Laser engravers can be as expensive as $10,000 or as cheap as $200, we have compiled a list of the best laser engravers under 500. The pricier machines are great for industrial applications but if you are looking for a simple laser engraver for making personalized gift items, or starting an engraving business in your garage, a laser engraver under $500 should suffice.
After spending hours of research and testing, I have compiled a comprehensive list of the best laser engravers under $500 below.
If you are in a hurry, I have summarized the important characteristics of the top 10 laser engravers in the table below. For more details, scroll down below the table. In case you are looking for a more professional engraver, check out this buying guide.
| Laser Engraver | Laser Power | Engraving Area | Materials to Engrave | Market Price | |
| 1. | Atomstack A5 M50 Pro Laser Engraver | 5 – 5.5W | 16.14×15.75″ | • Dark acrylic • Leather • Wood • Organic plastic • Fabrics • Paper • Ceramics Can Mark: Stainless Steel, Anodized Aluminum, Painted Metals | Under $400 |
| 2 | Genmitsu Jinsoku LC-60A Laser Engraver | 5500MW | 23.6×23.6″ | • MDF • Wood • Dark acrylic • Cardboard • Bamboo • Leather • Fabric Can Mark: Anodized Aluminum, Painted Metals | Under $350 |
| 3. | CNC Pro DIY Logo laser engraver | 2500MW | 6.8×6.1″ | • Dark Plastic • Wood • Bamboo • Kraft Paper • Dark Acrylic Can Mark: Painted Metals | Under $300 |
| 4. | Mini Handheld Laser Etcher | 1600MW | 2.56×2.4″ | • Wood • Paper • Bamboo • Leather • Sponge • Rubber • Dark Plastic | Under $300 |
| 5. | MySweety DIY CNC 3018PRO-M | 5500MW | 11.8×7.1″ | • Bamboo • Wood • Ivory • Leather • PCB • Acrylic | Under $300 |
| 6. | Off-line Upgrade Version CNC Pro DIY Logo engraver | 3000MW | 6.8×6.1″ | • Wood • Dark Plastic • Paper • leather | Under $250 |
| 7. | Desktop Cylindrical Engraver | 1500MW | • Wood • Dark Plastics • Paper • Bamboo Can Mark: Stainless Steel | Under $300 | |
| 8. | WAINLUX K6 Pro | 3000MW | 3.15×3.15″ | • Wood • Bamboo, • Rubber • Leather • Paper | Under $200 |
| 9. | Comgrow Laser Engraver | 1600MW | 3.8×3.4″ | • Leather • Dark Plastic • Wood • Bamboo • Kraft Paper | Under $200 |
Best Laser Engravers under 500
1. Atomstack A5 M50 Pro Laser Cutter and Engraver Machine (Price – Under $400)
The Atomstack A5 M50 Pro Laser engraver has a 410x400mm (15.75×16.14 inch) working area with a 5 – 5.5W laser power. It uses a 40W laser module that has excellent performance. What makes this laser engraver stand out from the competition in this price range is the full metal development arrangement which makes the machine more solid and durable. This is our top choice for the best laser engravers under $500.
| Cut | 15mm, 0.6″ Wood and 12mm, 0.48″ Black Acrylic – Cardboard, Non-woven fabric, Veneer, Thin Plastic Board, Sponge, MDF, leather etc. |
| Engrave | Wood, Bamboo, Cardboard, Plastic, Leather, MDF, Slate, Ceramics |
| Mark | Mirror Stainless Steel, Coated Metals |
It has new eye protection design and quick assembly design. It took almost 9 months of research and development by Atomstack to finally produce a premium laser engraving experience that covers the needs of medium and high level users at a very affordable price. The following are some of the key features of this laser engraver;
- Fixed Focus Laser – The laser included is rated to 40W but this is the electrical power input. The real power output of the laser is 5-5.5W. It’s a diode laser operating in the 455 nm spectrum and it does not have a focus ring like other machines.
- New Eye Protection Design: New laser protective cover to protect your eyes from 98% of harmful UV light. Reduce your cost without having to purchase protection goggles.
- Quick installation – Installation can be completed in 20 minutes.
- Upgraded High-Performance Fixed-Focus Laser: No need for the adjustment of focus before engraving; the laser focal spot is now 50% smaller than other lasers.
- Compatible with all most engraving software, such as LaserGRBL (Free), LightBurn, also supports Mac with LightBurn Software.
- Another new feature is a remote control touch panel for offline engraving. With the touch panel and the 32-bit motherboard, you can continue your engraving work anytime without a computer connection.
- Equipped with an emergency stop button, an on/off button, and a reset button to stop operation, close the control panel, and restart the laser, which is very handy.
You may need a rotary engraving module for engraving of Cylindrical objects, bottles and cans etc.
ATOMSTACK R3 Roller, Aluminum Y-axis Rotary Roller Engraving Module
2. Genmitsu Jinsoku LC-60A 5.5Kw Laser Engraver (Price – Under $350)
The Genmitsu Jinsoku LC-60A 5.5Kw laser engraver has a cutting area of 600x600mm (23.6×23.6 inches) with a top cutting speed of 10,000mm per minute. The large cutting area makes it a great choice for a home-based business because you can use it to engrave a variety of items.
It uses open-source software (LaserGrbl) which has an active community so you are guaranteed lots of resources on how to manipulate images for engraving. This is our second choice for the best laser engravers under $500.
The laser includes air assist nozzle + compressor which provides a smooth flawless cutting and engraving result. It has dual Y-axis motors which provides better Y-axis synchronization and improved movement. The quality aluminum frame is another factor that provides increased stability.
The materials that are recommended for this engraver are MDF, wood, black acrylic, cardboard, bamboo, leather, anodized aluminum, painted metals and even fabric. The biggest pro for this machine is its ease of assembly and ease of use coupled with the speed at which you can engrave your materials.
You may need a rotary engraving module for engraving of Cylindrical Objects, bottles and cans etc.
Genmitsu Laser Engraver Aluminum Y-axis Rotary Roller Engraving Module
3. CNC Pro DIY Logo laser engraver (Price – Under $300)
This is a 2500MW laser engraver and it has an engraving area of 400x500mm (15.7×19.7 inches). If you are looking for an engraver that will do a good job with grayscale patterns, this would be a great pick. You can use it to engrave on bamboo, wood, sponge, paper, horns, leather, as well as phone shells.
It also comes with a one-year warranty which means that if any of the components breaks within one year of the purchase date, it will be replaced for you free of charge. Because this is a 2500MW laser machine, it can also easily engrave most of the hardwood and even laser cut it if that is what you are looking to achieve. A very good option for the best laser engravers under $500.
This laser engraver has an accuracy of 0.02mm and an engraving range of 6.8×6.1 inches. It is ideal for engraving ID cards, cellphone cases, tablet cases, dark plastics, wood, and kraft paper. The software supports lots of file formats including JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP, DIB, CUR, and ICO.
4. Mini Handheld Laser Etcher (Price Under – $300)
The mini handheld laser etcher has an accuracy of 0.01mm with an engraving range of 100x100mm (3.9×3.9″). If you are looking to make small and miniature laser engraved novelty items, the mini handled laser etcher is the perfect laser machine to purchase.
Just as the name suggests, this is a portable device that can be handheld and used on the object desired but for better results and also for personal safety, it is best to use a stand. Because of its portability, you can carry it anywhere and it can also be powered by a power bank if you need to go off-grid.
Unlike the other engravers which are controlled via computer software, the handheld laser etcher is controlled from a mobile app that communicates with the laser etcher via Bluetooth. It comes with lots of safety features including a working warning alert, an overheat shutdown function, a motion-triggered stop, and a password lock.
Materials that can be engraved with the mini handheld laser etcher include wood, paper, bamboo, leather, sponge sheet, rubber, as well as plastic. This engraver will not work for metals, stone, silver, white paper, and any reflective material. It is a great choice for newbies because, in addition to the one-year warranty, you also get lifetime customer service.
5. MySweety DIY CNC 3018PRO-M (Price – Under $300)
The mySweety DIY 3018Pro comes with a 5500MW module and it has a working area of 30×18.4.5mm (11.8 x 7.1 x1.8 inches). As a result, it can accommodate almost any project. Materials that are best engraved with this laser machine include bamboo, wood, flammable plastic, ivory, leather, PCB, acrylic, and ceramic.
However, it cannot work on iron, glass, and metal. This laser engraver would also be great for engraving letters on daily materials. Even though this engraver is controlled by computer software, it also has an offline control. This means you can manually control the X, Y, and Z axis to set the location of the engraving among other important settings.
6. Off-line Upgrade Version CNC Pro DIY Logo engraver (Price – Under $250)
This is one of the best amateur laser machines and that is why it is loved by students who are just getting into Laser engraving. You can use it to engrave text on a variety of materials. It is can also be used to engrave models. Great option for those who want to learn all about laser engraving without spending too much money.
All you need is a computer that has the relevant software and you are good to go. If you don’t connect it to your computer then make use of a USB drive to transfer images from your PC to the drive and then plug the drive directly into the unit. It can engrave IC card, mobile phone case, wallet, dark plastic, wood (thick or thin), bamboo, kraft paper, black acrylic.
It has a large engraving area of 175x155mm (6.8×6.1″) and is very simple to assemble and start using. You won’t be able to engrave any metals or glass and remember for any transparent materials will require a black washable paint to be applied first.
7. 15W Portable Desktop Cylindrical Engraver (Price – Under $300)
As the name suggests, this laser engraver is designed for cylindrical objects and would be great for stainless steel, cans, wood, and paper tube plastic cylindrical items with a diameter of 15mm-100mm. You can therefore use it to engrave water bottles, flasks, and other personalized items.
The adjustable head makes it pretty easy to adjust the focal length thereby giving you the perfect speed and accuracy. You can engrave different file types including dxf, jpg, jpeg, png, and g-code.
8. WAINLUX K6 Pro, 3000mW Laser Engraver (Price – Under $200)
The WAINLUX K6 Pro, 3000mw Laser Engraver is the machine to buy if you are looking for a small basic laser engraver. The engraver has a engraving area of 80 x 80mm (3.15×3.15″). It is applicable for DIY projects at home and perfect for those that require a basic laser to start out with. Connects to the computer via a USB port and has Wireless Bluetooth & Smart APP. The user instructions are very basic and you may need to watch some YouTube videos.
Materials that can be engraved include Wood, Bamboo, Rubber, Paper Cards,Mobile Phone Case, Ivory, Leather, Dark Plastic, etc.
Note this laser will not engrave any metals, clear acrylic and glass can be coated with a washable paint. It’s equipped with Movement Protection and Overheating Monitoring. If the inner temperature reaches its heat threshold it will shut down immediately. On the plus side, it has a built-in protection panel so you won’t need eye protection goggles. Another feature is a built-in exhaust fan.
9. Comgrow Laser Engraving Machine (Price- Under $200)
This is arguably the cheapest laser engraver that will still get the job done. The kit is also easy to setup up and it can take you less than 5 minutes to get started. It has an accuracy of 0.02mm and an engraving range of 96x86mm (3.8×3.4″). You can use it to engrave an Id card, wallet, dark plastic materials, phone cases, bamboo, wood, black acrylic, and kraft paper.
Transparent materials can also be laser engraved but you will need to cover the material in a coat of paint first. The main demerit is the size limitation on the materials that can be engraved. However, it should do just fine for small items. This is the most cost effective choice for the best laser engravers under $500.
Conclusion
So there you have it – my pick of the best laser engravers under $500. If you are not sure which one to choose, use the table at the beginning of the article to choose based on the materials it can engrave or cut through. You can also check on Amazon to see what other customers think of the laser engraver before you make your purchase decision.
Happy engraving!
