On the Bubble: Best Spirit Levels of 2021

Why Trust Us

I used a level every day for work in a previous life. I installed high-end modular cabinetry for several years in my 20s. Every detail had to be right; we had to plumb and level each cabinet to make it look right. If a cabinet were crooked, the client could see it — we all can! We know our conscientious audience is the same way.

Due to my field experience, Gear Hungry tasked me with the project.

Who This is For

For many tool kits, a spirit level is a must-have. Home DIY types, carpenters, concrete workers, landscapers, machinists, and engineers all use spirit levels all the time.

Depending on the job at hand, your spirit level needs can vary widely. Maybe you need a cheap but reliable level for odd jobs, or maybe you need a workhorse for finishing concrete every day. Either way, there’s a level for you here.

How We Picked

I gravitate toward trusted brands for levels (and tools in general, barring an outlier that impresses with quality). When it comes to a plumb and level finished product, you want to be the expert. So, use the expert tools, and buy the most accurate spirit level you can get.

The guide also features a couple of sets of levels and a digital option.

How We Tested

The first thing you should do with any level is to test it against a level you already know to be accurate. Who’s to say it’s accurate off the shelf? I did this, then carried them and even drop-tested them for durability.

The results are here.

Features to Look for in Spirit Levels

Bubbles — Every spirit level has vials full of mineral spirit solution with air bubbles inside. The bubble indicates plumb, or level, based on gravity. Two or four hairlines help the user’s estimates.

Accuracy — How do you know a level is accurate? First thing’s first: test any new level against a level you already know to be accurate.

If you don’t have this option, you can do a roll test: Simply level a flat surface with the tool, then put any object that rolls by itself on it — a smooth marble is best. If it stays put, the level is accurate.

It’s worth mentioning that sometimes it’s best to eyeball it. Start playing with a level around your house and you’ll probably find that most of it slant one way or another (if only barely). But because of this, sometimes a perfectly level object can look awkward.

It’s all a question of priority. Cabinetry SOP is to level and plumb the cabinet, then step back and look at it in the context of the room. If it looks too weird, sometimes it’s worth adjusting.

Obviously, sometimes this is the wrong thing to do; most folks want a level workbench, no matter what the rest of the garage looks like.

Magnetic Strips — Magnetic spirit levels have magnets in the rails. Use them to hold your level on magnetic objects, or store your level on the side of your toolbox.

Lights — Some levels have LED or other lighted vials for working in dark conditions. I wouldn’t pay extra for it unless I harbored some strange hatred for headlamps or shop lights. If that’s the case, be our guest! LEDs last a long time.

Size — Usually 9 inches for a torpedo level. Next standard sizes include 2, 4, 6, and 8 feet. Get a 6-footer if you’re framing houses. Get an 8-footer if you’re pouring thin-set or doing foundation work. Get a 2-footer or a torpedo level for home use.

Mineral spirit visibility — A lot of current levels have Day-Glo green spirit vials. The air bubble, obviously, is clear. The color and brightness contrast helps the user read the level quickly.

End caps — The best construction levels have rubber end caps to absorb shock. Sometimes, they’re removable for flush use. If you think about it, the only parts of the level that are reliable are the rails. If you need to push the end flush against a surface, the rubber end cap can throw you off.

Ergonomic — The areas of ergonomics for levels are the vials, magnetism, and storage.

First of all, can you read it? How easily can you read it? When you micro-adjust the tool, does the bubble move smoothly or does it dance around all over the place? Pay attention, it can make your life easier.

Magnetism can help make the level stay put, and adds a storage option if you have a metal toolbox.

Types of Spirit Levels

Bubble/Spirit — Indicates level with a vial partially filled with mineral spirit solution. The bubble follows gravity. Two or four hairlines help indicate the sweet spot. There are a few laser spirit levels on the market, too.

Digital — Expresses level or plumb with a digital display. Used in high-leverage situations like site surveying where it’s important to be as close to perfect as possible. Some tools consolidate digital, laser, and spirit levels into one tool.

Q: How do I choose my spirit level?

A: Great question. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, yes? How to choose which way to start walking. I have two recommendations regarding materials and size.

1. Get a metal level. Get a metal level. Get a metal level. You got that? Get a metal level. Plastic, fiberglass, etc.: they all warp. Heat can do it, sunlight can do it, moisture can do it. Choosing metal (usually an aluminum spirit level) ensures you have a tool that can last forever if maintained.
2. Get a level you can comfortably store and use for multiple relevant projects. A 2-footer generally works for around-the-house stuff. If you’re standing walls, you need at least a 6-footer.

Q: How do spirit levels work?

A: An air bubble floats in the mineral spirit solution in the vial. The bubble follows gravity to indicate level or plumb. Two or four hairlines help the user get an accurate reading.

Q: Why is it called a spirit level?

A: Mineral spirit solution is the standard fluid for “spirit” level vials.

Q: How long should a spirit level be?

A: Depends on your usage. A 9-inch torpedo level will generally work for basic applications like leveling an end table or bookshelf.

Get a 2-foot level for the next graduation of tasks: longer shelves, hanging cabinets or TV stands.

A 6-foot level is best for standing walls on a construction project. It might also be a good idea for a pool table.

Use an 8-footer for leveling a big deck or measuring level across a broad surface like a concrete slab.

*NOTE*: you can also draw a longer line on any surface with a longer level.

Q: Is a longer level more accurate?

A: Not technically. But it’s useful to think about triangles to understand the difference between level lengths. Say you lift one end of a level off an unlevel surface, to get an idea of where the level is. If the level is 8 feet long, the sides of the triangle between the level and the surface can be 8 feet long.

Sometimes it’s easier to get a realistic picture of what needs to happen with a longer level. As well, longer levels let you draw longer lines. This can be helpful for layouts or spans.

Q: Do spirit levels lose accuracy?

A: A spirit level will only lose accuracy if it somehow gets damaged. Obviously, dropping it can knock it out of whack. But any level that’s not metal can also warp due to heat, moisture, or sunlight changes. For this reason, I only recommend metal levels.

That being said, you’re better off keeping any level out of drastic temperature or moisture changes — even the best carpenter’s levels generally have plastic vials with plastic fixtures.

After a former coworker (who achieved “highly malignant” status on our crew) dropped and broke a level given to me by a mentor, I’ve never been the same. It’s a sensitive accuracy instrument, not a hammer. Treat it accordingly.

Q: How do you know if a spirit level is accurate?

A: The easiest way: check it against a level you already know is accurate.

The next easiest way: use it to make a shelf level. Then put an object that rolls on top of it. If the object stays put without rolling around, the level works.

Here’s the last resort method: eyeball it. Here in civilization, our eyeballs are actually pretty well attenuated to what’s level and what’s wonky.

Q: Can you calibrate a spirit level?

A: The easiest way to calibrate a spirit level, again, is to check it against another level you know is accurate. Check both rails of the level by flipping it over.

There’s another way to do it using a level surface and a pencil. The easiest way to learn how is to watch somebody do it. I recommend this guy. He knows what he’s doing, and his candor is priceless. Watch until 2:48 for a fun surprise.

Q: How do I clean my spirit level?

A: If your level gets covered in thin-set, sheetrock mud, mortar, etc., you gotta use acid (no, not that kind) to clean it. Get some sulfamic acid cleaner — it’s widely available at Lowe’s, Home Depot, etc. It shouldn’t melt your skin, but I always recommend wearing gloves anyway because I don’t trust long-term effects of any chemical contact.

Pour a cup or two of it into a 5-gallon bucket filled with water. Then put your encrusted level(s) in it and let it sit for 48 hours or so. The solution should do most of the cleaning itself.

For stubborn bits in crevices or corners, use a wire or nylon brush.

Q: How do they get the bubble in a spirit level?

A: Wow, guys, this one’s pretty simple. Why is there an air bubble in any container filled with liquid? It’s not all the way full. It’s the same with any bubble level — the vial isn’t filled to the brim with liquid.

Sources:

1. Application of Digital Automatic Levels and Impact of Their Accuracy on Construction Measurements - ResearchGate