Every CNC router gets a score from 0 to 100% built from five factors, which maps onto the 5-point rating shown on the site (a 0% score would be 1.5 stars; a perfect score, 5). Each factor is scored against fixed reference points, not against the other products in the list, so adding a new model never moves another model’s rating. Machines are grouped by work area, compact, midsize and large, and price and work area are scored on reference points set for each group.
| Factor | Measures | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Price | price of the machine as sold | 25% |
| Work area | X by Y cutting area | 15% |
| Spindle | spindle or router power | 15% |
| Motion | linear rails, screw drive, limit switches and closed-loop steppers | 20% |
| Warranty | machine warranty length | 25% |
Where the numbers come from
Work travel, spindle, motion system, controller, weight and warranty come from the maker’s product page, spec sheet or manual. Travel published in millimeters is converted to inches. Prices are checked at Amazon and the maker’s own store, and the lowest is used.
The factors
Price is the price of the machine as sold, on a log scale, so halving the price always counts the same. Compact machines score zero at $2,000 and full marks at $200; midsize machines score zero at $3,000 and full marks at $500; large machines score zero at $5,000 and full marks at $1,500. A machine sold without a router is scored on its own price, and its page says a router is extra.
Work area is the X by Y cutting travel. Compact machines score zero at 80 sq in and full marks at 250 sq in; midsize machines score zero at 250 sq in and full marks at 900 sq in; large machines score zero at 900 sq in and full marks at 2,300 sq in.
Spindle is the power of the spindle or router included in the price, on a log scale: 60 W scores zero and 1,500 W full marks. A machine sold without a router gets the neutral middle score, marked estimated.
Motion adds up four parts of the motion system: 40% for linear guide rails on X and Y instead of V-wheels or round rods, 30% for a lead screw, ball screw or rack and pinion drive on X and Y instead of belts, 15% for limit switches that let the machine home itself, and 15% for closed-loop stepper motors that correct missed steps.
Warranty is the maker’s machine warranty: 1 year scores zero and 3 years full marks.
What isn’t scored
Z travel, spindle top speed, frame material, the controller and firmware, a handheld or onboard controller for running jobs without a computer, and machine weight are listed but not scored.
Missing data
If a figure isn’t published, that factor gets the neutral middle score (50) and the product page marks it as estimated. In the motion factor, a part the maker doesn’t mention counts as absent, and the whole factor is neutral only when none of the four is published. The exception is warranty: a maker that doesn’t publish one gets no warranty counted, so that factor scores zero, the same as the shortest warranty on the scale, and is marked estimated.
Ties and discontinued models
Products are ranked by score within each group. Discontinued models stay listed but rank below every current model and can be hidden with the “Hide discontinued” filter.