While looking at the specifications for a Laser level the specs read + or – 5/16″ in 100 feet. Now does this mean that the instrument could be off 5/8 of an inch in 100 feet or only 5/16 of an inch. I’m just curious. Best Regards, Dale Buchanan
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story

This floating home maximizes its waterfront location with seamless indoor-outdoor living, a unique two-story layout, and a design that prioritizes light and views.
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
It means that the max error over 100' will be 5/16" in either the + or - direction. But if you rotate the instrument 180 o and the error is in the opposite direction youwill get an error of 5/8 over 200'.
BTW 5/16" per 100' seems like a lot most lasers are in the 1/16" to 1/8" range.
My two cents worth, +or - a buck or two!
Mr T
Do not try this at home!
I am a trained professional!
Mr. T: Thanks, I don't think this instrument is accurate enough for me. I have a Pentax theodolite that I use for real accuracy, sometimes hard to work with alone but I love the accuracy. Again Mr. T I appreciate the information. Best Regards, Dale Buchanan
5/16" in 100' is a little sloppy, especially when you figure that the dot can be a quarter inch bib at that distance so you can add a little for operator error. Plenty of optical levels were used for years with accuracy ratings of 1/4"per100' though and God knows they had plenty of opp-errors too.
Excellence is its own reward!
I have a Nikon optical that claims a 1/32 or 1/16 error over 100', I can't remember which. No slop with the beam either, nice sharp cross-hairs. Of course it takes two to operate. 5/16 seems like a lot. Bear
The laser levels are handy in a kitchen or someplace
like that. As far as a surveying instrument, not so good.
Typical accuracy is 1/4 inch per 50 feet. Some better, some
much worse. No way to make the dot smaller. In fact, they're
more accurate if the dot is bigger. But they're handy for ####lot of things and don't need 2 people to use. They're not
really a precision instrument like a transit. They're also
a fraction of the price.