Laser engravers use a laser to engrave custom wording and/or graphic designs onto the surface of a wide variety of materials with extreme precision. Individuals and small businesses use these devices to create various types of crafts or to customize everyday objects, either for themselves or to sell.These devices can engrave complex designs (created using a computer or mobile device) onto many types of material, such as glass, wood, metal, acrylic, leather, vinyl, and silicone. As a result, what people can use a laser engraver for is only limited by their creativity. This buyer’s guide showcases the best laser engravers currently available for home and small business use.

The best laser engraver, in my experience testing these essential crafting machines, should be quick, precise, with a power and build area suitable for laser engraving a range of materials. I've rounded up my top recommendations for crafters, hobbyists, beginners, and businesses.The xTool P2 is the best laser engraver for most people, and really stood out to me for its speed, accuracy, and overall performance.

While the best 3D printers can turn a spool of filament or a vat of resin into a working model, sometimes the best way to build something is by cutting through layers of acrylic, wood or metal to get the shapes you need. Other times, you just need to imprint an image or text on an existing surface. For these use cases, you need a laser cutter/engraver.Laser cutters, also sometimes called laser engravers, come in all shapes and sizes, allowing you to safely work with a variety of materials, from oak to iron-on transfers. You can get one of the best low power laser cutters for as little as $220. Low-wattage lasers are cheaper and perfect for engraving images and cutting thin materials.

Not all that long ago it appeared that all FDM 3D printers were constructed in a particular way, with extruded frameworks, no real finish and looking somewhat DIY industrial. Not the sort of thing that fits well on a creative’s desk. This style of device still appears but a few manufacturers have begun to develop machines that look as good as the prints they produce.Two Trees is one of them, and their latest offering, the Two Trees SK1, is a much more ‘finished’ looking device with excellent build quality and materials. The gantry style frame is cuboid in form and solidly built out of the box, unlike others that need constructing.