BLACK+DECKER BDL220S Laser Level: A Line for Hanging Pictures

Hanging several pictures turns one placement decision into a set of related marks. The BLACK+DECKER BDL220S puts a visible line on the wall so you can compare those positions against a shared reference. Its backlit bubble vials help you set the line, and the wall attachment can hold the tool while you work.

A visible guide gives the arrangement something to follow as you check spacing and plan each hanging point. That makes this small laser level useful for a row above furniture or a display rising along a stairway. The main buying question is whether its manually adjusted line and pin mounting suit your wall.

One wall, several marks

First decide which part of the arrangement should line up: the frame tops, centers or hanging points. With matching frames and hangers, a row of fixing marks may be straightforward. For a mixed group whose top edges you want to align, measure separately from each frame's top edge to its hanging point. Those offsets tell you how far each fixing point should sit below a common top-edge reference. Equal nail heights alone do not ensure that the frame tops line up.

Set the guide against the vertical wall where you will work. Black+Decker's instructions call for rotating the unit until the appropriate horizontal or vertical bubble is centered. The backlights help you read the vials during that adjustment. Once the reference is set, your tape measure can handle spacing and offsets while the projected line remains available for comparison.

Keep the comparison on that wall. A short continuation visible on an adjoining wall is not level, according to the manual. The instrument also cannot serve as an ordinary spirit level: its vials are calibrated to the laser line when the unit is against a vertical surface.

A pin keeps the reference in place

For several fixing points, a mounted unit leaves your hands available for the tape measure and pencil. The magnetic base connects to the supplied drywall-pin attachment. The pin supports the attachment on the wall; the magnet holds the laser to that fitting. It is a practical pairing for working along a row of marks while leaving the guide in position.

Check the wall material and whether a puncture is acceptable before choosing this mounting method. Black+Decker specifies drywall only, excluding other surfaces such as plaster. Expose the pin, then press it straight in by hand until its base is seated. Never hammer it, and check that the instrument is firmly attached before releasing your supporting hand.

The manual also describes holding the laser firmly against the wall. That option is useful when you cannot use the pin, but one hand has to keep supporting the tool. The supplied mount's convenience therefore depends on the surface accepting it; its surface requirement deserves attention before buying.

A sloping line needs a starting point

A stairway display has a different goal: several pictures following one chosen slope. The rotating wall attachment and protractor ring give you a reference for arranging that rising row. You can use the line to compare the proposed positions while allowing for each frame's size and hanging hardware, just as you would with a horizontal arrangement.

Set the slope deliberately. After mounting the unit, center the appropriate bubble and align the protractor ring's zero with the indicator. Then rotate the laser to the chosen angle. The advertised 360-degree movement describes the attachment's rotation, not a level plane projected around the room.

The BDL220S is for indoor use and runs on two AA batteries. Black+Decker currently lists the level, two batteries and the wall attachment in the package. Keep the beam away from eyes. When marking is finished, switch it off, pull the pin straight out and fold the pin closed.

Its strongest fit is a wall arrangement with several positions to coordinate. A shared line helps you see the layout as a group, and a suitable mounting surface lets you keep that reference available while making the marks. That combination is the reason to choose this particular tool.