The best spirit level magnets, compared.
Top pick: Grettz GL120 1200 mm – Top pick for a 1200 mm ferrous bar with top and side screens. The printed figure is under 0.1° at 0°, 45° and 90°, on a six-review sample at £155.99. Best value: Firecore FSL230PC – Best value at £6.53 for shelves and short ferrous studs, with 4.6 from 3,127 ratings, if the bubble matches when you turn it end for end. Updated October 2026.
A spirit level magnet is a bubble vial or a digital angle tool with magnets in the base, so it holds on ferrous steel while you mark or drill. You use a short torpedo for a stud, a socket or a pipe. You use a longer body when a door, a worktop or a course of blocks would hide a sag between the ends of a short level. The magnet does not make the vial truer. It does not hold on aluminium, or on most austenitic stainless, including typical 304 and 316. For a bubble tool, look for a printed accuracy in millimetres per metre, and a vial that reads the same after you turn it end for end on the same marks. Half a millimetre per metre is about 0.03°, so a printed tenth of a degree is not a tighter claim. No UK statute found for this category sets one DIY accuracy. Length, the printed tolerance and whether a magnet is relevant are set out in the [spirit level magnet buying guide](/hub/measuring-and-marking-tools/spirit-level-magnet/sub/spirit-level-magnet-buying-guide).
A spirit level magnet is a bubble vial or a digital angle tool with magnets in the base, so it holds on ferrous steel while you mark or drill. You use a short torpedo for a stud, a socket or a pipe.
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
How long is the job?
The Grettz GL120 is a 1200 mm digital bar at £155.99 and 2.1 kg, with a backlit screen on the top and another on the side. The bullets print under 0.1° at 0°, 45°, and 90°, and under 0.2° at other angles, with no mm/m figure. A tenth of a degree is a wider band than 0.5 mm/m, which is about 0.03°, so the two claims use different units. amazon.co.uk shows 4.8 out of 5 from 6 reviews, and those reviews mention the length, the screens, and an audio cue. Six reviews are a thin basis for a £155.99 tool. Included components name the level and a carry case; the two AAA cells are absent from that line, though one review says the cells were supplied and that the cover is screwed on. Rare-earth magnets and IP65 appear as bullet claims only. You are buying a long site bar for ferrous beams, and the star line has almost no history behind it.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a 1200 mm bar with a top screen and a side screen, and you accept a six-review sample at £155.99.
Less suitable: A pocket budget, a printed mm/m tolerance, or a large amazon.co.uk review history.
Specifications
Common questions
What accuracy does the Grettz GL120 print?
The bullets say under 0.1° at 0°, 45°, and 90°, and under 0.2° at other angles. They do not print an mm/m figure.
Are the AAA cells listed in the box?
Included components name the 1200 mm level and a carry case, not the cells. The bullets say it runs on 2 x AAA with auto shut-off. One review says the cells were supplied and that the cover is screwed on.
How many reviews are stored?
The star line is 4.8 out of 5 from 6 reviews. Those reviews mention the length, the screens, and an audio cue. IP65 and rare-earth magnets are claims in the bullets, not a lab result in this file.
The Stanley FatMax 0-43-609 is a 250 mm aluminium torpedo at £14.99 with a printed vial accuracy of ±0.5 mm/m and a magnified centre bubble. amazon.co.uk shows 4.7 out of 5 from 6,794 reviews, the largest review count in this comparison. The body weighs 273 g, so it sits more firmly in the hand than the 90 g plastic torpedoes. The bullets leave a pipe groove off the page, and they leave DIN 877 off this listing. At 250 mm a door or a worktop can still bow between the ends while the vial reads level. A one-year manufacturer warranty is listed. You can turn it end for end on the same pencil marks if you want the magnified vial to agree with itself.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a 250 mm aluminium torpedo with ±0.5 mm/m printed and a review count in the thousands.
Less suitable: Pipe work that needs a named groove, or a check across a full door or worktop.
Specifications
Common questions
What accuracy does the FatMax 0-43-609 print?
The bullets print vial accuracy 0.5 mm/m. The listing does not print DIN 877.
Does the listing describe a pipe groove?
The page asks whether it can be used on pipes. The bullets name the 25 cm length, ±0.5 mm/m, and a magnified centre vial. They do not name a groove.
How big is it?
The title says 250 mm. The weight field says 273 g. The dimensions line says 6.3 x 29.9 cm. Material is aluminium. A 1 year manufacturer warranty is listed.
The WORKPRO W062085 is a pocket level about 115 mm long and 114 g, at £9.99, with a window over the horizontal vial and a grooved base in the item highlight. amazon.co.uk shows 4.7 out of 5 from 925 reviews. The vials listed are 90° and 180°, and the page prints no mm/m figure. Two UK reviews say the end is a plastic cap, so standing it up misses the plumb reading they expected. The bullets give about 116 by 22 by 50 mm, 1.1 mm thickness, a magnetic edge, and hanging holes. At this length a level reading can hide a sag in a door, a worktop, or a course of blocks. You can use the groove on ferrous pipe; typical 304 and 316 stainless usually barely pulls.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a grooved pocket level for a socket, a picture, or a short stud.
Less suitable: Plumb checks stood on the plastic end cap, or any run where 115 mm would hide the sag.
Specifications
Common questions
Can you stand the WORKPRO 115 mm on its end for plumb?
Two UK reviews say the end is a plastic cap, not a machined face, so standing it on end does not give the vertical reading they expected. The vials listed are 90° and 180°.
What accuracy is printed?
No mm/m or degree tolerance is printed. The bullets give about 116 x 22 x 50 mm, 1.1 mm thickness, and 114 g.
Does it name a groove and a magnet?
The item highlight says a grooved base and a strong magnet. The bullets say a magnetic edge and hanging holes.
The Duratech DT801063A is a 300 mm torpedo at £12.99 with four vials: horizontal, vertical, 45°, and a metric five-line gradient. A top window and a top V-groove are named for pipes and conduits, and the magnetic base is listed for steel frames, pipes, or brackets. amazon.co.uk shows 4.7 out of 5 from 33 reviews, a small sample beside the thousand-review torpedoes. The bullets leave an mm/m tolerance off the page, and the technical table says batteries are not required. Size is 30 by 4.5 by 1.5 cm at 240 g, in ABS and aluminium alloy. A UK review uses it on pipe and unistrut. Thirty-three reviews say little about how the gradient vial behaves after a year, and you still need ferrous metal, because typical 304 and 316 stainless usually barely pulls.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a 300 mm V-groove and a gradient vial with no cells to buy.
Less suitable: A large review history, or a printed mm/m figure before you set a fall.
Specifications
Common questions
What do the four Duratech vials show?
The bullets list horizontal 180°, vertical 90°, 45°, and a metric 5-line gradient vial. They do not print an mm/m tolerance.
Will the base sit on a pipe?
The bullets name a top V-groove for pipes and conduits, and a magnetic base for steel frames, pipes, or brackets. A UK review uses it on pipe and unistrut.
Does it need batteries?
The technical table says batteries are not included and not required. Size is 30 x 4.5 x 1.5 cm and 240 g. Material is ABS and aluminium alloy.
The Firecore FSL230PC is a 230 mm plastic torpedo at £6.53, the lowest price in this set, with vials at 45°, 90°, and 180°, magnetic strips, and rubber end caps. amazon.co.uk shows 4.6 out of 5 from 3,127 reviews. The body is about 90 g of high-impact plastic, and the material field says ABS. The bullets leave both an mm/m figure and a degree tolerance off the page. One UK review says the bubble failed to match after a 180° turn and that the level was returned, while other stored lines are short praise for small jobs and pictures. Rubber end caps cushion the corners, and they make a poor face to stand on for plumb. A 230 mm body will miss a bow across a door or a worktop. You should repeat that end-for-end check on your own marks before you set a steel stud to it.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the £6.53 torpedo for shelves and short ferrous studs, and you will run the end-for-end check before you trust it.
Less suitable: A printed mm/m figure, or a level that has already matched itself after a 180° turn.
Specifications
Common questions
What accuracy does the Firecore print?
The bullets do not print an mm/m or degree tolerance. They list vials at 45°, 90°, and 180°, magnetic strips, and rubber end caps.
What is the body?
The material field says ABS. The bullets say a high-impact plastic housing and rubber end caps. Weight is 90 g and the title length is 230 mm.
Did a stored review check it by turning it around?
One UK review says the bubble did not match after a 180° turn and that the level was returned. Other stored lines are short praise for small jobs and pictures.
The Prexiso P1P20 is a 34.6 cm aluminium laser torpedo at £34.99 and 470 g, with a 30 m point and a 10 m line that follow the body. The bullets describe that point and line and leave self-levelling off the page, so you aim it by the vials. amazon.co.uk shows 4.6 out of 5 from 2,614 reviews. Two milled magnetic faces and a V-groove are named, with a 180° vial, a triangular vial with a mirror, and two LED-lit vials. Some reviewers say the line helps when hanging pictures. One says the lasers disagree with each other, and another says the cells lasted about three hours and then the tool stopped. Included components name batteries and leave the cell type blank. You should trust the line only while it still agrees with the bubble.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a manual laser line for pictures and a V-groove on ferrous pipe, checked against the vial.
Less suitable: A self-levelling site laser, or a bubble with a printed mm/m tolerance.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the Prexiso listing say the laser self-levels?
No. The bullets describe a 30 m point and a 10 m horizontal line. They do not say it self-levels.
What vials and base does it have?
A 180° vial, a triangular vial with a mirror, and two LED-lit vials. Two milled magnetic surfaces and a V-groove are named. Size is 34.6 x 7.1 cm and 470 g.
What do stored reviews say about the laser?
Some say the line helps with pictures. One says the lasers do not match. Another says the cells lasted about 3 hours and it then stopped. Included components say Batteries.
The Franklin Sensors FSLiA12X02AZ is a 305 mm plastic torpedo at £24.58 that turns its lights green when the edge is level or plumb. You can check a short stud or a socket without a degree figure, because the listing prints neither a degree nor a millimetres-per-metre tolerance. Two bubble vials stay on the body, and a magnetic edge is listed for metal. Across 2,418 amazon.co.uk reviews the star line is 4.6 out of 5. The material field says plastic, at 177 g and 30.5 by 5.1 cm. The AA cell is sold separately, and one reviewer says the packaging claimed a cell that was missing from the box. Lights you can see from above help in a shadow, and a 305 mm body still misses a sag that shows up across a door or a worktop.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want green lights on a short metal edge when sighting a bubble is awkward, and you will buy the AA cell yourself.
Less suitable: A printed mm/m tolerance, a degree readout, or an 800 mm body for a door or a course of blocks.
Specifications
Common questions
Does this Franklin level show a degree?
The bullets say the lights turn green when it is level or plumb. They do not print a degree figure. Two bubble vials are also listed.
Is the AA cell in the box?
The bullets say it requires 1 AA battery and that the cell is not included. One reviewer says the packaging claimed a cell that was not in the box.
What is the body made of?
The material field says plastic. The listing gives 30.5 x 5.1 cm and 177 g. The highlight says it is made in the USA.
The S&R 423.034.080 is an 800 mm aluminium box level at £29.97, with two handles, two magnetic strips, and rubber end caps. The bullets print ±0.5 mm/m beside the seller phrase Class 1, which on this page is a product label with no UK statute cited in the file. amazon.co.uk shows 4.6 out of 5 from 381 reviews. At 800 by 66 by 27 mm and 708 g it shows a bow that a 250 mm torpedo skips, across a door or a course of blocks. Three vials cover horizontal, vertical, and 45°. One stored review says a fall of about 2 m from a ladder left the reading untrue, and the UK lines in the file are short praise. Included components name the level alone. You should leave a sealed vial alone after a drop like that.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want an 800 mm magnetic box level for doors, studs, and blockwork, and you will recheck it after any drop.
Less suitable: Pocket jobs, or a buyer who needs Class 1 to be a statutory mark.
Specifications
Common questions
What does Class 1 mean on this listing?
The bullets print Class 1 next to ±0.5 mm/m. That is the seller's phrase on this page. The file does not cite a UK statute for it.
What is in the box?
Included components name the 80 cm magnetic spirit level. They do not name a case. Bullets add two handles, two magnetic strips, and rubber end caps. Size in the bullets is 800 x 66 x 27 mm and 708 g.
Is there a stored comment about a drop?
One stored review says a fall of about 2 m from a ladder left the reading untrue. The UK lines in the file are short praise.
The WORKPRO W062063 is a 250 mm aluminium torpedo at £17.99 with vials at 45°, 90°, and 180° and a top window for the horizontal bubble. amazon.co.uk shows 4.6 out of 5 from 197 reviews. The bullets print a maximum accuracy of ±0.5 mm and leave per metre off that line, so the figure uses a different unit from the ±0.5 mm/m tools. It weighs 305 g, and the listing describes a strong magnet for metal frames plus hanging holes. Stored reviews split after a drop: one says four epoxy-fixed magnets survived about 5 m with no dent, and another says the magnets were missing. A 250 mm body still skips a bow across a full door or a worktop. You get a view from above on a short run, with a tolerance that stops at millimetres.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want to read a 250 mm horizontal vial from above on a metal frame.
Less suitable: A tolerance stated per metre, or a level you expect to survive a drop from height.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the ±0.5 mm figure per metre?
The bullets say maximum accuracy ±0.5 mm. They do not add per metre.
Can you read the WORKPRO 250 mm from above?
The bullets describe a dual-view vial so the horizontal vial can be read from above, plus 45°, 90°, and 180°.
What do stored reviews say about the magnets?
One review says four magnets are fixed with epoxy and that a 5 m drop left no dent. Another stored review says a drop left the magnets missing. The listing itself says a strong magnet for metal frames, hanging holes, and 305 g.
The Teronbeta SPC300 is a 300 mm aluminium torpedo at £9.99 that prints ±0.5 mm/m and three vials at 45°, 90°, and 180°. amazon.co.uk shows 4.5 out of 5 from 1,441 reviews. At 180 g it is light in a pouch, and the title calls the body shock proof. Stored praise centres on the magnet and on surviving a knock off a scaffold. Other lines call it a bit light, a bit thick, or cheaply made. The bullets leave a pipe groove unnamed, so a round pipe is an unstated fit. You still need a longer level where a door can sag between the ends of 300 mm.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want ±0.5 mm/m printed on a torpedo under £10 for short ferrous jobs.
Less suitable: A heavier box level, a named V-groove, or a span across a door.
Specifications
Common questions
What accuracy and length does this Teronbeta print?
The title says 300 mm / 12 inch. The bullets print ±0.5 mm/m and three vials at 45°, 90°, and 180°. Weight is 180 g.
Does the listing name a pipe groove?
No. The bullets describe a magnetic base for metal objects and say the body is shock proof aluminium. They do not name a groove.
What do stored reviews say about the build?
Praise centres on the magnet and on surviving a knock off a scaffold. Other lines call it a bit light, a bit thick, or cheaply made.
The Teronbeta SPC400 is the 400 mm version at £13.99 and 210 g, still printing ±0.5 mm/m with vials at 45°, 90°, and 180°. amazon.co.uk shows 4.5 out of 5 from 1,440 reviews. The dimensions line says 40 by 4.9 cm, with a magnetic base, and the title calls the aluminium body shock proof. The bullets leave a groove off the page. One stored title on this file says Inaccurate. Much of the other review text matches the 300 mm file, and part number SPC006 is printed on both, so those lines are a weak separate test of this length. Four hundred millimetres covers more of a short run than a 250 mm torpedo and still stops short of a door. You can compare it with the £9.99 300 mm Teronbeta if the extra 100 mm is the only change you need.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want ±0.5 mm/m on a 400 mm torpedo under £15.
Less suitable: Review text that clearly belongs to this length alone, a pipe groove, or an 800 mm box.
Specifications
Common questions
How does the 400 mm Teronbeta differ on the listing from the 300 mm?
The title says 400 mm / 16 inch, the weight field says 210 g, and the dimensions line says 40 x 4.9 cm. Accuracy is still ±0.5 mm/m, with the same three vials and a magnetic base. Part number SPC006 is printed on both files.
Does it name a groove?
No. The bullets describe a magnet for metal objects and a shock-proof aluminium body. They do not name a V-groove.
What is the star line?
The listing shows 4.5 out of 5 from 1,440 reviews. One stored title on this file says Inaccurate. Much of the other review text matches the 300 mm file.
The Huepar DL24 is a 600 mm digital bar at £59.99 that prints ±0.1° at 0° and 90°, ±0.2° at other angles, and 0.05° resolution. The screen can show degrees, percent, mm/m, or inches per foot, and it beeps at 0° and 90°. amazon.co.uk shows 3.9 out of 5 from 21 reviews. One review says the bubble moves before the digits change, and another says the display was way off for shuttering. If the screen and a bubble disagree, you should stop, because ±0.1° is a wider band than 0.5 mm/m, which is about 0.03°. The material field says ABS while the bullets say aluminium alloy, and the dimensions line says 60 by 60 cm beside a 600 mm title. IP54 is only a bullet claim, and one review describes the case as fabric. The listed weight is 880 g.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a 600 mm digital readout on ferrous steel and you will stop if the digits and the bubble disagree.
Less suitable: A single agreed body material, a checked rain rating, or a large amazon.co.uk review sample.
Specifications
Common questions
What accuracy does the Huepar DL24 print?
The bullets say ±0.1° at 0° and 90°, ±0.2° at other angles, and 0.05° resolution. They also list degrees, percent, mm/m, and in/ft.
Is the body ABS or aluminium?
The material field says acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. The bullets say aluminium alloy and IP54. The listing prints both.
Do stored reviews say the screen matches the bubble?
One review says the bubble is more sensitive than the digits and that a small move does not change the screen. Another says the digital display was way off for shuttering. A third says the case is fabric, not the hard case in the picture.
Twelve amazon.co.uk listings are on this page, chosen after a wider look at length, printed tolerance, magnet hold and readout. There is no separate score sheet and no laboratory test. The top pick and the best value follow the awards already stored on the Grettz and Firecore listings. A higher star line is not treated as a truer vial. Six ratings on a £155.99 bar are a thin sample, and a printed tenth of a degree is not the same claim as 0.5 mm/m.
Length
25%About 115–300 mm suits a socket, a picture or a short stud. An 800 mm or 1200 mm body shows a bow a torpedo skips, across a door, a worktop or a course of blocks.
Stated accuracy
25%Read the unit the listing prints. ±0.5 mm/m is about 0.03°. A printed ±0.1° is not a tighter claim. Turn the tool end for end on the same marks. If a screen and a bubble disagree, stop.
Readout
20%A magnified vial, a top window, green lights or a beep only helps if you can see or hear the same reading. Lights that turn green do not print a degree. A beep is not a millimetres-per-metre figure.
Magnet on ferrous metal
15%The magnet holds on ferrous steel. It does not hold on aluminium, and typical 304 and 316 stainless usually barely pulls. No listing here prints a pull in kilograms.
Groove, cells and case
15%A groove is named only on some listings. Do not infer one from the word magnetic. Check whether cells and a case are in the box, and do not stand a plumb check on a plastic end cap.
Length decides the job before the magnet does. About 115–300 mm suits a socket, a picture or a short stud. An 800 mm or 1200 mm body shows a bow a short torpedo skips. After length, read the printed tolerance in the unit on the page and plan to turn the tool end for end. A magnet holds on ferrous steel only. A groove is a separate feature. A screen, a beep or a green light still only describes the length under the tool.
A spirit level magnet is a bubble vial, or a digital angle tool, with magnets in the base so the body holds on ferrous steel while you mark or drill. UK buyers use a short torpedo for studs, sockets and pipe, and a longer body when a door, a worktop or a course of blocks would hide a sag between the ends of a 250 mm level. The magnet does not make the vial truer. It does not hold on aluminium, or on most austenitic stainless.
Mark both ends, read the bubble square on, and turn the tool 180 degrees onto the same marks. It should match. Stars do not replace that check, and a sealed vial is not something you adjust.
Austenitic stainless, including typical 304 and 316, usually barely pulls. Aluminium does not pull. Ferritic and martensitic grades usually do. No listing here prints a pull in kilograms.
0.5 mm/m is about 0.03°. A printed tenth of a degree is a wider band, not a tighter one. If a screen and a bubble disagree, stop. A laser torpedo that follows the body is not a self-levelling site laser.
Length decides whether the bubble is describing the job or only a short patch of it. About 115–300 mm suits a socket, a picture or a short stud. An 800 mm box shows a bow across a door or a course of blocks that a torpedo skips. A 1200 mm bar is the long body in this set. A 250 mm reading can still say level while a worktop sags between the ends. The WORKPRO mini is about 115 mm and 114 g. The Firecore is 230 mm. The FatMax and the WORKPRO 250 mm are 250 mm.
For a bubble tool, read the accuracy in the unit the listing prints, then turn the level end for end on the same marks. The FatMax, both Teronbeta lengths and the S&R print ±0.5 mm/m. The S&R page also says Class 1. That is the seller's phrase, not a UK legal badge, and no statute found here sets one DIY accuracy. The WORKPRO 250 mm prints ±0.5 mm and leaves per metre off that line, so it is not the same claim.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want a short torpedo and you will turn it end for end before you drill. The Stanley FatMax is 250 mm, prints ±0.5 mm/m, and has 4.7 from 6,794 amazon.co.uk ratings. Skip it for a door, or for a pipe groove the bullets do not name.
You need a hold on ferrous metal and a groove the listing actually names. The Duratech 300 mm has a top V-groove, a gradient vial and no cells to buy. It has 4.7 from 33 ratings and no printed mm/m figure. For a door or a course of blocks, the S&R is the 800 mm box.
The Franklin lights turn green at level or plumb on a 305 mm plastic torpedo, and two vials stay on the body. The listing prints no degree and no mm/m, and the AA cell is not included. A beeping bar is the other route, and you should stop if the screen and a bubble disagree.
The top pick is the Grettz GL120, a 1200 mm digital bar at £155.99 with a backlit screen on the top and another on the side. The bullets print under 0.1° at 0°, 45° and 90°. Six amazon.co.uk reviews are a thin sample, and 0.1° is a wider band than 0.5 mm/m, which is about 0.03°. Best value is the Firecore FSL230PC at £6.53, with 4.6 from 3,127 reviews, if you run the end-for-end check before you set a stud to it. It prints no mm/m figure, and one stored review failed that turn.
Grettz GL120 1200 mm
Top pick for a 1200 mm ferrous bar with top and side screens. The printed figure is under 0.1° at 0°, 45° and 90°, on a six-review sample at £155.99.
Firecore FSL230PC
Best value at £6.53 for shelves and short ferrous studs, 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 UK sources used for this page. Shelf prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk figures for this set. The page score is the comparison score scaled to ten. 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.
