Best Laser Level for Foundations.

What is the Best Laser Level for Foundations?

The best laser level for foundations is one that provides accurate levels over long distances. In this article I will be shortlisting three of the best laser levels that you should use when laying foundations. These are laser levels that I use when working on foundations. Foundations that range from house builds to large steel frame warehouses.

What are the 3 best laser levels for foundations?

These are 3 best rotating laser levels for foundations on the market today.

Topcon RL-H5A
Leica Rugby 620
Spectra Precision LL300N

I have used all 3 of these rotating laser levels on sites. They are all suitable for the job of ensuring the foundations are dug to the correct depth and the concrete poured to the right height. Any of these 3 rotating laser levels will perform admirably at this task, and many other tasks too.

If you want a more in-depth review of these rotating laser levels, then you can find complete review articles on this website. Follow the links below to read the reviews.

Topcon RL-H5A Rotating Laser Level Review.

Leica Rugby 620 Rotating Laser Level Review.

Spectra Precision LL300N Rotating Laser Level Review.

Why you want to have the best laser level for your foundations.

The foundations you set are the key to the success of the home, be that of a family home or the work home (office or warehouse).

“You can’t build a great building on a weak foundation. You must have a solid foundation if you’re going to have a strong superstructure.”

Gordon B. Hinckley

Getting the foundations right will make the rest of the building work easier. Foundations, invariably, need to be level for either the bricks or the steelwork to sit on. If there are level changes in foundations, then these are evident in the form of steps in the foundations. Usually at specific points in relation to the brickwork. In all the time I have been on building sites, I have never come across a sloping foundation.

The main attribute that we are looking for from the laser level for foundations is that they produce a horizontal level over a large distance. But we also want the laser level to site tough also. This means being able to withstand environments that range from dry and dusty to wet and muddy.

How accurate is a Laser Level?

Laser Levels can be very accurate, if used correctly. Some of the best Rotating Laser Levels that are produced today can be accurate to within 5mm over a range of 200m. To prove how accurate a rotating laser level is, I performed a check on a Leica Rugby rotating laser level. You can read about how accurate the laser level is on this website here in the article on how accurate is a laser level.

Which laser level is the most accurate?

Of these 3 laser levels, the Topcon RL-H5A has the highest quoted accuracy. But in the real world of using these laser levels, they are all pretty much the same in my experience.

Below is a table showing laser levels ranked in order of quoted accuracy.

Manufacturer	Model	Working Range (Diameter)	Accuracy	Working Time (Single Charge)	Current Price (Amazon)
Topcon	RL-200	1100	4mm at 200m	100Hrs
Topcon	RL-H5A	800	5mm at 200m	100Hrs
Topcon	RL-SV2S	800	5mm at 200m	120Hrs
Topcon	RL-H5B	400	10mm at 200m	100Hrs
Leica	Rugby 680	900	1.5mm at 30m	60Hrs
Spectra Physics	LL300S	800	1.5mm at 30m	60Hrs
Bosch	GRL 500 HV	500	1.5mm at 30m	25Hrs	check current price
Johnson	40-6584	600	1.6mm at 30m	100Hrs
Johnson	40-6541	500	1.6mm at 30m	33Hrs
Johnson	40-6535	500	1.6mm at 30m	33Hrs
Leica	Rugby 610	500	2.2mm at 30m	60Hrs	check current price
Leica	Rugby 620	600	2.2mm at 30m	60Hrs	check current price
Leica	Rugby 640G	400	2.2mm at 30m	60Hrs
Leica	Rugby 640	500	2.2mm at 30m	60Hrs	check current price
Spectra Physics	LL300N	500	2.2mm at 30m	90Hrs	check current price
Fukuda	FRE-102AR	600	2.3mm at 30m	25Hrs
Johnson	40-6950L	450	2.4mm at 30m	16Hrs
Makita	SKR200Z	200	3.0mm at 30m	60Hrs
Spectra Physics	LL100N	350	3.3mm at 30m	50Hrs	check current price
Pacific	HVR 505R	152	3.3mm at 30m	N/A
Stabila	STB-LAPR150	240	6.0mm at 30m	80Hrs
Hilti	PR 2-HS A12	600	N/A	16Hrs

Make sure that you check your laser level regularly.

All of these laser levels will give accurate results, but they can go out of level. I have only seen one laser level that was not accurate in 20 years of being on site. This one was out of level by over 1mm every metre. The owner did not know how to check his laser level and it cost him big time.

Find out how to check your laser level by following this guide you can find on this website. How to check a laser level.

Laser Level Guarantees.

The Topcon RL-H5A has the longest standard guarantee at 5 years. All Topcon laser products come with a 5 year guarantee. Leica provide a 3 year guarantee on the Rugby 620 laser level called Leica Protect. Spectra Precision also offer a 5 year guarantee on their LL300N laser level.

Knowing the abuse that some of these laser levels can receive on construction sites offering anything over a 1 year guarantee is impressive.

Which laser level would I buy?

If I was buying one of these laser levels then I would go for the Topcon RL-H5A first. This is because of the accuracy and the longer guarantee than the Leica. My second choice would be the Leica Rugby 620 laser level.

But all of these laser levels are good laser levels to buy. If you have a manufacturer preference, then go for that one.

What else should you consider?

Remember to also consider the accessory equipment that you need, like the receiver, the tripod and the E-Grad Staff. The main inaccuracy with laser levels comes from either the tripod or the E-Grad Staff. These need to be in good condition to get the best results.