True CO₂ tubes are still the cheapest route to 40 W–50 W of laser power, and prices have finally drifted below the four-figure mark. If your goal is to cut ⅛-in–⅜-in acrylic, slice ¼-in plywood in a single pass, or engrave glass at production speeds, the five machines below currently give the most watts-per-dollar while staying under a $1 k ceiling.

1. Vevor 50 W CO₂ – “Most raw power”  
   Price: $949 | Real optical: ≈45 W  
   Work area: 20 in × 12 in (508 mm × 305 mm)  
   Controller: Ruida (LightBurn-ready)  
   Why it tops the list: No other stock machine under $1 k ships with a 50 W tube. It cuts 10 mm plywood @ 15 mm/s and 8 mm clear acrylic in one pass. Water chiller, air-assist nozzle and red-dot pointer are all in the box, so hidden cost is minimal. Foot-print is still desktop-friendly at 38 in × 24 in. Down-sides: basic steel frame, no enclosure lighting, and you’ll want to add a 4-in exhaust fan immediately. Perfect for light production or a side-business that needs speed on a budget .

2. OMTech 40 W Desktop – “Best overall value”  
   Price: $999 (often $969 on sale) | Optical: 38–40 W  
   Work area: 12 in × 8 in (305 mm × 203 mm)  
   Controller: Ruida (LightBurn)  
   Why buy: Proven K40-style chassis but factory-upgraded with a true 40 W Reci tube, analog ammeter, and integrated water pump. Cuts 6 mm birch or 5 mm acrylic reliably and engraves glass at 300 mm/s. The smaller bed keeps the machine compact for a home workshop. Expect to align mirrors on arrival, but after that it’s maintenance-free for months. Great first step if you want CO₂ without tinkering with a bare-bones K40 .

3. TEN-HIGH 40 W Enclosed – “Safest for home / school”  
   Price: $899 | Optical: 38 W  
   Work area: 16 in × 12 in  
   Stand-out features: Full metal clamshell enclosure, magnetic interlock, and internal fume baffle. Noise level is <55 dB—quieter than a vacuum. Performance is similar to the OMTech 40 W, but the sealed cabinet and interlock make it the only CO₂ laser under $1 k that many school districts will approve for classroom use .

4. Ortur LM2 CO₂ Hybrid – “Easiest set-up, no plumbing”  
   Price: $799 | Optical: 35-40 W  
   Work area: 15.7 in × 15.7 in (400 mm × 400 mm)  
   Instead of a glass tube, Ortur uses a sealed RF CO₂ “module” that air-cools—no external bucket chiller. Arrives fully aligned; you can be cutting 3 mm MDF 20 min after unboxing. Trade-off: the RF module tops out at 35-40 W, so it’s 15-20 % slower than the Vevor on thick stock, but the plug-and-play appeal is unbeatable for beginners .

5. K40 “China-cabinet” – “Cheapest ticket to 40 W”  
   Price: $400–$600 (Amazon/eBay) | Optical: 30-35 W  
   Work area: 12 in × 8 in  
   You still can’t beat a vanilla K40 if you like to mod. Swap in a 40 W Reci tube, add a Ruida board, and you’ll have 90 % of a $1200 unit for < $900 total. Just budget a weekend for alignment, wiring, and a new exhaust system. For tinkerers it’s a hobby in itself; for everyone else grab the OMTech or TEN-HIGH .

What can (and can’t) you do with 40-50 W?  
✔ Cut ¼-in birch, MDF, leather, cork, paper, cardboard  
✔ Cut ⅜-in clear or colored acrylic in 1-2 passes  
✔ Engrave glass, slate, anodized aluminum, powder-coated metals  
✖ Cut bare steel, stainless, brass (fiber laser required)  
✖ Cut stone thicker than slate coasters  

Buying checklist under $1 k  
- 40 W+ genuine CO₂ tube (Reci, Yongli) – ignore “machine power” hype numbers  
- Ruida or DSP controller (guarantees LightBurn compatibility)  
- Included water cooling & air-assist hardware  
- 12 in × 8 in bed minimum; 20 in × 12 in if you need full-sheet acrylic off-cuts  
- 4-in exhaust port plus fume fan (add $50 if not bundled)  
- Budget $100 for safety goggles, fire extinguisher, and a small inline blower  

Bottom line  
Vevor’s 50 W unit is the wattage king right now, delivering almost twice the cutting speed of entry-level 30 W K40s for only ~$250 more. If you want fewer headaches and a smaller footprint, OMTech’s 40 W desktop or Ortur’s air-cooled hybrid are the most turnkey options. Any of the five machines above will let you enter real CO₂ territory without breaking the thousand-dollar ceiling .