The single most important spec of a laser engraver is not its wattage but its wavelength. A material either absorbs a wavelength, and burns, melts or changes color, or it reflects it or lets it pass through. That's why a 40 W blue diode can cut 18 mm wood but can't mark a stainless steel tumbler, while a 2 W infrared module can.
Blue diode (455 nm)
The most common hobby laser. Cheap, no cooling water, and good at wood, leather, cork, dark acrylic, slate and anodized aluminum. Clear and light acrylic let the beam through, and bare metal reflects it. Power ranges from 10 W (engraving, thin cuts) to 40 W and more (around 18-20 mm wood in one pass). Examples: xTool S1, Creality Falcon2 Pro 40W, Creality Falcon A1.
CO2 (10,600 nm)
A gas tube laser. Wood, paper, leather, every color of acrylic, glass and stone absorb it. It cuts cleaner and faster than a diode of similar power and is the choice for acrylic signs. Needs water cooling and venting. Can't mark bare metal without spray. Examples: xTool P2S, xTool P3, OMTech Polar 50W, Glowforge Pro HD.
Fiber and MOPA (1064 nm)
Built for metal. A fiber laser engraves steel, brass, aluminum, titanium and many plastics, and at 20 W and up it can cut thin sheet. MOPA fiber lasers add pulse control, which gives color marks on stainless steel. They do little on wood or clear materials. Examples: xTool F1 Ultra (20 W fiber), xTool F2 Ultra (60 W MOPA).
Infrared modules (1064 nm)
Small 2-5 W infrared sources share the fiber wavelength but not its power. They make surface marks on metal and plastic: names on tumblers, serial numbers, logos on pens. Examples: xTool F1, xTool F2, and the optional module for the Creality Falcon A1 Pro.
UV (355 nm)
A "cold" laser: absorbed in a very thin layer, so it marks glass, crystal and white plastics with little heat, and can engrave inside glass blocks. Low power means it engraves rather than cuts. Example: xTool F2 Ultra UV.
Galvo or gantry?
Gantry machines move the laser head on rails over a large bed: slower, but big. Galvo machines steer the beam with mirrors: thousands of mm/s, but the field is small (115-220 mm in our list). Choose gantry for sheets and signs, galvo for fast engraving of small items.
Sources
Specs and prices checked November 4, 2026. Prices change often; confirm before you buy.
FAQ
Which laser type is best for a beginner?
An enclosed blue diode. It handles the most common hobby materials, needs no cooling, and costs the least.
Can I add metal engraving to a diode laser?
Some machines accept a 2 W infrared module (for example the Creality Falcon A1 Pro). It makes surface marks, not deep engravings.