The Best Hand Tools Tested in 2023

Jun 27, 2023

The Bosch GLL 30-foot self-leveling laser projects crossing horizontal and vertical lines for all kinds of leveling and aligning projects. The level mounts to either a tripod (not included) or any convenient location such as a board, pipe, or ladder via the included universal clamp mount. A smart pendulum self-leveling system allows for quick start-up, with an indicator signal that indicates out-of-level condition. The perpendicular leveling lines are visible up to 30 feet away. Certified accuracy of +/- 5/16 inch at 30 feet assures a precise layout.

Our first test was to gauge the accuracy of the Bosch GLL 30. We screwed it onto the universal mount, which we then attached to a step ladder. We set the laser to project on an intersection of two walls 20 feet away so that the horizontal line appeared on both walls and the vertical line appeared at the interior angle where the walls met.

When we first switched on the device, the line flashed to signal "out of level," so we adjusted the position. Then the line remained solid, so we aligned our spirit level with the line projections on each wall. This confirmed that the line was indeed level. Assembly and adjustments took less than 2 minutes.

We used the Bosch GLL 30 laser level to mark matching locations for shelving on the two walls. As a comparison, we had done an identical project using a spirit level a few days earlier. This time we held the shelf brackets on the wall so that the line projected through the screw holes. We marked the locations for all hardware on the same level and then repositioned the level to the next height as needed. By eliminating the need to measure the height and level for each set of holes, the laser level reduced the project time by almost half compared to our prior project.

The laser level was easy to assemble and use and priced comparably to a high-quality spirit level. It did not come with a storage case, but the shipping box was sturdy enough for storage. The two issues we noted were that this level is not suitable for outdoor use due to diminished visibility in bright conditions, and indoor use requires both a support of some kind and a direct line of sight—both of which may be challenging for certain applications.

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Get the Bosch laser level hand tool at Amazon, The Home Depot, Ace Hardware, or Lowe's.