The UK's bestSpirit Levels2022 Review

The Bosch Professional range of tools and accessories are some of the most reliable and trustworthy on the market. If you need a super-reliable level in a small package, this 25 cm top quality spirit level from Bosch is pretty much unbeatable.

Constructed from die-cast aluminium and protected with shock-absorbing end caps, this is a sturdy and accurate spirit level. You get two vertical and one horizontal vial of UV-resistant liquid that are readable from both the side and the top of the tool.

What makes this spirit level so convenient though must be the magnets. There are three strong ferrite magnets embedded in the body, making it a hands-free piece of kit. It’s probably the last spirit level you’ll ever need to own.

One of the world’s best known DIY brands, Stanley make an incredible range of tools for DIYers and professionals alike. Their 250 mm Xtreme Torpedo Scaffold Level is a measuring tool that features some clever tricks up its sleeve.

Constructed from strong die-cast aluminium, the torpedo shape is specially designed to take up only a small amount of space. The three vials are all easily visible, especially the central one that is held inside magnified glass.

What I really like about this spirit level is the rotating vial on one end. If you want to check a precise angle or set something out at any angle between 0° and 180°, simply turn the dial. It’s a handy tool that you’ll find plenty of uses for.

Semlos make a bit of everything, from homewares to torches. They also make spirit levels that feel more like James Bond gadgets. This multipurpose laser level is packed full of clever tools that should make hanging pictures and getting shelves level a piece of cake.

If you want to use this 200 mm long plastic tool as a standard spirit level, there are three vials to choose from. They’re easy to read and will tell you if you’re on the level in three dimensions. Need to take a quick measurement? Pull out the 2.5 m tape measure from the end. You can never have enough tape measures in a workshop!

But if you want to level up and use a laser, you can project an accurate red line onto the wall in front of you. There are three modes to choose from: a horizontal line, a vertical line and a cross. It’s not self-levelling like a standalone laser level, but you can use the spirit levels to get the device straight.

German tool heroes Bosch make some of the best DIY and professional spirit levels. Making up part of their “green” line of DIY measuring tools is the PLL 1P Laser Spirit Level. It’s a compact and handy aluminium spirit level that would be an improvement to any tool kit.

Fitting easily in the palm of my hand, it’s a slimline level that doesn’t take up too much room. Measuring just under 150 mm, it’s ideal for getting into tight spots. There are a pair of small vials that give you horizontal and vertical readings, but that’s not the clever part of this device.

What sets this apart from the competition is the bright red laser line that you can shine from the end of the level. You simply line up the bubble in the vial, then project a perfectly straight line across the wall. You can use the wall mount to fine adjust the laser line to any angle you want, which is handy.

With more than 130 years in the measuring game, Germany’s Stabila are the go-to brand for top quality spirit levels. Found on building sites around the world, the 96-2-60 spirit level is an industry-standard.

Measuring 61 cm long and made from lightweight extruded aluminium, this 3 vial Stabila spirit level is made in Germany to exacting standards. The vials are incredibly accurate and easy to read, and sit under the edge of the level for protection in the harsh environments it works in.

The Stabila spirit level is extremely light and easy to hold with one hand when marking walls. What makes this job easier are the rubber end caps. They help to stop slipping when marking out lines on a wall. You can also pull them off to get the end flush against a wall. It’s probably the best analog spirit level you can get.

Australian firm OX Tools have been creating robust and clever bits of kit since 1974. Their hand tools are loved by DIYers and professionals equally, and the OX-P024412 Pro Level 1200mm won’t disappoint either group.

Decked out in OX Tools’s recognisable bright blue, this is a level that’s ideal for those big levelling jobs. Made from quality extruded aluminium, the 1200 mm length is more than enough for big building projects and has three vials for checking levels.

There’s a pair of rubberised handles cut out of the level itself, that make it easy to carry around and non-slip in any weather conditions. You get a pair of polypropylene end caps as well that should keep everything safe from the expected knocks and drops on site.

What sets this apart as one of the best long spirit levels available right now is the clever cut out. There’s a hole cut into the base of the level which means you can view the vial and bubble from two sides. It’s a handy feature you probably never knew you needed!

Trend are probably best known for their routers, but they also make an impressive range of hand tools and accessories. The DAF/8 digital angle finder is an ingenious bit of kit that combines two essential woodworking tools in one.

Starting with the construction, this level has a solid feeling aluminium body and large LCD screen that displays the current angle. The fold-out ruler can measure up to 220 mm or 8”, depending on the side you read.

The spirit level only has one vial, but it makes up for it by being able to find angles between 0° and 220°. You can even remove the locking knob and extend the range up to 360° with an accuracy of 0.15°. The digital angle finder allows you to hold a measurement or even zero the scale, allowing you to calculate the difference in angle without resorting to doing calculations in your head.

One of the big power tool brands out there, the big red Milwaukee brand can be seen in the hands of DIYers and professional tradespeople all over the place. The 4932459597 Magnetic Pocket Level is probably the best quick reference level you can get. It’s tiny but still manages to be accurate.

Measuring just 78 mm across, it’s small enough to fit in a pocket, and weighing just 140 g, it’s not going to slow you down at all. It’s just as useful thrown into a tool kit for when you need it. Made from cast aluminium, it’s stable and very solid with a milled bottom to make sure it’s flat.

Even though it’s small, the horizontal vial is big enough to be easily read and you can use it to measure any angle from 0° to 90°. Milwaukee have included a rotating dial that allows you to set individual angles, or popular ones like 45° or 22.5°.