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Looking to buy a laser engraver but not sure where to start?
We've been there. You'll find a ton of different laser engravers on the market — compact machines, high-performance professional models, and some that are great for hobbyists.
That's why we put together a list of 7 of the best laser engravers for beginners recommended by makers in our community.
They're sharing from real-life experience, already having owned and used these machines before we approached them to write this article.
Read their honest reviews below to find the right laser engraver for your hobby or business. ✨
What's the Best Laser Engraver for Beginners?
Best Laser Engravers for Beginners
- Best Compact & Portable Machine: xTool F1
- Fastest Engraving: xTool F1 Ultra
- Lasering & Cutting in One Machine: xTool M1
- Great for Hobbyists: Glowforge Aura
- Best Material Presets: WeCreat Vista
- Affordable Professional-Grade Machine: Thunder Laser Bolt
- Most Powerful: Aeon Mira9s
xTool F1
Best Compact & Portable Machine
The xTool F1 is by far the most compact and portable laser engraver you can find. It's lightweight, made to take on the go, and packs two solid lasers, a 10W diode laser and 2W infrared, for plenty of versatility.
Reviewed by: Jevon Cheney is a woodworking expert and owner of Cheney Concepts. Find him on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.
What's great about this machine:
- Two lasers in one so you can engrave more materials
- Super fast engraving at 4,000mm per second
- Great detail: "No matter how insanely detailed a logo or file is, the F1 gives you a clean and fresh engrave," says Jevon.
- "Light and compact" - Take it with you for live engravings, trade shows, and more
- xTool Creative Space software: "A GREAT software for someone that is just starting out."
What could be better:
"The only thing I wish was better about this machine is that it was bigger." (And that's why xTool released the upgraded xTool F1 Ultra, which you can read about below.)
What kind of maker should buy this?
"I would recommend the xTool F1 to anyone just starting out with a laser that will be working on smaller personalized items. Designing, making, or purchasing jigs for the items you are engraving will really ramp up your productivity."
Who it's not for:
"This laser is not for anyone who needs to do a lot of cutting or creating larger items."
One way it's helped his business:
"There have been multiple random items people will bring to the shop for me to engrave that make us get creative on how to hold certain non-flat items. For example, I had a customer bring over some deer antlers that needed engraved so he could propose to his now fiance (she said yes). Had I not had the F1 in the shop, I would have spent countless hours building or rigging something up to hold the antlers and slowly engrave them using a traditional-style laser."
🎥 Watch Jevon use the xTool F1 on Instagram
Specs:
- Dimensions: 7" x 9.25" x 13.1"
- Weight: 10.1 lbs.
- Laser Types: Diode & Infrared
- Power: 10W (Diode) / 2W (Infrared)
- Working Area: 4.53" x 4.53" square with rounded corners (Can expand to 15.75" x 4.53" with slide extension)
- Max Material Height: 4000mm/s
- Max Engraving Speed: 4000mm/s
- Devices Supported: iPhone, Android, iPad, Windows, Mac
- Software: xTool Creative Space (Free), Lightburn
- Pricing: Available for $1599 at MakerFlo.
[product=xtool-f1-fastest-portable-laser-engraver-with-ir-diode-laser]xTool's ultra-fast and portable laser engraver that can handle tumblers and multiple materials with dual diode and infrared lasers.[/product]
xTool F1 Ultra
Fastest Engraving
For quick work, the xTool F1 Ultra is a great buy. It's the bigger, upgraded brother to the xTool F1, with awesome features like curved surface engraving, a 16MP smart camera, and dual high-power lasers: a 20W fiber laser and a 20W diode laser. Best of all, it can get work done at record-breaking speeds — we're talking 10,000 mm/s here.
Reviewed by: Liz Rivers is a retired police officer turned full-time maker. She started The Laser Outpost, a Facebook group and jewelry blanks business, in 2023. Follow her on TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram.
What's great about this machine:
- Includes a fiber laser and diode laser for metal engraving and more: "I can switch between materials like wood, metal, leatherette without any problem," says Liz.
- Fastest engraving speed on this list at 10,000 mm / second
- Automatic engraving of curved surfaces
- Same easy-to-use features as the xTool F1
- Bulk engraving features
- Toolless maintenance: "All the mirrors are easy to reach, so I can clean or replace them quickly, without using any tools or needing to recalibrate the machine afterward."
What could be better:
"I do wish the machine had a bigger workspace and maybe a bit more power. It handles a lot already, but having that extra space and punch would definitely open up more possibilities."
What kind of maker should buy this?
"The xTool F1 Ultra is a great fit for crafters or business owners who need portability and or versatility. If you're someone who engraves a variety of materials—like metals, wood, and leatherette—and you're looking for a compact machine that's easy to transport to events, markets, or workshops, this is a really solid option."
Who it's not for:
"The xTool F1 Ultra isn't the best choice if your work involves deep metal engraving or if you want to primarily cut through materials like wood or clear acrylic. It's not really built for heavy-duty cutting or high-power jobs, so if that's a big part of your business, you'd probably be better off with a different machine that offers more wattage or cutting capabilities."
One way it's helped her business:
"Most of the time, there's barely any cleanup needed. That's a huge win when you're cranking out orders or working live at markets."
🎥 Watch Liz use the xTool F1 Ultra on Instagram
Specs:
- Dimensions: 10.8" x 14.7" x 19"
- Weight: 32.4 lbs.
- Laser Types: Diode & Infrared
- Power: 20W (Diode) / 20W (Infrared)
- Working Area: 8.7" x 8.7"
- Max Material Height: 5.7"
- Max Engraving Speed: 10000 mm/s
- Devices Supported: Windows and Mac OS
- Software: xTool Creative Space, Lightburn
- Pricing: Available for $3999 at MakerFlo.
Get the xTool F1 Ultra at MakerFlo
[product=xtool-f1-ultra-laser-engraver]A speedy dual-laser engraver with a diode and fiber laser that can handle metal and bulk engraving with ease.[/product]
xTool M1
Lasering & Cutting in One Machine
If you want to tackle laser engraving and vinyl cutting with one machine, the xTool M1 is a good place to start. It's a smart laser engraver and vinyl cutter, which means it'll do a lot of the heavy lifting for you.
Reviewed by: Jennifer Vigo is the owner and maker of Vigo & Co. She's always loved being creative and has been laser engraving for almost a year. Follow her on Instagram.
What's great about this machine:
- Quick and easy to use: "You can have a file uploaded and ready to laser within 5 to 6 minutes at the most," said Jennifer.
- Has a blade for cutting vinyl and a laser for engraving and cutting other materials
- Flat bed makes it easy to engrave long and flat or wide items
- xTool provides many tutorials for beginner users
- Camera feature to help you place your engraving
What could be better:
"I do wish that the framing and camera features were more accurate. Sometimes the image is off from where you wanted it to be and it can be really disappointing if you only have one shot at getting the project correct."
Who it's not for:
"If you wanted to use this for your business at scale, I would definitely recommend getting a higher voltage like the 20W because it will enable you to use different materials and expand the type of products you can make."
Advice for beginner makers:
"All machines are different and the settings that may work for one person may not work for you. So it's important to go into lasering knowing that you will mess up some projects, but it's okay. We all learn from our failed projects. You will get the hang of it and become a pro in no time."
Specs:
- Dimensions: 21.93" x 17.83" x 9.06"
- Weight: 21.6 lbs.
- Laser Types: Diode
- Power: Available in 5W and 10W
- Working Area: 15.16" x 11.81"
- Max Material Height: 1.77"
- Max Engraving Speed: Bitmap (raster) engraving, up to 250 mm/s / Vector engraving, up to 160 mm/s
- Devices Supported: Windows and Mac
- Software: xTool Creative Space
- Pricing: Available for $1319 at XTool.com
Glowforge Aura
Great for Hobbyists
Laser engraving isn't just for business owners—it can also be a fun hobby to make gifts and household items. The Glowforge Aura is a great choice for the casual user with its wide-angle camera, high-efficiency LED lighting, and the ability to engrave and cut easily with built-in software and presets.
Reviewed by: Maxien is the "everything crafter" behind XXMAMACRAFTSXX. She uses her social media platforms to showcase projects, tips, and tricks for laser engraving, epoxy resin, sublimation, sewing, and more. Find her on Instagram and Etsy.
What's great about this machine:
- It's super easy to use right out of the box: "It's as simple as unboxing, plug in, and go," says Maxien.
- The built-in software Glowforge Print is easy to use and works on smartphones, too
- It's very affordable at just over $1K
What could be better:
"I wish this machine were a little faster to be honest. It can take hours to finish a project."
What kind of maker should buy this?
"I recommend this machine for a crafter who's just getting into lasering or curious about it and just wants to use it casually. The Glowforge Aura really helped me get comfortable with lasering."
Who it's not for:
"I would not recommend it for someone who's running a business and needs to produce products quickly or in abundance. It does not have the speed that would be required. You're also very limited in what materials you can use."
🎥 Watch Maxien use the Glowforge Aura on Instagram
Specs:
- Dimensions: 22″ x 20.5″ x 5″
- Weight: 19 lbs.
- Laser Types: Diode
- Power: 6W
- Working Area: 12″ x 12″
- Max Material Height: 2″
- Max Engraving Speed: 1,000mm/s
- Devices Supported: macOS, Windows, iOS, Android
- Software: Glowforge Print
- Pricing: Available for $1,199.00 at GlowForge.com
WeCreat Vista
Best Material Presets
The WeCreat Vista is a solid laser engraver that works with dozens of materials and can come with a 10W diode laser, a 2W infrared laser, or a combination of both. It's compact, affordable, yet still powerful enough for beginner-level projects.
Reviewed by: Ester Desir created Desir Lovestyle to share her life as a mom of three and document family adventures, DIY projects, and everyday moments that make life special. She's still relatively new to laser engraving, but she's loved getting to explore it and learn how to personalize gifts. Find her on Instagram and YouTube.
What's great about this machine:
- The included software gives you suggested settings for any material so you can get better results in less time. "If you're not sure about a new material, a lot of the time, the settings that are saved to the machine work perfectly fine," says Ester.
- You can buy the machine in multiple colors. "When I saw that they released a pink version, I was sold!"
- The WeCreat software comes with hundreds of free fonts and SVGs
- The add-on infrared laser can engrave into metal
- You can flip the laser around to engrave on round items more easily
What could be better:
"Having a higher wattage option would enhance its power and efficiency, especially for cutting thicker materials or speeding up the process."
What kind of maker should buy this?
"This machine is perfect for beginners or home crafters, especially those who are just starting to explore laser cutting and engraving. It's a great choice for people who don't have a ton of space or experience but still want to dive into creative projects like tumblers, custom gifts, and decor."
Who it's not for:
"If you're running a business that needs heavy-duty cutting and engraving at a larger scale, this might not be the ideal choice for you."
🎥 Watch Ester use the WeCreat Vista on Instagram
Specs:
- Dimensions: 25.3" x 18.5" x 6.5"
- Weight: 31.967 lbs.
- Laser Types: Diode
- Power: 10W
- Working Area: 11.8" × 8.3"
- Max Material Height: 1.57"
- Max Engraving Speed: 600 mm/s
- Devices Supported: Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS
- Software: WeCreat MakeIt!, Lightburn
- Pricing: Available for $699.00 at WeCreat
Thunder Laser Bolt
Affordable Professional-Grade Machine
Laser engravers can definitely be pricey, but the Thunder Laser Bolt is one of the less expensive professional models on the market.
Plus, it has a ton of impressive features that rival much loftier picks — think super detail-oriented engraving, an RF laser tube, military-grade strength, an easy-to-use touchscreen, one gigabyte of memory, and a high- resolution camera.
Reviewed by: Ashley Stillson is the maker behind Chipped Builds, a YouTube channel that highlights laser engraving tips and tricks. Her goal is to make laser crafting accessible and fun, regardless of your experience level. You can also find her on Etsy and Instagram.
What's great about this machine:
- Has a large working area: "I love that the machine has a 12x20 cutting area, which is a great size for a wide range of projects," Ashley said. "Its ability to engrave taller items like tumblers, cutting boards, and even dog bowls really adds to its versatility."
- The all-enclosed design includes an integrated exhaust, a touchscreen, an air-cooled laser tube, and a built-in crumb tray to catch any scraps
- The RF tube "delivers incredible engraving quality."
- It's compact but still creates professional results
- Thunder Laser provides great support. "They're quick to help and really care about their customers' success."
What could be better:
"I wish the machine handled thicker materials a little more easily. While you can switch out the lenses to improve its cutting capabilities, it would be nice if the process felt a bit smoother and more straightforward overall."
What kind of maker should buy this?
"This machine is a great fit for small business owners or serious hobbyists who want to produce high-quality engraved products like tumblers, cutting boards, signs, and other custom items, and those who value detail, speed, and versatility in their workflow."
Who it's not for:
"It's a higher-end machine with powerful features, so if you're only doing occasional crafting or not ready to invest in a more advanced setup, there are more beginner-friendly options out there."
Specs:
- Dimensions: 36" x 27" x 18"
- Weight: 170 lbs.
- Laser Types: CO2 laser tube
- Power: 30W
- Working Area: 20" x 12"
- Max Material Height: 4.3"
- Max Engraving Speed: 1,000mm/s
- Devices Supported: Windows, macOS, Linux
- Software: RDWorksV8, LightBurn.
- Pricing: Available for $5,495 at Thunder Laser USA
Aeon Mira9S (Redline)
Most Powerful
The Aeon Mira9S, part of Aeon Laser's Redline series, comes loaded with an extra-large workspace and high-powered CO2 laser, making this the most powerful laser on the list.
Reviewed by: Betzy Flores discovered laser engraving back in 2019 and has been hooked ever since. She's bilingual and plans to launch laser engraving courses in Spanish later this year. Follow her Spanish-speaking Instagram or her English-speaking one.
What's great about this machine:
- Large workspace and 1200mm/s speed to get more done faster. It's "made a big difference in how quickly I can finish my work," said Betzy.
- Front-to-back pass-through allows you to engrave longer items like big wooden boards. "I can slide the material through the machine, which makes my work easier and gives me more options for different projects."
- Fast, but engraves with precision: "Whether I'm engraving detailed designs or doing deep cuts, the results are always clean and precise."
- Easy to learn: "The Mira 9S was very user-friendly right from the start."
- Keeps smoke and debris contained inside the machine: "There's absolutely no smoke coming out of the laser while it's working. That was a big shock compared to all the other lasers I've used in the past."
What could be better:
"I had to pick one thing I wish was better, it would be the rotary attachment. Right now, Aeon offers a basic roller-style rotary, called the Smart Rotary, and a chuck rotary for tumblers. They do the job, but I think there's definitely room for improvement." According to Betzy, Aeon is working on a new rotary to solve this problem.
What kind of maker should buy this?
"If the budget allows, this machine is amazing for business owners who want speed, precision, and a reliable workhorse for growing their production. But it's also large and heavy—it weighs around 550 pounds—so it definitely needs a good amount of space to use it to its full potential. That's something buyers really need to plan for."
Who it's not for:
"If space or budget is more limited, I highly recommend looking at the smaller models like the Mira 5 or Mira 7. They have a smaller footprint and a lower price point, but they're still powerful and can handle much larger projects than a typical hobby-grade laser."
🎥 Watch Betzy use the Mira9S Redline on Instagram
Specs:
- Dimensions: 64″ x 42 1/2" x 20 5/8″
- Weight: 551 lbs.
- Laser Types: CO2 (Glass Laser Tube)
- Power: 60W, 80W, and 100W
- Working Area: 23 5/8″ x 35 1/2"
- Max Material Height: 5.9 inches
- Max Engraving Speed: CO₂ Glass Tube Models: Up to 1,200 mm/s engraving speed, RF Metal Tube Models: Up to 3,500 mm/s engraving speed
- Devices Supported: Windows, MacOs, Linux
- Software: CorelDraw, Photoshop, AutoCAD, InkScape. Lightburn
- Pricing: Starting at $14995
More Resources For You
So there you have it! Did you figure out which laser engraver might be best for you? If you have any other questions, hop into our MakerFlo Makers Community on Facebook to ask questions from our community of laser engravers and other makers!
Next, we've got some more articles to help you on your laser engraving journey.
- Best Software for Laser Engraving & Cutting
- Free Laser Engraving and Cutting Files for Commercial Use
- How to Start a Profitable Laser Engraving Business
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