Bosch DLR165K Laser Distance Measuring Device
- Precision Laser Measuring Technology. Laser beam does both pointing and measuring
- Pocket-Sized Only 4-Inch tall
- Four Measuring Reference Points: Back, front, swingout extension pin for measuring from inside corners or channels, or center of optional tripod
- Three Measurement Systems: Feet and inches, decimal feet, and metric
- Length, Area and Volume Measuring Capability
Amazon.com Product Description
If you are looking for fast, easy, and accurate measuring, look no further than the Bosch DLR165K Digital Laser Range Finder Kit. With precision laser measuring technology, a large measuring range, indirect length measurement, and more, you can count on this tool to handle just about any task. And with a compact, portable design, this handy range finder fits in your pocket, so you’ll always have it when you need it.
The DLR165K Digital Laser Range Finder Kit
At a Glance:Precision laser measuring technologyPocket-sized; only four inches tallMeasures length, area, and volumeFour measuring reference pointsThree measurement modes3-year limited warranty
Use Indirect Length Measurement Mode to calculate distances that cannot be measured directly due to obstruction. View larger.
Measuring only four inches tall, the DLR165K fits in your pocket. Precision Laser Technology
Utilizing precision laser techn… More >>
Bosch DLR165K Laser Distance Measuring Device
I’m in agreement with most in that this is a big time saver, especially when getting a tape measure between two surfaces is impractical e.g. crown molding. After several months of use I’ve found a few critical shortcomings.
I’ve received a couple of bogus measurements that were in the ballpark of the actual ones. While these could have been due to user error, I was careful to note the discrepancy and was able to reproduce it on one occasion. To be fair, the unit gets stored in my glove box, has been knocked around a bit and is not exactly in new condition. However, I would like it to either work or not work. Erroneous readings are not acceptable.
Another gripe about this device is that the beam does not shoot plumb up from the base of the laser. That is to say, if you just rest the case on a surface that is parallel to another, you’ll be measuring a distance that is angled slightly away from plumb. This can be especially frustrating when you set the unit down on a bottom plate and just never seem to hit the top plate only 8′ up without angling the unit a bit by hand.
Finally, as others have mentioned, the laser cannot be configured to read in inches and fractions only. e.g. 94-5/16 will read 7′10-5/16. Converting to inches in your head inevitably leads to cutting errors so the fix around this seems to be to switch to reading off your tape in feet & inches when you make your mark rather than the inches-only format that you are used to.
Still, the price is right. In my mind this makes it a great tool, especially for estimating. But, for that $100 board, you’d be wise to double-check that measurement with your tape.
This is another well-built and extremely accurate tool from Bosch.
A bright and easy to locate laser highlights your target, and with another touch of the button will supply measurements accurate to within 1/16th of an inch at 165 feet CONSISTENTLY; I personally tested the unit before trusting the readings.
Internal math functions for area, volume and even calculating height from a distance are all built in to the unit and work effortlessly.
The unit is solid, light and very manageable.
Now for the BAD NEWS… it only has 3 measurement formats available: metric, feet w/ decimals, and feet and inches w/ fractions. My industry deals in inches w/ fractions such as, 100 7/8″ – and the only two non-metric formats available from this unit would display this same measurement as either 8.4063′ or 8′ 4 7/8″ and would then require conversion.
This inconvenience may or may not effect everyone; however, the price of this unit will defintely continue to turn every head. The other laser units with this accuracy and quality are all over double the price of the DLR165K, making this unit affordable, if not perfect.
I’m very happy with mine.
I do trim carpentry and build cabinets and needed something to give me fast accurate measurements for doing crown moldings and the Bosch delivered. It comes with a handy case that you can hang on your belt keeping it in reach. I use it for any measurement that would require me to bend the tape and try to guess what the reading would be or where the distance makes it difficult to accurately do with tape measure. It also has the ability to do continuous reading allowing you to aim at an object and move yourself forward or backward until you are the desired distance from the target object.
A steady hand does help but the uses are endless due to its ability to read off its front edge, a tripod mount hole, off its back edge, or its extendable rod. It would be a good idea to make sure the tape measure you use for transferring the measurements matches the rangefinder before starting a job. The only negative I have discovered is that a measurement in feet and fractions of an inch are stored in memory and then redisplayed in decimal forcing me to then convert the number back into fractions. That said the display holds my measurement long enough for me to get my molding, measure, and make the cut before the display shuts off. I have recommended this device to all my friends who do a lot of measurements on their job.
I will use this tool in locating reference marks related to finding survey benchmarks outdoors. Based on an afternoon’s testing, it appears to be effective to about 75 ft. in outside use, which makes it fine for me in typical situations (like measuring distances to reference marks like telephone poles across busy highways)
While I wait for the Dewalt targets I ordered to arrive, I tested it out on a standard size traffic cone wrapped with a couple of bands of 4″ 3M-type reflective material. This makes the laser beam’s dot MUCH easier to detect (looks like a flash of fire). The red-tinted Dewalt laser-enhancing glasses make it about 20% easier for me to detect the beam, although their shape makes them a bit awkward to wear over ordinary eyeglasses.
The beam reflected well off of dull fire hydrants and mid-bright telephone poles. It’s swallowed up by black materials and whites that are too bright. Almost impossible to detect the beam in full sunlight (but something like the reflective traffic cone makes it possible).
The maximum “natural” range I was able to attain was about 110 ft., in dusk conditions, bouncing off a yellow-colored wall. Since there isn’t really a sighting mechanism, it’s hard to “hit” a target much smaller than 3′x3′ at 100 ft. In addition to difficulty tracking the dot, it’s hard at long distance to hold it on-target for the 2 sec. or so it takes to compute the range.
This is just a fantastic device. Massive time savings. Keep in mind that it’s the first measuring device I’ve owned that is not a steel tape, so perhaps I’m more easily impressed than more up-to-date DYI-ers.
I have always been a do-it-yourselfer, but just occasional projects here and there, nothing that in my mind justified a $130 measuring device. But I now have big backyard and frontyard projects planned, and the older I get the more I value my time, so OK, seeing all the good reviews here I splurged.
When I use this thing, I get a big grin on my face. Distance from house to shed, so I know how much yard I have to work with? Stick it against the wall, press button once to turn on laser, once more and boom–measurement in hand, with overkill accuracy. (Actually, the accuracy gives me an additional use: the shed is on an unstable slope, and I know it has been moving downslope over the years. I’ll be able to track it very closely relative to the house now.)
Or this morning. Had to get to work, but before I did I wanted to get a quick quote for getting a bunch of woodchips to cover some bare ground for the winter. A rectangular patch of ground bordered on two adjacent sides by retaining walls–perfect for this device. I knew the depth of chips I wanted: with length, width & a little math I’d have the number of cubic yards of chips I needed to order. I dashed outside alone, and literally 15 seconds later was heading back in the house with my measurements in both directions (I did a handheld “point and shoot” to each wall from the opposite side, needing just rough measurements.) This points out something I did not appreciate prior to buying it: yes, it’s great if you need precision measurements, as I expected, but it is also great if you need something quick & dirty. It’s just so damn fast, compared to futzing around with a tape measure, especially if you often work alone. The laser dot can be shaking a fair bit and it will still give you a reasonable measurement.
Measuring a room is trivial, if you have a clear visual path from one wall to the other, and again in the perpendicular direction (a bit of a challenge, I have to say, in my severely cluttered house, but usually I find a spot). This does bring to mind one advantage to a steel tape–in a backyard for example, you can snake a tape through sparse bushes, weeds etc. and get a reasonable measurement, while the laser measurer would be stymied if the visual path is not completely clear in at least one small spot.
Another great application: Measuring from fence to opposite fence all around my yard to both see how big the lot is (according to current fence lines) and see how straight and parallel the fences are (in my case, not very). So easy, if you have the clear shot.
Some measurements are trickier than with a steel tape–measuring the side of a shed, for example. You have a clear starting point (set the device to measure from its front end, and put the front end against one end of the wall, so the laser shoots along the wall), but no clear ending point at the other end of the wall for the laser to get a bead on. Taping up a piece of cardboard against the end of the wall works. Now that I think about it, it’s still less tricky than a tape, which typically falls off the end of the wall before I get to the other end.
I do wish it could store a series of measurements, so I would have less jotting to do as I’m walking around. If you have a series of measurements to add together, you’re set (just keep hitting M+ after each measurement), but it can only hold two independent measurements (one in memory, and the one you just took, which will be on the display).
As others have said, it would be nice if it displayed in decimal or fractional inches (without feet), but if I am worried about feet-inch conversion errors I just stick with decimal feet.
I did some testing with an 18″ ruler and a perpendicular target. It was accurate to +- 1/16 in as advertised, over those short distances at least.
Very glad I took the plunge.