Bubble Level

Vertical level · front-to-back tilt

0.0

Waiting for sensor

0.0% Slope 0 mm Drop per metre
Tap Start to read the sensor

Lay the phone flat with the top edge pointing along the direction you want to measure.

How do you measure front-to-back tilt?

Point the top edge of the phone in the direction you want to measure. This might be up a ramp, out from a wall, or along a worktop.

Lay the phone flat and tap Check Tilt. The bubble moves toward the higher end, and the label beside the vial names that end.

This is the direction a side-to-side level cannot measure. A shelf can be level across its width and still tilt forward.

A forward tilt of only 1° is about 17 mm over one metre. That is enough to move a cup toward the edge over time.

How do you measure a slope that is meant to be there?

Drainage falls, ramps and gutters are built with a deliberate slope. These are not specified in degrees.

Use Slope for percent and Drop per metre for millimetres. A patio usually needs about 12 mm of fall per metre away from the building.

On a run longer than the phone, rest the phone on a straight batten. The phone measures only the 15 cm it sits on, so a single dip can look like the slope of the whole run.

For falls written as a ratio, such as 1:80, the Inclinometer shows the ratio directly.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between this and the bubble level?

Only the direction. The bubble level measures across the phone. This page measures along it. The spirit level shows both directions together.

Should I hold the phone against a wall?

Not on this page, which expects the phone to lie flat. To check that something stands upright, use the Plumb Level.

How do I convert degrees to a ratio such as 1:80?

Divide 100 by the percent figure on screen. A slope of 2% is 1:50, 1.25% is 1:80, and 5% is 1:20. A fall of 1:80 is about 0.72°.

Is 1° a large slope?

It depends on the job. On a floor it is noticeable, because it means 17 mm over one metre. On a patio it is a normal drainage fall. On an access ramp it is too shallow.

Why does the reading keep changing?

Place the phone on the surface instead of holding it. A hand adds a small amount of movement, and a tall vial makes that movement easy to see.

Can I use it in landscape?

Yes. The vial always measures the direction running up and down the screen, whichever way you hold the phone.