Levels

Levels

Length is the first decision and it matters more than anything else on the spec. A level only reads the surface it touches, so a short level bridges dips and reports level when the run is not. A 180cm or 120cm long spirit level is what you want for door frames, walls and floors, 60cm to 90cm covers cabinets and radiators, and 10cm to 25cm pocket and torpedo levels fit inside a stud bay or behind a pipe where nothing longer will go. That is why sets sell so well: a three piece set in 120cm, 60cm and a torpedo covers almost every job in one purchase. Beam shape then decides durability, with box beam levels stiffer and better protected than an I-beam, and vial count telling you what it reads, at two vials for level and plumb or three to add 45 degrees. Magnetic edges hold the level to steel studs and pipework hands-free. Laser levels are the other half of the range: a self-levelling cross line or line laser projects a true horizontal and vertical across a whole room for tiling, kitchens and shelving, and a laser distance measure replaces a tape over long spans.

Stanley is the deepest range, covering FatMax Pro box beam levels at 60cm, 120cm and 180cm, FatMax I-beam at 60cm and 180cm, FatMax at 60cm and 90cm, PRO-180 I-beam at 40cm and 60cm, torpedo levels at 20cm and a 230mm magnetic shockproof, a hi-vis magnetic pocket level, a line level, and set options including a 120cm, 60cm and 25cm triple pack and a 600mm with 1200mm pair. Stabila covers the precision end with double plumb three vial levels at 90cm, 100cm and 120cm, a 120cm single plumb, and the LD 320 laser distance measure at 60m. DeWalt supplies the two way self-levelling line laser and the cross line green laser, with Bihui adding a self levelling laser. Faithfull offers a three piece 120cm, 60cm and 24cm torpedo set, Dargan spirit levels in 12, 24 and 48 inch plus a 10cm magnetic pocket level, and Hultafors and Kapro complete the range.