When it comes to tools that combine high-tech and simplicity, one of the essentials is a laser level – for pinpoint accuracy in a variety of projects. Nothing beats the feeling of knowing that superior technology and durable craftsmanship is helping pave the way for your next big project, and equipping yourself with the best laser level available is going to give you that extra edge in crafting something worth being proud of.
With the market saturated with so many products, it can be challenging to buy the right laser level for yourself. Understanding your needs and potential uses of the laser level can make the buying process a whole lot easier, though.
Also, keep noted, these tools are a little more expensive than your average torpedo or bubble leveler. You can check out our top choices for those here.
That’s where we come in. Here we have a detailed list of the best laser levels currently on the market to aide in your decision making. No matter the project, there’s a tool here for you to get the precision you need. Let’s take a look.
Quick Overview: Our Best Laser Level Choices
Pacific Laser Systems PLS-60595 Green Beam 3-Point Laser
Coming from the PLS stable, this model has superior performance over the other PLS-60523 model. With the innovative green beam technology, this model is perfect for typical outdoor applications.
It needs frequent calibration and settings each time you start a new job, but aside from that, it is one of the most user-friendly laser levels in the market today. The in-built green light in the model utilizes higher battery consumption with higher usage.
Green Beam is highly popular and has a strong fan following even though it is one of the costlier models on the market. Green beam is adored by both residential and professional users and considered one of the best choices for more outdoor jobs.
Things We Like:
- Self-leveling 3-point laser with a sturdy design
- Fast and highly accurate form
- One easy press start with a high visibility range
- Comes with magnetic wall bracket and floor stand
- Three years of manufacturer’s warranty
Things We Don’t Like:
- Requires modifications in settings from time to time
- More expensive than other models
Bosch GPL 3 3-Point Laser Alignment with Self-Leveling
With Bosch being one of the oldest manufacturers, this model has an excellent pedigree. Designed with German technology and a Smart Pendulum Leveling System, it notifies its users whenever the device goes out of level conditions. Pretty cool stuff.
Affordable and accurate, this 3-point dot laser level can take care of level, plumb, 90 degree and other grade points. It’s single diode embedded with in built and patented diamond-cut beam splitter technology enables you to achieve superior accuracy.
We don’t quite like the design of the device, though it does the job pretty well under all indoor conditions. Outdoor usage is something this laser level is not made for, though it is a great and affordable option for a 3-point dot laser level.
Highly reviewed by both residential and professional users, Bosch’s technology and dedicated customer service make it a worthy laser level to opt for.
Things We Like:
- Smart Pendulum Leveling System which senses and notifies out-of-level conditions
- The durable design which is Water and Dust Proof
- Small and convenient, fits on the tool belt
- Comes with an easy to reach battery space
- Extremely affordable
Things We Don’t Like:
- Not ideal for outdoor usage
- The design is a bit clunky
DEWALT DW089K Self-Leveling 3-Beam Line Laser
Manufactured by Dewalt, this model comes in handy for 90-degree layouts with its third beam. You can end up saving money on a second laser with this one as it has a third line plumb. Reliable and compact, this Dewalt model is easy to use with its on-off button for individual light beams.
Go ahead and make specific marks effortlessly with no need to move the entire level, as the micro knobs can easily adjust the beams. With the newer models now fitted with a much brighter laser diode, it is a breeze using the DW089K in well-lit areas. With an IPS rating of IP54, dust and water will not hinder its performance or efficiency.
Things We Like:
- High track clearance of 1-3/4 inches
- Dust and water-resistant
- Sturdy storage kit
- Higher brightness of the light diode
Things We Don’t Like:
- Really only ideal for 90 degree layouts
DEWALT DW088K Self-Leveling Cross Line Laser
Boost efficiency on your jobs with the highly productive DEWALT DW088K self-leveling cross-line laser. Preferred by professionals for both residential and industrial jobs, this laser has a high accuracy at 30 feet within 1/8th of an inch.
It’s great at projecting both vertical and horizontal lines, it has a pulse mode which is compatible with a detector. It can maintain a working area till 165 feet while consistently keeping the brightness levels intact.
Whether you want to install wall or floor tiles efficiently or map the walls for the layout, this DW088K has all the right angles and will not disappoint you. The DW088K is suitable for outdoor use once installed with a laser detector.
Durable design and high IP ratings ensure that it will last for years to come before it displays any sign of wear or tear. With a magnetic pivoting base and thread, it is great for mounting on all surfaces including metal.
A control panel on the side has individual buttons for all the three laser beams which are convenient to use. I quite like the sturdy built of the kit box which will safeguard the device from any breakage.
Things We Like:
- Projects bright crossing horizontal and vertical lines
- Over-molded housing and IP54 water/debris resistance
- Integrated Magnetic Pivoting Base with 1/4″ Thread
- 165 ft of lighting within working space
Things We Don’t Like:
- Needs added laser detector installed for outdoor use
Topcon RL-H4C Rotary Laser
Durability and versatility are the top features of this Topcon model which is why it is a part of our list. This RL-H4C Rotary Laser Level is the perfect partner for all your outdoor applications. You just set up the machine, and it finds the level to work on its own, being a self-leveling rotary laser.
With a leveling range hovering around five degrees, this is a reliable rotary laser level for beginners and professionals alike.
Excavating activities can also be done with this laser level, thanks to its slope matching functionality. In fact, its range up to 2600 feet along with a laser receiver and a precision of ±1/16 inches at 100 feet,makes it the ideal tool for construction activities like earthworks, concrete, drainage and site preparation.
An improved version, it comes with a consistent speed of 600 rotations a minute. It also possesses the amazing feature of automatic cross axis self-leveling. I quite like the fantastic feature of LCD which makes data observation easy without moving the location of the unit at all. Nimh batteries with a capacity to keep going for almost 100 hours are another great feature adding to its convenience factor.
Things We Like:
- Excellent battery life of up to 100 hours
- The advanced technology of slope matching and self-leveling
- Product Warranty of 5 years
- A laser receiver with a range up to 2,600 feet, one of the farthest in it’s class
Things We Don’t Like:
- It’s expensive. Plain and simple.
CST/Berger RL25HCK Rotary Laser Kit
This self-leveling rotary laser level from CST/Berger packs quite a punch in this model. Solidly built and designed to be durable, this RL25HCKpromises no scratch, wear or tear even if you drop it anywhere. Great for outdoor use, this laser level has a high IP rating of 56 which ensures its safety from dust and water. Accuracy leveling scores of 3/32-Inch for a range of 2000 feet is remarkable considering the extreme job environments, especially outdoors.
Things We Like:
- Durable design and great for outdoor usage
- Glass top to safeguard from weather and environment
- Battery level alerts for low charge
- Warranty of 2 years
Things We Don’t Like:
- More ideal for outdoor usage only
- Lower battery life than other models
Features to Consider
Different Kinds of Laser Levels
A laser level is an excellent tool to determine and identify a level surface. There are three different types of laser levels- Rotary, Line and Dot laser. They are categorized mainly on how they emit light. Let’s understand the pros and cons of each level. It has numerous uses, like projects involving wall remodeling, installing horizontal articles or even measuring distances between various objects.
Rotary Laser Level
Rotary laser levels project a level line, similar to the line laser, which rotates 360 degrees in a room. It comes with plumb up and down functionalities along with the line generation features. Upping the convenience factor is the remote-control functionality.
With a high level of accuracy, rotary laser levels are perfect if you have outdoor work like grading roads or even laying foundations. Costlier and heavier than line lases, the rotary laser is a powerhouse performer with a stable and bigger base size.
Line Laser Level
A line laser level displays a straight line between two points. With 65 to 100 feet coverage, a line laser can showcase multiple lines which are great for making a straight line or a square.
Compact and reliable, these line laser levels can be conveniently mounted on camera tripods and even on ladders. Mostly used for indoor applications, the newer models can be used outdoor as well if they are fitted with higher quality light diodes. In fact, the newer models with the pulsating light technology can be used with laser detectors in outdoor areas.
Dot Laser Level
A dot laser level incorporates laser beam technology to create identifiable points which are used for aligning things horizontally or vertically. A few of its ideal uses include identifying and placing specific items or making calculations.
Majorly used in construction activities around the world, a dot laser level is increasingly being used by do-it-yourself enthusiasts as well.
Accuracy
Consider the accuracy of the model you want to purchase as this is one of the essential features and vital for your job too. It is quite crucial for the models to find their level accurately whether it is a self-leveling or manual leveling one.
Obviously, knowing your way around a laser level and exactly how to use one is going to improve this as well, but if your level doesn’t have the vested accuracy needed, it’s a bust.
Projection
Evaluate each laser level by their ability to depict a line across your choice of surface. This is one of the most significant factors which will drive your purchase decision. The range of operation is equally important along with the fan angle which showcases the width of the line on the surface.
Beams
The number of beams which are produced at the same time by the laser level needs to be seen too. When a laser level projects a single beam, usually the one producing cross beams with two lasers is more advanced and can be used in multiple ways.
Design, Durability & Support Options
Durability in design is a significant factor which insures outdoor as well as indoor use. Durable design can also be noticed in case the laser level gets bumped off from its tripod or bracket. Especially for the self-leveling laser levels, durability is a must-have feature as it is a very fragile component.
Warranty
In case the device has a manufacturing defect and need to be returned, you may require a warranty. Consider buying a device with a longer warranty period,so you don’t have to worry about this aspect.
Battery Life
Battery life is important for both outdoor and indoor projects. If you have more outdoor jobs to be accomplished, it is advisable to opt for a model which has an above average battery life.
For this, rotary laser levels are a better choice as they run for almost 30 hours with a full charge and you don’t have to look for a plug point on your construction site.
Wrap Up
Pick the best laser level keeping your feature requirement and pocket in mind. Keep in mind weight, durability, and beam distance when making your purchase decision. Potential projects are good to keep in mind as well. Make a fair comparison among the many models listed here and execute.
The best laser level is different for each project, so make sure the level you purchase is individualized and specific to the projects you plan on doing now and in the future to get the most use out of it.
Our favorite laser level is the Pacific Lase Systems Green Beam, which offers durability, unmatched precision, and basically all of the essential features that make up a great laser level. It may be a little on the pricier side, but it’s well worth the money for long lasting service.
