Home › Machines › Glowforge Basic / Plus / Pro
Glowforge Basic / Plus / Pro specs, bed size and cutting speeds
The Glowforge Basic / Plus / Pro is a CO2 40–45 W laser with a 495 × 279 mm work area. Below: full specs, real cutting speeds by material, and what a part costs in machine time. Drop your SVG, DXF or PDF to price your own file — it runs entirely in your browser and nothing is uploaded.
Open the calculator for the Glowforge Basic / Plus / Pro →Glowforge Basic / Plus / Pro specs
| Laser type | CO2 (10,600 nm) |
|---|---|
| Power class | CO2 40–45 W |
| Bed size (work area) | 495 × 279 mm |
| Work area (inches) | 19.5 × 11.0 in |
| Cuts | clear and opaque acrylic, plywood, MDF, card, leather, fabric |
| Approx. price | ~€5,000–7,000 (machine only, August 2026 — from our xTool vs Glowforge comparison) |
Glowforge Basic / Plus / Pro cutting cost examples
Machine time and price for a 100 × 60 mm part (320 mm of cutting) at €60/h, by material:
| Material | Speed | Time | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plywood 3 mm | 12 mm/s | 27 s | €0.44 |
| MDF 3 mm | 13.2 mm/s | 24 s | €0.40 |
| Acrylic 3 mm | 10.8 mm/s | 30 s | €0.49 |
| Cardboard 3 mm | 21 mm/s | 15 s | €0.25 |
These scale from real workshop speeds. Your parts differ — open the calculator and drop your file or enter your size for an exact figure. You can also switch to engraving.
Glowforge Basic / Plus / Pro FAQ
How fast does the Glowforge Basic / Plus / Pro cut 3 mm plywood?
About 12 mm/s. Cutting a 100 × 60 mm part (320 mm of cut) takes roughly 27 s of machine time on the Glowforge Basic / Plus / Pro.
Can the Glowforge Basic / Plus / Pro cut clear acrylic?
Yes. The Glowforge Basic / Plus / Pro is a CO2 laser (10,600 nm) and cuts both clear and opaque acrylic, plus plywood, MDF, leather, card and fabric.
What is the Glowforge Basic / Plus / Pro bed size?
The Glowforge Basic / Plus / Pro has a 495 × 279 mm work area (19.5 × 11.0 inches). That is the largest part it can cut in one pass without repositioning the material.
How much does it cost to run the Glowforge Basic / Plus / Pro?
Laser cutting is priced by machine time: cut length ÷ cutting speed × passes = time, then time × hourly rate + setup. At €60/h a 100 × 60 mm plywood part costs about €0.44. Use the calculator to price your own file.
How much does the Glowforge Basic / Plus / Pro cost?
~€5,000–7,000 as of August 2026, for the machine alone. Budget extra for extraction, a decent air assist and material. Street prices move, so treat this as a starting point and check the seller before you quote work on it. Full reasoning in our xTool vs Glowforge comparison.
Where to buy the Glowforge Basic / Plus / Pro
Prices move often — check current offers before you quote jobs on a machine you don't own yet.
Some links are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It keeps this calculator free.
Machines similar to the Glowforge Basic / Plus / Pro
Comparable on speed, bed size and material capability — the specs side by side:
- OMTech Polar / Polar+ (55W) — CO2 50–60 W, 500 × 300 mm, 13 mm/s in 3 mm plywood. similar class
- xTool P2 / P2S (55W) — CO2 50–60 W, 600 × 308 mm, 13 mm/s in 3 mm plywood. similar class
- OMTech K40 (40W CO2) — CO2 40–45 W, 300 × 200 mm, 10 mm/s in 3 mm plywood. similar class
Or see the full machine list and the complete speed table.
← All machine calculators · Full speed table · Main calculator