(720) 739-7719 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm EST
(720) 739-7719
hello@craftingsource.com
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm MST
xTool P3 vs xTool P2S: Which xTool CO2 Laser Should You Buy?
Quick Answer
Short answer: the P2S is the desktop machine, the P3 is the production machine. Both are enclosed CO2 lasers in xTool's camera-guided Creative Space workflow. The P2S ($2,749) runs a 55W tube over a 23.6" x 12" work area at up to 600 mm/s. The P3 ($5,899) steps up to an 80W tube, a 36" x 18" work area — half again as wide and half again as deep — and double the speed at 1,200 mm/s. If your work fits the P2S bed, it is the value pick. If you cut full sheets, thick stock, or tall objects all day, the P3 earns its price.
Buy the P2S if…you are a maker, Etsy seller, or small shop cutting and engraving wood, acrylic, and leather at desktop scale, and you want xTool's camera workflow without the flagship price.
Buy the P3 if…you run production work — larger sheets, thicker cuts (25mm acrylic in one pass), tall items up to 8.66" high, or batch rotary work — and floor space and budget are not the constraint.
Spec Comparison
| Spec | xTool P3 | xTool P2S |
|---|---|---|
| Price at Crafting Source | From $5,899 (bundles to $8,559) | From $2,749 (bundles to $8,360) |
| Laser | 80W CO2 (+ optional 5W IR module) | 55W CO2 |
| Working area | 36" x 18" (915 x 458mm) | 23.6" x 12" (600 x 305mm) |
| Max working speed | 1,200 mm/s | 600 mm/s |
| Cutting capacity (one pass) | 20mm basswood / 25mm acrylic | 18mm basswood / 20mm acrylic |
| Max processing height | 8.66" (220mm) | 8.46" (215mm) with riser base; 2.52" with tray |
| Cameras | 16MP panoramic + close-range + 2 side cameras | 16MP panoramic + 16MP close-range |
| Rotary engraving diameter | 0 - 7.87" (0 - 200mm) | See product page |
| Software | xTool Creative Space (XCS) | xTool Creative Space (XCS) / LightBurn |
| Footprint / weight | 49.2" x 30.7" x 19.5" / 231.5 lb | 39.4" x 25.1" x 10.6" / 99.21 lb |
| Warranty | Limited 1-year xTool warranty | Limited 1-year xTool warranty |
Where the P2S Wins
- Price. At $2,749 it is $3,150 less than the P3 for the same enclosed-CO2, camera-guided workflow.
- Desktop footprint. At 99 lb and under 40" wide it fits a workbench; the P3 is a 231 lb floor-standing machine.
- Cutting is still serious. 18mm basswood and 20mm acrylic in one pass covers most craft and small-business work.
- Bundle range. Versatile and All-In-One bundles ($3,669 / $4,369) and even a P2S + F1 Productive Duo ($8,360) let you scale into rotary and portable engraving.
Where the P3 Wins
- Bed size. 36" x 18" swallows full craft sheets and batch layouts the P2S simply cannot fit.
- Power and speed. 80W and 1,200 mm/s — thicker one-pass cuts (25mm acrylic) and roughly double the throughput.
- Tall objects. 8.66" of processing height built in, plus rotary work up to 200mm diameter.
- Camera system. Four cameras including a SkyView panoramic view for full-bed layout preview.
- Metal marking option. An optional 5W IR laser module adds infrared metal engraving to the CO2 platform.
The Bottom Line
Choose by the size of your work, not by wattage bragging rights. If your products fit a 23.6" x 12" bed — tumblers aside, most signs, ornaments, boxes, and leather goods do — the P2S delivers the same workflow for far less money. Step up to the P3 when the bed, the cutting depth, or daily volume becomes the bottleneck. Both sit in our laser machines collection alongside FLUX and Full Spectrum Laser, and our laser engravers guide walks through the wider diode-vs-CO2 picture.
Prices checked November 6, 2026 at Crafting Source — an authorized dealer with a Price Match Guarantee and financing through Affirm at checkout. Shop the xTool P3 or the xTool P2S
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the xTool P3 worth twice the price of the P2S?
For production work, yes: you get an 80W tube instead of 55W, a 36" x 18" bed instead of 23.6" x 12", double the top speed (1,200 vs 600 mm/s), and deeper one-pass cuts (25mm vs 20mm acrylic). For desktop-scale craft work, the P2S does the same jobs and the savings buy a lot of material.
Can the xTool P2S cut 3/4-inch wood?
The P2S is rated for 18mm basswood in one pass, which is just under 3/4 inch (19mm). Thicker or denser hardwoods will need multiple passes or the P3, which is rated at 20mm basswood in one pass.
Can either machine engrave metal?
CO2 lasers engrave coated and anodized metals but do not mark bare metal the way a fiber laser does. The P3 offers an optional 5W IR laser module for metal engraving. If metal is your main material, look at a fiber machine such as the xTool F2 Ultra or the LaserPecker LP5 instead.
What software do the P3 and P2S use?
Both run xTool Creative Space (XCS) with camera-guided placement. The P2S listing also states LightBurn support. Files and workflow are otherwise the same across the two machines, so moving up later is painless.