There is no right answer to this question. It’s more a matter of the features you need and the amount you can afford to spend. Even a bargain-basement model will be an improvement over older methods of leveling and laying out. If you do a mix of interior and exterior projects, it’s best to get a pulsing tool and receiver. If your focus is exclusively on interior finish, you can save some money by forgoing the receiver. Stair builders and tile setters would be well-advised to seek models that can be placed on a video tripod and tilted to produce sloped lines and diagonal layout.
After putting these lasers in the hands of five different carpenters on multiple remodeling projects, we came up with several favorites.
At the upper end (in terms of price and features) are the Bosch and the PLS. Both project three 360-degree planes of light – two vertical and one horizontal. The vertical planes cross each other at 90 degrees and run all the way across the floor, walls, and ceiling. I have a hard time thinking of any kind of layout you can’t do with these tools. The Bosch tool levels more quickly because it has a pendulum; the PLS projects a steadier line because it’s leveled by servo motors.
Our midlevel favorites are the Spectra Precision and the Leica Lino. If I had to choose just one laser for my company, it would be one of these. The Spectra Precision is a combination of a cross-line laser and a 5-point laser (6-point if you count where the lines cross). The cross lines go out the front and the points go up, down, left, right, and back. The horizontal lines fan to less than 180 degrees, but the side points allow you to carry them through. The Leica is a combination of a cross-line laser with a 4-point laser (5 if you count where the lines cross). The points go up, down, left, and right, and the lines fan out to more than 180 degrees.
We also like the Agatec and the Topcon LC-2 for their compact size, low price, and simple functions: They’re line lasers with points that go up and down. Except for one or two features, these two tools are identical.
Greg Burnet is a remodeling contractor in Berwyn, Ill.