The short answerMost hobbyists should buy an enclosed diode laser with 10 W of optical power. It engraves wood, leather and coated metal, cuts thin plywood, and costs about $600 to $1,200. Buy CO2 if you need to cut clear acrylic, and fiber if metal is all you mark.
What to buy
Trying it out, mostly engraving
Open-frame diode laser, 5 W optical power, plus a separate enclosure
Engraves wood, leather, cork and slate, and cuts 1/8 in plywood slowly. Open frames have no shielding, so the price here includes an enclosure and rated glasses.
$250 to $450
See options on Amazon →Most hobbyists
Enclosed diode laser, 10 W optical power
The enclosure blocks stray light and lets a fan push smoke out through a hose. It still can't cut clear acrylic or engrave deep into bare metal.
$600 to $1,200
See options on Amazon →Cutting thicker wood
Diode laser, 20 W optical power, with air assist
Cuts plywood up to about 3/8 in thick and works faster on thin stock. More power means more smoke and more fire risk, so the enclosure and exhaust matter even more.
$700 to $1,800
See options on Amazon →Metal only
Fiber laser marker, 20 W to 30 W
Marks and engraves steel, aluminum, brass and jewelry fast. It's the wrong tool for wood and clear acrylic, and many are open units that need their own shielding and glasses.
$1,500 to $4,000
See options on Amazon →Clear acrylic and small business
Enclosed desktop CO2 laser, 40 W to 55 W
Cuts clear and colored acrylic cleanly, cuts wood faster and engraves glass. It's bigger and pricier, and the glass laser tube wears out and needs replacing in time.
$2,000 to $5,000
See options on Amazon →Links go to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Makerspaces and some libraries have CO2 lasers you can book by the hour, usually after a short safety class. For one sign or a batch of gifts, that beats buying.
What the numbers mean
- Optical power (watts)
- The light that reaches your material. Shop by this number: about 5 W engraves, 10 W cuts thin wood and 20 W cuts thicker wood.
- Marketing watts
- Some listings quote the electricity the laser module draws, so a machine sold as 40 W may put out 5 W of light. If a listing won't state optical output power, move on.
- Diode, CO2 or fiber
- Three kinds of light for three jobs. Diode (blue light) suits wood and leather. CO2 suits acrylic, wood and glass, and fiber suits metal.
- Work area
- The largest piece it can engrave or cut. Around 16 x 16 in is common on open diode frames, and enclosed desktop machines are often smaller. Measure what you plan to make.
- Air assist
- A small pump that blows air at the cut. It clears smoke, leaves cleaner edges and cuts down on flare-ups. Worth having for any cutting.
What not to pay for
- An open-frame laser with no plan for shielding
The low price leaves out the enclosure, the exhaust and proper glasses. Add those to the total before you compare.
- Trusting the free glasses in the box
Bundled glasses often carry no rating you can check. Buy pairs marked with your laser's wavelength and an optical density (OD) rating, certified to a named safety standard.
- A diode laser for clear acrylic
Blue light passes straight through clear acrylic without cutting it. That job needs CO2.
Use an enclosure, wear certified eye protection rated for your laser's wavelength, and vent the smoke outdoors or through a proper filter. Never leave it running unattended, and keep a fire extinguisher within reach. Never cut PVC or vinyl: they release toxic, corrosive gas that harms your lungs and the machine.
Questions
Can a diode laser engrave metal?
It can mark painted or anodized metal by burning off the coating. It can also darken stainless steel with a marking spray. For engraving into bare metal, buy fiber.
How thick can a hobby laser cut?
Roughly 1/8 in plywood at 5 W, with several slow passes. About 1/4 in at 10 W and around 3/8 in at 20 W. Wood type, the glue in the plywood and air assist all change the result.
Can I run a laser in an apartment?
Only with a full enclosure and a hose out a window, or a filter unit made for laser smoke. Burning wood and leather smells strong and the smoke is bad to breathe. If you can't vent it, don't buy it.
Written by the DIY Project team. We recommend by type and spec, cheapest option that does the job first. How we check
Updated October 3, 2026. Prices are estimates.