Perfect Level Master, best known for its T-Lock clips, and Next Level are both clip-and-wedge tile leveling systems. They work on the same principle, so the real differences are in the details: joint sizes, clip heights, setting and removal, which parts you reuse and how you buy. This page compares the two side by side using published information. Every fact about Perfect Level Master comes from the sources listed at the end, checked when this article was written; product lines change, so confirm with the seller before you buy. For a wider comparison that also covers Raimondi and Rubi, see the tile leveling system brand comparison.
Next Level vs Perfect Level Master: what is the difference?
Both are clip-and-wedge systems with single-use clips and reusable wedges. Perfect Level Master T-Lock clips come in 1, 2 and 3 mm joints and in several heights for tile 3 to 25 mm thick, and lock by hand. Next Level clips come in 1/32, 1/16 and 1/8 inch, are designed by tile installers for ceramic and porcelain, and are sold direct by quote.
| Criterion | Next Level | Perfect Level Master T-Lock |
|---|---|---|
| System type | Clip and wedge | Clip and wedge: white clip, red wedge [1] |
| Joint (clip) sizes | 1/32 in. (1 mm), 1/16 in. (1.5 mm), 1/8 in. (3 mm) | 1 mm, 2 mm and 3 mm [1] [2] |
| Tile thickness | Ask the Next Level team for your tile | Clip heights S, M and L for tile 3 to 25 mm thick [2] |
| Setting | Wedge locks into the clip | Clips and wedges locked by hand, no tool required [2]; the maker also sells a tool [1] |
| Removal | Clip snaps at the joint with a rubber mallet or a kick | Strike with a rubber mallet or work boot, parallel to the grout line [1] |
| Reusable part | Wedges, reusable job after job | Wedges, sold as reusable [3] [4] |
| Designed for | Ceramic and porcelain tile | Floors and walls [1] |
| How to buy | Direct from Next Level, nationwide, by quote | Through tile tool retailers and distributors [2] [3] [4] |
What is Perfect Level Master T-Lock?
Perfect Level Master is the maker of the T-Lock tile leveling system, a two-part system that pairs a white clip with a red wedge. The clip also acts as the spacer, and after the mortar dries the clip is struck off and the wedge is kept for the next job.
Pro Remodeler, which reviewed the system, describes setting the clip feet into the mortar, pushing the red wedge into the opening between tile and clip, and later removing the clips by striking them with a rubber mallet or a work boot, parallel to the grout lines for a clean break. “T-Lock” and “Perfect Level Master” are often used interchangeably in searches; T-Lock is the product name and Perfect Level Master the brand.
How do the clip sizes compare?
Next Level clips are sized in inches: 1/32 (1 mm), 1/16 (1.5 mm) and 1/8 inch (3 mm). Perfect Level Master clips (T-Lock) are sized in millimeters: 1, 2 and 3 mm, with the 2 mm clip sold as its 1/16 inch option. So the “1/16” clips of the two systems are not the same width.
A 1/16 inch joint measures about 1.6 mm. Retailer listings for T-Lock label the 2 mm clip as 1/16 inch [2], while the Next Level 1/16 clip is 1.5 mm. On most jobs the difference is small, but it matters if you are matching an existing joint or working to a tile maker’s minimum. Both systems offer a 1 mm clip for very tight joints; use it only where the tile maker allows a joint that narrow, since the common industry minimum is 1/16 inch. For help picking a joint, read 1/16 vs 1/8 grout line and see the clip size chart.
Which tile thickness does each system fit?
Perfect Level Master publishes clip heights S, M and L for tile from 3 to 25 mm thick, according to its retailer listings, and a 1/16 inch kit sold for tile 8 to 14 mm thick. Next Level does not publish a thickness chart; the Next Level team confirms the right clip for your tile when you request a quote.
Thickness matters because the clip must reach above the tile face for the wedge to grip. Very thin wall tile and thick pavers are where systems differ most, so check before ordering a full job. Next Level is designed for ceramic and porcelain tile; natural stone is not specifically recommended, although some installers use it.
How do setting and removal compare?
Both systems set the same way: clip under the tile edges, wedge through the clip until the faces are flush, then strike off the clip tops once the mortar cures. Perfect Level Master markets hand setting without pliers. With either system, removal works by striking the clip along the grout joint, never across it.
The step-by-step method is the same for any clip-and-wedge system; see how to use a tile leveling system and how to remove tile leveling clips. Next Level clips have a clean break point designed to snap at the grout line, and Next Level wedges are built to be reused job after job. See the Next Level clips and Next Level wedges pages for details.
How do you buy each system?
Perfect Level Master T-Lock is sold through tile tool retailers and distributors in kits and bags of clips and wedges. Next Level sells direct from the manufacturer, nationwide, by quote: you tell the team the clip sizes and quantities you need and receive a quote.
Buying direct by quote suits installers who buy for several jobs at once. For a broader look at where leveling systems are sold, see where to buy a tile leveling system.
Which should you choose?
Choose by the job. If you need clip heights for very thick tile or pavers, check Perfect Level Master’s published thickness range. If you work mostly with ceramic and porcelain, want inch-sized 1/32, 1/16 and 1/8 joints and prefer to buy direct from a maker by quote, Next Level fits.
Whatever you choose, test on a few tiles first, especially if you mix parts. Comparing other systems too? Read Next Level vs Spin Doctor and how to choose a tile leveling system.
Frequently asked questions
Is T-Lock the same as Perfect Level Master?
T-Lock is the tile leveling system made by Perfect Level Master, so the names refer to the same product line.
Can you use Perfect Level Master wedges with Next Level clips?
Mixing brands is not something we have tested. Clip and wedge shapes differ between makers, so try any combination on a few tiles first.
Does Perfect Level Master need pliers?
Retailer listings describe hand setting without tools [2]; Pro Remodeler notes the company also sells a tool [1].
Key terms
- T-Lock: the clip-and-wedge tile leveling system made by Perfect Level Master.
- Clip height: the size of a leveling clip that matches it to a range of tile thicknesses.
- Hand setting: locking the wedge into the clip by hand, without leveling pliers.
- Metric clip size: a clip joint width given in millimeters, such as 1, 2 or 3 mm.
- Buying by quote: ordering from the maker by requesting a price for the sizes and quantities you need.
- Tile thickness range: the tile thicknesses a clip is designed to fit.
Sources
- [1] Pro Remodeler, Pro’s Picks: T-Lock Tile Leveling System
- [2] Detroit Diamond Tools, Perfect Level Master T-Lock Clips (sizes, heights, hand setting)
- [3] Ceramed, Perfect Level Master Reusable T-Lock Leveling Wedges
- [4] Tile Tools, Perfect Level Master 1/16 inch Small and Large Kits (8 to 14 mm tile, reusable wedges)
Perfect Level Master and T-Lock are trademarks of their owners. Next Level Tile Supplies is not affiliated with or endorsed by them.
Comparing systems for your next job? Tell us the brand you use today and the clip sizes you need. The Next Level tile leveling system ships nationwide, sold by quote. Request a Next Level quote.