The 9 Best Tile Leveling Systems

Editor's Notes

October 14, 2020:

While most of our previous selections made it through this round of updates, we did decide to do away with the ASIBT Spacer Set and Top Home Dec, due to availability issues. We also eliminated the Level Head Assorted, noting a sharp increase in poor reviews for the option. Our new inclusions this time around are the Mestudio Installation Kit — which comes with four wrenches, allowing you to have multiple installers working with the system simultaneously; the Yefu 1/8-Inch Kit — which features a convenient pair of specialty pliers that make it easy to set your wedges consistently; and the Yefu Smooth Rotation — a great choice for environmentally conscious users, as its reusable levelers feature replaceable, recyclable T-pins, which greatly extends the overall working life of the kit.

A few things to think about for this category:

Tile Thickness: Many of the systems in this category come with maximum- and minimum-tile-thickness ratings, which is something important to pay attention to if you’re a contractor – as you want as much flexibility from your kit as possible – or just a DIYer tackling a single job — as that system will do you no good if it isn’t compatible with the specific material you’re working with. For example, while the Yefu 1/8-Inch Kit and Qsince Construction are both rated for minimum tile thicknesses around 1/10-inch, the former can only handle options that are up to 1/2-inch, while the latter can accommodate materials twice as thick. Pay close attention and make sure you’ve selected a model that’s compatible with your material of choice.

Job Size: Now that you know your kit will work with the tiles you’ve selected, take a moment to consider whether it includes enough hardware to handle your next job. While the Qsince Construction only comes with 50 levelers, the Perfect Level Master Complete Kit comes with 100, and the Tuscan Seamclip includes 150. Many kits also include varying amounts of spacers, which is another consideration to weigh (note that you may want to put some consideration into the size of spacers included, as it’ll speak directly to the size of the grout lines your finished product winds up with). Some companies offer recommended ratios that describe how many levelers you will need, based on both your size of job and size of tile, which can be a useful resource for the uninitiated. The good news is, compared to the cost of tiles, these sets are quite affordable. So, if need be, a couple extras shouldn't break the bank.

Longevity: While DIYers tackling a one-off bathroom project may be satisfied with a single-use option like the Tuscan Seamclip, contractors and environmentally-conscious users are likely to appreciate an option that can be used time and time again.

Twist-and-set T-pin options like the Qsince Construction and Mestudio Installation Kit are the best in this respect, as their levelers should be fully reusable, so long as you retrieve them from your tiles before the mortar sets. Among this sub-category, the Yefu Smooth Rotation stands out especially, as it’s T-pins can be replaced, further improving the longevity of its levelers.

Wedge-and-clip models like the Peygran Super Kit and Raimondi Starter are great for taking on heavy tiles, and offer a bit of a hybrid solution — with clips that are disposable and wedges that are reusable. Many such systems include more clips than wedges, which allows the kit to be used multiple times. For example, the Perfect Level Master Complete Kit, which we previously identified as having 100 levelers, in fact has 100 wedges and 300 clips. In practice, kits like these are limited by the number of wedges they have, as that’s the number that dictates how many levelers can be used at a time, but the number of clips they come with determines how many jobs the kit will be good for. Note that many companies make replacement clips easily available, so you won’t necessarily need to buy a full new kit, wedges and all, when your original kit runs out of clips.

Now that we've gotten all this sorted out, all you need is a tile cutter, or maybe even a tile saw, and you'll be ready to get to work!

March 25, 2019:

There are a few different types of systems designed to level tile during the installation process, and we've featured a variety here to suit every preference. This includes kits that use wedges and breakable clips (Perfect Level Master, Raimondi Starter, Top Home Dec) as well as screw-down options (ASIBT Spacer Set). The best set for you depends on your individual situation - for example, if you're a professional who wants to save money and be eco-friendly by not tossing away disposable plastic clips, you'll need something reusable like the Qsince Construction or the Level Head Assorted. For something comprehensive, then the Spin Doctor Pro, Raimondi Starter, and Peygran Super Kit will come in handy. The Tuscan Seamclip is great if you don't want to keep track of a bunch of different components, and also don't want to buy any extra tools. The Peygran Super Kit topped the list due to its high quality, thoughtful engineering, and ultra-precise pliers.