DeWalt 20V 3 x 360 Line Laser (Tool Only)

Why I reached for this laser

I’ve used plenty of cross-line and rotary lasers over the years, but I keep reaching for DeWalt’s 3x360 green laser when I need clean layout lines across a room. It projects a continuous vertical plane and two continuous horizontal planes, which means I can reference both floor and ceiling at the same time, or carry a line around an entire space without leapfrogging the tool. For framing, cabinetry, ceiling work, or aligning long runs of accessories, that dual-horizontal layout is a real timesaver.

Setup, interface, and ergonomics

Setup is straightforward. The pendulum lock doubles as the power/mode control, and the unit boots into its last-used configuration, so I’m not cycling through modes every time I power back on. That seems minor until you’re moving the laser room to room and need the same plane active—last-mode memory saves a lot of button presses.

The tool ships as a “tool only” kit, so you’ll need your own 20V battery and charger. With a compact 2.0 Ah pack installed, balance is good and the footprint stays manageable. Larger packs work fine and extend runtime, but they do raise the center of gravity. I found 2.0–4.0 Ah packs to be the sweet spot for stability on brackets or tripods.

Controls are glove-friendly, the housing has enough rubber overmold to handle getting tossed on a subfloor, and the included carrying case keeps the bracket and target card organized. The IP54 rating is meaningful here; dust and the occasional splash don’t faze it, and the pendulum lock protects it during transport.

Mounting options that matter on site

Mounting options can make or break a layout tool, and this one covers the essentials:

• Strong magnets on the back of the unit for steel studs and other ferrous surfaces.
• An included ceiling/wall bracket that’s genuinely useful for ceiling grid, track, and trim. The bracket provides both 1/4-20 and 5/8-11 threads, so it drops onto photo tripods or survey tripods without adapters.
• A target card that speeds up finding the plane when you’re far away or in brighter conditions.

The magnets hold firmly to clean steel. On painted or slightly textured surfaces, the bracket is a safer bet. There’s no micro-adjust on the included bracket, so if you do a lot of finish work that demands fine nudging, pair the laser with a tripod head that has pan/tilt micro knobs.

Visibility and brightness

Green lines are the right choice for indoor construction, and the output here is bright and crisp. In typical interior lighting, I can walk a line across a 30–40 foot room and still see it clearly without a target. DeWalt quotes visibility to 130 feet in ideal conditions; practically speaking, that’s optimistic for naked-eye work if you’re in bright spaces with white walls. In darker environments or with the target card, you’ll get more.

Outdoors or in sun-washed areas, you’ll want a compatible detector. With a receiver, the range jumps substantially—DeWalt rates it to 330 feet—and the horizontal planes become genuinely useful for deck ledgers, long fence runs, or concrete formwork. Without a detector in full sun, any line laser will struggle, and this one is no exception.

Self-leveling and accuracy

Self-leveling is fast enough that I’m not waiting around. The pendulum settles quickly, and you’ll see a clear indication if you’re outside the leveling range. The stated accuracy is ±1/8 inch at 30 feet, which matches what I measured while setting cabinet runs and checking ceiling strap layout. Line thickness stays tidy at typical interior distances and only starts to halo subtly once you push farther out. If you’re installing tile or trim where a wide line can be troublesome, work closer or use the target card to stay on the same side of the beam.

Calibration held true after a few weeks of jobsite shuffles and some inevitable knocks. I still recommend doing a quick four-wall check when you first unbox it and after any significant drop, but the internal mechanism and the lock do a good job of protecting the guts.

The value of two horizontals and one vertical

Most 3x360 lasers give you three planes, but the layout varies. Here, the two horizontal planes are the headline. That means I can set a ceiling plane and a floor plane simultaneously—fantastic for leveling ceiling strapping while also checking cabinet toe kicks, outlet heights, or wainscot lines. The single vertical plane gives you plumb reference and clean cross lines where it intersects the horizontals.

If you need two vertical planes at 90 degrees for certain room layouts, you’ll reposition the tool. For me, the trade-off is worth it. The dual horizontals eliminate a lot of up/down reconfiguring when I’m working across different elevations in the same room.

Battery platform and runtime

Runtime is excellent for a line laser. With a compact 2.0 Ah 20V pack, I consistently get a full day of intermittent use or a long stretch—around a typical shift—of continuous runtime with one or two planes active. If you’re running all three planes nonstop, bring a spare or step up to a 4.0 Ah pack. The unit supports DeWalt’s 20V MAX platform broadly, with the notable exception that it doesn’t play with the 5.0 Ah PowerStack pack. That’s a niche limitation but worth noting if you’ve standardized on that specific battery.

Because the kit is tool-only, factor a battery and charger into your budget if you’re not already on the platform.

Durability and jobsite readiness

Between the IP54 sealing, rubberized edges, and firmly clicking pendulum lock, the tool feels built for repeated transport. I used it in dusty renovation environments and on ceilings where plaster dust rains down; a quick wipe returns the windows to clarity. Drop protection is always a bit of marketing speak, but mine absorbed a waist-high bump off a bracket onto subfloor without losing calibration. I wouldn’t treat it like a hammer, but it clearly isn’t fragile.

What I’d change

No tool is perfect, and a few things stand out:

• Price and kit configuration: It’s not inexpensive, and arriving without a battery or charger may sting if you’re not already on 20V MAX.
• Weight with larger batteries: A 6.0 Ah pack turns the unit top-heavy. Stick with 2.0–4.0 Ah for bracket work.
• One vertical plane: Most interior tasks are covered, but if you routinely need opposing verticals, you’ll reposition more often.
• Bracket adjustments: The included bracket is versatile, but there’s no fine-adjust. Add a tripod head for precision alignments.

None of these are dealbreakers; they’re just realities to plan around.

Use cases where it shines

• Leveling and straightening ceiling strapping or grid across an entire room.
• Laying out kitchen runs—aligning uppers, lowers, and backsplash lines with the same baseline.
• Long ceiling alignments for garage door rails, conduit, or lighting rows.
• Wainscot, chair rail, and trim installations where wrapping a line around corners saves time.
• Framing walls off existing structure, with a quick plumb check from the vertical plane.

Bottom line and recommendation

This is a well-executed 3x360 green laser that earns its keep through clean lines, stable self-leveling, and genuinely useful mounting options. The dual horizontal planes reduce mode juggling and speed up multi-elevation work, accuracy is in the zone for interior construction, and runtime on common 20V packs is excellent. The housing feels protective without being bulky, and small quality-of-life touches—like last-mode memory and the pendulum lock—make daily use smoother.

I recommend this laser to pros and serious DIYers who already run 20V MAX tools and want a reliable, bright, full-room layout laser for interior work. If you need two vertical planes or you’re on a different battery platform with no intention of switching, consider other options. For everyone else, the combination of visibility, accuracy, and mounting flexibility makes this a smart, jobsite-ready choice that speeds up real layout tasks and holds up to daily use.