, and the laser module is of relatively low strength.

xTool  P2
xTool
P2
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Best for engraving on curved surfaces
Bottom Line

Using dual 16-megapixel smart cameras, this professional-level laser engraver provides precise engraving on both curved and flat surfaces.

Pros

Its powerful 55-watt laser tube can quickly cut through wood, metal, glass and more. The Automatic Conveyor Feeder makes quick work of extra-large materials. It features an enclosed structure for user safety and cleanliness.

Cons

Its software could be more user-friendly.

Why trust BestReviews?
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

38
Models
Considered
180
Consumers
Consulted
16
Hours
Researched
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Buying guide for best laser engravers

Engraving is a great way to create personalized items. In the past, it was an expensive process that required skilled craftspeople. For DIYers, engraving technology is a lot simpler nowadays. If you own a laser engraver, no longer must you use your own shaky hand to electronically carve letters on metal or wood.

Although you need to make an initial investment, once you own your own laser engraver, you can create a wide range of unique items for yourself or your business with ease. 

The question is, which laser engraver is best? Options abound, from machines that only engrave to those that can cut and even 3D-print. You can choose a basic model for simple crafts or opt for a high-speed machine that can produce a large number of engravings quickly. 

The BestReviews Testing Lab researched numerous models and found the feature-packed Ortur Laser Master 3 to be the best choice for most people’s needs.  

Which laser engraver is best?

Ortur Laser Master 3 

Best overall

Product Specifications: Laser Power: 10 watts | Engraving Area: 15.57” H x 15.57” W | Engraving Speed: 333 mm per second | Material Compatibility: Wood, metal, glass and plastic | Software Compatibility: Android, iOS and Windows | Connectivity: USB, Wi-Fi and SD card

Our top choice, the Ortur Laser Master 3 is an excellent laser engraver if you are looking for something that is fast and powerful. Its 10-watt laser module cleanly cuts through thick plywood and up to 1.1 inches of black acrylics in a single pass. This is in part due to the smaller focusing spot area, which is only a third of the size of ordinary lasers.

Additional operation features include integrated air assist, dual fans and a foldable focal gauge, all within a lightweight design of less than a pound. Safety is a priority, which is why it comes with seven forms of protection. These include a safety lock, active and sloping position protections, exposure duration detection, voltage and current safety controls, a host computer watchdog and an emergency stop switch.

For connectivity, the engraver is compatible with Windows-based computers, and the mobile app works on iOS and Android if you want to use a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection.

Daja DJ6 Pro Laser Engraver 

Best small laser engraver

Product Specifications: Laser Power: 3 watts | Engraving Area: 3.15” H x 3.15” W | Engraving Speed: 59 mm per second | Material Compatibility: Paper, wood, ceramic and leather | Software Compatibility: Windows, Android and iOS | Connectivity: USB, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

This laser engraver is a great choice if you want to decorate items but have limited space. It has a medium-strength 3-watt laser head module that is both fast and efficient and has a unique base design that combines aluminum and ABS materials.

It’s equipped with anti-slip legs to maintain steady engraving and includes built-in eye protection and cooling fans for safer operation. The four engraving modes, Black and White, Grayscale, Outline, and Sketch, are suitable for working on paper, wood, ceramic, leather, plastic, bamboo and painted metal.

The engraver supports Bluetooth and Wi-Fi through the Android and iOS mobile apps and is also compatible with Windows. It features an offline mode where it can engrave a design from a connected USB drive.

LaserPecker 2 Laser Engraver 

Best product for small areas

Product Specifications: Laser Power: 5 watts | Engraving Area: 4” H x 19.6” W | Engraving Speed: 600 mm per second | Material Compatibility: Wood, metal, glass, stone, cloth and leather | Software Compatibility: Android, iOS and Windows | Connectivity: USB

The LaserPecker 2 is an excellent choice for people who want to engrave in batches. It features a “Batch Engraving” button for streamlined processing, enabling you to build batches and replace engraved products without using an app or resetting the engraver each time.

It has a 5-watt laser module suitable for carving on wood, metal, glass and leather. To help keep objects in place, the cutting plate is corrugated, which adds friction to prevent sliding and protects the stand base from incorrect engraving. It also comes with a roller case, improving the stability when engraving on cylindrical objects.

This engraver serves as an excellent starter bundle, as it comes with various materials to get you engraving in no time. The bundle includes 20 aluminum business cards, wood pieces, two leather luggage tags and four eyeglass cloths. Connectivity is provided through a manual cable connection and a USB-C port.

Bisofice K6 Mini Laser Engraver

Best product for portable engraving

Product Specifications: Laser Power: 3 watts | Engraving Area: 3.15” H x 3.15” W | Engraving Speed: 59 mm per second | Material Compatibility: Leather, ceramic and paper | Software Compatibility: Android, iOS, Windows and Mac | Connectivity: USB and Bluetooth

At only 2 pounds, the Portable K6 Laser Engraver is a lightweight and conveniently compact device. This makes it easy to transport where you need it, such as the office, around the house or to a creative studio.

It features a 3-watt laser capable of engraving on harder surfaces and cutting materials like plywood, paper and leather. For added safety, it features eye-protection windows and cooling fans. It is great for engraving on leather, ceramic, paper, bamboo and plastic, but it’s not compatible with metal, glass and transparent and reflective materials. 

It can be connected wirelessly via Bluetooth to Android and iOS devices or via USB to Windows and Mac computers, and it supports various file formats such as JPG, BMP, PNG, DWG, DXF and SVG.

xTool P2 

Best for engraving on curved surfaces

Product Specifications: Laser Power: 55 watts | Engraving Area: 26” W x 14” D | Engraving Speed: 600 mm per second | Material Compatibility: Wood, plastic, leather, rubber and glass | Software Compatibility: XCS and Lightburn | Connectivity: Windows

The xTool P2 CO2 laser engraver is a versatile machine that uses dual 16-megapixel smart cameras for precise engraving on both curved and flat surfaces. It has automatic pattern recognition for batch-engraving multiple objects simultaneously and features an Automatic Conveyor Feeder that can handle extra-large materials with ease. 

The gadget is equipped with a powerful 55-watt laser tube that can cut through various materials. It has a large bed size, can engrave objects as high as 2.7 inches and is designed with an enclosed structure for user safety and cleanliness.

Glowforge Aura 

Best for arts and crafts enthusiasts  

Product Specifications: Laser Power: 6 watts | Engraving Area: 12” W x 12” D | Engraving Speed: NA | Material Compatibility: Wood, acrylic, leather and cardstock | Software Compatibility: Android and iOS | Connectivity: Wi-Fi

The Glowforge Aura Craft Laser is a fantastic tool that can precisely cut, engrave, and score a wide range of materials, such as wood, acrylic, leather, cardstock and even chocolate, making it an excellent addition to creative projects. 

This engraver is best suited for objects that require a bit more artistic flair, such as customized sweatshirts, engraved stone coasters or plywood organizers. It has a built-in 8-megapixel camera for a live preview before hitting the button, and it automatically detects the material for optimum operation settings. 

The engraver also comes with access to Glowforge’s catalog of more than 1,000 print-ready projects. All you have to do is pick the type of product you want to work on, insert the material and press the button.

xTool F1 

Best for precision batch-processing

Product Specifications: Laser Power: 10 watts | Engraving Area: 15.7” W x 4.5” D | Engraving Speed: 4,000 mm per second | Material Compatibility: Metal, wood, acrylic and glass | Software Compatibility: Windows, Android, iOS and Mac | Connectivity: Wi-Fi

The xTool F1 is a 2-in-1 laser engraving with exceptional speed and accuracy, making it the perfect gadget for batch-processing hard materials, such as metal business cards, dog tags and jewelry.

The main feature of the engraver is the two lasers, each better suited for different materials. For example, the 2-watt laser is primarily used for metals, while the 10-watt diode laser easily engraves on softer materials, such as wood and acrylic. While it already has a large working area, you can add an extension to increase the batch-processing rate and handling of longer objects. 

It also comes with an enclosed cover that blocks smoke and includes a built-in fan and air purifier to eliminate odors. The F1 is also more precise than most other engravers, as it has 0.00199-millimeter motion accuracy and 0.000248-millimeter repetition accuracy. Simply put, almost every engraving will be identical.

How does a laser engraver work?

A laser is a highly concentrated beam of light. In laser engravers, the beam is focused with a series of mirrors until it becomes very narrow (as thin as a human hair). This magnification process creates high temperatures that vaporize the surface of the material being engraved, leaving a permanent mark.

By varying the power and intensity of the light beam, it's possible to engrave card stock, leather, wood, metal, stone, glass, ceramic and a variety of plastics. With some machines, it's also possible to slice right through the material, cutting out any kind of shape you can imagine — either as individual pieces or part of an assembly.

However, some materials are difficult to engrave. Metals require high power; acrylics, polycarbonates and reflective surfaces present technical challenges. There are solutions, but it's vital to understand the capabilities of a laser engraver before you buy it.

Types of laser engravers

It's easy to assume that all laser engravers are the same. But just as with any piece of technology, there are different kinds that make one type better for a specific purpose over another. Generally, there are two kinds of laser engravers to consider: fiber and CO2.

Fiber lasers

Particularly suited to engraving metals and plastics, these lasers use diodes to create a high-intensity beam. They are “solid-state,” which means they have few moving parts and, therefore, are very reliable with minimal maintenance requirements. However, their higher cost generally restricts them to high-volume commercial environments.

CO2 lasers

Laser engravers with this technology use a chamber filled with carbon dioxide that is “excited” by electricity. They don't have the intensity of the fiber laser, but that's actually an advantage on many materials. As a result, CO2 lasers are the most common type used by hobbyists and small businesses. We primarily concentrate on CO2 lasers in this review.

There are also two types of mechanisms to choose from. In one, the laser is stationary, and the workpiece moves. In the other, the laser moves, and the workpiece is stationary. The latter is far more common in the kind of laser engravers we’re looking at.

What to look for in a laser engraver

Power requirements

Power varies from a low of about 500 milliwatts to in excess of 130 watts. In basic terms, the former will scratch the surface of relatively soft materials like leather; the latter will engrave several millimeters deep into steel or stone and easily cut through plastic.

  • Entry-level engravers deliver around 1,500 milliwatts
  • Mid-range engravers deliver between 8 and 15 watts
  • “Prosumer” engravers deliver around 40 to 45 watts 

The smallest laser engravers run on battery power, and some can accept mobile chargers or a similar low-voltage supply. Larger models often plug straight into an electrical socket.

Object size

The size of the item you can engrave is mostly restricted by the laser’s enclosure. We've seen these from under 2 inches square to an enormous 55 inches by 35 inches. Enclosed machines are inherently safer because the laser operates within a closed space.

There are also open-frame laser engravers, and some of these can be placed on top of the item to be engraved. These have the potential for almost limitless size, though positioning on some things could be problematic. You do need to be extra careful with these models, as the laser-engraving unit is exposed.

Engraving speed

Speed of engraving varies tremendously and is usually quoted as a maximum because the complexity of the design and the resolution you use have a major impact. Resolution can range from 150 dots per inch (d.p.i.) to 2,500 d.p.i. (for reference, a glossy magazine is usually 300 to 600 d.p.i.). 

So, for example, a high resolution gives you the ability to reproduce photographs in great detail — but the higher the resolution, the slower the machine will work. There are also usually limits on the amount of adjustability you'll have.

Connectivity and input methods

Connectivity can be via USB port or wireless to desktop, laptop or tablet. However, you need to be careful with compatibility. Windows and Android are better served than Mac and iOS. A number of machines don't work with the latter, which can be frustrating for designers who typically use Apple equipment.

Input/software options are equally varied. Some machines will scan your artwork or photo. Many take common file types like JPEG, BMP and EPS. Some work with a variety of graphics software, and some have their own proprietary programs. It's another area that bears careful investigation.

Hybrid laser engravers

With the advent of affordable 3D printers, there are now a number of hybrid machines that can either engrave or print in 3D; usually, it's a relatively simple matter of changing the print head. They are beyond the scope of this guide, but designers and craftspeople may want to look into the potential of those devices.

It's important not to confuse these with 3D laser printers, which are a type of engraving machine and do not create three-dimensional objects from filaments in the same way. Once again, it's vital to understand each machine's capabilities.

Laser engraver prices

Inexpensive: You can buy a small laser engraver for $120 to $200. Few have a carving area of more than about 1 1/2 inch square, and power will be in the range of 1,000 to 1,500 milliwatts. Thus, the materials you can engrave, and the depth of your engraving, will be limited. While some people look at these as entry-level machines, craft enthusiasts will soon want to do more. 

Mid-range: The cheapest way to buy an engraver with greater capacity and flexibility is via a kit. A variety of power options are usually provided, and it's important to choose carefully. You'll probably want 2,500 milliwatts or above, and this is going to cost between $300 and $500. That’s a lot for something you need to put together yourself. For $500 to $600, you can get several similar-looking models — some with considerably higher output (up to 15 watts)  — and you don't have to put them together yourself. 

Expensive: Enclosed (and thus inherently safer) machines start in this same price range, though their physical capacities might be slightly less: 12 inches by 8 inches is common. Power on many is 40 watts, thus giving far fewer restrictions on the materials you can use. Machines of 50 watts range between $1,500 and $3,500, again mostly depending on the physical size of the objects they can accommodate. For high-productivity commercial engravers, it's not difficult to spend $15,000 or more.

The other area you could consider, as we've mentioned, is combination machines. It's very difficult to give price guidance here because of the sheer diversity. You could spend anywhere from $800 to $8,000. If it's a subject where you have little or no knowledge, it might be worth buying separate mid-range devices first, then upgrading once you have a full understanding of their capabilities.

Tips

  • You'll be eager to start using your new laser engraver as soon as it arrives. That's natural. However, taking time to read the instructions carefully can make a big difference in performance and accuracy. The same goes for any software that comes with your engraver. A little extra study usually results in a much better understanding of what you can and can't do.
  • Using a high resolution (maximum d.p.i.) will give you the greatest level of detail, but it will slow down your laser engraver considerably. If you can, try some samples at d.p.i.s that are lower. If the image is still of good quality, you'll save a lot of time. The job could go as much as 30% faster.
  • Always follow recommended maintenance closely. Dust and dirt can make a huge difference in output quality. Remember: Don’t start to clean until after you have turned it off and unplugged it.

How we analyzed

There are many things that go into choosing a laser engraver, so equally, there are plenty of aspects that go into analyzing engravers. For this comparison, we looked at ease of use, power output and which materials each machine handles best. There is also the factor of price, which must be worth it for what you get. As a complete package to engrave almost anything you want, there has to be a balance between cost, versatility and ease of operation. 

FAQ

Q. Are laser engravers dangerous? 

A. These lasers are powerful, and care is required to maintain your safety. You should never look directly into any laser beam, and though that's unlikely to happen when using the laser engraver normally, eye protection should always be worn to prevent any consequences of light bouncing back off a reflective surface. 

It's also important to keep your hands well away from the path of the beam. If it's capable of burning into wood and leather, it will have no trouble burning into skin.

Finally, you need to consider the item being engraved. Smoke from many plastics, fiberglass/resins and other materials is unpleasant and, in some cases, poisonous. Work in a well-ventilated area, and wear a mask if necessary. Better laser engravers tend to provide exhaust/extraction fittings. 

Manufacturers should provide safety information about their products. If you’re in doubt, check online sources for further details.

Q. Do I need special safety glasses to go with my laser engraver? 

A. It depends on the power output. Experts we consulted said that if the laser is under 40 watts (the majority of home/hobby machines are), ordinary polycarbonate workplace safety glasses would provide adequate protection from diffuse reflections. Above that, we suggest it's best to consult the maker. Proper laser safety glasses cost between $15 and $40, but that's a small price to pay to protect your eyesight.

Q. What's the difference between laser etching and laser marking?

A. Laser marking alters the chemical composition of the surface layer, usually changing its color. It doesn't actually cut into it. Engraving goes deeper, so items will take a lot of wear, and the engraving will still be visible. Depending on a number of parameters, such as laser power and material composition, some laser-engraving machines can be used to cut all the way through an item.

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