Dewalt Laser Level

DEWALT lasers and transit levels are used to obtain an accurate horizontal or vertical line between two points. Some are also capable of calculating volume and area of spaces as well. Laser levels, like drywall and plaster laser levels and siding laser levels, can be used for multiple purposes and by both professionals and DIY homeowners. DEWALT transit levels are more often used by professionals for building and surveying land. We offer a wide selection of each of these two kinds of levels to suit any purpose.

Transit levels are optical instruments and typically come with a tripod on which they are mounted. They are very precise, and while they are often used for building and surveying, they can also be used to establish a line of reference between objects and obtain angle readings. The magnification of these DEWALT transit levels is important, as it determines the range and accuracy of the tool.

There is a variety of different types of laser levels available. A laser distance measurer works when a linear measurement is not possible, giving you the volume, area and even the distance between two points. 360-degree horizontal and vertical line lasers act as rotary lasers, providing you with the true horizontal and vertical via brightly colored pulses. These DEWALT laser levels typically require battery power to function properly. You may need purchase DEWALT batteries and chargers separately.

When choosing any DEWALT lasers and transit levels, consider carefully whether you need them to be self-leveling. This type of laser will automatically find its level, requiring almost no effort on your part. Manual levels are also available, which may give you more control over your project.

Types of DeWalt Laser Levels | Choose the Right Laser

Choosing the right laser can be hard. With such a wide offering, how do you know which one to choose for your job? In the follow, we’ll dive into each type of laser and for which applications each is most commonly used. We’ll also outline a few key products offered by DEWALT for each category.

LINE LASERS:

Let’s begin with the most common laser found on a jobsite, the line laser. A line laser projects an accurate horizontal or vertical illuminated line onto the surface at which the laser is pointed. Use line lasers indoors when installing cabinetry, tile, a drop ceiling, or for basic leveling. They can also be used outdoors when framing or installing a deck. DEWALT offers these lasers on a 12V MAX* battery platform as well as with Alkaline batteries.

SPOT LASERS:

Spot lasers differ from line lasers in that they project a small circle of light onto the surface your laser is focused on. They are intended for transferring points from one surface to another. This could be for making sure a joist or wall is plumb (vertical) or to ensure pipes traveling from floor to floor are plumb. Spot lasers are most commonly used for plumbing installation, electrical work, HVAC, and framing applications. DEWALT offers spot lasers in both 3-spot and 5-spot. A 3-spot provides plumb and forward-facing dots whereas the 5-spot adds a right and left dot for transfer of points from wall to wall.

COMBINATION LASERS:

Combination lasers project both lines and spots simultaneously or independently. These lasers are great for professionals who complete a wide range of projects as they allow the user to switch between lines, spots, or both depending on the job at hand. Electricians and plumbers will find these lasers to be extremely helpful for countless applications such as installing lighting, outlets, running wires, and pipes. DEWALT offers combination lasers in both red and green variations. Our newest combination lasers are offered in the 12V MAX* system and include 2-spot cross and 5-spot cross models.

ROTARY LASERS:

Rotary lasers are used to kick off nearly every professional construction job. Their applications range from grade work (digging foundations), to layout and masonry. Both dual-slope and single-slope rotary lasers are used to continue a desired pitch across a large area. The desired pitch might be level for finding grade or when using a reference line. Dual-slope means that the line will move along both the X axis and Y axis. X mode is used often to “walk” the line in vertical mode for aligning metal track. Y is used to angle the line in horizontal mode for setting slope or setting pitch on a driveway.

What to Look for in a Laser Level

Accuracy

The most important feature of a laser level is its accuracy. After all, if it can’t produce a straight line, what’s the point? Most laser levels specify their accuracy right on the packaging. If it’s more than ¼-inch deviation at 100 feet, keep on shopping.

Beam Orientation

The beam orientation is the direction of the line produced by the laser level. There are three possibilities: horizontal, vertical, and 360-degree, which is a horizontal line that encircles all four walls of the room. Many higher-end laser levels have all three options. Less expensive models typically just have vertical and horizontal beams.

Self-Leveling

A self-leveling laser level automatically adjusts to compensate for slightly uneven surfaces, typically far more accurately than you could manage with your own eyeballs alone. This is a must-have feature if you expect to use the tool frequently, or in less-than-ideal settings.

Color

Most laser levels produce a red beam of light. Red light uses less battery power but is more difficult to see outdoors. Green lasers are more expensive, use more battery power, and are potentially more dangerous to your eyes, but they are also easier to see outdoors and over lengthy distances.

Our Top Picks:

1. Dewalt DW089LR 12V MAX 3 x 360 Degrees Red Line Laser

The DEWALT 12V 3 x 360 Degrees Self-Leveling Red Line Laser is easy to set-up and aids in full room layout applications. The Red Laser allows for a visibility of up to 50 feet. The 12V battery compatibility allows for long run times with the convenience of rechargeable power tool batteries.

Whether it’s for DIY use or a professional job site, DeWalt’s Line Laser level has what it takes to get the job done. This laser features three self-leveling red beams (one horizontal and two vertical beams) for leveling and lining up almost any project. It features accuracy to within ⅛-inch at 30 feet as well as having a micro-adjust knob on the top that allows the user to dial in the beam’s perfect alignment.

During testing, the DeWalt proved to be one of the easiest to set up and use. It features a magnetic back as well as a beam clamp for attaching to angle iron, though most of my test involved setting it on a flat surface. The red laser was very bright and easy to see. The factor that pushed the DeWalt to the top of the heap was its robust design. It’s not the largest laser level, but it is one of the heaviest and sturdiest, and the drop test left it largely unscathed. The only thing it really can’t do is project a 360-degree beam.

Features:

2. Dewalt DW088LG Laser Level

We weren’t exaggerating when we said that Dewalt is the first choice of smart professionals and one of the best laser levels, overall. The global brand has bagged two consecutive slots on our list with its next-gen DW088LG unit, one of the best green laser levels we could suggest. It’s quite impressive how the self-leveling feature of this product enhances user convenience by a great deal.

If another product could compete against the iconic DW089K, it has to be its compact successor, the DW088LG. This is strictly for those who’re searching for a flexible tool for both professional and personal use. Although it doesn’t bring a wide range of features to the table like the DW089K, it still has an advantage over it.

How, you may wonder? Well, the secret is, unlike the traditional chrome red light, this unit shoots green laser that is more visible from a longer distance, say 100 ft. It doesn’t feature a triple-line laser, but it offers a 2-beam setting that is good enough for large construction projects. It also offers a standard +/-4 degree self-leveling accuracy, which makes it ideal for users with not-so-high expectations.

Features:

3. DEWALT DW089LG 12V MAX Line Laser

Sometimes, it pays off to spend extra on a laser level. If you frequently work on professional projects, you can save a lot of headache with a commercial-grade tool. Even though professional laser levels have a higher price tag, they typically come with better features, more accurate lasers, and other additions that can make your work better and easier. The DEWALT DW089LG is one of the top-of-the-line choices for a commercial-grade level. For the price, you will get three separate 360-degree line lasers that are capable of filling an entire room with three line guides. The laser light is green, which can be up to four times brighter than the typical red lights midrange and budget options produce.

To survive the abuse of a professional worksite, this level is built to take punishment. The over-molded housing is water- and debris-resistant. The level also uses DEWALT’s interchangeable 12-volt battery platform, meaning you can reuse the same battery for most types of power tools of the same brand.

Features:

4. DEWALT DW088K Self-Leveling Cross Line Laser

The DW088K Cross Line Laser maintains full brightness for visibility and extends range that projects bright crossing horizontal and vertical lines for various leveling and layout applications.

You don’t have to be a pro to put up trim and cabinets like one. A solid self-leveling laser will guide you every step of the way, and IP54 water and dust resistance will keep it running for a long time. The base includes a quarter inch thread, which can be mounted on pretty much any camera tripod, so you don’t need to buy a fancy surveyor tripod for simple tasks.

The base is also magnetic, so mounting solutions are endless. Guaranteed accurate to an eighth of an inch at 30 feet, the level runs on 3 AA batteries and it’s simple to set up.

Features:

5. DeWalt DW089K

While it might not have the snappiest of names, the DW089K is certainly built to last with almost over-moulded design that can certainly stand a drop or two without risking the laser. It is effectively one big roll-cage. Use is also straightforward on site, with one-button-per-laser operation and an easily gripped big knob of precise adjustment of the intersecting lines (or easy re-direction to the next wall).

A low battery indicator on the side is a useful addition, not that you’ll see it for 25 hours, and the diagrammatic buttons are very clear – confusion seems very unlikely. DeWalt are also to be praised for their typically rugged kit box and the notably brighter laser than predecessors in the same line, though the IP20 build implies the DW089K is not waterproofed.

Features:

How We Tested the DeWalt Laser Levels

At its basic purpose, a laser level projects a line onto a surface that the user can reference, and it would make sense that accuracy would be the baseline of this test. But it wasn’t. Testing modern laser levels for accuracy is almost laughable, as even the most affordable model is more accurate than the human eye can tell (particularly with a bubble level).

Instead, the more critical factors, such as how well the laser line showed, how easy the levels were to set up, using the different features, and, ultimately, a durability test were the main focuses of this review. I set up each level to compare their accuracy (quickly), their beams, and their features. Then, the shocking part: I purposely dropped them on the ground.

Laser levels are somewhat precision instruments, but drops are entirely possible during a project. I dropped all the levels from the height of a sawhorse, all at once, three times. It broke my heart a bit to purposely abuse these tools, but I did it in the name of science.

FAQs

Why is my Dewalt laser level blinking?

If the laser beams are flashing it could be low battery or out of level. You can try to do the reset of the laser, remove the batteries for 30+ minutes and replace with new batteries.

How accurate is a Dewalt laser level?

From an accuracy standpoint, DEWALT offers a rotary laser that works up to 2,200 feet with an accuracy of 1/16 inch at 100 feet.

How do you calibrate a Dewalt laser?

With a pencil, mark a line where the beam strikes the wall. For models without X/ Y coordinates, draw a vertical line on the wall and mark the point where the laser beam strikes. Now rotate the laser level 180° and mark the point where the laser beam strikes. Different models have different tolerance levels specified.

What is the bubble in a level?

Each vial has a bubble inside, and that bubble is what tells you whether or not something is level or plumb. The liquid is usually tinted to a yellowish-green color to make it easier to see the bubble and get an accurate reading. Most levels have multiple vials for measuring different things.