Every laser engraver gets a score from 0 to 100% built from four 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. Engravers are grouped by laser type, diode and CO2, and each type has its own reference points for value and work area.
| Factor | Measures | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Value | price per watt of optical laser power | 35% |
| Work area | size of the work area | 15% |
| Features | enclosure, camera, air assist and autofocus | 30% |
| Warranty | warranty on the machine | 20% |
Where the numbers come from
Laser power, work area, features and warranty come from the maker’s product page, spec sheet, manual or launch announcement, or from the maker’s own copy on a retailer listing. Laser power is the optical output, not the electrical input that many listings put in the title. Prices are checked at Amazon and the maker’s own store, and the lowest is used.
The factors
Value is the current price divided by the optical laser power, on a log scale, so halving the price per watt always counts the same. For diode lasers, $100 per watt scores zero and $15 full marks. For CO2 lasers, $150 per watt scores zero and $30 full marks.
Work area is the width times the depth of the area the laser can reach. For diode lasers, 100 x 100 mm scores zero and 400 x 400 mm full marks. For CO2 lasers, 300 x 200 mm scores zero and 600 x 400 mm full marks.
Features adds up four conveniences: 30% for a closed, light shielded enclosure, 25% for a built-in positioning camera, 25% for air assist built in or included in the box, and 20% for autofocus. A feature the maker doesn’t list counts as missing.
Warranty is the maker’s warranty on the machine, scored from zero years (zero) to 2 years or more (full marks). Most machines carry 1 year, which scores the same as an unpublished warranty.
What isn’t scored
Electrical input power, maximum speed, laser safety class, weight, any extra infrared module and the independent measurements of laser power and cutting depth 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. 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. Features score neutral only when none of the four is published.
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.