I bought a $39.95 Craftsman laser level from Sears to do our kitchen a few years ago. You'll need a tripod to mount the laser at the approximate height of the line(s) you want to mark. One drawback with most inexpensive laser levels is that you get level or plumb lines by turning thumbscrews to center a bubble level on the unit. If the bubble's off, the laser beam's off too. If your budget can handle it, a self-leveling laser would be just the ticket! Nevertheless, the Craftsman unit was a whole lot better than taking a 4' bubble level and marking pencil lines along all the walls!

Mike... Thanks for your suggestion. I just came across the Strait-Line Intersect that has the self-leveling laser. Looks good. But it is the kind you stick on the wall. I think I'd rather have one that you can put on a tripod and make it more mobile. I don't know if you can put the Intersect on a tripod. It seems that you can't have both methods...(?). Not sure if you need both. I guess I will just get one and see how it goes.
Thanks... Gary

Rent a self leveling unit that projects level and plumb. Level is usually more important for cabinets since it is not hard to plumb each unit as they are installed.

I have to agree with Mike in KC,,I have a number of laser levels from a commercial tripod mounted self leveling rotory at $1600 and a PLS2 ,Plumb,level,square unit at $400 down to a 2' bubble level with a projecting laser dot that I found in a hardware "Junk qualilty tool" bin for $8.

Last christmas someone gave me the Craftsman 3way ($39) level kit. The Craftsman will project a continuous line in both plumb and level mode by rotating the lens opening. You can also set it at any angle between plumb and level in those instances when you need an angled reference line. I often use it as a hand held unit to shoot lines corner to corner to find center in a room. It seems to be very ruggedly built and comes in a nice zippered nylon padded carry case that holds the accessories. While it may not be as rugged as my pro quality units I find i use it more than the expensive ones, and I think it easily meet the needs of a typical homeowner or DIY'er. The only singular drawback I have found with it is that it is not quite brite enough to use outdoors in direct sunlight, but considering that most homeowner projects requiring a laser would be indoors I dont think you can beat it for the money.

I have a QVC tripod version and an "as seen on TV" stick to the wall version. The tripod one worked fine for me at chair rail level, but I couldn't jury-rig enough height for a 9" drop from my 8' ceilings, so the stick-to-the-wall version was actually more handy. Both were under $40.

I like the RoboToolz 5-beam, self-leveling laser. It shoots out beams to the front, both sides, top, and bottom. Lasers that aren't self-leveling are no more accurate than your ability to eyeball a levelling bubble. The RoboToolz is a little pricey (I paid about $160), but it shoots a very tight beam, even over a hundred feet or more, and the self-leveling feature is great if you desire absolute accuracy.

I just purchased the Strait-Line Intersect model at Sears, $54. Not real excited about it, yet. It seems it can be used for shooting a line for laying tile. Or, you have to use that Command Strip stuff to stick it to a wall to line up cabinets or frames you want to hang. I think I would prefer one that I can sit on the ground or a surface or be able to mount on a tripod and be moved around more easily...than using the Command Strips. The laser lines are a bit fuzzy (yes, I removed the plastic support for the laser). I'll check out the RoboToolz, too. Thanks... Gary

Just got a Sears flier in the Sunday paper and now they're advertising a Craftsman self-leveling laser for $79 ... in addition to the $39 one (now $29). Buying one or both sounds like a bargain!

Sears.com has a self-leveling laser for $69, including the tripod. You can order online and do an in-store pickup, or I think there's a rebate for the shipping.

I don't know if the link will work...

Here is a link that might be useful: Laser Level

I tried using laser levels for our kitchen reno, and I went back to using a 4 ft level and pencil marks :)

Admittedly, the laser level was a hand-held cheap model. I did level it on a tripod as suggestd by Mike. Because that method is not reliably self-leveling, I double-checked it with my beam level.

During the work I frequently stepped into the path of the beam and then I could not see the light on the wall. :( I then decided to use the laser level and pencil where the light beam indicated. Then turn off the laser and fasten stuff to the wall.

The laser did come in handy when I laid tile on the diagonal. I could shoot a beam and be certain it was straight. However, tile is messy (for my DIY skills) and I would get the level all cruddy, so I snapped a chalk line where the beam indicated and fixed the chalk with hair spray.

Summary - I found a cheap hand-held laser level to be no more useful than a 4 ft beam level. A high-power self-leveling laser unit would be very useful. Outside in the daytime my cheap laser was absolutely useless, so then I used a chalk line and string and traditional beam level.

Don't forget use of cheap water-levels. They are very accurate & are "self-leveling". Of course it typically takes 2 people to use these.

So, in summary, if we are in the market for an easy-to-use and accurate level, are laser ones not the way to go? What do you think?

Well, my problem with a cheap hand-held laser level is it needs another hand. Fastening stuff using a hand-held laser needs more than 2 hands :-O

When I use a wooden (or AL) level, I can see the bubble from the side and I scribe a pencil line on the wall, using the wood to support the pencil. That takes two hands. Then I put down the level and use two hands to drive the nail somewhere on the line.

When I use a handheld laser level, I hold it in one hand, look down from only the top to level, and then see where the lightbeam is. There is no way to scribe on the wall (of course- that is the point). I have no way to support the level, and it takes 2 hands to drive a nail (screw). If I had a reliable tripod, I could hold the laser on that, set it up, then step forward and drive the nail with two hands.

The cheap laser was nifty for installing my kitchen base cabs. It replaced a string or reeeealy long board. I could shoot a 10 ft line along the cabs and see which needed to be bumped in or out a tad. A string would have worked fine.

I can *always* do a household job with a beam level and some string. I can *usually* do a household job with a laser level.

WTH, get a $10 laser and $10 aluminum 4 ft level. See which suits you.

Depending on the job, self-leveling lasers can do things a regular level can't easily or quickly do. For example, 2 years ago I built a 9' tall cedar fence that was 110' long. I was able to get all the fence posts lined up perfectly straight and plumb by hanging my level off the first post, and then, after that was where I wanted it, lining up all the others so that the beam just grazed them at the bottom and then the top (Ok, I'm neurotic, but I can tell you that they were all within about an 1/8" of fully plumb over 110'.) After setting them in concrete, I used the laser to mark all the post tops so they had the same, precise height; all that required was 10 minutes (with about 9 of those minutes for moving the ladder). See how long it takes you to duplicate that with a plumb bob and conventional level.

Could do with a chalk line.Put the first pole in then the last and run the string to both of them and theres your straight line.use a level to plumb them walah just as accurate as your lazer level.To cut the tops use the same chalk line and a line level every 20 feet and snap the line,just as accurate and simple to use to.But I would prefer the self leveling ones and tri pod myself.

I agree that would work, but how accurate is a line level over 20'? And how many times do you go up and down the ladder to make adjustments and readings when you're working alone?