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The best laser engraver for most people starting at home is an enclosed diode machine with a camera, and the one Nick has used on the channel is the Creality Falcon2 Pro. If you need to cut thick acrylic, buy a CO2 laser. If you want to mark metal, buy a fiber. Below are picks for each job, with the store price we read on October 26, 2026 and an honest label on every machine Nick hasn’t run.
Want to browse every machine instead? Our laser engraver directory lists every laser we track, with specs and live prices. This page is the short list.
xTool works with Planet 3DP and plans to send Nick a laser for a future video. It isn’t an X1, nobody here has used an X1, and there are no xTool affiliate links on this page.
- Nick has used
- Creality Falcon2 Pro, from 899 dollars (22W). Enclosed diode with a camera.
- Enclosed for under 500
- Creality Falcon A1 10W, 466 dollars. Arrives assembled, Class 1.
- Cheapest that cuts
- Sculpfun S30 Pro 10W, 299.99 dollars. Open frame, goggles in the box.
- CO2 for thick acrylic
- Bambu Lab R1, 2,499 dollars. 55W, Class 1, 600 x 300 mm.
- CO2 for long stock
- xTool P2S, 2,999 dollars. 55W with passthrough to 118 inches.
- Metal on a budget
- Sculpfun G20, 1,499 dollars. 20W fiber galvo.
- One to watch
- xTool X1, full reveal October 28. Launch price from 3,399 dollars on xTool’s page.
Store prices from each maker’s own US store, read by the Planet 3DP price tracker or on the store page on October 26, 2026. Specs from the makers’ own pages. Only the Falcon2 Pro has been on Nick’s bench. Live prices are on our deals page.
The best laser engravers in 2026
Seven picks, one for each job. The first is the laser Nick has used. The rest are picked from the makers’ specs and say so on the card.
Creality Falcon2 Pro
Nick has used this. The enclosed diode for crafts and a small shop.
- In his fabric engraving video Nick recommends it to anyone shopping for a laser cutter, for the enclosure, the camera and the drawer.
- 22W, 40W or 60W diode, 400 x 415 mm work area (400 x 400 on the 60W).
- FDA Class 1, with a safety stop when the lid opens, per Creality Falcon.
- Creality Falcon says the 60W cuts 22 mm basswood in one pass, and the 22W cuts 10 mm.
- The video doesn’t say which wattage Nick has.
899 dollars for the 22W (1,099 before the markdown), 1,349 for the 40W, 1,899 for the 60W, store price checked October 26, 2026
Falcon2 Pro at Creality FalconCreality Falcon A1
Not tested by Nick. An enclosed first laser under 500 dollars.
- 10W diode, 305 x 381 mm, CoreXY motion up to 600 mm/s.
- Arrives fully assembled, with an HD camera for positioning.
- Class 1 (FDA), so the enclosure blocks the beam and stops when the lid opens.
- A smoke exhaust filter is built in, and an air assist set comes free.
466 dollars at Creality Falcon (599 before the markdown), store price checked October 26, 2026
Falcon A1 at Creality FalconSculpfun S30 Pro
Not tested by Nick. The cheapest machine here that still cuts.
- 10W diode on an open frame, 380 x 385 mm, expandable to 900 x 920 mm.
- Air pump in the box for cleaner cuts.
- Laser goggles in the box and a cover around the laser. Wear the goggles, because there is no enclosure.
- Sold direct by Sculpfun, which has no affiliate programme with us.
299.99 dollars from Sculpfun’s US warehouse (549.99 before the markdown), store price checked October 26, 2026
Bambu Lab R1
Not tested by Nick. The CO2 laser for clear acrylic and thick wood.
- 55W CO2, 600 x 300 mm, up to 20 mm thick in a single pass.
- Class 1 under IEC 60825-1 in standard use, with lid stop, flame detection and an emergency stop.
- Automatic laser alignment in about a minute, and engraving up to 1,000 mm/s.
- What two reviewers who used one found is in our R1 review roundup.
2,499 dollars at Bambu Lab’s US store, store price checked October 26, 2026
R1 at Bambu LabxTool P2S
Not tested by Nick. CO2 for signs and long boards.
- 55W CO2, 600 x 305 mm, 600 mm/s.
- AutoPassthrough feeds material up to 118 inches long.
- xTool lists it as Class 4 Laser Safety, so read the safety section below.
- xTool says it can’t cut metal or glass, only engrave them.
2,999 dollars at xTool’s store (4,499 before the markdown), store price checked October 26, 2026
Sculpfun G20
Not tested by Nick. The cheapest way into marking metal.
- 20W fiber galvo (1064 nm), up to 10,000 mm/s.
- Colour marking on stainless steel and titanium, deep engraving up to 1.5 mm.
- Open galvo design. Protective goggles are in the box.
1,499 dollars at Sculpfun (1,799 before the markdown), store price checked October 26, 2026
xTool X1
Not tested by Nick. Based on specs, and not on sale until October 28.
- 55W CO2 plus an optional 20W diode galvo, then 5W UV, 60W MOPA or 30W fiber later.
- 615 x 320 mm, 600 mm/s on CO2 and 6,000 mm/s on the galvo sources.
- Final payment opens October 28 at 6 PM PDT and shipping starts October 29, per xTool.
- Everything xTool has confirmed is in our X1 explainer.
3,399 dollars launch price for X1 Single CO2, 3,999 with the diode galvo, both from the price image on xTool’s X1 page, store price checked October 26, 2026
Diode, CO2 or fiber: which laser do you need?
The laser type decides what a machine can cut and mark, more than the brand or the wattage. Pick the type first, then the machine.
- Diode (455 nm, blue)
- Best at wood, leather, card, fabric and dark acrylic. No clear acrylic, and slower cutting than CO2. 114 to 1,699 dollars on this page.
- CO2
- Best at cutting thick wood and any colour of acrylic, clear included. xTool says its P2S can’t cut metal or glass. 599.99 to 6,999 dollars on this page.
- Fiber and MOPA (1064 nm)
- Best at marking, deep engraving and colouring metal. Galvo work areas are small: xTool’s F1 Ultra covers 220 x 220 mm. 1,499 to 5,299 dollars on this page.
- UV (355 nm)
- Best at glass and crystal, including engraving inside the glass. The priciest type here, at 4,199 to 4,299 dollars.
Strengths from the makers’ own pages (Creality Falcon, xTool, Sculpfun, Bambu Lab). Price ranges are the store prices in the tables below, checked October 26, 2026.
Our full explainer on the four types is coming. Until then, one rule covers most buyers. If you want to cut clear acrylic, you need CO2. If you want deep or colour marks on metal, you need fiber. Everything else starts on a diode.
Best diode laser engravers
A diode is where most people start. It’s the cheapest way to engrave wood, leather and card, and the bigger ones cut 10 mm basswood or more. The split that matters is open frame or enclosed.
An open frame like the Sculpfun S30 Pro is cheap and big, but the beam and the smoke are out in your room, so goggles and ventilation are on you. An enclosed machine like the Falcon A1 or the Falcon2 Pro keeps both in a box, and Creality Falcon rates both as Class 1.
Nick’s own tip from the denim test is about setup, not the machine. He laid the jeans over flat boards, because the flatter the surface, the cleaner the result. Then he ran a test grid at 5, 8, 10 and 12 percent power. The 5 percent line didn’t show, and 12 percent at speed 100 was the cleanest on his Falcon2 Pro.
| Machine | Power | Store price | Nick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atomstack Swift | 7W | 114 dollars (was 199) | Not tested |
| Atomstack P1 | 5W | 219 dollars (was 299) | Not tested |
| Atomstack A10 Pro V2 | 10W | 229 dollars (was 499.98) | Not tested |
| Creality Falcon A1C | 5W | 269 dollars | Not tested |
| Sculpfun S30 Pro | 10W | 299.99 dollars (was 549.99) | Not tested |
| Creality Falcon A1 | 10W | 466 dollars (was 599) | Not tested |
| Sculpfun E1 | 12W | 499 dollars (was 599) | Not tested |
| xTool M2 | 10W | 499 dollars (was 599) | Not tested |
| Creality Falcon2 | 22W | 549 dollars (was 719) | Not tested |
| Creality Falcon2 Pro | 22W | 899 dollars (was 1,099) | Nick has used it |
| xTool F2 | 15W diode plus 5W IR | 1,299 dollars (was 1,499) | Not tested |
| WeCreat Vision | 20W | 1,590 dollars | Not tested |
| xTool S1 | 40W | 1,699 dollars (was 2,199) | Not tested |
Test before you commit. Nick’s rule from his denim test: run a small power ladder on scrap of the same material first. Your laser’s power may be very different from his, so his 12 percent is a starting point, not a setting.
Best CO2 laser engravers and cutters
A CO2 laser is the step up when you cut more than you engrave. It cuts every colour of acrylic, clear included, and much thicker wood. Bambu Lab and xTool both say their 55W machines cut 20 mm acrylic in one pass.
The Bambu Lab R1 is the one we’d look at first in this group. It’s 2,499 dollars, it’s Class 1 in standard use, and Bambu Lab says it aligns its own laser path in about a minute. The xTool P2S costs 500 dollars more and earns it if you make signs, because its AutoPassthrough handles boards up to 118 inches long. xTool rates the P2S as Class 4, though, so it needs the eye safety care an open machine does.
The OMTech Polar Lite is the value pick at 2,199.99 dollars. It has a 5MP camera, autofocus at one click and front and rear passthrough slots. It’s water cooled, with a 2 litre chiller built in, per OMTech. Under 600 dollars, the 45W OMTech K40+ is the cheapest CO2 machine we track.
| Machine | Power | Store price | Nick |
|---|---|---|---|
| OMTech K40+ | 45W | 599.99 dollars (was 1,099.99) | Not tested |
| OMTech Polar Lite | 55W | 2,199.99 dollars (was 2,499.99) | Not tested |
| Bambu Lab R1 | 55W | 2,499 dollars | Not tested |
| xTool P2S | 55W | 2,999 dollars (was 4,499) | Not tested |
| OMTech Pronto | 60W | 2,999.99 dollars (was 4,399.99) | Not tested |
| xTool X1 | 55W plus optional sources | From 3,399 dollars launch price | Not tested, not shipping yet |
| OMTech Polar | 70W | 3,699.99 dollars (was 5,199.99) | Not tested |
| xTool P3 | 80W | 6,999 dollars | Not tested |
The xTool X1: what’s confirmed before October 28
The xTool X1 goes on sale this week. It’s a 55W CO2 laser that takes extra sources. Add xTool’s 20W Diode Galvo Module and you can later fit a 5W UV, 60W MOPA or 30W fiber source in the same machine. xTool calls that Laser Swap.
xTool’s X1 page shows launch prices of 3,399 dollars for X1 Single CO2 and 3,999 dollars with the diode galvo. Its FAQ says buyers choose a configuration when final payment opens on October 28 at 6 PM PDT, and shipping starts October 29. The full reveal is the same evening, so treat anything beyond that as unknown until then.
Two safety notes from xTool’s own footnote. With the 5W UV source fitted, Class 3B radiation is accessible during optical alignment. With the Intelligent Conveyor Feeder, the X1 operates as a Class 4 laser device. The rest of the spec sheet, from the 615 x 320 mm work area to the 60 kg weight, is in our X1 explainer.
Nobody at Planet 3DP has used an X1. This entry is based on xTool’s specs only.
Best laser engraver for metal: fiber, MOPA and UV
For deep engraving and colour marks on bare metal, the makers point to 1064 nm fiber and MOPA sources. These are galvo machines: mirrors steer the beam, so they mark small areas very fast instead of covering a big bed.
The Sculpfun G20 at 1,499 dollars is the cheapest fiber we track. Sculpfun says it colour marks stainless steel and titanium and engraves up to 1.5 mm deep. The Creality Falcon T1 takes another route. It starts with a 20W diode, and Creality Falcon sells fiber, MOPA and UV sources that swap in 15 seconds without tools. The xTool F2 Ultra is the top of this table, a 60W MOPA with a 40W diode for colour work on metal.
UV is the specialist. It’s the source for engraving inside glass and crystal, and on this list it starts at 4,199 dollars.
| Machine | Source | Store price | Nick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sculpfun G20 | 20W fiber | 1,499 dollars (was 1,799) | Not tested |
| Creality Falcon T1 | 20W diode, swaps to fiber, MOPA or UV | 2,249 dollars (was 2,499) | Not tested |
| OMTech Fiber Galvo | 30W fiber | 2,299.99 dollars (was 3,299.99) | Not tested |
| xTool F1 Ultra | 20W fiber plus 20W diode | 2,999 dollars | Not tested |
| WeCreat Lumos Ultra | 6W UV | 4,199 dollars | Not tested |
| xTool F2 Ultra UV | 5W UV | 4,299 dollars | Not tested |
| xTool F2 Ultra | 60W MOPA plus 40W diode | 5,299 dollars | Not tested |
Glowforge alternatives
Glowforge is the name a lot of buyers start from. Our directory lists the Glowforge Aura as a Class 1 craft laser with a live camera, autofocus and a passthrough. If that’s the experience you want, these are the machines on this page that offer the same parts, from their makers’ own pages.
| If you want | Look at | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A camera and an enclosure under 500 dollars | Creality Falcon A1 | HD camera, Class 1, arrives assembled, 466 dollars |
| The machine Nick has used | Creality Falcon2 Pro | Camera, Class 1, a 400 mm bed, from 899 dollars |
| CO2 power with a camera | Bambu Lab R1 | Cameras plus encoders, Class 1, 2,499 dollars |
| CO2 with a passthrough | OMTech Polar Lite or xTool P2S | Front and rear passthrough slots, or AutoPassthrough to 118 inches |
One thing doesn’t change when you switch brands. Glowforge’s own page says it plainly: like all laser cutters, its machines require ventilation.
Laser deals this week
Several laser brands are already running sales. These dates come from each brand’s own page, read on October 26, 2026. Prices in the tables above already include the current markdowns.
- xTool
- Black Friday member early access opens October 30 for US Creator’s Club members, with a 60 day price match. Main sale dates not stated yet.
- Sculpfun
- Halloween Sale from October 13 to November 1, up to 50 percent off with no code.
- Longer
- Halloween Deals until November 2, 2026, up to 40 percent off selected machines.
- Creality Falcon
- Halloween Mega Sale now. No end date stated.
- Bambu Lab
- Black Friday sale from October 27 to December 1, per Bambu Lab.
Live tracked prices for every laser here are on our deals page, checked again several times a day.
Laser safety: enclosure, fumes and your eyes
A laser burns material to work, so every machine makes smoke and can start a fire. These are the makers’ own rules, not ours.
| Risk | What the makers say |
|---|---|
| Your eyes | xTool’s safety guide for its open D1: even with the hood fitted, wear the goggles. Sculpfun ships goggles with the S30 Pro and the G20 |
| Enclosed is not always Class 1 | Creality Falcon rates the A1 and Falcon2 Pro Class 1, with a stop when the lid opens. xTool lists the enclosed P2S as Class 4, and says the X1 becomes Class 4 with its conveyor. The Falcon T1 isn’t Class 1 in conveyor or rotary mode |
| Fumes | xTool: make sure the workspace is well ventilated so the smoke is discharged. The A1 has an exhaust filter built in and the R1 runs a crossflow of air through the chamber. Both still need their exhaust pipe run somewhere |
| Materials | xTool: never engrave or cut any material that contains PVC or vinyl, and plastics in general aren’t recommended |
| Fire | xTool: never leave the machine unattended while it works, and keep a fire extinguisher. xTool also says thick plywood over 12 mm may catch fire on the P2S |
Makers don’t all agree on the last point. Creality Falcon describes the T1’s flame detection and airflow monitoring as making it worry free even during unattended projects. xTool’s guide says never leave a laser alone. We’d follow xTool’s rule on every machine.
Nick’s point about the Falcon2 Pro is the honest version of all this. The enclosure kept the smoke and dust inside, but he still called it quite loud. Plan where the machine and its exhaust go before you buy.
Laser engraver questions
What is the best laser engraver for most people?
An enclosed diode with a camera. The one Nick has used is the Creality Falcon2 Pro, from 899 dollars for the 22W on October 26, 2026. The Creality Falcon A1 at 466 dollars is the cheaper enclosed option.
What is the best laser engraver for metal?
A fiber laser. The Sculpfun G20 at 1,499 dollars is the cheapest one we track, and Sculpfun says it colour marks stainless steel and titanium and engraves up to 1.5 mm deep.
Can a diode laser cut clear acrylic?
No. Clear acrylic needs a CO2 laser. Bambu Lab and xTool both say their 55W CO2 machines cut 20 mm acrylic in one pass.
Do I need goggles with an enclosed laser?
Not with a Class 1 machine in normal use, which is what Creality Falcon says of the A1. Check the class, though. xTool lists its enclosed P2S as Class 4, and xTool’s own guide tells D1 owners to wear goggles even with the hood on.
Is the xTool X1 worth waiting for?
Only if you want one machine that does CO2 cutting now and fiber, MOPA or UV later. xTool’s page shows launch prices from 3,399 dollars and final payment opens October 28 at 6 PM PDT. Nobody here has used one yet.
What should I never laser?
xTool says never cut or engrave anything containing PVC or vinyl, and doesn’t recommend plastics in general. Ventilate every job and never leave the machine running alone.
- Planet 3DP video: How To Laser Engrave Clothing! (November 2024), the Falcon2 Pro from 4:46 (checked October 26, 2026)
- Creality Falcon store: Falcon2 Pro, prices, specs and safety (checked October 26, 2026)
- Creality Falcon store: Falcon A1 10W, specs and safety (checked October 26, 2026)
- Creality Falcon store: Falcon T1, sources and Class 1 note (checked October 26, 2026)
- Bambu Lab US store: R1, price, features and safety (checked October 26, 2026)
- xTool X1 page: specification block, important notes, FAQ and launch price image (checked October 26, 2026)
- xTool store: P2S product page and specifications (checked October 26, 2026)
- xTool Black Friday and Cyber Monday page (checked October 26, 2026)
- xTool Support Center: Safety Guide for xTool D1 Laser Cutting and Engraving (checked October 26, 2026)
- Sculpfun store: S30 Pro and G20 product pages, and the Halloween Sale page (checked October 26, 2026)
- OMTech store: Polar Lite 55W product page (checked October 26, 2026)
- Longer: Halloween Sale 2026 announcement (checked October 26, 2026)
- Creality Falcon: Halloween Mega Sale page (checked October 26, 2026)
- Glowforge: Aura product page, ventilation note (checked October 26, 2026)
- Planet 3DP price tracker: store prices for the other machines, read on each maker's own US store (checked October 26, 2026)
Host of Planet 3DP. I have been 3D printing for over four years, with tens of thousands of print hours across Bambu Lab, Anycubic, Creality, Elegoo and Snapmaker machines. The Creality Falcon2 Pro is the laser I’ve used on the channel. I haven’t run the others on this page, and it says so. Planet 3DP on YouTube.
Last checked October 26, 2026.
