Lab – Laser rangefinders as accurate from entry level to high end?

The DIY section is expanding and will soon include a new category of products: laser rangefinders. Small tools capable of many feats when it comes to measuring lengths, surfaces and volumes, and whose prices vary enormously. The basic models can be found for less than 30 € while the most elaborate rangefinders are negotiated around several hundred euros. Are such deviations justified by the accuracy of the measurements taken? Our first tests tell us that this is not always the case.

We chose to start with a selection of laser rangefinders intended for indoor use. The most affordable of this first round of tests is the Dtape DT50, a model that can be found for less than €30 on Amazon. The most high-end rangefinder in our selection to date is the Bosch Professional GLM 50-27 C, the price of which exceeds €150. Between the two, we opted for a model from the Chinese brand Popoman and a rangefinder from the German manufacturer Einhell, the TE-LD 60.

Often negligible differences

After performing dozens of measurements with each of the selected models, the conclusion is clear: these laser rangefinders do not clearly stand out for the precision of the calculated measurements. Concerning the surface of a room, evaluated by hand at 9.481 m², we noted differences of 0.08 to 0.2%. This corresponds, at worst, to a 4 mm gap over more than 2.6 m in length and a square of 14 cm on a side over the entire surface. Nothing wrong with not ordering enough parquet or tiling.

On shorter lengths, we note differences which can be of greater importance. By measuring the niche of a 37 x 37 cm piece of furniture, we find deviations of 1 to 6 mm. At smaller distances, such differences are less negligible. Drilling a hole 6 mm too far will have serious consequences on the assembly of a piece of furniture. This kind of measurement is however rather to be carried out with a tape or folding measure.

The accuracy of laser rangefinders also depends on other aspects such as ambient light, the reflectivity of a surface, the speed of measurement or the ergonomics of the device. So many points that we analyze in our tests, the first of which will be released next week.