How to Use a Sight Level

When levelling, a hand level is a small levelling device that is kept in hand. It is made up of a 100 to x150-mm-long rectangular tube.

A hand level (also known as a light level or hand sight level) is an instrument used for estimating rather than precision levelling. Within a telescope, a hand level is basically a spirit level. Grading contractors and land surveyors often use the instrument to equate several points to a reference point to obtain approximations of level or distance.

When opposed to putting up a tripod and levelling instrument, hand levels save time. The trade-off is that, while hand levels take much less time to set up, they are much less precise than precision instruments.

Sight ranges are useful for preliminary surveying and determining distances. Bricklaying, fencing, and laying a lawn are examples of projects where hand-sight levels are desirable. Using a hand sight level may help most DIY projects around the house that need some level of estimation.