There are so many construction lasers on the market that choosing one to buy can be difficult. Most people don’t have the time to investigate the various laser system models, so they just use a brand model or conventional leveling tools they find.
Here, we’ll go over the model best for you. However, you must find out what you intend to use your laser for. Do you plan to work both inside and outside? Do you want to install tile, lay foundations, and grade a building site? Answers to these questions will help narrow your list of potential purchases!
When It Comes to Building Projects, Which Laser Level Is Best?
This section will review the six best laser levels for construction. They are:
1. The 1021200-50 RL-H5A Topcon Self-leveling Horizontal Rotary Laser Level
Are you in search of a versatile laser with many uses? The RL-H5A Topcon Self-Leveling Horizontal Rotary Laser is perfect for land grading, foundation peg leveling, road construction, decking, and other everyday construction operations. It provides a vast operational range with a diameter of up to 2,550 feet when utilized with a transceiver. This Topcon laser model can also level itself (auto-leveling) to within 5 degrees and is accurate to within 1/16 inch at about 100 feet.
The RL-H5A rotary system spins horizontally at 600 revolutions per minute. This raises the precision level. This rotary laser is easy to use and convenient. If it is interrupted while leveling, it will immediately start auto-leveling again.
The RL-H5A Topcon is waterproof and dustproof, thanks to its IP66 rating. The Topcon laser can be powered by either a rechargeable battery or a lithium dry-cell battery with a 100-hour run time. This makes it an excellent accessory for a majority of construction leveling tasks.
Additional Items
- Rugged carry case for the Topcon LS-80X laser detector system.
- Tripod.
2. The 810945 Leica Rugby 610 Series Rotary Laser Level
The Leica Rugby 610 Rotary Laser Level is an easy-to-use leveling device that can self-level within 5 degrees in a horizontal directional plane. It is excellent for all everyday building construction tasks. This laser model comes with a transceiver. With the help of the laser transceiver, it can project a beamline range of up to 2,000 feet and an accuracy of 3/32 inches at 100 feet.
Its one-button makes operations simple and quick to handle—checking the soil grade, ensuring the frame is straight, handling decking tasks, and other professional construction jobs.
The Leica 610 rotary built-in system at the base of the laser machine can turn 600 times per minute. It also has a clear LED indicator that shows the battery level and functions. This Leica laser model uses a Class 2 red beamline with a wavelength of 635 nanometers.
With an IP67 rating, the Laser model is waterproof and dustproof. The outer casing is made of rubber and durable plastic to withstand tears and even the worst weather. It also has strong grab handles that are easy to use. With Li-ion batteries, the laser can run for up to two days while in use, and alkaline batteries can run for up to two and a half days. It also has a 5/8 by an 11-inch thread that makes it simple to fasten to most tripods.
Additional Items
- A Rugby 610 pouch.
- The Rod-Eye transceivers and battery tray are not included.
3. The 790363 Leica Rugby 640 Series Rotary Laser Level
Looking for a versatile, auto-leveling, double-axis plane laser level? The Leica Rugby 640 Rotary Laser model may be used for vertical, horizontal, and cross-sectional planes! It can also be operated manually for 90-degree slope applications. With the “Rod-Eye laser” transceiver, this has a range of up to 2,000 feet, making it ideal for both interior and exterior applications. The Laser 640 model also self-levels to within 5 degrees and has a 100-foot accuracy of 1/16 inch.
The rotations per minute for the Leica Rugby 640 are 0, 120, 300, and 600. Three projection angles of 10, 45, and 90 degrees are available. By gradually shifting the beamline to the left or right side, the layout-leveling process is easy as the LED indicator will notify the user. It also has a scan 90 feature. Additionally, this rotary laser is equipped with a parallel adjustable transceiver rod for quick and precise calibration over a point of reference.
It has an IP67 rating, making it both waterproof and dustproof. It incorporates a glass cage, a sturdy casing, and rubber fasteners to offer the best protection. Additionally, it has a two-day operating time on Li-ion batteries and a two-and-a-half-hour active time on alkaline batteries. It includes a 5/8 by 11-inch tripod thread as an added benefit for easy leveling.
Additional Items
- The Rugby 640 portable pouch.
- The Rod-Eye transceivers and battery compartment (purchased separately).
4. The 40-6543 Johnson Self-Leveling Rotary Laser level
Working in highly illuminated environments (bright daylight), which can be challenging to detect the laser beam, calls for Johnson’s 40-6543 rotary laser system. The green laser beam is four times brighter than the red laser line beam of a similar range. The GreenBrite technology made this laser model design work. The rotary system also features manual leveling in the vertical plane and horizontal auto-leveling, and its split beamline creates a 90-degree angle on the projected surface.
This rotary system is a valuable component of the laser machine as it is the component that allows the device to be used for various leveling applications since it has two laser beamline modes, including dot and two customizable line beams. The 40-6543 Johnson laser model has a locking system that safeguards the inner rotary system (pendulum) during the oscillation and a visual and auditory alert displayed on its LCD screen that notifies the user when the rotary is outside of its leveling range.
The precision level of the laser level model is excellent. This rotating laser system includes nearly everything a professional will require as a leveling tool. It comes with a remote control, an extra ceiling clamp, a NiMH rechargeable battery pack, a battery case, a battery charger with a 6.4 V rating, visible eyewear, and a rugged portable pouch.
Additional Items/ Technology
- The GreenBrite technology design.
- NiMH battery pack that can be charged
- An alkaline batteries compartment (batteries not included)
- Battery charging adapter of 6V
- A remote controller with a 9V battery.
- Mounting device ceiling or wall.
- Eyewear
- A user’s guide with a warranty card
- A rugged and portable carrying pouch.
5. The 40-6515 Johnson Self-Leveling Rotary Laser Level
The Johnson 40-6515 Self-Leveling Rotary Laser is perfect for indoor and outdoor leveling tasks because it has a range of about 69 meters for indoor leveling jobs in a bright light room and 244 meters for outdoor leveling jobs using a laser transceiver. The precision level of this Johnson laser model at 50 feet is 1/8-inch, and it auto-levels to a maximum of 3 degrees. A right-angle split beam is another unique feature of it.
The inner rotary system (pendulum) of this Johnson laser level model is held in place by a locking mechanism while it is being used to level. Its laser has three rotational velocities: 200, 400, and 600. It is simple to manually balance the vertical beamline in a vertical plane because it is lit. It also has a notification mode that lights up and makes a noise when the leveling range is passed.
Johnson’s 40-6515 Laser Level is constructed from sturdy plastic and has thick rubber overmolds that can endure inclement weather. This laser is resistant to dust and water splashes, thanks to its IP54 rating. It also has a central screw thread with a 5/8-11 size that works with most tripods as an added function.
6. The Leica R680,RE140, Rugby 680 Alkaline Laser Level
The Leica Rugby 680 is an auto-leveling dual gradient laser with a dial-in grade capacity that can measure a surface slope level of about 8 percent.
The Leica R680 uses “the Rugby H.I. Alert activates.” With this technological design, If the laser unit is disturbed during leveling operation without the user’s knowledge, the unit will cease rotating and beep its LED notification light so the user can readjust the position. Furthermore, the smart feature constantly tracks changes in time and temperature to maintain adequate daily performance.
The Rugby 680’s use a red class 2 beamline (laser), which has a maximum power of 2.7mw and operates at a wavelength of 635nm. The operating range of the adjustable Red Eye 140 Classic transceiver is 2,600 feet, and at 100 feet, accuracy is +/-1/16 inch. This particular laser model has an operating temperature varying from 14 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit. The physical laser is protected by a robust casing that complies with IP67 specifications for water and dust resistance and is made to withstand any tears, wear, or adverse circumstances.
The Leica Rugby 680 uses four D-cell batteries and lasts about 60 hours. Also, an alkaline battery works on this model. It comes with a rugged casing that protects the delicate unit of the leveling gadget, and it is highly portable. The transceiver and battery compartment are other components of this Leica Rugby model. The warranty covers problems caused by the manufacturer for two years. If you file a claim within eight weeks, the contract can be extended to three years.
Additional Items
- The Red Eye-140 transceiver
- Wall/ceiling bracket
- Rugby 680 Portable pouch
- Alkaline Battery compartment
Buyer’s Guide
If you are searching for a laser leveling device, the items above are the best models from reputable brands that will suit your building projects. But before you choose one, you should consider a few distinct features and how much you will use it. Information from some professional users was collected and evaluated.
1. Category
There are a series of diverse models of laser levels to pick from. Line, dot, and rotary lasers are currently on the market. Line lasers project a single straight beamline onto the surface target. Dot lasers send out a broken beamline (in the form of dots) on a flat surface. The rotary lasers project beamlines in a 360-degree circle on the target surface. You can use these beamlines to make your leveling point or calibration to obtain a precisely flat surface based on your needs.
2. Manual Level or Auto-level
A laser level that is easy to operate is what is best since every user will wish to obtain a level line. A good laser level will automatically run itself to instantly provide you with a perfectly aligned line. Also, a self-leveling laser device will save time, prevent wastage of building materials, and will require little or no experience to operate.
3. Precision
When handling a building task, you will want your surfaces to be more precise after you are done. Looking at how many separate lines, dots, or points of reference a level has is typically the best approach to assess its accuracy. The more frames of reference the level provides, the more level your building surface is.
4. Accessibility of Laser Lines
When selecting a laser level, the sight of the laser is crucial. It is much less helpful for the level if you can’t see the beamlines because you won’t be able to use the line or dots as a point of reference. However, your choice of laser beamline will depend critically on where you intend to use the device.
5. Rating for Ingress Protection
A laser level is evaluated by how well it keeps water out on a scale from 1 to 9 (where one is the least water-resistant and nine is the most). Using “IP67” as an example, the scale’s second number (7) shows how vulnerable the level is to moisture. Based on where you will use your level, you will have to get one that will safeguard you.
6. Convenience
The mobility of a laser level only becomes an issue if you have to carry it throughout a job site. If you plan to use it at home, you can get a larger and heavier one. The smaller models won’t have as many functions as the bigger ones.
7. How Long Do Batteries Last?
How quickly and well you work will depend on the type of battery recommended for your laser system. Standard AA and AAA batteries don’t last as long as rechargeable ones, but they can be charged repeatedly. If you plan to use your level daily, it is best to have a battery that can be charged. But if you only use your level once in a while, it is more beneficial to use recommended batteries.
8. The Number of Dots or Beamlines
A few people search for the most superficial, simple-line laser level so they won’t have any difficulties understanding the level alignment. While this may work best for simple do-it-yourself tasks, you may need to purchase a laser level that is more sophisticated than the one you already have, based on the complexity of the project you’re trying to complete. More beams or dots would be shown to you to provide a better frame of comparison.
9. Color of the Beamline
Typically, you have a choice between two colors for your laser level. The red or green lasers are the options you have to choose from. While working with your laser level, you want to realize that beam coloration significantly impacts how easy and accurate your job will get. Red lasers are better suited for low light conditions (indoor tasks), while green lasers are preferable for outdoor task use because they are slightly more visible in bright sunshine.
10. Projection Range
A significant number of professional laser level users do prefer a laser level model that has a broad range or more comprehensive range. The wider the laser detection system range, the more expensive it will be. The best recommendation would be to purchase a level with a significantly more extended projection range than the task you are currently handling. By doing this, you will be prepared in case a project arises that calls for a more comprehensive product range instead of planning on how to buy another model with a wide projection range.
Conclusion
Laser levels are a significant improvement over standard leveling tools. They can at any point self-level themselves, enabling you to build up gridwork patterns that are absolutely level and square, which will make your life significantly easier at work. They are ideal for fitting tiles, railings, ceilings, hanging pictures, floor grading, plumbing tasks, and other items. Fortunately, you have identified the best laser level for your construction project here. Best of luck!
