Spirit Levels

About Spirit Levels

Spirit levels are essential precision tools that enable tradespeople and DIY enthusiasts to achieve perfectly horizontal and vertical surfaces across countless construction, installation and maintenance projects. Also known as bubble levels, these indispensable measuring instruments use a sealed vial containing liquid and an air bubble to indicate when a surface is perfectly level or plumb. From compact torpedo levels that fit in a toolbag to professional-grade models extending beyond three metres, there's a spirit level designed for virtually every application.

Our comprehensive range features everything from basic single-vial line levels for straightforward tasks to advanced digital inclinometers that provide precise angle measurements. Whether you're hanging a picture frame at home, installing kitchen cabinets, laying foundations, or ensuring scaffold platforms are true, the right spirit level makes the difference between professional results and costly mistakes. We stock trusted brands including Stabila, Bahco, Hultafors, DeWalt, Milwaukee, Bosch, Facom, Draper and Faithfull, offering options for every skill level and budget.

Modern spirit levels have evolved significantly beyond the traditional design, now incorporating features such as magnetic bases for hands-free use on metalwork, reinforced frames for site durability, integrated laser technology, and even LED lighting with audio alerts for working in challenging conditions. Professional-grade models feature milled surfaces for exceptional accuracy, whilst budget-friendly options provide reliable performance for occasional domestic use.

Jargon Buster

• Vials: The sealed transparent tubes containing coloured liquid and an air bubble. Professional levels typically feature two or three vials for checking horizontal, vertical and sometimes 45-degree angles. High-quality vials offer greater accuracy and are easier to read.
• Accuracy Rating: Expressed in millimetres per metre (mm/m), this indicates how precise the level is. Professional-grade models typically offer 0.5mm/m or better, whilst DIY levels may be 1.0-2.0mm/m. The lower the number, the more accurate the tool.
• Box Beam vs I-Beam: Box beam levels feature a hollow rectangular profile offering excellent rigidity and durability. I-beam levels have a lighter weight construction suitable for less demanding applications. Box beams are preferred for professional site work.
• Magnetic Base: Built-in magnets allow the level to attach securely to steel surfaces, enabling hands-free operation when working with metalwork, scaffolding or steel frame construction.
• Milled Surface: Precision-machined flat edges on professional levels ensure perfect contact with the work surface, eliminating errors caused by uneven level bases. Essential for accurate readings on critical installations.
• Torpedo Level: A compact, typically 225-250mm long spirit level designed to fit easily in toolbelts and bags. Ideal for confined spaces where standard levels won't fit, such as between joists or in electrical boxes.

Who Uses Spirit Levels?

Spirit levels are used daily by numerous trades and professions:

• Bricklayers and Stonemasons: Ensuring courses are level and walls are plumb during construction work
• Carpenters and Joiners (Chippies): Installing door frames, window reveals, skirting boards, kitchen units and fitted furniture
• Plumbers: Achieving correct fall on waste pipes and levelling radiators, sinks and bathroom fixtures
• Electricians (Sparkies): Positioning consumer units, mounting sockets and switches at consistent heights
• Tilers: Ensuring tile courses remain level and vertical alignment is maintained throughout installations
• Landscapers: Creating level patios, checking retaining walls and establishing proper drainage gradients
• Scaffolders: Verifying platform levels for safety compliance on construction sites
• Plasterers and Renderers: Checking wall surfaces and screeds are true before finishing
• Kitchen and Bathroom Fitters: Installing worktops, wall units and sanitaryware to precise tolerances
• DIY Enthusiasts: Home improvement projects from shelving installation to garden decking
• Decorators: Positioning picture rails, coving and ensuring wallpaper patterns align correctly

How to Choose the Right Spirit Levels

Length Considerations: Select the longest level that your typical work accommodates. Longer levels bridge surface imperfections in timber or masonry, providing more accurate readings. A 600mm level suits general carpentry, whilst 1200-1800mm models are ideal for larger joinery and building work. Keep a compact torpedo level for tight spaces and a 2400mm or longer level for floor screeding and extensive wall work.

Accuracy Requirements: Professional tradespeople should invest in levels with accuracy ratings of 0.5mm/m or better, particularly for precision installations where tolerance is critical. DIY users undertaking occasional projects may find 1.0mm/m adequate for general tasks. Stabila, Bahco and Hultafors are renowned for exceptional accuracy that meets professional standards.

Construction Quality: Box beam aluminium levels offer superior rigidity and durability for demanding site work, resisting the knocks and drops common on busy building sites. Look for reinforced end caps to protect against damage. Lighter I-beam or plastic levels suit less intensive domestic applications where portability matters more than ruggedness.

Vial Visibility: Choose models with large, clearly marked vials that remain easy to read in varying light conditions. Some manufacturers use high-visibility fluorescent colours or illuminated vials. Multiple reading positions (top and side) improve usability when working in awkward positions or confined spaces.

Specialist Features: Magnetic bases are invaluable for steelwork and metal frame construction. Digital inclinometers like the Bosch GIM 120 provide precise angle measurements for complex cuts and installations. Integrated laser levels project reference lines across surfaces, whilst audio alert systems notify when level is achieved without looking at vials.

Budget Considerations: Entry-level models from Draper, Faithfull and BlueSpot offer reliable performance for light DIY use from around £10-30. Mid-range options from Bahco, Hultafors and Facom balance quality and value for serious enthusiasts and emerging tradespeople (£30-80). Premium models from Stabila, Milwaukee and DeWalt justify their £80-200+ price tags through exceptional accuracy, durability and professional features that last decades of intensive use.

Popular Accessories

• Spirit Level Bags: Purpose-designed carrying cases protect your levels during transport and storage, preventing damage to vials and milled surfaces. Particularly important for preserving calibration on expensive professional models. Many feature additional pockets for squares and marking tools.
• Laser Levels: Complement traditional spirit levels by projecting lines across entire rooms, ideal for suspended ceiling installation, tiling large areas and setting out multiple fixing points at consistent heights.
• Combination Squares: Work alongside spirit levels for checking 90-degree corners and marking perpendicular lines during carpentry and joinery work.
• Chalk Lines: Use with spirit levels to mark long reference lines on walls, floors and ceilings, translating level readings into visible working guides.
• String Lines and Pins: Essential companions for bricklaying, establishing level courses between reference points identified with your spirit level.

Frequently Asked Questions

How accurate are spirit levels and do they need calibrating?

Professional spirit levels typically offer accuracy between 0.5-1.0mm per metre when new. Quality models maintain accuracy for years, but levels can become uncalibrated through drops or impacts. Test accuracy by placing your level on a flat surface, noting the bubble position, then rotating it 180 degrees on the same spot. The bubble should read identically. If not, the vial may be out of calibration. Most professional models cannot be recalibrated, so protecting your investment with proper storage is essential.

What length spirit level do I need?

This depends on your typical applications. A 600mm level handles most general carpentry and domestic tasks. For kitchen fitting, door hanging and serious DIY work, a 1200mm level is more versatile. Professional builders often carry 600mm, 1200mm and 1800-2400mm levels to suit different situations. Remember that longer levels provide more accurate readings by bridging surface imperfections, but obviously need more space to use effectively.

What's the difference between budget and professional spirit levels?

Professional levels feature milled working surfaces for perfect flatness, more robust box beam construction, superior vial quality with tighter tolerances, reinforced end protection, and typically better accuracy ratings (0.5mm/m versus 1.0-2.0mm/m). They're built for daily site use and last decades. Budget levels suit occasional DIY use but may not withstand professional site conditions or maintain accuracy after impacts. For tradespeople, the investment in quality brands like Stabila, Bahco or Hultafors pays for itself through reliability and longevity.

Can I use a spirit level on its edge to check vertical surfaces?

Yes, this is standard practice. Most spirit levels feature vials positioned to read horizontal when the level is flat and vertical when placed on its edge against walls, door frames or posts. Some models include additional side-reading vials for easier viewing in vertical applications. Ensure you're using the milled edge against the surface for accurate readings.

Are digital levels better than traditional bubble levels?

Digital inclinometers offer advantages for specific applications, providing precise angle measurements in degrees rather than simple level/plumb readings. They're excellent for setting exact slopes, cutting angles and repetitive installations requiring consistent inclines. However, traditional bubble levels remain preferred by most tradespeople for general work due to their simplicity, reliability without batteries, and ability to function in any conditions. Many professionals carry both types for different situations.