xTool P2

Name: xTool P2
Brand: xTool
SKU: xtool-p2

Enclosed CO₂ laser built for small businesses and serious hobbyists

Last updated June 1, 2026How we evaluate

Released January 2022

What this machine is for

Professional cutting of acrylic, wood & leather for small businesses

Reference benchmark same job size on every machine so you can compare times fairly.

Laser spot size

~0.15 mm CO₂ spot

Smaller spot = finer detail (frame motion is usually the same across tiers)

Motion precision: 0.01 mm

Sample engrave job

~4–6 min

Filled photo or logo on birch plywood

10 × 10 cm (4 × 4 in)

Sample cut job

~1–2 min

Simple square cut-out from 3 mm acrylic

10 × 10 cm (4 × 4 in)

Times are estimates for the reference job above; your design complexity and settings will change them.

TL;DR

The xTool P2 is a 55W enclosed CO₂ laser with a large work area and camera alignment. It cuts acrylic and wood far better than any diode laser. Expensive, but the closest thing to a 'set up and run a small shop' desktop machine.

What this machine is for

Production-grade cutting and engraving of organic materials (wood, acrylic, leather) in a home or small business workshop.

Best for

Small businessAcrylic & wood cuttingBatch productionEtsy sellers

Materials

Engraves

· Wood
· Acrylic
· Leather
· Glass
· Stone
· Anodized aluminum
· Rubber

Cuts

· Acrylic (up to ~15 mm)
· Wood (up to ~18 mm)
· Leather
· Fabric
· Paper

Cannot do

· Bare metal (marking only on coated/anodized)
· Thick steel
· Clear glass engraving (limited without additives)

Pros

✓True CO₂ cutting power — not comparable to diode lasers for acrylic and thick wood
✓Fully enclosed with safety interlocks — safer for home and workshop use
✓Built-in camera for visual alignment and batch positioning
✓Large work area for a desktop CO₂ machine
✓Active community and solid xTool software ecosystem

Cons

✗High price — often 4–5× the cost of a good diode laser
✗Bulky and heavy; not portable
✗CO₂ tube has limited lifespan (~1,000–2,000 hours) and replacement cost
✗Requires ventilation or an exhaust hose to the outside
✗Overkill if you only want to engrave metal or small items

Beginner notes

If your budget allows and you want to cut acrylic signs, wood products, or run an Etsy shop, the P2 is one of the most capable desktop options. If you mainly want to engrave metal jewelry or tumbler cups, look at fiber or diode machines instead — CO₂ cannot mark bare metal.

Pro tips

Pair with a compressor and good air assist for cleaner cuts on acrylic. LightBurn unlocks advanced workflows if you outgrow xTool Creative Space. Plan exhaust routing before unboxing — ventilation is not optional with CO₂.

Pro / technical specs

Raw numbers for experienced users comparing machines.

Laser spot size: ~0.15 mm CO₂ spot
Max speed (spec): 600 mm/s
Avg engrave speed: 150–300 mm/s fill
Avg cut speed: 15–40 mm/s on 3 mm acrylic
Motion precision: 0.01 mm