How to level kitchen cabinets when the laser disappears at the back

By DeFrixo

The laser runs neatly across the front of the base unit. You reach underneath, turn a rear leg, then come back up to see what moved. The front edge still looks right. What happened at the back?

A cabinet edge can hide the beam from the corners behind it. Four matching laser level markers give you a reference above the cabinet at each corner. Here’s how to use them when setting out a kitchen run.

Photo: DeFrixo.

Set the first corner to the planned height

Use the kitchen plan to establish the height of the cabinet top, allowing for the worktop thickness. Check the high point of the floor along the run so the legs have enough adjustment. Bring one front corner to the planned height. This is the corner the others will follow.

Give the laser four places to land

Stand one marker on each top corner, front and back. All four bases need to sit flat on equivalent surfaces. A marker sitting on a bracket or a stray screw will give you a false reading.

Position the horizontal line laser where the beam can reach all four markers. At your first corner, bring the centre of the beam onto one white ring. For example, choose the second ring up. Leave the laser in place and use that same ring everywhere.

Read the rear corner while adjusting the leg

If the beam lands above the chosen ring, that corner is too low. Raise the leg until the ring meets the beam. If the beam lands below the ring, lower the corner. Work in small turns and sight the rear marker from the side if the front one blocks your view.

Check all four again after the last adjustment. One leg can lift weight off another, so confirm the unit sits firmly as well as reading level.

Carry the height to the next cabinet

Keep one marker on the finished unit as a reference. Move the others across to the next cabinet and match the same ring. Before fixing the units together, check that their front edges line up and the adjoining tops sit flush. Recheck after tightening the fixings.

For more detail on planning a run, see our guide to levelling cabinets on uneven floors. The markers pictured are our AlignPro Heavy Base laser level markers.