Best Cross Line Laser Level For Indoor And DIY
Last updated on January 21st, 2023 at 02:31 pm
What Is A Cross Line Laser Level?
We’ve all seen the traditional levels. The ones with a little tube full of green liquid and a bubble in it. These are called spirit levels. When you’re working on a project they help keep things straight, at the correct angle, accurate and… well, level. So keeping this in mind we will ask, “What is a Laser Level?” Or, more specifically, “What is a Cross Line Laser Level?”
A Laser Level uses a laser beam to project a straight line onto a surface. By adjusting the level unit that line can be made level. A Cross Line Laser Level uses two laser beams. One horizontally. And one vertically. These beams intersect and create a perfectly aligned, right angle reference point. They can be used in a wide variety of household and DIY projects.
What Are Laser Levels Used For?
Laser Levels ensure that things are accurate, consistent, and convenient. Just about any improvement and remodeling project can use a laser level. Some require it.
From hanging pictures and wall decorations, to building and mounting bookshelves. Tiling to ceiling work. Keeping things at a consistent angle, such as a stair case. Laser levels have nearly endless uses.
And this article is going to exclusively feature Cross Line Laser Levels. Also, all of the units featured here are self-leveling.
What’s The Best Laser Level
Like any other tool, the best one is the tool that is best for the particular job. So for today’s purposes that will be featuring cross line laser levels that work best for indoor jobs and DIY projects.
All of the units featured here will work great for your projects around the house. And some can even be used for smaller outside projects.
Red Or Green Laser?
A couple things on this. Green lasers are brighter and easier to see. They project longer distances as well. But they take more power.
Red lasers work well for shorter distances and take less power than green lasers. So typically, the battery life will be longer. For indoor use, where there is usually lower lighting and shorter distances, red lasers work fine.
Are Laser Levels Accurate?
The accuracy of modern laser levels is very high. As a rule of thumb it should be accurate to within 1/8 of an inch at 30 feet.
All of the laser levels featured here have a higher accuracy than that.
So, enough of the nerdy stuff. Let’s look at the Coolest 5 cross line laser levels.
Your Coolest 5 List
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The Skil Name And Reputation
One of the most well known names in tools is Skil. And this 65 foot laser level certainly lives up to that reputation.
The red laser in this unit has a range of 65ft, or 20m. (bright light conditions may reduce this range.) Under indoor conditions it is more than capable of projecting a bright red line around the entire room.
Three Ways To Use
This Skil Cross Line Level can be used in three different ways.
- Handheld: For point marking and alignment by sight.
- On A Surface: In lock mode it can be used to project a horizontal “chalk line” around the entire room. (Vertically is less than 360°.)
- Tri-pod Mounted: To project a constant line at any height around a room. Also can be used at various angles.
Accuracy
The accuracy of the line generated by this unit is 3/16 of an inch in 30 feet. (in metric that is 0.5mm/meter.)
For indoor DIY projects, and even some outdoor ones, this is a very acceptable level of accuracy.
WHAT’S INCLUDED: The Skil Model LL932201 65 foot 360° Red Self-Leveling Cross Line Laser Level, micro USB charging cable, compact tripod, and soft carrying case.
Applications
Excellent for using in just about any project around the house. the cross line will help you hang anything on your walls. (Even a curved shower curtain rod.)
It can even help if you’re working on something that is not plumb, ie – at an angle.
Other Features
LED’s are included to monitor when charging, and how much charge is left when in use.
USB charging is very convenient. And you don’t have to buy batteries for it all the time. Operating time on a full charge is 10 hrs. A wall charger is optional, so it can be charged from a regular power outlet.
The included compact tripod is a nice addition as well. Not a heavy-duty stand by any means. But more than adequate to hold this unit when it is in self-leveling mode and locked. The 1/4 inch threaded mounting hole will fit any standard tripod.
Plus this will help achieve a variety of different angles if needed.
Excellent Brand Reputation
Skil is a well established company, and known for quality and innovation in their products.
They have a strong online presence. Easily accessible customer support. And you can register your product online to receive extra support benefits.
And it comes with the Skil 5 Year Limited Warrantee. You can take a look at the Owner’s Manual online to get more details.
COOLS
- Excellent quality
- USB charging (Eliminates Batteries)
- Trusted customer support
- Included compact tripod
UN-COOLS
- Integrated battery, can’t have backup
- 360° only horizontally
- Power supply sold separately
Mid-Priced With Good Features
The Hychika Model LL2G30C Green Cross Line Level is a mid-priced unit with a lot going for it.
It uses a green laser, which is said to be more visible in bright light situations. It has dual lasers that can be used in three modes:
- Horizontal line only
- Vertical line only
- Horizontal and vertical lines
These modes are controlled by the single On/Off/Operating mode button. It also has a switch for manually leveling and auto-leveling/locking the unit.
I/4 inch threaded mounting hole fits all standard tripods.
Accuracy
This laser level is accurate to +/- 0.9mm/m. (English units that is +/- 0.03 inches/3.3 feet) Self-leveling mode is accurate to +/- 4 degrees. Self-leveling calibration time is less than 6 seconds.
WHAT’S INCLUDED: The Hychika Model LL2G30C Self-Leveling Green Cross Line Level, L-Shaped mounting bracket, micro USB charging cable, carrying case. and Owner’s Manual
Applications
With the 150 foot range and green laser, this one will be useful for just about any household project. And it is suitable for some outdoor jobs as well.
Quality Construction
It is rated by the manufacturer to be waterproof, shockproof, and dustproof. So it will stand up well to heavy usage.
It has a compact design and can be carried very easily. An LED indicates the charging level.
Solid Online Presence
Hychinka is a South Korean company that has been in business for over 25 years. They have over 50 innovation patents in that time.
They have a very good website where you can create an account and register your product. Their customer support is easily accessible if you have any issues.
You can view the Hychika Model #LL2G30C User Manual online. It is downloadable as well.
COOLS
- Water, dust, and shock resistant
- 2 independent lasers
- Included magnetic bracket
- Customer Support easily accessible
UN-COOLS
- Integrated battery, can’t have backup
- Power supply not available
Versatile And Easy To Use
This Johnson Level and Tool Green Laser Level is suitable for indoor and outdoor projects. Using Johnson’s GreenBright® technology, their green laser beam is 400% more visible to the eye than red beams. Even in the most brightly lit areas, this level will still be visible.
If you have indoor DIY projects of just about any kind, this Johnson Level and Tool level will suit your needs. It gives you a crisp cross line and also comes with a magnetic target for lining up your point.
It has a manual mode for using it at any angle. It features an out-of-level indicator. If the two beams are unable to self-level, the unit will flash the beams. This will increase your accuracy.
WHAT’S INCLUDED: The Johnson Level & Tool self-leveling cross line laser, magnetic bracket, magnetic target, glasses, 2 AA batteries, hard-shell carrying case
Specifications And Accuracy
The specifications state that the working range is up to 50 feet. But it is effectively 30 feet. The self-leveling range accuracy is +/- 4 degrees.
The unit runs on 2AA batteries. And the battery life for this laser level is 9 hours.
A couple nice touches on this package are the green goggles, which help make the laser line even more visible. and the magnetic target that helps you place your cross lines more accurately.
This unit also has a 1/4 inch threaded hole on the bottom for mounting on standard tripods.
Solid Online Presence
Johnson Level and Tool has been making traditional spirit (bubble) type levels and other layout tools for over 70 years. Located in the state of Wisconsin in the USA. They are a solid company with an accessible web presence.
You can contact them directly for service and support. Their website contains a lot of helpful information. And you can create an account for even more features and access.
You can view the Johnson Level Model 40-6601 User Manual online. It is downloadable as well.
COOLS
- Easy of use
- Quality construction
- Dependable manufacturer
UN-COOLS
- Not USB rechargeable
- Working range could be longer for price point
Multifunction Capability
The Huepar Box-1G Green Cross Line Laser is suitable for some outdoor applications, as well as your around the house DIY projects. It is selectable between cross lines, horizintal, or vertical lines. It can also be switched in the optional Pulse Mode for outdoor use.
Huepar’s smart pendulum system allows this unit to self-level and will indicate to the user if it becomes out of level. This will increase accuracy as you will always know when your reference lines are locked and level.
Laser Beam Spread
The included magnetic bracket increases the versatility of this product. Huepar has made this unit waterproof and dustproof. And the TPR soft rubber coated housing makes it durable and dependable.
Take a look at the manufacturer’s product video for more information on this laser level.
WHAT’S INCLUDED: The Huepar Box-1G green cross line laser, 180° L-shaped magnetic bracket, laser target plate, 4 AA batteries, soft carrying case, manual
A Look At The Specs
Huepar lists the accuracy of this unit at +/- 1/13 inch at 35 feet. (That’s 1.95mm at 10.05m.) The leveling/compensation range is 4° +/- 1°.
The unit is powered by 4 AA batteries. Huepar says this gives it longer operating time. But just by the numbers this is not as long as some of the other laser levels listed in this article.
But they also specifically state that this is four hours continuous operation with all the beams on. So maybe they are measuring things differently than the others.
Manufacturer Information
Huepar has been making quality laser levels since 2013. They are based in China, but have 20+ warehouses all over the world.
Their products come with a 24 months official warranty. They have an informative and helpful website. And you can contact their Customer Support directly.
COOLS
- Built to last
- Independent lasers
- Pulse mode for outdoor use
UN-COOLS
- Not USB rechargeable
- Requires 4 AA batteries
3D Laser Level
The Takamine GM100Self-Leveling Green Laser Level projects its bright and clear lines in all three directions. The top laser covers the horizontal line (ie, X-axis). The other two vertical lasers cover the line from front to back (the Y axis), and from left to right (the Z axis).
All three lines will cover an entire room, 360°. The unit has self-leveling mode, which also flashes the beams to let you know if it is +/- 4° out of level. And it also has manual mode which allows you to use the unit at any angle.
Lots Of Goodies
Features:
If you are someone who goes for the tool with the most features and accessories, then this is the one for you. There is a lot going on here.
Starting with the unit itself. 3 separate laser beams with 360° coverage. Locking and manual mode (for using at any angle). You can toggle the horizontal and vertical lines on and off for a variety of combinations. And it also has a remote control for the beams.
It has an outdoor/bright light mode which extends the beam up to 200 feet. It accomplishes this by using a pulse mode for the beams. This pulsing cannot be seen by the naked human eye. so they don’t look any different. The Takamine laser receiver is necessary to use this mode, which is sold separately.
Accessories
You can tackle just about any situation with the accessories included. A 360° rotating base achieving any angle of rotation that you need. There is also a universally adjustable magnetic bracket that can achieve any position and angle.
If you don’t have anything to attach the magnet to, a metal plate is included that can be screwed to a surface and the laser level will attach to it.
It comes with a USB type C charging cord that is capable of quick charging. And the A/C power adapter comes with it too. You can re-charge it from a wall plug.
WHAT’S INCLUDED: The Takamine 3×360° Self Leveling Green Laser Level, detachable lithium-ion battery, multifunctional magnetic stand, 360° rotating base, type-c power cord, power adapter, hard-shell storage box, user manual
How About The Battery?
One of the best features with this Takamine GM100 is the detachable lithium-ion battery. The battery has an LED charge level meter. There are a lot of options to this. One of which is if your charge level gets low on a job or project, you can remove the battery and leave the laser level unit in place.
Another great advantage is that you can have multiple batteries. So you can always have a fully-charged battery if the one in use gets low. Then just swap them out. That’s a big plus.
Designed For Durability
Covered with TPR rubber it has a soft feel, but it’s easy to grip. Plus it is impact resistant, to keep it safe from being dropped. Waterproof, dustproof and zinc alloy protective housings surrounding the lasers round out the durability specs.
Takamine provides a one year warranty on this item.
COOLS
- Features and accessories
- 3 separate beams that cover 360°
- Removable battery
- Remote control
UN-COOLS
- Corrosion resistant not “Rust Proof”
- Might be too high priced for some
The Best Of The Best
(Or – The Coolest Of The Cool)
DURABILITY
The SKIL LL932201 Cross Line Laser Level comes away with the durability vote. With the Skil name and reputation this one will give long-lasting consistent results.
VALUE
The HYCHIKA LL2G30C Green Cross Line Laser Level comes in as the value pick. A basic unit with good features. It will meet your needs and at a great price.
FEATURES
The Takamine GM100 Self-Leveling Green Cross Line laser Level takes this category. For the price, its list of features and accessories is impressive.
A Great Tool For Around-The-House Projects
Cross Line Laser Levels are an impressive and very useful tool. I have kept this review to levels that are best for indoor and Do It Yourself (DIY) projects on purpose.
Other types, such as rotary laser levels, are designed for professional construction or surveying jobs. They have the capacity to project the laser beam across much longer distances.
I have picked the ones I think are best for those around-the house projects. Some of us are looking to hang some pictures or wall coverings; have a kitchen cabinet project, ceiling work, tiling, painting, etc. All of these will be capable of handling those projects. And these units will work on some smaller outside projects as well.
These levels are great for beaming their precision lines at shorter distances that are worked with indoors. They are plenty bright for almost any indoor application. And at several different price points, you’ll find one that doesn’t bust your budget.
So in conclusion, we see that cross line laser levels have pretty much become a must-have tool for common projects. They increase efficiency and accuracy, and greatly improve the finished product. And we all love the feeling of a job well done.
I hope you have found this article helpful and informative. If you have any questions or comments please contact me and let me know. I will asist you in any way I can. And I love to get helpful input from readers.