Burned Grain

Best laser engravers for wood signs

Signs mix cutting and engraving: letters and shapes cut from plywood, names and patterns engraved into wood. That takes a laser that cuts plywood cleanly and a work area as big as your largest sign.

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  1. #1 · CO2 · up to 80W

    xTool P3

    xTool P3 cuts plywood and engraves wood, 915 × 458 mm work area, from $6,999 at xTool.

    $6,999 at xToolSpecs and all prices

  2. #2 · CO2 · up to 55W

    xTool P2S

    xTool P2S cuts plywood and engraves wood, 600 × 305 mm work area, from $2,999 at xTool.

    $2,999 at xToolSpecs and all prices

  3. #3 · Diode · up to 20W

    xTool M2

    xTool M2 cuts plywood and engraves wood, 426 × 320 mm work area, from $499 at xTool.

    $499 at xToolSpecs and all prices

  4. #4 · Diode · up to 40W

    xTool S1

    xTool S1 cuts plywood and engraves wood, 498 × 319 mm work area, from $1,699 at xTool.

    $1,699 at xToolSpecs and all prices

  5. #5 · Diode · up to 6W

    Glowforge Aura

    Glowforge Aura cuts plywood and engraves wood, 305 × 305 mm work area, from $999 at Glowforge.

    $999 at GlowforgeSpecs and all prices

What to look for

  • Enough power to cut the plywood you use in one or two passes.
  • A large work area, or a passthrough for long signs.
  • A camera, to place designs on offcuts and reclaimed boards.

Material guides: Basswood plywood, Colored cast acrylic, Solid wood.

How this list is ranked

With the same scoring as the laser quiz: each manufacturer's published specs, our material data and the lowest price we track. Commission rates play no part. Where a spec isn't published, the machine's line says so instead of guessing. Hands-on notes, where we have them, are on each machine's page.

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