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Survey Tripods
The Short Answer
A survey tripod supports your laser, optical level, or total station on a stable, adjustable platform. The right tripod depends on the instrument: flat-head tripods for lasers and levels, dome-head for total stations and theodolites, and elevating tripods when the instrument must be raised above obstructions. Express Tools stocks aluminum, fiberglass, and heavy-duty elevating tripods from Nedo, SitePro, and other pro brands.
The tripod is the most underrated accuracy component in the kit: a flimsy tripod moves in wind and traffic vibration, and every bit of that movement becomes grade error. Instrument class matters — a robotic total station needs a rigid, dome-head wood or fiberglass tripod, while a rotary laser is happy on a solid flat-head aluminum model.
Elevating (crank-up) tripods raise the instrument head as much as 10+ feet for working over parked equipment, formwork, or crowds — standard kit for laser screed and machine-control setups.
Survey Tripods In Stock
Spectra Precision
Spectra Precision DG511-2 Pipe Laser w/ 1233 Scope and HD Tripod
Starting at
$6,157
Topcon
Topcon Machine Control Kit with RL-HV2S Self-Leveling Dual Grade Laser, Deluxe LS-100D Receiver, Inch Rod, Tripod / Rechargeable - Machine Receiver and Magnetic Mount - Model 1051612-22-K2-LS-B200W-MM
Starting at
$4,695
Topcon
Topcon RL-200 2S (314920762-1ET) Dual Slope Grade Laser Package, LS-80X Receiver, Tenths Rod and Elevator Tripod - Rechargeable
Starting at
$3,945
Topcon
Topcon RL-200 2S (314920762-2ET) Dual Slope Grade Laser Package, LS-80X Receiver, Inches Rod, Fiberglass Elevator Tripod - Rechargeable
Starting at
$3,945
Topcon
Topcon RL-200 2S Dual Slope Grade Laser Package, w/ LS-100D Receiver (314920782-1ET) Rechargeable Batteries, Inches Rod and HD Elevator Tripod
Starting at
$3,925
Topcon
Topcon RL-200 2S Dual Slope Grade Laser Package, w/ LS-100D Receiver (314920782-2ET) Rechargeable Batteries, Inches Rod and HD Elevator Tripod
Starting at
$3,925
Topcon
Topcon RL-200 2S (314920762-1T) Dual Slope Grade Laser Package, LS-80X Receiver, Tenths Rod and HD Tripod - Rechargeable
Starting at
$3,845
Topcon
Topcon RL-200 2S (314920762-2T) Dual Slope Grade Laser Package, LS-80X Receiver, Inches Rod and HD Tripod - Rechargeable
Starting at
$3,845
Topcon
Topcon RL-200 2S Dual Slope Grade Laser Package, w/ LS-100D Receiver (314920782-1T) Rechargeable Batteries, Tenths Rod and HD Tripod
Starting at
$3,825
Topcon
Topcon RL-200 2S Dual Slope Grade Laser Package, w/ LS-100D Receiver (314920782-2T) Rechargeable Batteries, Inches Rod and HD Tripod
Starting at
$3,825
Spectra Precision
Spectra Precision GL422N-19 Dual Grade Laser Package w/ HL760 Receiver, TENTHS-Rod and Elevator Tripod
Starting at
$3,563
Leica Geosystems
Leica Rugby 680 K1 Automatic Dual Slope Laser Package (6006010-K1) with Deluxe RE160 Receiver - Rechargeable, Tripod and Rod TENTHS
Starting at
$3,499
Leica Geosystems
Leica Rugby 680 K2 Automatic Dual Slope Laser Package (6006010-K2) with Deluxe RE160 Receiver - Rechargeable, Tripod and Rod INCHES
Starting at
$3,499
Spectra Precision
Spectra Precision GL1425C-1 Dual Grade Laser w/ CR700 Receiver, TENTHS Rod, Tripod and Large Case - Rechargeable
Starting at
$3,395
Spectra Precision
Spectra Precision GL1425C-2 Dual Grade Laser w/ CR700 Receiver, INCHES Rod, Tripod and Large Case - Rechargeable
Starting at
$3,395
Spectra Precision
Spectra Precision GL622N-29 Dual Grade Laser INCHES Package with HL760 Receiver, Remote and Elevator Tripod
Starting at
$3,295
Spectra Precision
Spectra Precision GL622N-19 Dual Grade Laser TENTHS Package with HL760 Receiver, Remote and Elevator Tripod
Starting at
$3,295
Topcon
Topcon RL-200 2S (314920712-2ET) Dual Slope Grade Laser Package, LS-80X Receiver, Inches Rod and Elevator Tripod - Alkaline
Starting at
$3,245
Topcon
Topcon RL-200 2S (314920712-1ET) Dual Slope Grade Laser Package, LS-80X Receiver, Tenths Rod and Elevator Tripod - Alkaline
Starting at
$3,245
Spectra Precision
Spectra Precision GL1425C-28 Dual Grade Laser Bluetooth w/ CR700 Multi-Use Deluxe Receiver, Elevator Tripod, Rod INCHES
Starting at
$3,225
Spectra Precision
Spectra Precision GL1425C-22 Dual Grade Laser w/ HL760 Receiver, INCHES Rod, Tripod and Large Case - Rechargeable
Starting at
$3,195
Spectra Precision
Spectra Precision GL622N-17 Dual Grade Laser TENTHS Package with HL760 Receiver, Remote and Tripod
Starting at
$3,185
Spectra Precision
Spectra Precision GL622N-27 Dual Grade Laser INCHES Package with HL760 Receiver, Remote and Tripod
Starting at
$3,185
Spectra Precision
Spectra Precision GL1425C-18 Dual Grade Laser Bluetooth w/ CR700 Multi-Use Deluxe Receiver, Elevator Tripod, Rod TENTHS
Starting at
$3,175
Topcon
Topcon RL-200 2S (314920712-2T) Dual Slope Grade Laser Package, LS-80X Receiver, Inches Rod and HD Tripod - Alkaline
Starting at
$3,145
Topcon
Topcon RL-200 2S (314920712-1T) Dual Slope Grade Laser Package, LS-80X Receiver, Tenths Rod and HD Tripod - Alkaline
Starting at
$3,145
Spectra Precision
Spectra Precision GL1425C-26 Dual Grade Laser Bluetooth w/ CR700 Multi-Use Deluxe Receiver, Standard HD Tripod, Rod INCHES
Starting at
$3,095
Spectra Precision
Spectra Precision GL1425C-16 Dual Grade Laser Package, Bluetooth w/ Deluxe CR700 Multi-Use Receiver, Tripod and Rod TENTHS
Starting at
$3,095
Spectra Precision
Spectra Precision GL1425C-19 Dual Grade Laser Package, Bluetooth w/ HL760 Rod Mounted Deluxe Receiver, Elevator Tripod and Rod TENTHS
Starting at
$2,980
Spectra Precision
Spectra Precision GL1425C-29 Dual Grade Laser Bluetooth w/ HL760 Deluxe Receiver, Elevator Tripod and Rod INCHES
Starting at
$2,980
Spectra Precision
Spectra Precision GL422N-26 Dual Grade Laser w/ CR700 Receiver, INCHES-Rod and Tripod
Starting at
$2,975
Spectra Precision
Spectra Precision GL422N-16 Dual Grade Laser w/ CR700 Receiver, TENTHS-Rod and Tripod
Starting at
$2,975
Spectra Precision
Spectra Precision GL422N-29 Dual Grade Laser Package w/ HL760 Receiver, INCHES-Rod and Elevator Tripod
Starting at
$2,950
Spectra Precision
Spectra Precision GL1425C-17 Dual Grade Laser Package, Bluetooth w/ HL760 Rod Mounted Deluxe Receiver, Tripod and Rod TENTHS
Starting at
$2,835
Spectra Precision
Spectra Precision GL1425C-27 Dual Grade Laser Package, Bluetooth w/ HL760 Rod Mounted Deluxe Receiver, Tripod and Rod INCHES
Starting at
$2,830
Spectra Precision
Spectra Precision GL422N-27 Dual Grade Laser Package w/ HL760 Receiver, INCHES-Rod and Tripod
Starting at
$2,795
Spectra Precision
Spectra Precision GL412N-16 Single Grade Laser w/ CR700 Receiver, TENTHS-Rod and Tripod
Starting at
$2,726
Spectra Precision
Spectra Precision GL412N-26 Single Grade Laser w/ CR700 Receiver, INCHES-Rod and Tripod
Starting at
$2,726
Topcon
Topcon HYBRID RL-HV2S Self-Leveling Dual Grade Laser Complete Kit Deluxe Spectra HL760 Receiver, Inches Rod and Tripod / Rechargeable - 1051612-22-K2-PRO
Starting at
$2,650
Topcon
Topcon HYBRID RL-HV2S Self-Leveling Dual Grade Laser Complete Kit with Spectra HL760 Deluxe Receiver, Tenths Rod and Tripod / Rechargeable - 1051612-22-K1-PRO
Starting at
$2,650
Topcon
Topcon RL-HV2S Self-Leveling Dual Grade Laser Complete Kit with LS-100D Receiver, Tenths Rod and Tripod / Rechargeable - 1051612-22-K1
Starting at
$2,450
Topcon
Topcon RL-HV2S Self-Leveling Dual Grade Laser Complete Kit with LS-100D Receiver, Inches Rod and Tripod / Rechargeable - 1051612-22-K2
Starting at
$2,450
Spectra Precision
Spectra Precision GL412N-17 Single Grade Laser w/ HL760 Receiver, TENTHS-Rod and Tripod
Starting at
$2,426
Spectra Precision
Spectra Precision GL412N-27 Single Grade Laser w/ HL760 Receiver, INCHES-Rod and Tripod
Starting at
$2,426
Spectra Precision
Spectra Precision HV1305C-18E Horiz/Vert - Interior/Exterior RED Beam Laser Package with CR700 Multi-Use Receiver, Remote, TENTHS Rod, Elevator Tripod and Small Case
Starting at
$2,230
Spectra Precision
Spectra Precision HV1305C-28E Horiz/Vert - Interior/Exterior RED Beam Laser Package with CR700 Multi-Use Receiver, Remote, INCHES Rod, Elevator Tripod and Small Case
Starting at
$2,230
Leica Geosystems
Leica Rugby 620 Red Beam Rotary Laser Package - Large Case (Leica 6019253) with Rod Eye 120 Digital Receiver - Alkaline / Complete Kit with Rod/Inches, HD Tripod
Starting at
$2,216.88
Leica Geosystems
Leica Rugby 620 Red Beam Rotary Laser Package - Large Case (Leica 6019257) with Rod Eye 160 Digital Receiver - Rechargeable / Complete Kit with Rod/Tenths, HD Tripod
Starting at
$2,216.88
Frequently Asked Questions
Flat head or dome head — which tripod do I need?
Match the instrument base: rotary lasers and most optical levels mount on a flat-head tripod with a 5/8-11 stud. Total stations and theodolites use a dome (curved) head so the instrument can be shifted and precisely centered over a point. Buying the wrong head is the most common tripod mistake.
Aluminum vs fiberglass vs wood tripods?
Aluminum is light and affordable — fine for lasers and levels. Fiberglass and wood damp vibration better and are dimensionally stable across temperature swings, which matters for total stations and long-occupation setups. Heavier is generally steadier.
What is an elevating tripod for?
An elevating tripod has a crank column that raises the instrument head — often to 10 feet or more — so a rotary laser can shoot over obstructions like formwork, spoil piles, or equipment. They are standard on laser screed crews and large concrete pours.
Will any tripod fit my laser or total station?
Almost all professional instruments use the 5/8-11 thread standard, so thread fit is rarely the issue — head shape (flat vs dome), load rating, and stability are what to match. Check the instrument weight against the tripod’s rated capacity, especially for robotic total stations.
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