Best-of list
Best Laser Engravers for Metal (2026): Fiber, MOPA and Infrared
Which lasers really engrave bare stainless steel, brass, aluminum, silver and gold: fiber, MOPA and infrared machines compared, plus what a blue diode or CO2 laser can and can't do on metal.
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Our picks at a glance
- 8.0/10 research score
- 7.9/10 research score
- 7.5/10 research score
-
Best budget metal marking
Fast personalisation of small gifts, tags and jewelry on wood and metal
7.4/10 research score -
Best enclosed infrared option
Engraving wood and metal safely indoors on a mid budget
8.1/10 research score
Our verdict
For serious metal work, the xTool F2 Ultra ($5,299) with its 60W MOPA fiber is the best, with deep engraving and colour marking. The xTool F1 Ultra ($2,999) and LaserPecker LP5 ($2,699) are cheaper 20W fiber options. To mark metal occasionally, an infrared dual laser such as the xTool F2 ($1,299) or Creality Falcon A1 Pro ($1,099) is enough.
Metal reflects most laser light, so the laser type matters more here than anywhere else. A 1064 nm fiber or infrared laser is absorbed by metal; blue diodes and CO2 lasers mostly are not. We compared machines with a 1064 nm source on their published specs, reviews and store prices (October 18, 2026). We have not tested these machines ourselves; see how we research.
Compared
| Model | Metal laser | Also has | Work area | Speed | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| xTool F2 Ultra | 60W MOPA fiber | 40W diode | 220 × 220 mm | 15,000 mm/s | $5,299 |
| xTool F1 Ultra | 20W fiber | 20W diode | 220 × 220 mm | 10,000 mm/s | $2,999 |
| LaserPecker LP5 | 20W fiber | 20W diode | 120 × 160 mm | 10,000 mm/s | $2,699 |
| xTool F2 | 5W infrared | 15W diode | 115 × 115 mm | 6,000 mm/s | $1,299 |
| Creality Falcon A1 Pro | 2W infrared | 20W diode | 268 × 358 mm | 600 mm/s | $1,099 |
Best for metal: xTool F2 Ultra
The 60W MOPA source engraves deeply and colour-marks stainless steel. FauxHammer found it depth-engraves brass and aluminum rather than only marking them; Hackster notes MOPA's pulse control tends to give cleaner results on metal. Full review.
Best value fiber: xTool F1 Ultra
A true 20W fiber laser plus a 20W diode at 10,000 mm/s for $2,999, with an enclosed cover and fire safety stop. It marks and engraves metals well but has no MOPA colour control. See F1 Ultra vs F2 Ultra.
Best portable fiber: LaserPecker LP5
The same 20W + 20W pairing on an adjustable stand that you can take to markets. LaserPecker says it cuts up to 1 mm brass, stainless steel, aluminum and titanium sheet. For indoor use, budget for the LP5 Safety Enclosure (Class 1 with it).
Budget metal marking: xTool F2
A 5W infrared laser marks bare metal and plastics, and the 15W diode handles wood, in a fast galvo machine for $1,299. The work area is small, and it's an open Class 4 laser.
Enclosed infrared: Creality Falcon A1 Pro
If metal is occasional, a 2W infrared module in a Class 1 enclosure, with a larger bed for wood work, is the safest choice at home.
Tips for metal
Clean metal of oils first, run a test grid of power and frequency, and remember polished metal reflects: keep the enclosure or shield closed. Read laser engraver safety and our diode vs CO2 vs fiber guide.
The picks in detail
1. xTool F2 Ultra
List price $5,299 (as of Oct 2026)
60W MOPA fiber: deep engraving on brass and aluminum, colour marking on stainless steel, 15,000 mm/s, for $5,299.
Pros
- 60W MOPA colour marking on stainless steel
- 15,000 mm/s with dual 48 MP cameras
- Works with LightBurn 2.2+
Cons
- $5,299 for the dual-laser version
- Small 220 × 220 mm work area
- Certified Class 4
2. xTool F1 Ultra
List price $2,999 (as of Oct 2026)
20W fiber + 20W diode at 10,000 mm/s with an enclosed cover, for $2,999.
Pros
- True fiber laser for bare metal plus a diode for wood
- 10,000 mm/s galvo speed
- Enclosed cover with fire safety stop
Cons
- Small 220 × 220 mm work area
- Certified Class 4, not Class 1
- F2 Ultra is far faster for metal production
3. LaserPecker LP5
List price $2,699 (as of Oct 2026)
20W fiber + 20W diode on a stand, cuts up to 1 mm metal sheet (maker figure), for $2,699.
Pros
- Fiber + diode in a portable unit
- 10,000 mm/s
- Cheaper than the xTool F1 Ultra
Cons
- Enclosure and camera depend on the bundle
- Small work area
- Owners note extras are needed
4. xTool F2
List price $1,299 (as of Oct 2026)
15W diode + 5W infrared galvo with a 50 MP camera, for $1,299.
Pros
- Engraves wood and bare metal with two lasers
- 6,000 mm/s galvo speed and a 50 MP camera
- Portable at 10.1 lb
Cons
- Small 115 × 115 mm work area
- Class 4: safety glasses or shield needed
- No LightBurn support
5. Creality Falcon A1 Pro
List price $1,099 (as of Oct 2026)
Class 1, 20W diode + 2W infrared, flame detection, for $1,099.
Pros
- Class 1 with flame detection and tilt stop
- Diode + infrared for wood and metal
- Camera, autofocus and air assist built in
Cons
- Smaller 268 × 358 mm area
- 20W diode: moderate cutting
- New model, limited owner data
| Spec | xTool xTool F2 Ultra | xTool xTool F1 Ultra | LaserPecker LaserPecker LP5 | xTool xTool F2 | Creality Falcon Creality Falcon A1 Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research score | 8.0/10 research score | 7.9/10 research score | 7.5/10 research score | 7.4/10 research score | 8.1/10 research score |
| List price | $5,299 | $2,999 | $2,699 | $1,299 | $1,099 |
| Laser | |||||
| Laser power | 60 W (best) | 20 W | 20 W | 15 W | 20 W |
| Laser source | 60W MOPA fiber + 40W blue diode | 20W fiber + 20W blue diode | 20W 1064 nm fiber + 20W 450 nm blue diode | 15W blue diode + 5W 1064 nm infrared | 20W blue diode + 2W 1064 nm infrared |
| Wavelength | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | 455 ± 5 nm (diode), 1064 ± 1 nm (infrared) |
| Spot size | 0.03 × 0.03 mm (MOPA), 0.08 × 0.1 mm (diode) | 0.03 × 0.03 mm (fiber), 0.08 × 0.1 mm (diode) | Not published | 0.08 × 0.06 mm (diode), 0.03 × 0.03 mm (infrared) | Not published |
| Work area and speed | |||||
| Work area width | 220 mm | 220 mm | 160 mm | 115 mm | 268 mm (best) |
| Work area length | 220 mm | 220 mm | 120 mm | 115 mm | 358 mm (best) |
| Maximum speed | 15,000 mm/s (best) | 10,000 mm/s | 10,000 mm/s | 6,000 mm/s | 600 mm/s |
| Maximum material height | 150 mm (best) | 145 mm | 137 mm | 120 mm | Not published |
| Thickest wood cut | 23 mm (best) | 15 mm | 20 mm | 15 mm | 10 mm |
| Safety | |||||
| Fully enclosed | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Laser safety class | Class 4 | Class 4 | Class 1 with the LP5 Safety Enclosure | Class 4 | Class 1 |
| Flame detection | Yes | Yes | Not published | Not published | Yes |
| Emergency stop | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Yes |
| Features | |||||
| Camera | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Autofocus | Yes | Yes | Not published | Yes | Yes |
| Air assist | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Yes |
| Rotary support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Software and connectivity | |||||
| Software | xTool Studio, LightBurn | xTool Studio | LaserPecker Design Space, LightBurn | xTool Studio | Falcon Design Space, LightBurn, LaserGRBL |
| LightBurn support | Yes | Not published | Yes | No | Yes |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi, IP | USB, Wi-Fi, IP, hotspot | Not published | Wi-Fi, USB, IP | Not published |
| Size and warranty | |||||
| Weight | 47 lb | 32.4 lb | 13.3 lb | 10.1 lb (best) | 37 lb |
| Dimensions | 294 × 429 × 521 mm | 273 × 373 × 492 mm | Not published | 175 × 237 × 334 mm | 567 × 468 × 211 mm |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year | 1 year | 1 year | 1 year |
| Where to buy | Check price at xTool (opens in a new tab) | Check price at xTool (opens in a new tab) | Check price at LaserPecker (opens in a new tab) | Check price at xTool (opens in a new tab) | Check price at Creality Falcon (opens in a new tab) |
Frequently asked questions
Can a diode laser engrave metal?
What's the difference between infrared and fiber lasers?
Can a CO2 laser engrave metal?
Sources
Specs, prices and claims in this article come from these sources.
- xTool F2 Ultra product page · xTool · accessed Oct 18, 2026
- xTool F1 Ultra product page · xTool · accessed Oct 18, 2026
- LaserPecker LP5 product page · LaserPecker · accessed Oct 18, 2026
- xTool F2 product page · xTool · accessed Oct 18, 2026
- Creality Falcon A1 Pro product page · Creality Falcon · accessed Oct 18, 2026
- xTool F2 Ultra review · FauxHammer · accessed Oct 18, 2026
- The Maker's Toolbox: xTool F2 Ultra laser review · Hackster.io · accessed Oct 18, 2026
Written by
Research and editing
The LaserEngravers editorial team researches laser engravers from manufacturer documents, published measurements and owner reports.
