Empire

Empire levels and squares help carpenters, installers and other tradespeople check level and plumb and mark cuts. Readability is a reason to choose the line: Empire offers high-visibility laser-etched rafter squares. Choose the tool around the surface you’re checking and the line you need to mark.

Empire makes layout and measurement tools and has manufacturing facilities in Mukwonago, Wisconsin. Its history dates to 1919. The company is a division of Milwaukee Tool.

Levels for the surface you’re checking

Empire offers I-beam and torpedo levels. Use the longest level that fits the checking surface and sits properly against it. A longer span helps you judge alignment along a jamb or across cabinet faces. Choose the length around that checking surface.

For longer work, Empire’s eXT extendable levels cover 24 to 40 inches and 48 to 78 inches. Empire’s magnetic digital torpedo uses rare-earth magnets to hold to metal surfaces, freeing a hand while you position work on steel. Brush steel filings off the contact surface before setting a magnetic level down; a trapped chip changes how it sits.

Empire’s UltraView LED torpedo levels provide low-light vial visibility for checks in places such as a dim cabinet recess.

Squares for cuts and repeated marks

Empire’s TRUE BLUE lineup includes rafter, framing and combination squares. Its high-visibility laser-etched rafter squares come in seven-inch and twelve-inch sizes. Choose the smaller square for convenient handling and the larger one when the layout needs more reach. Clear the reference edge and seat the square firmly before marking.

For repeated offsets, use a combination square. Empire’s TRUE BLUE versions come in six-inch, twelve-inch and sixteen-inch sizes. Set the head to your mark, secure it, and keep the same reference edge through the layout.

Empire’s TRUE BLUE high-visibility laser-etched framing square provides a 16-by-24-inch size for broader layout work.

Jobsite marking tape

Empire also offers flagging tape and barricade tape.

Empire’s eXT frames and vials have limited lifetime warranty coverage; electronics in applicable measuring instruments have one year of coverage from purchase.

Square sizes and models

Square	Size	Model
TRUE BLUE high-visibility laser-etched rafter square	7 inches	e2994
TRUE BLUE high-visibility laser-etched rafter square	12 inches	e3992
TRUE BLUE combination square	6 inches	e255
TRUE BLUE combination square	12 inches	e250
TRUE BLUE combination square	16 inches	e280
TRUE BLUE high-visibility laser-etched framing square	16 by 24 inches	e1190

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Empire Level?

Empire Level is a manufacturer of layout and measurement tools with a history dating to 1919. You’ll find measuring tapes and long reel tapes in its range alongside levels and squares. The company is a division of Milwaukee Tool.

Does Empire make a magnetic torpedo level?

Empire’s magnetic digital torpedo level is nine inches long and uses rare-earth magnets to hold to metal surfaces. If you’re repeating an angle, its Inspect Mode lets you zero the readout at a selected measurement for angle-replication work.

Does Empire make a 48-inch level?

Empire’s longer eXT extendable level starts at 48 inches and extends to 78 inches. That gives you more reach when the checking surface allows it. Bushings and an adjustable slide mechanism control the friction fit as you change the length.

What does TRUE BLUE mean on Empire tools?

TRUE BLUE is an Empire product family that includes rafter, framing and combination squares. The name alone doesn’t tell you a tool’s size or features; those depend on the particular tool.