Debate: Are those $20 laser levels from Harbor Freight actually worth it or just junk?

I was at a garage sale last Saturday and picked up a used Huepar laser level for $15, and it got me thinking about the cheap ones. I read a forum post where a guy tested a $20 laser from Harbor Freight against a $150 Bosch model, and the cheap one was off by almost a quarter inch over 10 feet. That surprised me because I always thought a laser is a laser, right? But for just hanging pictures or putting up shelves in a small room, does that tiny difference even matter? My buddy swears by his cheap one for basic DIY, but another guy on Reddit said it caused him to mess up a whole cabinet install. I am leaning towards the idea that for small jobs, the cheap laser is fine, but for anything needing precision like drywall or cabinets, you need the good one. What do you all think? Has anyone here used the cheap ones and regretted it, or are they good enough for most weekend projects?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_rose7d ago

That quarter inch stat in the post is enough to make me stick with my old B&D.

brooke_murray7d ago

Oh man, I completely get that. A quarter inch of difference can be a dealbreaker when you're used to a certain feel in your hand.