5 Best Laser Level for Hanging Curtains In 2023

When they first hit the market, laser levels were only seen in huge construction sites or inside the toolboxes of highly trained professionals. Nowadays, it is incredibly common for consumers to use laser levels to get proper alignments inside their homes. In these cases, one of the key usages happens to be hanging curtains. However, a healthy number of choices has left everyone wondering what is the best laser level for hanging curtains?

Today, we will take a look at our top five picks of laser level for non-professional purposes. Although we will be primarily focussing on hanging curtains, these handy tools happen to be incredibly versatile, and use cases can range from hanging picture frames to aligning furniture.

Best Laser Level for Hanging Curtains

Keeping the different needs of different types of users in mind, we have created the perfect roundup for you. Below you will find our recommendations, and they are sure to include an option for just about any type of user.

BLACK + DECKER BDL Laser Level (BDL220S)

Our first pick comes at an affordable price with some outstanding features. It is very easily pocketable and runs on two AA batteries. Sure, it does not provide a lot of features available on more expensive and professional levels, but considering the price, it’s a steal.

This product can very easily be used in vertical and horizontal orientations, and the two bubble vials help you align it perfectly. The vials themselves are also fitted with backlights; thus, visibility in low-light conditions is not an issue.

Its included mounting mechanism sticks to the level using a magnet and offers 360 degrees rotation. In theory, this does sound amazing; however, the problem arises when you want to attach it to a wall for hands-free operation.

The base has a pivoting nail for this purpose, and the user is supposed to hammer it in the drywall for mounting. Although this has caused a lot of disputes among users, it should still work for most of you.

Pros:

• Incredibly accurate at reasonably short distances
• Has a compact size
• Features a 360 degrees rotation mechanism
• The price is really reasonable

Cons:

• Questionable mounting mechanism

Verdict: The BDL220S laser level is our top pick of today and we will gladly recommend it to most users. BLACK + DECKER made an absolutely outstanding product, and we declare it to be unmatched in this price bracket. 

Qooltek Multipurpose Laser Level

Our next entry on this list comes from the good people at Qooltek, and it directly competes with the previous product. The construction is rock solid which is backed up by its weight of 184g. It is battery-powered and comes with 3 x AG 16 batteries included.

One unique feature of this laser level is the eight-foot-long tape measure. Like any standard ruler, it comes with both imperial and metric measurements. It is made out of aluminum and attaches to the bottom of this product.

The Qooltek Multipurpose Laser Level justifies its name by being adequate for a lot of different purposes. This one has three orientations, vertical, horizontal, and cross, and it has a bubble level for each of them. Although it’s not quite 360 degrees, it will do its job amazingly well at the three orientations it offers.

This tool has a tripod mount at the bottom of the base, and you can screw in any tripod of your choice as this will be your mounting method. For most purposes, this should be good enough, but a tripod does not really offer much versatility.

Pros:

• The tape measure is included with the unit
• Long battery life in addition to included spare batteries
• Has a cross-level mode
• Comes with a tripod mount

Cons:

• The laser is not bright enough for outdoor use
• Some users noticed factory adjustment issues

Verdict: Although not very versatile, the Qooltek Multipurpose Laser Level is still great at what it does. If you need a very compact level, look elsewhere, but if the features of this product align with your use cases, it is a good buy.

DEWALT Line Laser (DW088K)

Now let’s take a look at a heavy-duty option. The Dewalt DW088K is made for professionals, and its premium price tag backs that up. It uses a class 2 red laser that runs with 3 AA batteries and comes with quite a few add ons included, like a sturdy carrying case and magnetic bracket.

This laser comes with a professional-grade feature set. You do not need to place this device properly leveled. If it is tilted up to four degrees, it will correct itself and still give you a perfectly straight line as long as it is off by less than 4 degrees. And if it is tilted more than that, the laser will blink and let you know.

It also has a few different mounting methods for your convenience. A rotating magnetic base that lets you attach it to any steel or iron surface, a .25-inch tripod mount, and you can even nail or screw it to a wall. All of these combined with the self-adjusting laser makes this unit one of the most versatile offerings available.

Pros:

• The construction is quite heavy-duty
• Has a Class-2 self-adjusting laser
• Various mounting methods for your convenience
• Comes with a hard carrying case
• Perfect laser level for outdoor use

Cons:

• Quite expensive

Verdict: Let’s be honest here, the Dewalt DW088K is overkill for the average Joe. It is a piece of professional equipment made for professional use cases, and you will be hard-pressed to use all the features it offers around your house.

Read Full Review of  Dewalt DW088K Laser Level.

Having said that, if you have some money burning a hole in your pocket, you cannot go wrong with this tool.

Tavool/lo Self Leveling Laser Level

If your budget is under $50 and you need something a bit more feature-rich than the first two options, this should be your go-to. The Tavool self-leveling laser level happens to have most of the features found in level 3-4 times its price and delivered all of it in a relatively compact package.

Running on 4 included AA batteries, this device can operate up to 20 hours before you need to change the batteries. It also comes with a carrying case, making this device more portable than the “professional” ones.

One unique feature of this level is that you can lock the laser in its place and rotate the device to get any angle you want.; this will come in incredibly handy if you’re going to align the laser to a wall or a corner.

Other notable features of this product are four-degree self-adjustment, vertical, horizontal, and cross modes, up to 50 feet visibility, magnetic and tripod mount, and just one switch to control the laser.

Pros:

• Has 4 included AA batteries
• Very portable and feature a carrying case
• Can run for 20 hours on a single charge
• Offers 4-degree self-adjustment

Cons:

• Not bright enough for outdoor use

Verdict: If you are willing to spend more than $30, this product is an easy recommendation. You might need to buy a tripod to get the best out of it, but it is a good value even after considering the tripod cost.

Huepar Box-1G Self-Leveling Laser Level

While our other options focus on working indoors, to follow up with our promise of having something for everyone, here is a product that works just as well outdoors. Equipped with a neon green laser, the Huepar Box-1G is the brightest laser in our roundup, and it is available for a good price.

Heupar advertises a range of up to 160 ft with the receiver. Without it, it will have no problem going up to 35 feet indoors and in dark environments, but the range becomes almost half as soon as you bring it into the sunlight.

It also offers standard features like self-adjusting, magnetic and tripod mount, and manual mode. An IP54 rating will also protect it from dust, debris, and splashes. The “pulse mode” feature is also pretty handy. In this mode, you can use the receiver to measure heights away from the central device accurately.

Heupar recommends the user invest in some rechargeable AA batteries, and the device needs 4 of them. Although it does come with disposable alkaline batteries that can keep the device running for 4 hours with all the lasers enabled.

Pros:

• High visibility in both indoors and outdoors
  • Comes with a “Pulse Mode”
  • Is self-adjusting
  • Has IP 54 rating
  • A range of around 160 ft with the receiver

Cons:

• The glass lens can break easily

Verdict: Our top pick, if you need to hang some curtains outdoors for some reason. The mix of features and price makes this the last product on our list but still a worthy one.

Buying Guide of Best Laser Level for Hanging Curtains

As you can see from our list, you have quite a few options to pick from. But which one would be the best for you? You need to know a few factors to consider, and our top 5 picks mostly tick all the right boxes. So, you need to look into your particular use case or situation. While doing that, consider the following few factors:

• Accuracy

There is a degree of accuracy written in the package or instructions of the best laser levels. However, for a rule of thumb, a model with a deviance of less than 1⁄4 inch at 100 feet should be selected. Almost every self-leveling laser, however, will give a more precise line than a spirit level can achieve.

If accuracy is our first and foremost priority, you need to look into the advertised accuracy of the particular level.

Our research and experience show that any of the above five will be good enough for the purpose of hanging curtains, and you can’t really go wrong with any of them. Just pick out the one that meets your budget requirement.

• Self-Leveling

Laser levels with this feature are also called auto lasers. They essentially do most of your work for you. As long as you have a steady base or mount, the laser will level itself. However, a bubble-level system is not the end of the world, and it can be just as good with some patience.

• Mounting Options

Laser levels are excellent because they let you work hands-free. It is precisely why the mounting mechanism is important. Some cheap options will use a nail that you can fix in your wall, and mid to high-range options will always have a magnetic mount or tripod mounting system.

If your house is under construction and you want to get the curtains hanged now, you might be able to get through with our cheapest offering.

The BLACK+DECKER will give you perfectly level curtains at the cost of leaving a few holes in your drywall. But since your house is already under construction, that is going to be a very easy fix.

• Laser Color

This feature is not just something regarding aesthetics. Red and green lasers have very different use cases.

Red lasers, while being less power consuming (meaning will have better battery life), is not very visible in brightly lit places. Green lasers are the exact opposite. They will give you excellent visibility but chug through batteries like nobody’s business. So, keep that in your consideration too.

• Durability and Weather Resistance

Another thing to note is that a lot of dust and debris flies around in a house that’s being built. For this reason, your wish to have a long-serving laser level will be met with an IP54 rating.

And finally, if you plan to use your laser level for years or even decades to come, we will recommend a heavy-duty professional product. Yes, they are expensive and bulky, but it is truly a professional tool that will serve you for years to come.

How to Hang Curtains with a Laser Level

Precise measurement is key here. Use the tape measure of your choice to mark the height that the curtains will hang from and compare the window’s width to the width of the curtains. You need to remember that the curtain should always occupy even spacing from both ends of the window.

After you have your measurements, you are ready to mark your first hole. The next step will be different depending on your choice of laser level.

If you have one that sticks to the wall using a nail or magnets, stick it just a few inches away horizontally from your hole mark and turn on the laser. Use the bubble level to get a precise alignment, and you will have a thin straight line of red/green laser across your wall going through your marking.

A tripod-mounted laser level will effectively work the same way; you just need to set the tripod at the same height your curtain rods will be and wait for the laser to align itself.

Now that you have a perfect line use it as a guide and measure the proper width of your curtains again and mark the hole on the other end. When you have two marks, drill away, and you’ll finally be able to hang your curtains. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Words

The daunting task of hanging curtains and keeping them precisely straight should be a piece of cake for you now. Hopefully, our list of reviews for the best laser level for hanging curtains was of help to you.

Gone are the days of fiddling around with a tape measure and destroying your drywall with a hundred holes. Laser levels are the tech of the future, and they will make your life a lot easier.