Do you need a 5W diode or a 40W CO2? Select your material, thickness, and operation to see exactly which laser types can handle the job — and how fast.
Select a material, thickness, and
operation, then click Compare
Each card represents a specific laser type and wattage. A green "Yes" badge means that laser can handle the job at the listed speed and passes. "Recommended" (amber) marks the best value option — the lowest wattage that gets the job done efficiently. "No" (grey) means that laser cannot reliably perform the operation on your chosen material at that thickness.
Speed is shown in mm/min for cutting and mm/min for engraving. Passes refers to how many times the laser needs to trace the same path — more passes mean longer total job time. Air assist indicates whether you need compressed air blowing at the cut point to prevent charring and fire.
Diode lasers (typically 5W to 40W optical) are the most affordable entry point. They excel at engraving wood, leather, and coated metals, and can cut thin wood and dark materials. They struggle with clear/light-colored materials like acrylic and glass because the beam wavelength (around 450nm blue light) passes through transparent materials.
CO2 lasers (40W to 80W+) are the workhorse of the laser world. Their 10,600nm infrared beam is absorbed by virtually all non-metallic materials, making them the go-to choice for acrylic, wood, leather, rubber, glass engraving, and fabric. They cannot mark bare metals without coatings. Enclosed CO2 machines also tend to be safer and produce cleaner cuts.
Fiber lasers (20W to 50W+) use a ~1064nm wavelength that is absorbed by metals. They are the only option for deep engraving on stainless steel, aluminum, brass, and titanium. They are extremely fast on metal but generally cannot process wood, acrylic, or other organic materials effectively. Fiber lasers are the most expensive category.
Speed directly determines your production capacity and cost per piece. A laser running at 1000 mm/min will complete a cutting path twice as fast as one running at 500 mm/min. For a business producing dozens or hundreds of units, this difference translates into hours saved per week and significantly lower labor costs. When choosing a laser wattage, consider not just whether it can do the job, but whether it can do it fast enough for your production needs.