The best spirit levels, compared.
Top pick: Grettz GL120 1200 mm digital level Best value: Firecore 230 mm magnetic torpedo – Best value at £6.53 for a picture or a socket, with 4.6 from 3,127 ratings, if the bubble matches when you turn it end for end. Updated October 2026.
A spirit level shows level or plumb with a bubble in a vial. You use one for a shelf, a socket, a stud or a door, and less often for a specified slope. The bubble only describes the length under it, so a short torpedo cannot judge a door. Choose length first, then a stated tolerance you reverse-test, then whether you need a number rather than a bubble. The 1200 mm digital level is the only door-length sole here, and six ratings are too small a sample to treat 4.8 as a winner. Length, the 0.5 mm/m claim and the reverse test are in the [spirit level buying guide](/hub/measuring-and-marking-tools/spirit-level/sub/spirit-level-buying-guide). About 200–300 mm is the span for a picture or a socket. Stated accuracy comes next, then a reverse test. ±0.5 mm/m in the normal position is the usual trade claim: half a millimetre over one metre. Stabila quotes 0.75–1.0 mm/m in reverse on types that allow it. On a digital level, a pair of readings should be equal and opposite. A closed box or a thick torpedo resists twist better than thin plastic. This set is mostly torpedoes and has no classic 1200 mm bubble box.
A spirit level shows level or plumb with a bubble in a vial. You use one for a shelf, a socket, a stud or a door, and less often for a specified slope.
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
How long is the job?
The Grettz G-GL120 is a 1200 mm digital level at £155.99, with dual backlit screens, rare-earth magnets, a stated IP65 rating and a carry case. The bullets claim under 0.1° at 0°, 45° and 90°, and under 0.2° at other angles, and they do not state millimetres per metre. It weighs 2.1 kg and runs on two AAA cells. Amazon.co.uk shows 4.8 from six ratings, including a Vine review, which is too small a sample to treat as a tested winner. All six UK texts praise the length, the screens and the case, and they also call it pricey for a hobbyist, with one note that the magnets could be stronger and that calibration is involved. A review says the screen can show mm/m, though that unit is not in the bullets, and under 0.1° is about 1.7 mm per metre, which is not automatically tighter than a 0.5 mm/m bubble claim. It is the only 1200 mm sole in this set when you need to span a door and you will check the reading both ways.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You need a 1200 mm digital sole for a door or a stud, and you will calibrate it and read it both ways.
Less suitable: You want a picture level, a large UK review sample, or a bubble you can trust with no battery.
Specifications
Common questions
How long is the Grettz GL120?
1200 mm. The dimension line is 120 cm by 6.5 cm and the weight is 2.1 kg. A carry case is included.
What accuracy do the bullets state?
Under 0.1° at 0°, 45° and 90°, and under 0.2° at other angles. They do not state mm/m. A review says the screen can show mm/m.
How many people have rated it?
The listing shows 4.8 from 6 ratings. That is the whole review file, and it includes a Vine review. It is not a large UK sample.
The Stanley FatMax 0-43-609 is a 250 mm aluminium torpedo listed on amazon.co.uk at £14.99, and the bullets state 0.5 mm/m with a magnified centre vial. Across 6,794 ratings it sits at 4.7, the largest review file in this comparison. In the first 50 UK reviews, buyers praise a solid body and a bubble that stays put when the level is turned, including a clock restorer who found it accurate enough for that work. The same notes keep returning to a magnet that is weaker than expected. Two reviews disagree about the rotating vial: one says it cannot be trusted while the fixed vials read accurately, and another says the rotating bubble is accurate at 45°. A pipe channel appears in one UK review, but the Amazon bullets do not state a groove, and the listing warranty is one year from the manufacturer rather than the longer line on Stanley's own UK page. It is the top pick here for a short magnetic job you can reverse-test, and a 250 mm sole is the wrong span for a door.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a 250 mm magnetic torpedo for shelves, sockets and short steel, and you will reverse-test the bubble before you drill.
Less suitable: You need a 1200 mm sole for a door, a strong magnet, or a pipe groove printed on the amazon.co.uk listing.
Specifications
Common questions
How long is the Stanley FatMax torpedo?
The listing title and bullets say 250 mm, also written as 25 cm. Item weight is 273 g. The bullets state vial accuracy of 0.5 mm/m.
Is the Stanley FatMax magnetic?
The style is Magnetic, and UK reviews describe magnets. Several of those reviews say the magnet is not very strong. A pipe groove is not in the bullets. One review mentions a pipe channel.
What warranty does the Amazon listing state?
The amazon.co.uk specification line says 1 year manufacturer. That is the figure used here. It is not a lab ranking.
The Firecore FSL230PC-CA is a 230 mm ABS torpedo at £6.53, with three vials for vertical, horizontal and 45°, magnetic strips, rubber end caps and a hanging hole. It weighs 90 g. Amazon.co.uk shows 4.6 from 3,127 ratings. In the first 50 UK reviews, buyers call it handy for pictures and odd jobs, and good value next to a dearer level. Many of those notes are only a short phrase, so the fault detail is thin. One verified UK buyer failed a 180° reverse test and returned it as not accurate. The listing states no millimetres-per-metre figure and no pipe groove. It is the best value in this set for a picture or a socket if the bubble matches when you turn it end for end, and it is a poor choice when you need a printed 0.5 mm/m claim or a long sole.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a light 230 mm level for pictures, sockets and short brackets, and you will check the bubble end for end.
Less suitable: You need a stated 0.5 mm/m claim, a pipe groove, or a sole long enough for a door.
Specifications
Common questions
How long is the Firecore level?
The title says 230 mm. Weight is 90 g. The material field is ABS plastic, with rubber end caps and a hanging hole stated in the bullets.
Does it state an accuracy in mm/m?
No. The bullets name vertical, horizontal and 45° bubbles and magnetic strips. They do not give a millimetre-per-metre figure.
Is it magnetic?
Yes. The bullets say magnetic strips for steel surfaces. A pipe groove is not stated.
The Franklin Sensors FSLiA12X02AZ is a plastic level listed as 12 inch, with a dimension line of 30.5 cm by 5.1 cm, at £24.58. It turns green when the tool decides it is level or plumb, and it keeps two bubble vials at 90° and 180°. It weighs 177 g and the edge is magnetic. Amazon.co.uk shows 4.6 from 2,418 ratings. In the first 50 UK reviews, people prefer the green light to judging a bubble, including in the dark, and they praise the magnet and the compact size. The same notes repeat that the AA battery was not in the box. One of two units had LEDs that went intermittent and then dead, and one review calls it fine only if you do not need precision. No millimetres-per-metre figure is stated, so the light is a yes or no on a short sole.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a short magnetic level you can read by a green light in a dim corner, and you will fit your own AA cell.
Less suitable: You need a numbered fall, a long sole, or a tool that works with no battery in the house.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the Franklin level need a battery?
Yes. The bullets say it requires 1 AA battery, not included. UK reviews repeat that the cell was missing.
How do you read it?
The listing says it turns green when level or plumb, and that it also has two bubble vials at 90° and 180°. No mm/m number is stated.
How long is it?
The highlight says 12 inch. The dimension line is 30.5 cm by 5.1 cm. Weight is 177 g. The edge is magnetic.
The Teronbeta YH-SPC-OR lists a 500 mm magnetic aluminium level at £14.99, with three vials and ±0.5 mm/m in the bullets. The dimension line on the same page says 50 cm by 50 cm, and UK reviews also describe 400 mm and 600 mm versions, so the length you receive is not a single clean figure. Weight is 210 g, the same listed weight as the 400 mm Teronbeta in this set. Amazon.co.uk shows 4.6 from 87 ratings, a much smaller sample than the 1,440 on the 400 mm listing. Reviews that praise a strong magnet for solo shelf brackets and an easy-to-find orange body sit beside texts that are not clearly about a 500 mm tool. A pipe groove is not in the bullets. Buy it only if you measure the body on arrival and the reverse test holds.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a magnetic level around half a metre, and you will measure the body when it arrives before you trust the title.
Less suitable: You need one length printed consistently, a large UK review sample, or a pipe groove.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this Teronbeta 500 mm long?
The title says 500 mm. The dimension line says 50 cm by 50 cm, and reviews on the same file mention 400 mm and 600 mm versions. Weight is 210 g.
What accuracy is printed?
The bullets say ±0.5 mm/m and three vials at 45°, 90° and 180°. A pipe groove is not in the bullets.
Is it magnetic?
Yes. The title and bullets describe a magnetic base for metal objects.
The XunHe XUNH-Z060 is a 95 mm by 51 mm by 13 mm clear acrylic pocket level at £10.29, weighing 80 g, with two vials at 90° and 180° and three magnetic discs. Amazon.co.uk shows 4.6 from 10 ratings, which is too small a sample to treat as a tested pick. The short review file mostly says it does the job and is light, and one buyer likes easy-to-read vials and a magnetic back. One review describes a full-length magnetic back, which does not match a 95 mm body, so some of that text may belong to another listing. No millimetres-per-metre figure is stated, and a 45° vial is not stated. The product URL is B0GJDBBLXZ while a specification line says B0H8RXT2DB. It is a pocket gauge for a picture hook if you check the bubble yourself, and it is the wrong tool for a shelf span.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a pocket bubble for a picture hook or a small mark, and you will check it against a known level.
Less suitable: You need a shelf-length sole, a large review sample, or a single ASIN with no clash on the page.
Specifications
Common questions
How small is the XunHe level?
The bullets say 95 x 51 x 13 mm and 80 g. It is a clear acrylic pocket tool with a printed edge scale.
How many vials does it have?
Two: 90° and 180°. A 45° vial is not stated. Three magnetic discs are stated, two in the base and one on the side.
Which ASIN is this?
The product URL is B0GJDBBLXZ. A specification line on the listing says B0H8RXT2DB. The image file matches the URL.
The Teronbeta SPC400 is a 400 mm aluminium torpedo at £13.99, with three vials and a stated accuracy of ±0.5 mm/m. It weighs 210 g and the base is magnetic. Amazon.co.uk shows 4.5 from 1,440 ratings. In the first 50 UK reviews, buyers praise a solid but still light body, clear 0°, 45° and 90° vials, and a magnet that held after a knock off scaffold in one account. The same file includes a review titled inaccurate, and another buyer found the body too thick for tight spots such as blinds near a ceiling. A pipe groove is not stated. It is the mid-length magnetic option when 250 mm is too short for a shelf and you can live with the thickness, and it is awkward in a shallow recess.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want about 400 mm of magnetic sole for a shelf or a toolbox, and the recess is deep enough for the body.
Less suitable: You are working in a shallow gap, such as blinds tight to a ceiling, or you need a stated pipe groove.
Specifications
Common questions
What accuracy does the 400 mm Teronbeta claim?
The bullets say ±0.5 mm/m, with three vials for horizontal, vertical and 45°. Length is 400 mm and weight is 210 g.
Is the base magnetic?
Yes. The listing says a magnetic base for metal objects. It does not mention a pipe groove. One UK review found the body too thick near a ceiling.
Does it need a battery?
No battery is listed. Operation mode is manual and the measurement type is bubble.
The Urban Trends WL125 is the cheapest listing here at £4.49, a small magnetic level at 70 g with rubber end caps stated. The title says two bubbles, a bullet says three including 45°, and the material lines say both plastic and aluminium. The dimension line says 23 cm by 23 cm, which does not sit cleanly next to 70 g, so length is not a single figure. Amazon.co.uk shows 4.5 from 316 ratings. Among 41 UK reviews, some buyers found it fine for hanging photos and a floating shelf. Others titled the review unlevel, inaccurate or not level, and one said part of the level had no bubble. No millimetres-per-metre figure is stated. It is a spare for a picture only after a reverse test passes, and it is a poor default when the bubble has to be true on arrival.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a cheap spare for a picture, and you will return it if the reverse test fails.
Less suitable: You need a level that is true on arrival, a stated accuracy, or a length you can read off one line.
Specifications
Common questions
How long is the Urban Trends level?
The title calls it small and the weight is 70 g. The dimension line says 23 cm by 23 cm. Those two statements are both on the listing and they do not agree.
Is an accuracy figure stated?
No mm/m figure is stated. UK review titles include not level, inaccurate, and a missing bubble. Other UK reviews say it was fine for pictures.
Is it magnetic?
Yes. A magnetic strip is stated, with rubber end caps. Colour is assorted.
The URASISTO YST040919 is a five-piece aluminium set at £56.99, with lengths titled 10, 16, 24, 32 and 48 inch, a magnetic torpedo, plastic ends and a carry bag, and the listed weight is 2.04 kg. The bullets print accuracy as 0.0005-inch/ft, which is about 0.042 mm/m and is not the same figure as 0.5 mm/m. Amazon.co.uk shows 4.3 from 181 ratings. Of the scraped reviews, only three are from the United Kingdom: one says the bubbles were not true and the buyer planned to return the set, while two call the kit robust or handy. Units on the specification line are inches and feet, so a metric shelf mark is an extra conversion. It is a bag of several lengths if you already work in inches and you flip-test each piece, and it is a poor default UK set when you want millimetres and a large British review file.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You already work in inches and want several lengths in one bag, and you will flip-test each piece.
Less suitable: You want millimetre marks, a 0.5 mm/m claim, or a set backed by a large UK review file.
Specifications
Common questions
What lengths are in the URASISTO set?
The title lists 10, 16, 24, 32 and 48 inch, five levels, plus a carry bag. Weight is 2.04 kg. Units on the specification line are inches and feet.
What accuracy figure is printed?
The bullets say 0.0005-inch/ft. That string is not the same as 0.5 mm/m. A 45°, 90° and 180° vial set is stated for the 10 inch and 16 inch pieces.
Are the UK reviews positive?
Of the scraped reviews, three are from the United Kingdom. One of those says the bubbles were not true and the buyer planned to return the set. The 4.3 from 181 ratings is the listing figure.
The XUNTOP 5341 is a pocket aluminium angle cube at £23.19, about 6.1 cm on the dimension line, with a stated accuracy of ±0.2°, magnets on four sides, dual lasers and a USB-C charge. It weighs 160 g, the bullets state IP54, and a carry bag and cable are included. Amazon.co.uk shows 4.2 from 3,341 ratings, the lowest star line in this set. In the first 50 UK reviews, buyers use the lasers for hanging and for kitchen handles, and some say it matched other levels. The same file keeps returning to digits that move while the cube sits still, an Err message, a weak laser for panelling, and readings that are not as fine as claimed. ±0.2° works out at about 3.5 mm per metre, which is a coarser level claim than 0.5 mm/m. The laser wording is Laser( Level 2), which is not a clear class under BS EN 60825-1. It is a cube for a repeated angle on a small face, and it is not a spirit level for a door.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a pocket cube for a repeated angle or a short laser line, and you will check it after a knock.
Less suitable: You need a long sole for a door, a 0.5 mm/m bubble, or a laser with a clear class label.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the XUNTOP a long spirit level?
No. The bullets describe a pocket cube about 2.4 inches on a side. The dimension line is 6.1 cm by 3.1 cm. It is ranked under inclinometers.
What accuracy is stated?
±0.2°. It is not stated in mm/m. UK reviews include Err messages, a weak laser, and digits that move while the tool sits still.
How is it powered?
An internal battery charged by the included USB-C cable. The bullets also state IP54 and magnets on four sides. The laser wording is Level 2, which is not a clear class label.
Ten amazon.co.uk listings are on this page. The digest records a wider look at length, tolerance and readout before that shortlist. There is no separate score sheet and no laboratory test. The top pick and the best value follow the awards already stored on the Stanley and Firecore listings. A higher star line is not treated as a truer vial, which is why the Grettz is not crowned on six ratings.
Length
25%About 200–300 mm for a picture or a socket, about 400–600 mm for a shelf, and about 1200 mm for a door or a stud. A short torpedo only reports its own length.
Stated accuracy and a reverse test
25%0.5 mm/m in the normal position is the usual trade claim. The bubble should match when you flip the tool on the same marks. A digital pair of readings should be equal and opposite.
Readout
20%Bubbles are enough for level and plumb. A screen in millimetres per metre, percent or degrees is for a specified slope. A cube is not a long beam, and a green light still covers only a short sole.
Body
15%A closed box or a thick torpedo resists twist better than thin plastic. This set is mostly torpedoes and has no classic 1200 mm bubble box.
Magnet, units and power
15%A magnet is for steel and iron only. Do not infer a pipe groove from the word magnetic. Prefer millimetres. Digital tools need a cell or a USB-C charge.
Length decides the job before price does. A picture or a socket needs about 200–300 mm. A shelf needs about 400–600 mm. A door or a stud needs about 1200 mm. After length, read the stated tolerance and plan to reverse-test it. Bubbles cover level and plumb. A screen is for a numbered slope. A magnet is for steel and iron only. This set is mostly short torpedoes, with one digital cube, one light-up torpedo, one inch set and one 1200 mm digital beam.
A spirit level shows level or plumb with a bubble in a vial. You use one for shelves, doors, studs and steel, and less often for a specified slope. Length comes first. About 200–300 mm is the span for a picture or a socket. About 400–600 mm is the span for a shelf. About 1200 mm is the span for a door or a stud. A 230 mm torpedo only reports its own length, so it cannot tell you whether a door is plumb. Stated accuracy comes next, then a reverse test.
A 230 mm or 250 mm level only reports its own length. A door or a stud wants about 1200 mm. In this set that sole is the Grettz, and you still read it both ways.
Read the bubble square on, mark both ends, and turn the tool end for end. The bubble should match. Reading from the side, or trusting stars instead, hides a vial that has moved.
The URASISTO bullets print 0.0005-inch/ft, which is about 0.042 mm/m. That is not 0.5 mm/m. 0.5 mm/m is 0.0005 in/in. Do not treat the inch string as the usual trade claim.
Match the length to the span before you compare stars. About 200–300 mm covers a picture or a socket. About 400–600 mm covers a shelf. About 1200 mm covers a door or a stud. A 230 mm torpedo only reports its own length. In this set the Firecore is 230 mm and the Stanley FatMax is 250 mm. The Teronbeta titles are 400 mm and 500 mm. The Grettz is the only 1200 mm sole. The XunHe is a 95 mm pocket level. The Urban Trends length is not one figure: 70 g sits next to a 23 cm by 23 cm line.
Read the stated tolerance in the position it applies to, then reverse-test the tool. ±0.5 mm/m in the normal position is the usual trade claim: half a millimetre over one metre. About 1 mm/m is a looser DIY claim, and overhead is often looser. Stabila quotes 0.75–1.0 mm/m in reverse on types that allow it. The Stanley bullets state 0.5 mm/m. Both Teronbeta listings state ±0.5 mm/m. The Firecore, Franklin, XunHe and Urban Trends listings state no millimetres-per-metre figure.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want about 250 mm for a shelf, a socket or short steel, and you will reverse-test the bubble. The Stanley FatMax is the top pick: 0.5 mm/m is stated, and 4.7 from 6,794 ratings is the largest file here. Skip it for a door or a groove the listing does not print.
You want a light 230 mm level for pictures, sockets and short brackets. The Firecore is the best value at £6.53, with 4.6 from 3,127 ratings. The listing states no millimetres-per-metre figure, so flip the bubble before you drill.
You need about 1200 mm of sole. The Grettz GL120 is the only door-length level in this set, at £155.99. Six ratings, including a Vine review, are too small to treat 4.8 as a test. Calibrate it and read it both ways.
The top pick is the Stanley FatMax 0-43-609, a 250 mm magnetic torpedo at £14.99, with 0.5 mm/m stated and 4.7 from 6,794 amazon.co.uk ratings. Use it for shelves, sockets and short steel after a reverse test, and skip it for a door or a pipe groove the listing does not print. Best value is the Firecore 230 mm torpedo at £6.53, with 4.6 from 3,127 ratings, when the job is a picture or a socket and you will flip the bubble. It states no millimetres-per-metre figure. The Grettz is the only 1200 mm sole in the set, and six ratings are too small to treat 4.8 as a test.
Firecore 230 mm magnetic torpedo
Best value at £6.53 for a picture or a socket, with 4.6 from 3,127 ratings, if the bubble matches when you turn it end for end.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public sources from the digest, then the maker pages named there. Shelf prices are the amazon.co.uk figures stored for this set. Scores are the listing stars scaled for the table. This is not a laboratory test. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
This page contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk figures already stored for this set. This is not a laboratory test.
