A new technique for the continuously variable linear attenuation of high‐power transversely excited atmospheric (TEA) CO2laser pulses is reported. The use of a binary gas mixture comprising SF6as the absorber and helium or argon as the buffer gas causes a significant enhancement in the saturation intensity, thereby allowing saturation‐free attenuation of TEA CO2laser pulses up to 1 MW/cm2. A linearly variable dynamic attenuation range of 0–30 dB, and continuously variable attenuation up to 60 dB in a 10‐cm cell length, without spatial or temporal distortion in the attenuated beam is demonstrated.