Bosch has taken the form factor of the miniscule GLM 15 laser distance measuring tool, added a backlight, increased the range to 65 feet, threw in a new all-inches measurement mode, and named it the GLM 20.
The new GLM 20 is also the first laser measure to boast Bosch’s new Blaze branding. Blaze laser measurers are said to set the industry standard for technical innovation, size, speed, and ease of use.
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The GLM 20 will debut at the same price as the GLM 15, and it looks like the GLM 15 will enjoy a reduction in price.
- 65 ft range
- ± 1/8 in. accuracy
- Backlit display
- Powered by 2 AAA batteries
Update: The product listings are wrong, this model is powered by 2AAA batteries, just like the GLM 15.
I’m a fan of the GLM 15. It’s very spartan when it comes to features, but Bosch does offer some more feature-rich laser measurers if you’re willing to pocket something a little larger.
The GLM 20 has just a single button. Press it once to turn on the laser and start taking real-time measurements. Press it again to hold the measurement on-screen. Press it again, and it will display the stored measurement, as well as a real-time measurement. A long press will turn off the devices.
With one button, how does one change to inches and feet, or inches-only measurements? I asked Bosch, and they said that you can change the unit of measure at any time, even for an already measured [stored] value, by pressing and holding the main button “until the unit of measurement comes up.”
I suppose then that changes the measurement mode requires a long press, but not long enough to turn off the device.
Price: $50
Buy Now(via Amazon)
Compare(GLM 15 via Amazon)
The GLM 15 is now described as a “basic unit” over at Amazon, with a $30 price tag.
RKA says
May 6, 2016 at 5:38 pmThe accuracy is on the low end of the scale so depending on what you need it for, take that into account. For interior trim this might help you set nails but I wouldn’t trust it beyond that.
John says
May 6, 2016 at 6:01 pmI have the GLM 15 and its two main annoyances are 1) no backlight and 2) VERY hard to read fractions (I have to put on my reading glasses to make out the fractions). But I paid less than half of what you’re quoting for the GLM 20. Bosch should really bump up the size of the fractions — there seems to be plenty of horizontal screen space to consider using full-size numbers, separated by a slash (“/”) mark.
John says
May 7, 2016 at 1:28 amI got the Bosch GLM 50 C Bluetooth and I love it. This looks like a good update to the original, but I imagine it still suffers from one annoying issue. On my GLM 50 C and there is no way to change or reduce the measuring units on the display to the nearest 1/8″ instead of the nearest 1/32″. Looking at the manual for the GLM 20 here, it also looks like its stuck on 1/16” and not changeable if I’m reading this right.
I mean sure its great that mine does it to 1/32”, but in real practice who measures to 1/32” on a tape/laser measure then having to convert that back to 1/8” or 1/16” its pretty darn annoying. Surely they should have added an option to switch indication units.
John says
May 7, 2016 at 1:19 pm(different ‘John’ here; I’m not commenting on my own comment):
Yes, excellent point. While it’s pretty easy/intuitive to round up or down when looking at an analog tape measure, it’s actually quite bothersome to have to do this with a digital readout. If I read 7/32″ or 27/32″ it actually take some real brain power to figure out what I want to do with that. It is VITAL that Bosch allow for users to set the degree of precision, based on the project at hand.
fred says
May 8, 2016 at 11:33 amI think that the newest Leica unit (S910 – 808183) – allows you to toggle – from 1/32 default to 1/16, 1/8 or 1/4 as well as decimal feet and decimal yards and meters.
I’m not sure about the less expensive Leica Distos – so my comment may be comparing diamonds to zircons – cost wise – since these Bosch instruments are 1/30 the cost of the S910
John says
Aug 2, 2017 at 11:54 pmThis laser may have some cool
Updated features but this 1/32″ measurements are a real problem.
I used hilti lasers for many years and just assumed that it was common place to be able to change the precision on what the user chooses. Past a 1/16″ is truely annoying and I will gladly move to another brand to have that corrected if Bosch won’t . Such a shame as the size is awesome.
Jay says
May 7, 2016 at 1:26 pmMy GLM 15 chews through batteries like there’s no tomorrow. Put in new batts and without being turned on the batteries drain in approx 1-2 weeks. Seems the unit drains the batteries despite being turned off. Now the batteries only go in when the unit is in use and are removed when finished measuring.
Have wanted to upgrade to the GLM 50 C but the battery issue has been a big time deal breaker. Got the GLM 15 thinking that if I found it useful I’d replace it with a more capable unit down the road. Still want to upgrade but won’t be looking at Bosch.
Stuart says
May 7, 2016 at 1:28 pmSounds lie a defect. Mine is still on its first set for batteries. I’ve had it for over a year now, with only occasional use.
RC Ward says
May 7, 2016 at 6:24 pmEverytime I see one of these It makes me want to get one and I don’t really need one that is for sure. But no question I do want one. Need vrs. Want? Want is leading at this time. #TIACREW
fred says
May 8, 2016 at 8:59 amWhen we bought our first Leica Disto – I had a great deal of trepidation and thought “here is another piece of expensive gear that we have been hoodwinked into buying”. I guess I was cautious because I had seen inexpensive laser distance meters at Sears and elsewhere – and thought that they would not be accurate or repeatable – but the Disto changed the way we estimated work – and then through a few iterations of newer models – we became confident enough to transfer measurements directly into our computers and generate fabrication drawings from the results. This is not so much a plug for the Leica brand – as I suspect that Bosch and others have also come a long way in refining these instruments – and while they won’t replace a $15,000 Total Station – they have gained a place on the jobsite.
Jon says
May 9, 2016 at 12:00 pmExactly. These kinds of tools are most useful for estimating, and for work where accuracy to, say, 1/4″ is sufficient. I found them priceless for doing seamless metal work over 50-100 feet, where the 1″ trim on the end makes both length and angle cuts somewhat flexible. But for interior trim work, by way of comparison, I would only use them for rough size, to be trimmed to fit by more exact measurements later.
pete says
May 10, 2016 at 8:37 pmJust bought the GLM 15 at home depot of their “new low price” of $30. is there any things i need to keep an eye out for? Make sure the glass is clean? how robust are these LDM’s? Can i keep it in my pocket all day? Does dirty glass skew measurements?
Havya says
Nov 23, 2017 at 10:20 amJust bought bosch professional glm 30..how to change from meter to feet..can anyone suggest
Stuart says
Nov 23, 2017 at 11:57 amTry holding down the main button, not so long to turn it off, but just long enough and it changes units. That’s at least how it works on some of them.