Quick Answer: The xTool P2 is a 55W desktop CO2 laser that cuts up to ~18mm (0.7in) black acrylic and ~20mm basswood in a single pass over a large 600×308mm bed, with dual 16MP cameras for precise placement and curved-object engraving — priced around $3,999. It is the machine to buy when you’ve outgrown diode engravers and need real CO2 cutting and glass engraving without jumping to an industrial box. The trade-offs are the price and the CO2 requirements (venting plus a cooling loop). Buy it for a cutting-focused acrylic/wood/glass workshop or small business; if you only need engraving or want to mark metal, the xTool S1 or a diode machine costs far less.
The xTool P2 is xTool’s flagship desktop CO2 machine, and it sits at the top of our best CO2 laser engraver and best laser cutter rankings for a reason: it brings genuine production-grade cutting to a bench-friendly, camera-assisted package. This review covers what the 55W tube actually cuts, where the dual cameras and conveyor pay off, how it compares to the enclosed xTool S1 diode and to OMTech’s CO2 machines, and who should spend the ~$3,999.
A note on the P2 vs the P2S: xTool refreshed this line in 2026 with the P2S, which is now the version you’ll actually buy at ~$3,999. It keeps the same 55W CO2 tube, 600×308mm bed, and dual-camera workflow as the original P2 while tuning speed and reliability, so everything in this review applies to both. Wherever you see “P2S” in our OMTech vs xTool and Glowforge vs xTool comparisons, it’s the current model of the machine reviewed here.
xTool P2 at a glance
| Spec | xTool P2 |
|---|---|
| Laser type | 55W CO2 (10,600nm infrared, glass tube) |
| Work area | 23.6"×12.1" (600×308mm) |
| Max cut (acrylic) | Up to ~18mm (0.7in) black acrylic, single pass |
| Max cut (wood) | Up to ~20mm basswood, single pass |
| Cameras | Dual 16MP (placement + curved-surface engraving) |
| Cooling | Integrated water-cooling loop (no external chiller to plumb) |
| Enclosure | Fully enclosed Class-1 with lid interlock (goggle-free) |
| Accessories | Riser Base, Automatic Conveyor Feeder (pass-through), RA2 Pro rotary |
| Software | xTool Creative Space (XCS); LightBurn supported |
| Price | From ~$3,999 |
| Best for | Acrylic/wood cutting, glass engraving, small-business production |
xTool P2 by the numbers
- The 55W CO2 tube cuts up to ~18mm (0.7in) black acrylic and ~20mm basswood in a single pass (per xTool) — that is roughly double the thick-stock cutting capacity of a 40W diode and the reason the P2 is a true cutter, not just an engraver.
- It uses two 16MP cameras (per xTool) — one maps the whole bed for drag-and-drop placement on your actual material, the other enables curved-surface engraving on rounded objects, a workflow most desktop CO2 machines can’t do.
- Reviewers rate the P2 as one of the most capable desktop CO2 lasers available, praising its cut quality and camera workflow (per MakerHacks) — the combination of speed, bed size, and software polish is what separates it from cheaper bare-tube CO2 boxes.
- A CO2 laser emits infrared at 10,600nm, which acrylic and glass absorb (per Wikipedia’s CO2 laser entry) — that is why the P2 cuts clear acrylic and engraves glass cleanly, while a ~450nm blue diode passes straight through both and can do neither.
What the xTool P2 does well
It actually cuts. The 55W tube powers through ~18mm acrylic and ~20mm wood in one pass, so signage, layered acrylic, boxes, and thick display pieces come off the bed finished rather than needing multiple slow passes. This is the capability that puts it at the top of our best laser cutter list.
The dual cameras change the workflow. The overhead 16MP camera shows your real material on screen so you drag artwork exactly where you want it — no test alignments — and the second camera handles curved-object engraving. Combined with the big 600×308mm bed, that makes the P2 far faster to set up than a bare-tube CO2, not just faster to cut.
It scales to production. The optional Automatic Conveyor Feeder passes long boards and rolls through the machine automatically, and the RA2 Pro rotary handles tumblers, glasses, and bottles — so a single P2 covers flat cutting, oversized material, and cylinders. That versatility is why it’s a fixture in our best CO2 laser engraver and best laser engraver for small business roundups.
It’s enclosed and cooled. Fully enclosed Class-1 operation with a lid interlock means goggle-free use, and the integrated water-cooling loop means you’re not plumbing an external chiller like you would on a bare CO2 tube.
The base P2, the Riser Base, the Automatic Conveyor Feeder, and the RA2 Pro rotary are all listed on Amazon, and pricing moves with xTool’s frequent bundle promotions.
xTool P2 vs xTool S1
| xTool P2 | xTool S1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Laser type | 55W CO2 | 20W / 40W diode |
| Cut clear acrylic | Yes | No (beam passes through) |
| Engrave glass | Yes | No (needs coating workaround) |
| Mark bare/coated metal | No (CO2 can't mark most metal) | Yes (diode marks coated metal) |
| Max wood cut | ~20mm, single pass | ~18mm basswood |
| Work area | 600×308mm | 498×319mm |
| Cooling / venting | Water loop + venting | Air-cooled + venting |
| Price | ~$3,999 | ~$1,899–$2,499 |
These two flagships aren’t rivals so much as different tools. The P2 is a CO2 cutter: it slices thick clear acrylic, engraves glass, and cuts wood fast — the jobs a diode fundamentally can’t do. The S1 is an enclosed diode: it’s cheaper, air-cooled, and it marks metal (which CO2 does poorly), but it can’t cut clear acrylic or engrave glass. If your shop is acrylic, wood, and glass and cutting matters, buy the P2; if you’re budget-conscious or need to mark coated metal, the S1 is the smarter spend. The deeper trade-off between the two laser types is covered in our diode vs CO2 laser guide.
Where the xTool P2 falls short
- It can’t mark most metal. CO2’s 10,600nm wavelength reflects off bare metal, so the P2 needs marking spray for metal and still can’t deep-engrave it. For metal work you want a diode (coated metal) or a fiber laser engraver.
- It’s a real CO2 commitment. Venting outdoors (or a serious fume extractor) and the cooling loop are non-negotiable, and the tube is a consumable that will eventually need replacing — running costs a diode doesn’t have.
- Price. At ~$3,999 it’s several times a capable open-frame diode. If you only engrave and mark rather than cut thick stock, that money is better spent elsewhere — see our best budget laser engraver guide.
- XCS-first extras. The signature camera-placement and curved-surface features are tuned around xTool Creative Space; LightBurn works, but you’ll start in XCS to get the full feature set.
Who should buy the xTool P2
The xTool P2 is the right machine if cutting is your priority — thick acrylic, plywood, layered signage, boxes, plus glass engraving — and you want a big, camera-assisted, enclosed desktop machine rather than a bare-tube CO2 or an industrial cabinet. It’s ideal for acrylic and wood shops, sign makers, and small businesses scaling from a diode into production. It’s not the pick if you mainly mark metal, only need light engraving, or are shopping on a tight budget. For makers who need genuine CO2 cutting power on the bench in 2026, the P2 is one of the strongest desktop options available — and a standout in our overall best laser engraver, best CO2 laser engraver, and best laser cutter rankings. If you’re cross-shopping brands, our OMTech vs xTool and Glowforge vs xTool comparisons put the P2 head-to-head with its main CO2 rivals.
Ready to buy? Compare the base P2, the Riser Base, the Conveyor Feeder, and the RA2 Pro rotary and check today’s price: