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As more Americans embrace the maker movement, the market for creative tools like 3D printers, vinyl cutters, and laser cutters continues to expand. These machines, now available at a range of price points, offer individuals the opportunity to bring their creative ideas to life. Whether you’re crafting unique items for sale on platforms like Etsy, TikTok, or Shopify, or simply exploring new hobbies, these tools can enhance your creative projects and even generate income.

When it comes to laser cutters, we’ve opted not to include open models on our list. After extensive testing, we found that open laser cutters present significant safety risks for home users. While they may be suitable for commercial settings, having an open laser cutter in a personal workshop or garage poses too many dangers for us to recommend.

So, what’s the best laser cutter available? The xTool P2 stands out as our top choice. Although it’s not the most budget-friendly option, its impressive array of accessories, robust software, and exceptional cutting size and speed make it a top contender. It narrowly surpasses the Glowforge Pro in performance, but be sure you have adequate space in your workshop, as this machine is quite large.

Image of Glowforge Aura

Best in-office laser cutter

Glowforge Aura

$1,199 at Amazon

A green laser cutter on a purple neon background

Best laser cutter for metal and stone

xTool F1 Ultra

$3,900 at xTool

XTool F1 on a table with Disney ears in a frame

Best portable laser etcher

xTool F1

$1,599 at xTool

Image of Flux Beamo

Best small-scale CO2 laser cutter

Flux Beamo

$1,995 at Amazon

The WeCreat Laser with a laser cut frog on a flowery background

Best laser engraver for schools

WeCreat Vision

$1,300 at Amazon

Image of xTool S1

Best diode laser cutter

xTool S1

$2,300 at xTool

Image of Glowforge Pro

Best walled garden laser cutter

Glowforge Pro

$6,995 at Amazon