Kobalt’s laser distance measuring tool has dropped in price to just $20, making it the lowest priced brand-name laser distance measurer I’ve ever seen.
It’s got a backlit display, 50-foot measurement range, 2 reference edges, and great accuracy.
Advertisement
If you want to learn more, check out our preview post, or the product page linked below. Or head to your nearest Lowes store and pick one up.
If you’ve got any questions, please let me know. We just got one in for review (thank you, Lowes!), and I’ve been putting it through some quick tests. So far, it’s as accurate as could be, easy to use, and has a beautifully readable display.
I thought the Kobalt was a great buy at $29. At $20? That’s less than some 25′ and 35′ tape measures.
I just wrapped up and scheduled a post on the brand new Bosch GLM 10 laser distance measuring tool, a reasonable-looking no-frills tool with 35′ range.
Compared to that Bosch, this new Kobalt can measure a greater range (even though most target users probably don’t need the added range), and also has a few step-up features, such as the backlit display.
No, it’s not as compact as the Bosch, but it’s still easily pocketable.
Advertisement
I’d consider this a hot deal!
Buy Now(via Lowes)
Compare(Bosch GLM 10 via Amazon)
See Also(Bosch GLM 20 via Amazon)
Jay
Deal is not working for me. Lowes’s price shown as $39.98 + 5.99 shipping + 3.79 tax = total of $49.76.
Stuart
Did you put in any zip code? Maybe the price drop is regional and will spread nationwide soon?
Jay
Checked again this morning 11/12/16 using my zip. Still showing the higher price. Will grab one of these if when the price drop comes to my area. Thanks for the heads-up.
Toolfreak
Shows $19.98 as the “new lower price” for me.
Toolfreak
That’s going to be a winner if the actual display really shows the digits bright white with a dark background. Makes the Bosch look old school by comparison.
$20 is an amazing price. I’d guess these will sell out easily for BF if not sooner.
mnoswad
Specs say indoor use only……….anyone have experience with using lasers outdoors and why wouldn’t it work outdoors?
Stuart
Sunlight can mess with sensors.
On lower powered lasers especially (I’m assuming), the intensity can drop off too much, and sunlight can skew readings or at the least wash out the reflected laser.
Tony
http://www.laserlevelreview.com/guides/truth-using-laser-distance-measure-outside/
fred
Good info. But you do better outside when you do not need to be able to see the dot. Our earlier Distos had a rangefinder – not unlike what I had on my old Leica camera. My newer one now works much like a premium digital camera and lets you zoom in on the target independent of being able to see the dot. I’ve not used it at its maximum range yet – but at 400 feet or so it works great even on a sunny afternoon. As the link you provided says – the disadvantage is what all of this adds to the price – but as I said under the previous Bosch post – Amazon seems to have dropped the price on the 810 from the $850 I paid for it – down to $705 – so only 35 times (rather than 42.5x) the price of this Kobalt
Michael
I will be looking for one of these.
goodnightjohnboy
I bought one of these today & returned it within an hour. The laser was barely visible & it only measures in decimals. Also the display didn’t make much sense. I can’t understand why it has 2 separate numbers for the same measurement. I have a Bosch GLR225 & it is badass & very easy to use. But it doesn’t have a back-lit display, which sucks & the screen is cracked in the middle,but works fine. So I bought this thinking it would measure in fractional increments. I also thought it would have a bright display. I guess my expectations were high for $20.
goodnightjohnboy
I meant to say that it didn’t measure in feet or inches only. It only measures feet & inch as one measurement. Would be confusing when transferring to tape. Tapes don’t say 17’7″⅝. Too much math for the work. Like decimals to fraction. Not a precision tool by any means.
Stuart
Press and hold the Units button, and it switches to metric, and then to fractional. This is common for lasers, to measure in feet, inches, and then fractional.
I agree that there’s benefit in an all-inches reading, but for most users, at least most that this is targeted to, 17′ 7″ is going to be just fine, compared to 211 inches.
I don’t think that the new Bosch GLM 10 offers this, but you can select inches-only measurement units with the also-new Bosch GLM 20.
As an aside, this is where metric system benefits shine. To go from meters to centimeters and back, you just move the decimal point.
The 2 measurements are also common these days. The top is the previous measurement, the bottom and main measurement is your last one. I guess this is more a feature of lasers that don’t otherwise have built-in memories.
You’re comparing a $20 laser to one that costs $125? Of course you get more for more money.
MPG
I was able to get the local Lowes employee to find it on the top shelf. He thought he was only supposed to put it out for black Friday, but I showed him the app with the price and the fact that they had 18 in stock. So he sold me one. Can’t complain for $20.
Randy
I picked one up at Lowes the other day. Nice unit for $20. Thanks for the heads up and previous review.
Mark
Guys,
Excited about this til I had to use it. Appears unit needs to be calibrated maybe? Works great but dimensions are off by 20% or so on a few test shots. My boy opened the package and I have no user guide or manual. Any tips?
Stuart
Hmm, I’d return it for an exchange. If second one did the same I’d return it for good and switch to Bosch for a few dollars more.
I haven’t seen any issues like that with my test unit, will check again soon. My test unit arrived with batteries installed and the plastic packaging taped back together. I think it was used for demo or photo purposes, as opposed to being cherry-picked from a batch.