The Best Masonry Levels To Buy

If you are planning to do any serious working with brick, or stone, on concrete, a masonry level will be one of the most important pieces of equipment that you will be working with.

These levels are designed to be a step above a standard woodworking level when considering both their durability as well as their precision.

These levels will need to be tough enough to be able to withstand work on a construction site, so the durability of these levels is one of the most important factors.

If you are working with brick, you should know that your precision is of the utmost importance. This is because, for brick walls to function properly, the columns will need to be in a specific order to function, this is part of the reason why masonry levels are just so important to have, and be able to rely on.

In this guide we will be going over some of the best masonry levels which are available to buy now. Even our best overall masonry level, may not be the best fit for you, so if you are planning to invest in a masonry level, but you do not know where to start, reading this guide should be able to help you out!

Quick Overview Of The 6 Best Masonry Levels

For our best overall masonry level we have chosen the Stabila Mason Kit for its features being the best in a variety of different categories. For a runner up alternative pick we have chosen the Crick Tool 48 Inches Wood Level.

Because both of these choices are quite expensive, especially if you are not a professional, we have also included a budget pick which for us is the Goldblatt 3-pc. Torpedo Spirit Level Set, another choice we also think you should consider if you are not able to decide on a specific level is the Sola X PRO Aluminum Box Profile Spirit Level Set.

For some more specific requirements, we have also included the best 6 foot level which we think is the Stabila 72-Inch Builders Level, as well as what we think is the best torpedo level which we have chosen to be the Stabila 10 Inch Die-Cast Magnetic Level.

Why Get A Masonry Level

If you are a home improvement enthusiast or do a lot of DIY, there is a good chance that you have a variety of different levels lying around anyway.

If you are in this position, you are probably wondering why exactly a masonry level is so special, and why they are worth the extra investment which is necessary.

When it comes to masonry levels, there are a few factors which need to be considered, especially when you are comparing them to a standard level which will tend to be used for woodwork over masonry.

The main difference is that masonry levels are designed to be pretty tough as they will likely get dropped quite often, even sometimes falling from the top of a ladder, which of course you will not want your level to break in these circumstances.

On a construction site there is also a high chance that your level could be in plenty of situations where it could easily break.

Your masonry level will also be designed specifically to be easy to clean, as you know if you have worked in construction, the site can get pretty dirty, with dust, grout, mortar (You might want to check out The Differences Between Mortar And Grout), as well as concrete all making your equipment dirty.

Of course, you will need to be able to read what your masonry level is showing, so if you are not able to easily clean dirt off, this will lead to plenty of issues.

And finally, masonry levels are designed so they will be easy to carry. While you may not assume that this is a very important factor for a level to consider, you need to keep in mind that a masonry level will tend to be significantly longer than a typical level.

This means that transporting them around will tend to be quite difficult, so they need to be designed with this in mind. This is why they are designed to have ergonomic handles to make carrying them easier.

The Best Masonry Levels

Now, let’s look at the best masonry levels which are available to buy.

We have gone over a variety of different categories, and chosen a masonry level which we think best suits the category, so if you know what you are looking for, it should be easy to find the masonry level which is perfect for you!

Buyer’s Guide For Masonry Levels

Especially if you have never bought a masonry level before, or you do not know anyone who has one so you can understand what you are looking for when buying one, you probably do not know the best way to make a decision when it comes to buying a masonry level.

You are probably looking for a masonry level so you can own a level which is durable, which is easy to clean, and that is very accurate. But, if all the levels on this list fulfill these categories, then how do you choose between them?

In this section we will be going over all the factors that will help you choose between different masonry levels and how to help you make this decision.

Once you have read this section, going back through the product descriptions and choosing what you want to buy should be significantly easier.

Dimensions

When it comes to masonry levels, they will tend to be much longer than a standard level a homeowner will have.

For example, the most standard sizes you will be able to find will either be 2, 4, or 6 feet long. This is in comparison to standard levels which will almost never be longer than 2 feet and will usually be much shorter.

The reason you want this length is for the extra precision it will give you when you are either; laying brick, landscaping, paving, or any other job which requires skill in masonry.

So, if you are looking to get a wide variety of different tasks done, the best thing you can do is go after a set of levels that includes multiple different levels to get the variety which you need.

This means you will be able to use the levels over 48 inches to be able to use on longer surfaces, but you will also have the ability to get accuracy using a torpedo level in more tight spots which can often be hard to reach.

However, if you only want to get a single masonry level, the best bet is to look for a 4 foot level. This will give you a good level of accuracy, but is nowhere near as difficult to carry around on job sites like a 6 foot one can be.

Accuracy

This is perhaps the most important factor which you want to keep in mind when you are buying a masonry level, as accuracy is what makes them functional.

When buying a masonry level you will want to look out for the level of accuracy which the manufacturer has displayed.

This will either be shown in a measurement of distance like; millimeters, centimeters, or inches, but if you are shopping for a more expensive masonry level, you are more likely to see a degree measurement, for example; 0.029 degrees which is the best level of accuracy you can get for a level.

You also want to be looking out for the difference you can find in accuracy rating when measuring in a horizontal position, and the accuracy rating in a vertical position as these can be different.

In most cases you will find that the accuracy rating for a vertical position will not be as good as that for the horizontal position, however, this is not always true.

Durability

As we mentioned in the introduction, you will need your masonry level to be very durable as it will need to be able to put up with the demands of a construction site.

There is a chance that other tools could be getting dropped on it, or the level could get dropped itself, and it will need to survive being dropped. It could also be getting thrown around inside a truck bed.

When buying a masonry level, you want to look out for levels which have a rubberized end cap, and with a sturdy construction.

If you are unsure about the sturdiness, reading specific reviews of the product will help you find out just how good the level is in this category.

Generally, speaking, a more expensive masonry level, should be more durable than a cheaper one, however, there are some exceptions to this.

Coating

Something else which should be considered when getting a masonry level is the coating which they have as this will directly impact how easy the levels are to clean.

Being on a construction site, these levels will likely be getting quite dirty, covered in dust and mortar, so you want to be able to clean it quickly to be able to get your readings.

When buying these levels, make sure to only look for levels that are specifically designed for masonry, this is because they will have a coating that is specifically designed to stop any mortar build up.

You will also want to prioritize a smooth level which does not have many nooks for the dust or concrete to build up in.

Magnetic

This is by no means the most important feature to looks for, but if you want to use your level for something other than masonry, this is a good thing to look out for. For example, if you are measuring door frames, or steel studs, something like this will be helpful.

Weight

You should also keep an eye out for masonry levels which are specifically lightweight, this will make it so transporting them around and repositioning them will be much easier.

Most masonry levels, luckily will be lightweight, this is because they will be made from aluminum construction making them strong but light.

You will occasionally find wooden masonry levels which some masons love, but you will have to use lubricating oil on them to stop them from warping.

Price And Warranty

Finally, perhaps one of the most significant factors you should keep in mind is your budget. You can find the higher quality masonry levels going for over $200 but in the same way you can also find cheaper ones which will have a few less features.

Also, if you are using this level professionally, you will want to keep a close eye on the warranties which are offered, and try to get one which is lifetime if you can.

Takeaway

Hopefully this guide has given you all the information you need to make an informed decision when it comes to picking the right masonry level for you.

If you were unsure about which level to choose when going through the product list, try to read the list again after going through the buyer’s guide as this will make choosing a level significantly easier.