Best CO2 laser cutters in 2026: the top 10 compared

A CO2 laser is the tool most makers end up buying once they outgrow a diode. It cuts every acrylic, including clear, cuts plywood faster and leaves cleaner edges. 2026 made it cheaper than ever: enclosed 50–65 W desktops now start at about $1,600. We compared 20 current machines and picked the ten worth your money.

Transparency: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them, Maperivo may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Commissions never decide a ranking: machines without an affiliate program are judged on the same terms. In our own workshop we work on an xTool P3 and a Sculpfun S30 with a 33 W laser. Mentions of the Maperivo map generator are our own product.

How we chose

We started with 20 CO2 machines currently on sale from 12 brands and dropped the ones that are discontinued, too new to judge or poor value. For the rest we checked prices on official stores (24 September 2026), specifications on product pages and manuals, and independent reviews (Tom's Hardware, Machines for Makers, Hackster, HobbyLaserCutters, The Crafty Catsman). We weighed what matters when you cut layered maps and signs every day: bed size, passthrough, reliability, software and total cost. We have not lab-tested all ten machines; the xTool P3 is the one we work on in our own workshop. Where a machine is new and untested, we say so.

Comparison table

Prices on official stores, checked 24 September 2026; sales change weekly. EU prices include VAT. "n/a" = not sold in the brand's EU store at the time of checking.

The 10 best CO2 laser cutters, reviewed

CO2 lasers by budget

• Under $2,000: OMTech K40+ ($599.99, for tinkerers), Monport Reno 45 (from $1,149.99), FLUX beamo II ($1,490), Monport Reno 65 Basic ($1,599.99), Gweike Cloud Pro II ($1,659).
• $2,000–4,000: OMTech Polar Lite ($2,199.99), Bambu Lab R1 ($2,499), xTool P2S ($2,999), Monport Mega S ($2,999.99), OMTech Maker AF2028-80 ($3,199.99), FLUX Beambox II ($3,290), OMTech Polar 2 glass ($3,699.99).
• $4,000–8,000: FLUX HEXA RF 30 W ($4,490), OMTech Polar 2 RF ($4,999.99), AEON Mira 5S RF ($4,999), Thunder Bolt ($5,795 / $7,995), xTool P3 ($6,999).
• $8,000 and up: Thunder Nova Plus 24 and 35, Epilog Fusion Ascent (from $9,495), AEON Mira 7S, Trotec (quote only).

Buying guide: what matters in a CO2 laser

1. Power: 40, 55 or 80 W?

40–45 W handles 3–5 mm material every day. 55 W is the 2026 sweet spot: 3–6 mm plywood and acrylic in one clean pass, with enough headroom for speed. 80 W+ pays off when you cut thicker stock or big batches. More watts mostly buy speed, not the ability to cut 3 mm plywood.

2. Glass or RF tube?

Glass (DC) tubes are cheap and water-cooled. Independent sources quote 1,500–4,500 hours of life (some brands claim 6,000–10,000). RF metal tubes are air-cooled at low and mid power, last 10,000–50,000 hours and engrave faster and crisper, but they cost several times more. For most hobby and small-business buyers, glass is the right choice.

3. Bed size and passthrough

4. Cooling

Glass tubes need flowing water. Most 2026 desktops have a closed loop built in (Bambu Lab R1, OMTech Polar Lite, Monport Mega S), and the xTool P3 and Gweike Cloud Pro II even have a real chiller. Bigger open machines use an external chiller such as the CW-5000 (for DC tubes up to 120 W). Keep water-cooled machines above freezing.

5. Enclosure and laser class

A Class 1 enclosure keeps the beam inside and is what you want in a home. Adding a riser, conveyor or open passthrough often turns a machine into Class 4. The manual tells you which.

6. Camera and autofocus

A good camera lets you drop a design onto an offcut in seconds, and autofocus saves time on mixed materials. Both are standard on the P2S, R1, P3 and Mega S. On budget machines they are basic or optional.

7. Software and LightBurn

If you already use LightBurn, look at OMTech, Monport, Gweike, FLUX or Thunder. On xTool, recent firmware blocks LightBurn, and the P3 never supported it. The Bambu Lab R1 runs on Bambu Suite for now.

8. Ventilation

Every CO2 laser needs its fumes vented outside or cleaned by a filter unit with HEPA and activated carbon. Include it in the budget, and never cut PVC or vinyl.

9. Buying in Europe

Buy from an EU store where possible: no customs, simpler warranty and a European plug. xTool, Bambu Lab and Monport have EU stores. Several US-only models in this list may need a local dealer, so check support before you order.

Also considered

• Glowforge Plus HD / Pro HD ($6,999 / $7,999): the easiest onboarding, but cloud-only (internet needed for every job), low power for the price and no rotary. The company went through a restructuring in November 2025. Glowforge's cheaper Plus and Pro listings ($2,249 / $2,999) still make sense for classrooms already using Glowforge.
• OMTech Polar 2 and FLUX HEXA RF: strong specs (RF tube, 710–730 mm beds), but launched in 2026 with no independent reviews yet. We will add them once tested.
• xTool X1: a CO2 plus diode platform with swappable fiber, MOPA and UV modules, announced for October 2026 without a price.
• Epilog Fusion Ascent (from $9,495) and Trotec: the industrial class, with air-cooled metal/ceramic CO2 sources and dealer service. Excellent, but outside most small-business budgets.
• OMTech K40+ ($599.99): the cheapest CO2, but a tinkerer's machine with a small bed and basic cooling.

Best CO2 laser for layered maps

For maps up to 30×40 cm, a 55 W desktop (xTool P2S or Bambu Lab R1) is the easiest and fastest route. For 40×50 cm and bigger frames, pick a bed of at least 500×400 mm (xTool P3, Monport Reno 65, OMTech AF2028-80). We cut our own maps on an xTool P3: its 915×458 mm bed takes a 40×50 cm map in one piece. CO2 also cuts the clear or blue acrylic water layers that diodes cannot. Start from a clean layered file: the Maperivo map generator exports separate CUT, ENGRAVE and WATER layers, and our LightBurn settings for maps cover the power and speed side. Not sure CO2 is the right technology? Read which laser engraver to buy in 2026.