Shortlist and buying guide · the ranked board is on its way
Ad We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. How it works
What to look for
Laser distance measures for sizing rooms, quoting jobs and working out materials, from home DIY to the van. Point, press, read the distance: no second person holding the end of a tape.
Models worth comparing
From manufacturers' specifications and published UK reviews, read on 6 October 2026. Not tested by us. In no particular order: these are not ranked, and we do not say which is best until the customer ratings are in.
Budget
Bosch Zamo
Homeowners who mostly need room lengths and floor areas, and would rather recharge over USB-C than keep buying batteries.
Bosch quotes ±2 mm accuracy and up to 40 m on the current version
The supplied AAA cells are rechargeable through a USB-C socket on the tool itself
Optional clip-on line, wheel and 1.5 m tape adapters add extra jobs
Watch out for: Shops still stock the earlier 25 m version next to the current 40 m one, so check the range on the box; Bosch lists distance and area only, with no volume or indirect-height modes mentioned.
Tradespeople measuring in bright rooms or on dusty sites who want readings sent straight to a phone.
Green 515 nm dot, which Bosch says shows up better than red in bright indoor light
IP65 rated, with a rubber casing Bosch says copes with 1.5 m drops onto concrete
Bluetooth link to the MeasureOn app, a 360° tilt sensor and memory for 30 values
Watch out for: Range stops at 50 m, it runs on AA cells unless you buy the kit with Bosch's rechargeable pack, and at around 0.2 kg it is heavier than pocket models.
Range
0.05–50 m
Accuracy
±1.5 mm
Functions
Distance, tilt 0–360°, Bluetooth app transfer, 30-value memory
Surveyors, estate agents and fitters drawing floor plans who need long range, plenty of calculation modes and wireless transfer.
The updated model is rated to 150 m in good conditions, at ±1.5 mm
Bluetooth 6.0 and NFC send readings to Leica's DISTO Plan app, which has a Smart Room mode for floor plans
Folding end-piece, 360° tilt sensor, and modes including volume, triangle area, stake-out and three-point Pythagoras
Watch out for: The red dot is harder to pick out in bright rooms (Leica sells a green D2G, rated to 120 m, for that), and older 100 m D2 stock is still around, so check which version you are buying.
Range
0.05–150 m (80 m in poor conditions)
Accuracy
±1.5 mm
Functions
Distance, area, volume, triangle area, Pythagoras, stake-out, tilt, Bluetooth and NFC, 30-value memory
We are gathering the customer ratings this board needs from UK shops. When they are in, the ranked list replaces this guide at the same address, scored the way every board is: star ratings weighed by how many people left them. How we score.
Most models for home and trade use list an accuracy of a few millimetres over their range; the listing gives the exact figure. Bright sunlight and dark or shiny surfaces can shorten how far it reliably reads.
Do I need one with Bluetooth?
Only if you want readings to go straight into a phone app. For writing down room sizes or a quick check, a basic model does the job and costs less.
Does a laser measure work outside?
In daylight the red dot is hard to see beyond a few metres. A target plate, a green laser or a model with a viewfinder helps; otherwise a tape is often quicker outdoors.
Laser measure or tape measure?
A laser is faster for room sizes, ceiling heights and anything you would otherwise need a second pair of hands for. A tape is still better for short, precise marks for a cut.
Got the measurements? 1001 Pro Calculators and Tools does the arithmetic and turns the job into an itemised quote on your own letterhead, as a PDF. 250 calculators free forever, no adverts, works offline.
250 calculators free forever · Pro £0.99 a year, introductory · Trade Tools £9.99 once
