How to Make and Use a Water Level

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Plus, troubleshooting tips to make each measurement accurate
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Water levels are a great way to find a level spot on items like posts or stakes so you can build structures that are even and level. Making a water level is easy with a few household items—at a minimum, you just need a tube and some water! In this article, we’ll show you how to build and use an inexpensive water level for DIY projects, plus offer some common troubleshooting tips so your measurements are perfect every time.

How do you use a water level?

To use a water level, place one end of a clear vinyl tube against an object at the height to be measured (the reference point). Fill the tube with water and move the other end to the point you want to level. Notice where the water sits in the tube and adjust the free end up or down until the water aligns on both ends.

Section 1 of 4:

Making a Water Level

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  1. A water level is easy to make at home with clear vinyl tubing and a few other supplies. If you plan to level items that are a far distance from each other, you may opt for a longer tube. Keep in mind the longer the tube, the more water you will need to use. [1]
    • Most home improvement stores will have plastic tubing that can be cut to any length you want, typically for about 20 to 30 cents per foot.
  2. You can use a tube without any other attachments for your water level if you wish, especially for short distances or quick measurements (if this sounds like you, skip this step and continue with step 3). However, if you plan on using a water level frequently and want a more durable tool, consider this step to create a water reservoir connected to your tube: [2]
    • Drill a ½ inch (1.3 cm) wide hole in the side of a 1-gallon bucket near the bottom (you may need a bigger bucket to measure longer distances).
    • Drill another ½ inch (1.c cm) hole through two 1.25 inch (3.2 cm) fender washers .
    • Thread one washer onto a 5/16 inch (0.79 cm) hose-end brass fitting .
    • Slide the fitting through the hole in the bucket from the inside so the washer sits against the inside wall of the bucket.
    • Thread the second washer onto the fitting so it sits against the outside wall of the bucket.
    • Seal the entire setup with silicone caulk to make a watertight seal.
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  3. If you’re not using a bucket as a reservoir, put the stake in the ground or clamp the stake to the end of a work table. Use nails or tape to attach the tube to the stake, making sure the open end of the tube is facing directly upward. [3]
    • Make sure there are no kinks or knots in the tube so the water can flow easily through the tube.
    • If you’re using a bucket reservoir, just place your bucket on a flat surface. The weight of the water inside (once you fill it up) will hold the reservoir and tube in place.
  4. In a separate, clean bucket, add enough water to fully fill the inside of the length of the tube. Add a few drops of food coloring (preferably a dark color like blue or red) to dye the water. This will make it easier to precisely spot the level of the water in the tube. [4]
    • Or, use antifreeze or windshield wiper fluid instead so the liquid is colored and easy to see. These liquids also don’t freeze as easily as water, making them ideal for leveling in cold weather.
  5. Keep this end at the same height as the end of the tube that’s attached to the stake, filling the tube until the water sits 2 to 3 inches (5.1 to 7.6 cm) below the attached end of the tube. [5] Use a funnel or container with a narrow spout to avoid spilling water while you fill the tube.
    • If you’re using a bucket reservoir, pour the water into the bucket. Suck on the open end of the tube to begin siphoning the water out of the bucket and fill the tube.
    • Check that there are no air bubbles in the water once you have filled the tube, as this can throw off the level measurement.
    • If you see air bubbles, continue siphoning or pouring water through the tube until it is flowing freely out of the other end. This will flush out any air bubbles that are trapped in the tube. [6]
    • If you’re not sure if there are air bubbles, hold the 2 open ends of the tube flush with each other vertically. The water level in both ends should be at the same height—if not, then air bubbles in the tube are throwing off the measurement. [7]
  6. You can then move the unattached end of the water level to another spot so you can use it. If you’re using a bucket reservoir, you only need to clamp or cover the open end of the tube.
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Section 2 of 4:

Using the Water Level

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  1. The water level is often used to determine the level spot on 2 items that are at a distance from each other, such as posts or stakes in the ground. Make sure the items are in the ground or set up on a clamp attached to a work table so they are stable and firm. [8]
    • You can also use the water level for construction projects where you need to find 2 level areas on different items that are close to one another.
  2. Plant the stake in the ground or fix it to a taller object until the water line inside the tube (the meniscus) is at the height you want to level. [9] Or, if your tube is free at both ends, hold one end of the level against a post set up where you want to measure from. Make sure the open end of the tube faces upward. Place 2 nails on either side of the end of the tube to keep it in place. The nails should be just wide enough to catch the tube but not pinch it.
    • You can also use a clamp on the top of the end of the tube if you do not want to put holes in the post or if the item is not made of wood and cannot be nailed into.
    • If you’re using a bucket reservoir, set the bucket on the ground or an elevated surface. Instead of looking for the meniscus in the tube, you’ll use the water line inside the bucket as a reference.
  3. Keep your thumb over the open end of the tube so no water splashes out. Then, stand back and see where the water sits on either end of the tube. Notice if the water appears higher or lower in one end. This means the spots are not level and you need to adjust where the level sits on the posts so the water levels match. [10]
  4. Continue to check the levels as you slide the free end of the tube. The water should settle so that it hits the same level on both ends of the tube. [11]
    • If you are levelling items that are more than an arm's distance away from each other, you may need someone to hold the free end of the tube and move it for you so you can ensure the water levels are correct on both ends. [12]
  5. Once the meniscus, or water line, is level on both ends of the tube, use chalk or a pencil to mark the spot on both posts or items. [13]
    • You can then release the attached end of the tube and use the water level on a different area, setting it up again with nails or a clamp.
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Section 3 of 4:

Troubleshooting Your Water Level

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  1. Kinks and knots can throw off the level and result in an incorrect reading. Slide your hand over the entire length of the tube before you use it so you can be sure there are no kinks or knots. [14]
    • A tube that is old or worn may be more prone to knots and kinks, so you may want to replace it over time.
  2. Leaving water in the tube for a long period of time can allow air bubbles to form, which can then throw off the water levels in the tube. [15] You should also empty and refill the water level before you use it to ensure the measurements are correct.
  3. Exposure to heat and direct sunlight can cause the tube to get too hot, causing the liquid to expand once it touches the tube. [16] This can then throw off your water levels and result in an incorrect reading. Store the tube for the water level in a cool spot indoors in your garage or home so it does not overheat.
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Section 4 of 4:

Frequently Asked Questions: Water Levels

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  1. 1
    How old are water levels? Water levels as we know them today were refined in 1630 by Italian astronomer Giovanni Riccioli. The tool was made of 2 glass cylinders with a water-filled tube connecting them. When the water hit the same mark inside both cylinders, the surface being measured was even. [17]
    • Ancient peoples like the Egyptians and Romans also used water to level surfaces. For example, the Romans used large tanks of water to determine if the ground was level enough to build on.
  2. 2
    How do water levels work? Water levels work because a liquid will always seek its own level. In other words, the surface of any continuous body of water (or whichever liquid is inside your level) will always strive to stay at the same height all over, no matter the container’s size or shape. [18] Water levels just display this natural phenomenon inside a clear tube. [19]
  3. 3
    How far can you use a water level? Technically, a water level will work and be accurate over any distance as long as the tube is long enough and you have enough water to fill it. However, super long distances aren’t always practical for a water level, and they’re best suited for short and medium distances. For most DIY projects, a water level tube that’s up to 100 feet (30.5 meters) long is the longest you can work with accurately and easily. [20]
    • For longer distances, professional surveying tools, like a tripod-mounted builder’s level, are needed for easy and accurate measurements.
  4. 4
    What is a water level used for? Water levels compare the relative height of 2 objects so you can adjust them to be equal with each other. They’re useful for projects like leveling fence posts, dock piers, floors, and foundations or walls for small structures like sheds and garages. Water levels are a popular tool among DIYers because they’re inexpensive to build yourself and straightforward to use.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    Can I use it this way when leveling stumps?
    Community Answer
    Yes. The water level gives you level from one location to another, so it does not matter if you are marking stumps, posts or grade elevations.
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    Not Helpful 10 Helpful 21
  • Question
    When the tube ends are even and the water evens out, should I mark a water line on tube?
    Community Answer
    No. The top of the water gives the level, not some point on the tube.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    How do I use a water level?
    Drew Hawkins1
    Community Answer
    A water level is actually pretty easy to make yourself. Take 50 to 100 feet (15 to 30 m) of tubing with a 5⁄16 in (0.79 cm) diameter and attach 1 end to the flat side of a stake. Put the stake in the ground, hold the other end of the tubing and fill it with water. Add a few drops of food coloring to make it easier to see. Take the water level to the items you want to measure and hold 1 end of the level against 1 of the posts. Place the other end against the other post. Raise and lower the free end of the tube up and down until the water levels on both ends match and mark the items at the level spot.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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    Not Helpful 11 Helpful 15
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.finehomebuilding.com/membership/pdf/12541/021085058.pdf
      2. ↑ https://www.finehomebuilding.com/membership/pdf/12541/021085058.pdf
      3. ↑ https://todayshomeowner.com/foundation/guides/how-to-make-a-homemade-water-level/
      4. ↑ https://todayshomeowner.com/foundation/guides/how-to-make-a-homemade-water-level/
      5. ↑ https://todayshomeowner.com/foundation/guides/how-to-make-a-homemade-water-level/
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/6g7LNEdDzt8?t=83
      7. ↑ https://youtu.be/6g7LNEdDzt8?t=113
      8. ↑ https://todayshomeowner.com/foundation/guides/how-to-make-a-homemade-water-level/
      9. ↑ https://todayshomeowner.com/foundation/guides/how-to-make-a-homemade-water-level/
      1. ↑ https://www.finehomebuilding.com/membership/pdf/12541/021085058.pdf
      2. ↑ https://www.finehomebuilding.com/membership/pdf/12541/021085058.pdf
      3. ↑ https://www.finehomebuilding.com/membership/pdf/12541/021085058.pdf
      4. ↑ https://www.finehomebuilding.com/membership/pdf/12541/021085058.pdf
      5. ↑ https://todayshomeowner.com/foundation/guides/how-to-make-a-homemade-water-level/
      6. ↑ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-do-bubbles-form-if-a/
      7. ↑ https://www.sciencing.com/water-expand-contract-heated-5185456/
      8. ↑ https://www.jlconline.com/projects/a-brief-history-on-the-level_o
      9. ↑ https://www.finehomebuilding.com/1994/01/01/making-and-using-water-levels
      10. ↑ https://todayshomeowner.com/foundation/guides/how-to-make-a-homemade-water-level/
      11. ↑ https://www.finehomebuilding.com/1994/01/01/making-and-using-water-levels

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To use a water level, get 50 to 100 feet of tubing with a 5/15 inch diameter. Next, attach 1 end of the tubing to the flat side of a stake and fill the other end of the tube with water until it sits 2 to 3 inches below the attached end of the tube. Then, put 1 to 2 drops of food coloring in the water to make is easier to see. In order to use your water level, bring it to items you want to measure, hold 1 end against 1 of the posts, place the other end against the other post, and slide the free end up and down until the level on both ends match. To learn how to properly store your water level, keep reading!

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