Every handheld laser welder 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. Welders up to 1,500 W and over 1,500 W are grouped and scored on separate scales where they differ.
| Factor | Measures | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Price | price of the welder | 30% |
| Laser power | rated laser output | 25% |
| Functions | wire feeder in the box, cleaning, cutting and a double wobble head | 10% |
| Portability | air cooling instead of a water chiller, and running on a 120 V outlet | 10% |
| Warranty | warranty on the whole machine | 25% |
Where the numbers come from
Laser power, functions, cooling, input voltage and warranty come from the maker’s product page, spec sheet or user manual, or the maker’s own copy on a retail listing. Laser power is the rated output the maker sells the machine as, not a peak figure. Weights given in kilograms are converted to pounds. Prices are checked at Amazon, the maker’s own store and welding suppliers, and the lowest price at a store the page links to is used.
The factors
Price is the current price, on a log scale, so halving the price always counts the same. Up to 1,500 W, $10,000 scores zero and $3,500 full marks. Over 1,500 W, $12,000 scores zero and $5,500 full marks.
Laser power is the rated laser output. Up to 1,500 W, 400 W scores zero and 1,500 W full marks. Over 1,500 W, 1,000 W scores zero and 3,000 W full marks.
Functions is 35% for an automatic wire feeder in the box, 25% for a cleaning head that strips rust, paint or weld discoloration, 25% for a cutting nozzle, and 15% for a double wobble head, which swings the beam on two axes for wider welds and cleaning.
Portability is 60% for air cooling instead of a water chiller, since an air-cooled machine is lighter and has no coolant to fill, drain or keep from freezing, and 40% for running on a household 110 to 120 V outlet.
Warranty is the maker’s warranty on the whole machine: no warranty scores zero and 3 years full marks, so a 1 year warranty scores a third. A longer warranty on the laser source alone is listed but not scored.
What isn’t scored
The thickest steel the maker says it welds, laser type and source maker, fiber cable length, weight, the laser source warranty and release date are listed but not scored. Weld thickness is shown because buyers ask for it, but makers measure it in different ways and many don’t publish it.
Missing data
If a figure isn’t published, that factor gets the neutral middle score (50) and the product page marks it as estimated. Functions score neutral only when none of the four is published; a function the maker doesn’t mention otherwise counts as absent. Portability scores neutral only when neither cooling nor voltage is published. The exception is warranty: a maker that doesn’t publish one gets no warranty counted, so that factor scores zero 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.