9 Best Plasma Cutters in 2023 – Top Picks & Reviews

Lotos has been driving down the price range for entry into the world of plasma cutting. The Lotos LTP5000D continues that tradition with 50 amps of power and a 60 percent duty cycle at an attractive price point. This cutter has no-touch pilot arc starting, capable of cutting up to ⅝-inch stainless steel plate.

The Lotos LTP5000D only weighs 26 pounds and comes with a 1-year warranty. It features 120 and 240 dual voltage input and a PAPST cooling system based on German technology. This machine uses an external compressor for its high-pressure cutting air. Some owners feel that the ground clamp and ground cable is made a little too cheaply.

Lotos includes a pressure regulator and air filter with the machine, already mounted inside. Using a compressed air quick connector for the air compressor, Lotos says the LTP5000D can be set up and ready to run in less than one minute.

Users give the LTP5000D high marks for its cutting performance but have reported inconsistent quality, with quite a few reports of early failures of this model (full review here). However, most also praise the Lotos warranty service for quick replacement of their plasma cutters and free shipping for the return process.

The YesWelder CUT-55DS Plasma Cutter boasts a 60 percent duty cycle at max power. It’s able to run clean cuts on steel plates up to 1/2-inch thick. 10 to 55 amps output range is wide enough that you can cut every stage of a metal project from sheet metal to framing and reinforcement work.

A no-touch pilot arc gets you working right away, even when your metal is rusted or painted. The YesWelder CUT-55DS Plasma Cutter features dual-voltage 120/240 volt input, so it’s convenient to start working with. There’s an extra-long 13-foot torch connection and this machine includes a built-in air filter.

The YesWelder CUT-55DS Plasma Cutter also has a 2T/4T trigger lock for those long cuts and includes a postflow air cooling process as well. The flip-up dust cover for the settings panel is a nice touch. Some owners thought the air supply fitting should be relocated so it doesn’t interfere with the power cable.

The Hobart Airforce 27i is a lightweight and portable, medium-duty plasma cutter offering professional features and quality with dual 120-volt and 240-volt input power. It’s aimed at professionals and craftsmen needing to cut up to 3/8-inch steel. Hobart machines are American-made in Appleton, Wisconsin. The Airforce 27i plasma cutter is also CSA Certified.

This machine features an ergonomic torch design and 12-foot leads on both the torch and the ground lead. The Hobart Airforce 27i features a built-in regulator, air filter and water separator. Its Fan-On-Demand feature only runs the fan as needed, minimizing the amount of dust and debris drawn into the cabinet. Hobart also included an air post flow feature to cool the cut. It’s designed to run on generator power, increasing its versatility for work in the field.

The Hobart Airforce 27i is one of a series of plasma cutters that includes the Airforce 40i, which also includes dual-voltage input and many of the same features. The Airforce 40i has a pilot arc feature that shuts off the torch while it’s over a gap and re-strikes the arc once your torch is over the metal again. This is a great feature when cutting grillwork or expanded metal to fit.

The Eastwood Versa Cut 40 Amp Plasma Cutter offers high quality at great savings. Delivering 40 amps of cutting power, this machine has dual-input power, operating at either 110/120 or 220/240 volts using an N50 cable adapter. Plug the 120 cable into the N50 and the machine will automatically sense it’s plugged into 240 volt power.

With a 60 percent duty cycle at full power, the Eastwood Versa Cut 40 Amp Plasma Cutter can make clean cuts on sheet metal as thin as 24 gauge. You’re able to set air pressure and output power separately, providing a lot of versatility once you get used to running this plasma cutter. This machine features high frequency arc starting, so it’s not a suitable candidate for a CNC plasma cutting table.

The Eastwood Versa Cut 40 Amp Plasma Cutter features a Trafimet CB50 torch with a generous 20-foot lead and it’s an industry standard piece. The Eastwood Versa Cut 60, next higher in the Eastwood line, will get you the power to cut up to 7/8-inch steel at a great price, but it’s a 220V only machine.

The Lincoln Electric Plasma 20 Plasma Cutter is a lightweight, portable yet powerful 20-amp plasma cutter able to cut up to 1/4-inch steel. The lower limit is 10 amps, allowing you to handle sheet metal for auto body or HVAC repairs. Rapid Arc Restrike is an automatic auto-refire technology that shuts off the torch when crossing gaps, then re-strikes when the torch is over metal again.

This machine includes a built-in regulator. The Lincoln Plasma 20 also features air preflow and postflow to cool the cut for greater precision. Some users don’t like that the torch has a 3-second delay after pressing the trigger. This machine is flowing cool air across the cutting path during the 3-second start delay.

The Lincoln Electric Plasma 20 is a lightweight machine, weighing just 21 pounds. That makes it very convenient for those tight spots on vehicles and for jobs where it has to go up a ladder. Lincoln designed the Plasma 20 with a 9.5-foot torch and integrated hooks for wrapping your leads when transporting or storing the machine.

Hypertherm is unique because cutting technology is all it sells. This is not a welding machine maker that’s branching out into plasma cutting. Laser cutting, water jets and plasma cutters are what Hypertherm is all about. This singular focus on high-quality plasma cutters puts Hypertherm at the top of the industry.

Our top pick, the Hypertherm Powermax 45 produces 10 to 45 amps, enough cutting capacity to precision cut ⅝-inch thick steel plate. It’s designed for industrial use to cut metals in factory environments. This machine has dual 240/480 volt power input. Smart Sensor is Hypertherm’s system for automatic compressed air settings.

It has a torch disable switch for changing torch components. Quick change technology provides rapid reconfiguration of the torch style and tip sizes for clean cuts. Owners rave about quality work from the Hypertherm Powermax 45, praising the precise cutting, high inches per minute rating and smooth edges. This has a lot to do with why we chose it as the best plasma cutter.

The only downside to this model is the lack of a CPC port to control it with a computer. Fortunately, the port can be retrofitted with a kit from Hypertherm. The Powermax 45 has a 3-year warranty on the power system and a 1-year warranty on the torch.

The Primeweld Cut60 Plasma Cutter is a powerful machine, able to cut up to 7/8-inch steel in a single pass. This is a dual-power plasma cutter, ready to run on either 120 volts or 240 volts. It weighs only 21 pounds, incredibly light for a plasma cutter with this kind of power. On 120-volt power it puts out 30 amps, enough for 3/8-inch steel.

The high frequency no-touch arc starting offered by many machines will interfere with digital electronics, making them useless for computer-controlled plasma cutter tables. The Primeweld Cut60 Plasma Cutter gives you computer control ability with a blowback torch. Blowback torches use air pressure buildup on the work surface to start the torch, eliminating digital interference.

The Primeweld Cut60 Plasma Cutter uses a continuous pilot arc. This system lets you cut expanded metal and grating by shutting off the torch over air gaps and re-firing the arc once it’s over metal again. It’s also very effective on rusty, painted or dirty metal. Users love this machine’s 20-foot torch lead.

The Miller Spectrum 375 X-Treme Plasma Cutter offers dual-voltage input power, allowing you to plug into either 120-volt or 240-volt circuits. With that kind of versatility, you can use this machine just about anywhere you need to. Miller integrated an automatic air pressure regulation system that evens out fluctuations in the air supply for even, steady cutting.

This plasma cutter includes Miller’s XT30 ergonomic torch with a contoured shape and textured grip surfaces. With a 12-foot torch connection and compact size, the Miller Spectrum 375 X-Treme Plasma Cutter is easy to get into those hard-to-reach spots. Miller has equipped this plasma cutter with quick-disconnect leads for fast setup.

The Miller Spectrum 375 X-Treme Plasma Cutter weighs only 19 pounds and comes with a shoulder strap for easy handling. The 30-amp output is enough to cut 3/8-inch steel, and the 27-amp top end on the 120 volt side cuts 1/4-inch steel. The Auto-Refire technology switches the arc off when crossing gaps and restarts the torch once it’s over metal. Unfortunately, the 375 X-Treme isn’t capable of being computer controlled, so no CNC table for this one. Miller includes a protective carrying case with this machine.

The Titanium 45A Plasma Cutter offers dual-voltage input versatility and professional quality in a great price range. 45-amp output is enough power to cut ½-inch steel. The 15-amp lower limit will cut as thin as 22 gauge sheet metal if you cut fast. Harbor Freight included a built-in regulator as part of the design, making for fast setup and quick use, however, there are some flaws with this machine (full review here).

On 120-volt power, this machine puts out 20 amps, which will limit your work to under ¼-inch thickness. Most owners recommend using the Titanium 45A Plasma Cutter on 240 for smooth cutting and reliable performance. Some users felt this plasma cutter needed a better ground clamp, but loved the 12-foot torch length. Digital settings and display make this plasma cutter simple to use and easy to check while you’re working.

The Titanium 45A Plasma Cutter offers overheating protection and easy setup. The torch includes a standoff guide to keep the cutting head an optimum distance from the work surface. The built-in copper air filter improves consumables life and lets you use your existing shop air supply. This machine needs 6.6 cfm at 80-110 psi for optimum performance.