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Moving Head vs Laser Lights: Which Should You Buy?
Nov
Moving heads and lasers are the two most popular ways to add a big-show look to a party or gig. They do very different jobs, though. Here’s how they compare, and how to pick the right one for you.
What a moving head does
A moving head is a light on a motorized yoke that pans and tilts, so it can sweep beams around the room, point at the dance floor, or spin through fast chases. Depending on the model, it may have bee-eye beams, a wash, or gobo patterns. Most have DMX512, auto, sound active, and master/slave modes.
- 7x40W Mini Bee Eye Zoom Wash Moving Head: seven RGBW zoom LEDs with a wash, beam, and strobe ring. A pro-grade light for venues and mobile DJs. Shop it
- 6 Bee Eye Sharp Beam Moving Head: six tight 4° bee-eye beams, a green starry laser, and an LED ring, with 540° pan. Shop it
What a laser does
A laser projects sharp lines of light. That can mean animated graphics, starry-sky dots, or scanning beams that slice through fog. Lasers deliver the most wow per dollar in a dark room, especially with haze.
- 2W RGB Animation Laser: a bright, full-color animation laser for gigs and clubs. Shop it
- 3W RGB Animation Laser: our most powerful laser, built for big rooms and stages. Shop it
- Full Color Laser Show System: animated beams and patterns for home, karaoke, and small events. Shop it
Side-by-side comparison
| Moving head | Laser | |
|---|---|---|
| Main effect | Moving beams, wash, gobos | Graphics, beams, starry sky |
| Room coverage | Wide, moves around the room | Wide, best on ceilings or in fog |
| Needs fog? | Looks better with it | Needs it for mid-air beams |
| Works in a lit room? | Yes, the wash still shows | Best in the dark |
| DMX | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Weddings, stages, DJ gigs | Clubs, raves, dark parties |
Best of both: hybrid lights
Can’t decide? These lights combine moving beams with lasers in one fixture: – 120W Six Arm Arm King with Magic Disco Ball: six moving RGBW arms, a disco ball lens, red and green starry lasers, and white/amber strobes. Shop it – 120W 4-Arm Angel DJ Light: RGBW bee-eye arms, an LED strip, and a red and green starry sky. Shop it – 50W Space Ball Moving Head: a 360° rotating head with a magic disco ball, a pulsar beam, a red and green laser, and strobe. Shop it
Our recommendation
- House parties: start with a hybrid like the Space Ball, or a budget moving head.
- Mobile DJs and weddings: a pair of moving heads for movement and wash, plus one laser for the peak of the night.
- Clubs and venues: moving heads on truss with a 2W or 3W laser and a hazer.
Make either one pop with fog
Both moving heads and lasers look dramatically better with a little fog. Our 500W fog machine has built-in RGB LEDs and a wireless remote. Shop the fog machine
FAQ
Are lasers safe at a party? Yes, when you mount them above head height and never aim them at the audience’s eyes.
Can I control moving heads and lasers together? Yes. All of these lights support DMX512, so one controller can run them all. They also sync on their own in sound-active mode.
Which one is easier for beginners? Both are plug and play in auto or sound-active mode. Moving heads are a bit more forgiving in rooms that aren’t fully dark.
Browse all moving head DJ lights and animation lasers. Free US shipping on every order.
