Over at Home Depot, they came out with a new Dewalt laser distance measuring tool and tape measure combo pack, a special buy that’s priced at $30.
Dewalt has previously come out with a tiny pocket-sized laser distance measuring tool, and the new model looks similar but is advertised as having a 40′ range instead of the other tool’s 30′ range.
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Both feature a built-in battery that charges via USB.
The online image of the bundle is very size-disproportionate, but gives you a clearer look at what you get.
Let’s talk about this deal for a moment. A laser distance measuring tool and a Dewalt 25′ tape measure for only $30?
Right now you can get the same Dewalt tape measure in a 2-pack for $15. I can’t find a lot of pricing information for the laser, but Home Depot currently has it listed for $25 online. So, if we’re looking at value pricing, you could buy the same tools separately for ~$32.50 if you can split the tape measure 2-pack with a friend.
So, with this special bundle, you’re saving $2.50 compared to buying the same tools separately.
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When Dewalt’s 30′ laser distance measuring tool first came out, it was priced at $20. Now, it’s ~$23 to $28.
As discussed in our post about the 30′ model, Dewalt’s accuracy is lower than other brands’ laser distance measuring tools. Dewalt’s accuracy is said to be ±1/4″ over 30′.
However, it’s small – really small – and compact than most if not all of the other single-button laser distance measuring tools I’ve seen.
The tape measure is okay – it seems to be a good value if you’re on a budget.
Price: $30
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Personally, I like Bosch’s GLM 20 (or GLM 20X) laser distance measuring tools better, although getting this laser and a 25′ tape will cost more than $30.
I don’t like having so many USB-rechargeable lithium polymer battery devices around. The Bosch takes AAA batteries. The Bosch is also not as small as Dewalt’s. Actually, it’s very small compared to more-featured and longer range laser distance measuring tools but comparably much larger than Dewalt’s.
Bosch’s has a range of 65′ and accuracy of ±1/8″.
I don’t know how to interpret Dewalt’s claim of 1/4″ accuracy at 30′. Is it usable to the full range of 40′? What’s the accuracy there?
Buying this Bosch laser, plus maybe rechargeable batteries (I’ve had a lot of bad experiences with alkaline batteries recently, and according to readers a lot of other brands have issues too), and a 25′ tape measure would likely push the total cost over $40.
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At my local store, they have the Dewalt bundle deal and Bosch laser right next each other. It’ll be interesting to see which one sells better, seeing as how they’re both $30 special buys.
The Dewalt has a lot of good things going for. Well, three things – it’s very compact, it has a built-in battery (although this is a downside if you ask me), and $30 for a 40′ laser and 25′ tape measure is a decent deal. To be accurate, right now I feel it’s an *okay* deal, and that it’s a *decent* deal if the bundle was this price the other 10 months out of the year.
The purpose of this post isn’t to be negative about the Dewalt bundle, but to break down what you get and why. If you’re okay with what you get, go for it! If not, you’ll have to budget more for better options, because you certainly won’t get anything better for less than $30. Unless of course they slash the price for Black Friday, but given what you get I don’t think there’s much flexibility in the pricing.
The accuracy could be better, but maybe that would make the laser distance measuring tool much larger. I prefer AAA batteries over rechargeable, but that’s a personal preference.
As for the tape measure, I believe this is Dewalt’s least expensive 25′ tape. It’s basic, but no glaring “gotcha’s.”
andy
The Dewalt measures in units which carpenters use, unlike the Bosch.
Kizzle
What do you mean? The Bosch measure feet, inches, and fractions, but you can also switch to metric.
MrWeedley
Generally carpenters use inches only. 121 3/4”
I had a forman who “ built buildings” and insisted on feet and inches
no matter the length
Kizzle
The Bosch allows you to use just inches as well as feet and inches though.
Andrew Johnson
How?
Andrew
I must have an older model that only does feet and inches.
MrWeedley
1/4” @ 30 ft= 1” 120ft = 1/3 “ @ 40ft
?
Stuart
Not necessarily. It’s likely a linear spread, but not guaranteed. Spot size at 40′ might also influence the accuracy further.
MrWeedley
You are correct, I was just being ornery.
Aaron
This ldm had been available with Stanley and Craftsman branding. Stanley branded it hit $12 and Craftsman usually sits around $20 but I think had gone as low as$15.
I bought 8 if the Stanley as gifts and use the red one as my estimating measure. It is absolutely tiny so there is never a reason to not bring it with. Great for flooring and baseboard and other materials ordering. I have a fancy Bosch that does trigonometry and all that but it doesn’t fit in the same pocket as my phone.
I think this is a great tool but I’d not call it a bargain unless it gets below $16
Skye A Cohen
The comment about the Bosch doing only feet and inches has been my experience too. I had an old glm40 I think it was and a newer glm40. The older one did feet and inches, it also clicked instead of beeping which I really liked a lot. The newer one only does feet and inches. I absolutely agree it’s industry standard for Carpenters to use inches only. It annoys me that my Bosch laser measurer doesn’t do inches only.
To be fair I don’t know if this one does or doesn’t do inches only, I do know I won’t buy one that won’t let me do inches only
Blythe
I have a glm20 and you hold the button as you turn it on and as you keep holding it cycles through feet/inches, inches only, and metric. Release when you have the appropriate setting
Toolasaurus
I bought this two days ago with the Craftsman branding at Lowes. EXACT same model.
It was junk. Was off by over a half inch over EIGHT INCHES. . .
I suspect that the quality of the Bosch is worlds away from this ODM repackaed Chinese piece.