Gone are the days when you have to take items that you’d like to personalize to a professional engraving service. Laser engravers have become affordable, easy to operate and can accomplish projects you probably have never even thought about doing at home. These can be used for business applications or for crafty do-it-yourselfers. Laser engravers offer you the possibility of creating beautiful and intricate designs on everything from paper to wood to glass and more. You can use it to make a one of a kind personalized gift for a friend or to emblazon products with your company’s name and logo. The items in our buying guide were chosen because they can all be used on wood, which is a popular surface to engrave. If you’re in the market for one of these versatile machines, we’ve got you covered. Check out the products that our experts have found in our buying guide below! 

Great for Households & Businesses

Featuring intuitive digital controls, this device includes Windows compatible RDWorks and CorelLaser. It loads images directly via USB or Ethernet cable and is compatible with third party software like LightBurn and AutoCAD. A 20 inch by 28 inch workbed provides over 3.8 square feet of work area to fit all of your projects. This tool has a digital power supply, in interlock viewing window, front and rear pass through and an autolift workbed. A built in air assist quickly blows away smoke, dust and sparks to protect your lenses and reflective mirrors. 

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Whether you are a professional engraver or an enthusiastic do-it-yourselfer, this 60W laser engraver and cutter will allow you to bring your ideas to life with greater speed and precision than ever before. This will cut up to ¼ inch through plywood or acrylic. It is safe and easy to operate and works on wood, paper, plastics, leather, fabric, stone and a wide range of other surfaces. 

First Choice for Creatives

This device can engrave on materials including metal, wood, bamboo, plastic, leather PCB board, aluminum oxide, lacquered metal and more. Create your own artwork with the refined process that this machine offers. A UV filter retardant acrylic on laser module can filter 97% of ultraviolet light, which protects your eyes. You can watch your engraving without wearing protective goggles if you choose. Extensive compatibility means that it can be used with various engraving software such as LaserGRBL, LightBurn, and more. 

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This model offers lots of great features at an affordable price point. A 40W machine design with integrated screw rod makes the fastest running speed reach 11,000 per minute. It is stable and agile when engraving complex patterns, which makes it easier to achieve superior results. Realize your creativity with this device. 

High Accuracy, Abundant Details

Laser your idea anywhere, anytime and onto several different surfaces with this plug and play device. This works on wood, corrugated paper, leather, kraft paper, felt, cloth, and even food and fruit. This new generation engraver has 2 times the engraving accuracy and can be carried in your pocket. 

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This device is compact and portable and has up to a 10,000 hour lifespan. It is ultra safe and can cut through up to .5 mm of thickness. It supports 4 engraving modes: album, camera, create and clipart. Use it to make personalized gifts like phone cases, tumblers and more. Take your creativity to the next level with this product. 

Can Accommodate Most Projects

This updated device features an integrated driver chip, fixed heat sink, an external fan and a sturdy casing that extends the life of the control board. It is not easy to damage. The engraving area is 300 by 180 by 45 mm and is a high precision instrument. Accomplish most projects with this system that supports Windows XP, Windows 7, 8 and 10. This doesn’t need to be connected to the computer and can be operated manually. 

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This is designed for the absolute beginner. It is easy to assemble, taking only 20 to 60 minutes to put together when following an instructional video on YouTube. This affordable device is high quality and will work on wood, plastic, acrylic, PCB CCL, soft metals like copper and aluminum. 

Full of Safety Protections

This engraver has exposure duration protection, a laser beam safety guard, a power control system and position movement protection. Upgraded compressed spot technology makes engraving better, faster and more accurate. This system is compatible with LaserGRBL and LightBurn and supports MacOS and Linux systems. It can engrave continuously, making mass production very easy and is suitable for all types of materials including paper, bamboo, wood, leather, wood, PCB board, aluminum oxide, metal, glass and more. 

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Better technology enhances cutting and engraving because of a smaller luminous cavity. Smaller focal spot means high precision patterns. It also has an active power off function which can actively disconnect the power supply if necessary. 

What type of laser engraver should I buy?

There are many different types of laser engravers on the market and you should do your research before purchasing one. These include CO2, fiber, YAG, green and many more. The main difference is the frequency of the laser beam that the devices use to complete the engraving. CO2 lasers are a great starter machine. They are versatile and can be used on most natural materials like stone, cork, leather and also substances like plastics, acrylics and metals. You’ll also want to take into account the size of the projects that you are most likely to make. A smaller, more compact laser can be much more affordable than one that can accommodate larger projects. 

Are there things that cannot be engraved?

PVC or anything that contains it cannot be engraved or cut with your laser engraver. Not only are harmful poisonous gasses released into the air, but it is extremely ruinous to your machine. If you attempt this, your warranty will likely be voided. Other materials that should not be put in your machine are ABS, Polystyrene foam and fiberglass (to name just a few). Make sure to look at the specifications for the product you are going to purchase.

Purchasing a laser engraver can take your business or your crafting game to the next level. If you are shopping for one, here are a few things to keep in mind: