- Type: Laser, Class II
- Battery: 3.7V Li-ion, Built-in
- Charging: via USB
- Max Range: 330ft
- Typical Range: 265ft
- Accuracy: ±1/16″
- Price: $299
The new Bosch GLM 100 C laser distance measuring tool is not the first laser measuring tool I have had the pleasure of using or testing, but it is the first that features Bluetooth connectivity. As such, there was a little bit of a learning curve, but it wasn’t long until I figured out all the ins and outs of using the tool alongside Bosch’s software app.
You can use the laser measuring tool by itself, or wirelessly connect it to an Android or iOS device. The GLM measuring utility is a free download that’s available via Google Play, and iTunes.
Advertisement
Available at: Amazon, Home Depot
Bosch Laser Measuring Tool
The GLM 100 C laser measuring tool can be used to make many different types of measurements: length, area, volume, angle, min/max, continuous, single indirect height, single indirect length, combined indirect length, and multi-surface area.
What I Liked:
- Small pocketable size (4-3/8″ length)
- Built-in angle/tilt measurements
- Easy to figure out and use (in case you lose the manual)
- USB charging
- Easy connectivity to smartphones
- 1/4″ tripod mount
- Backlit LCD screen with wide viewing angles
- 50-measurement memory
- Customizable imperial and metric units
- Units can be represented in decimal format (eg. 1.542 feet), or fractional units (1′ 6″ 1/2″ )
What I Didn’t Like:
- USB charging port cover flaps open and closed at its whim
- Tripod mount has plastic and not metal threads (but to be fair, the threads are deep and well formed)
Bosch Laser Measuring App
The app is actually a LOT easier to use than I had anticipated. I did get stuck one or two times, but the help menu sorted things out.
With the app, you can log measurements (automatically as well as manually), transfer measurements to photographs (sketches), save or share annotated and overlayed images, and maintain separate projects. You can even remotely control the laser measuring tool.
I spent quite a bit of time with the app, and thus far I only found one bug. When entering in manual measurements, there is no option for selecting units. I set measurements to be displayed in imperial units (feet) instead of metric. When typing in a manual measurement, it asks for a unitless number but ignores my user preferences. If I enter in “1,” the measurement is logged as “3.28 ft”.
I didn’t expect the app to be perfect, but it is actually very intuitive to use. You can swipe one measurement onto another and then add, subtract, multiply, or divide one from the other. You can also do compound measurements, and the app is smart enough to only allow certain operations. For instance, it didn’t let me multiple two area calculations with each other, but it does allow an area measurement or calculation to be multiplied against a linear measurement to calculate volume.
Overall
Bosch’s GLM 100 C laser measuring tool is a solid tool by itself. Its measurements are spot-on, its controls are easy to use, and every aspect seems well thought out. And when the measuring tool is used together with the free app, the result is a very streamlined user experience.
Advertisement
Bosch did a great job in designing the GLM 100 C, and it is obvious they worked at great lengths to perfect the app.
Buy Now(via Amazon)
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
Price: $299
If you’re not interested in wireless Bluetooth connectivity, Bosch’s GLM 80 laser measuring tool offers similar functionality at a much lower price ($170-200 via Amazon).
If you’re on the fence between models, you could (and should) download the free app in advance to see how well you like it. While you won’t be able to test out the remote control or automatic measurement logging or download features, you will be able to test the app’s image overlay and export functionality.
If you are looking for a Bluetooth-equipped laser measuring tool with greater range, the Leica Distro e7500i can be used at a range of up to 650 feet.
As always, let me know if there are any questions. For the time being the GLM100C is staying in my layout and measuring tool bag, and the app is still on my phone.
Thank you to Bosch for providing the review sample unconditionally. Review samples are typically given away, donated, or retained for benchmark and comparison purposes.
fred
I keep getting surprised at how builder-electronic tools keep advancing adding functionality that might be thought impossible a few years back. I’ve used Leica products (including a Robotic Total Station) in the past – but Bosch seems to be putting these tools in the price point of more users. When they start offering a total station for $299 – let alone 10x that cost – then I’ll be really wowed
Jeff
The Bosch GLM 100 C Laser Distance Measuring Tool will save a lot of time when planning the foundation for our retirement home.
In the next couple of years, my wife & I will buy a piece of property for our new home in the southeastern US. We hope to save as many trees as possible & will build around them when possible. We’ll use the Bosch GLM 100 C Laser Distance Measuring Tool to set stakes and determine locations for the house, pool, my shop & a road onto the homesite in the woods. Because economics is always an issue, we’ll need to balance wants & needs & make compromises that will have to be made in where things will go. It’s likely that some survey points will have to be moved several times so using a laser will be a lot faster than a steel tape.
David7586
I’m surprised you had such a positive experience with the glm100c.
Coincidently, I just posted my thoughts on this unit yesterday in a forum topic at contractortalk.com I am copy pasting it here except for a a few typos which I’ve corrected:
I bought the bosch 100 c laser tape and have given it some light use. My initial impressions match what I imagined.
The app is difficult to work with.
There’s no way to zoom in on a picture to better lay your arrows. This matters if you took a picture with a lot if details or it’s a large picture like a panorama.
There’s no way to input custom measurements that are fractional as far as I can tell. I have to enter decimal inches. This matters when I want to input a measurement that is different from what the maser measure tool reads. I also don’t need the 1/32 precision as it makes your diagram messy. I wish it could round up or to the nearest 1/4. I think this is a pretty glaring problem.
The export features are awful. I can either email a PDF of a project (collection of image measurements) or I can email a PNG of just one image with measures. I can’t export to camera roll, which is puzzling.
I do like the actual Bluetooth connectivity as it’s pretty cool to see measurements pop up on the app just like that. The app though, which this whole device relies on for this feature is abysmal.
I do like that I can export a list of measurements from the laser tape memory. I believe I’ll find some uses for it.
Overall, I’m not impressed. I payed 250 for it and have slight buyers remorse. This is coming from a bosch fanboy btw. I own 30 lboxxes, large percentage of their cordless system, concrete/demo corded tools, and excited with their new C.O.R.E. Brushless stuff coming out next month.
Stuart
Thanks for sharing your experience with and feedback of the laser measuring tool!
It’s possible that the iOS app and Android apps are slightly different.
In the Android app, when laying down arrows there is a small circular zoom window that moves with the arrow. Adjusting the position of the arrows move the window around as well.
Exporting images spits out jpg images, and there doesn’t seem to be a way to change the format to png.
The app doesn’t have a function where I can export logged, entered, or edited data points at all. It would be great if these were spit out as a text file.
I didn’t even think about entering fractional measurements vs. decimal. As mentioned, the app still thinks I’m entering manual measurements in meter-length scale.
When I have a chance I’ll download the app to my iPad and see if the user experience is the same across platforms.
David
I do indeed get that little zoom window, but there is no pinch to zoom functionality. It would make a difference if I’m working with a large picture with many fine points that I would need to measure.
I took a look at the export screen for a “sketch” and it’s very confusing. The subject line of the email uses the file name which was asset.jpg in my case. The file name being emailed shows an extension of png. The thumbnail icon over the file name is the generic image for PDF. That makes no sense to me. I would need to load the file on a computer to make sure what extension it is. I know that sounds confusing. You’d have to look on your ipad to see what I mean.
Stuart
I have added the recommendation that anyone interested in the wireless Bluetooth connectivity should download the free app for evaluation. Some functionality requires connection to the GLM100C, but image capturing, (manual) measurement overlaying, and export actions can be tested without the tool.
David7586
For comparison purposes. I have had the glr500 for over a year. I’ve had the 100c for maybe two weeks and am using the most up to date ios app. I also have the r60 inclinometer attachment but haven’t used it yet. The 100c does work together with it, but I didn’t see much documentation about the compatibility.
I haven’t pushed the 100c in terns if accuracy yet. Hiwrver, I expect it to be the same as the glr500 which I’ve been using for crown and base with confidence.
Tjorven
The R60 works exactly the same with the 100c as the 80. Albeit the Bluetooth doesnt work because of the alu-frame.
nderson (Andy) Moore
Thanks to you both for sharing the pros and cons of the GLM 100C. I am trying to determine the best unit to buy for my Real Estate business which involves some Rehab but a lot of home square ft calculations but having the ability to download to a 2d layout on an I-pad is huge for me.
About 90% of layouts on the tax sites are incorrect, so I have to do my own measurements for room sizes and overall sq footage in order to get an accurate appraisal.
I am leaning towards the GLM100 and am an ex- Tool & Die Maker and designer, so working with decimal measurements is what I would prefer.
Will download the app and play with it first.
Thanks Again
Andy
Scott
This would be great for measuring distances past the point where your tape measure does the dreaded droop. I’d love to win it!
ChrisK1970
This would be great for measuring the distance inside of a TT trailer to check for actual length vs. reported length (ie. For hidden compartments).
Todd Brannam
these things are amazing. Love to win it.
Julian Tracy
Years ago I had a Leica Distro unit that had quite a bit of customizability; was very handy and used it for crown, base molding installs as well as general site measurement work.
Currently, I use a Hilti unit that doesn’t have all the options of the Leica, but it’s smaller and is accurate.
The newer units are smaller and more feature packed, would like to check out this Bosch to see how it’d do in practical job site use and also how much it can be suited to your personal preferences like unit of measurement, etc.
JT
Craig L.
I appreciate your reviews on products. This would come in very handy for all kinds of day to day measuring applications. Saving a lot of time. And Bosch always make top notch tools. (One of my preferred brands). Thanks for the chance to win.
FOGGY MOUNTAIN MAN
This tool would be a great help in my fixup of my century old house, since I need to do so many measurements because nothing is plumb or level. Can just imagine how much time it would save. Love Bosch tools, so I bet this would be a solid and dependable unit.
thanks,
gary
Ed Ginsberg
I am interested in the new series of tools that work with my smart phone and this would give me an Idea if I would invest in some of the other unit made to work with my phone android.
Jorge Fossi
what not to like, I am a handyman that always have a tape measure handy, this will be a huge improvement for every project around the house and helping friends.
Thanks,
Mike Paprocki
I need to make some adjustments to my gargae door tracks before the winter weather hits. They are definately not allgned correctly. One of the tips that I read was to measure the diagonal distance from the front of the left horizontal track to the back of the right hortizontal track and vice vera. Then make adjustments until the two distances are equal. This laser mesausing device would be great for that task. I’m sure it would come in handy for many other projects as well.
Chris
This would really come in handy for a rewire job in our old barn. Also working on new working corrals for our feedlot. Awesome. Thanks for the great review web site.
ktash
These are on amazon as the deal of the day for $129.
ktash
Sorry, it’s the GLM80. Still a good deal, it seems to me.
Roman
Hi
I daily use my DLE 70 which is great! I wanted to upgrade a while ago but seemed that newer models are missing one functionality that is crutial for me.
I’m a house painter and need to calculate wall surface + the ceiling. Normaly I use area measurment function for ceiling than I press plus to add measurement to memory. Than I select wall area measurement function and on finish with pressing “plus” again it adds the value to ceiling area.
Is this possible with that model?
BogdanCo
I’m not so happy with my glm 100c, because the android tablet can’t communicate with that tool. The bluethoot can see, but can’t paired with glm. How can i do?