Level staff

A level staff, also called levelling rod, is a graduated wooden or aluminum rod the use of which permits the determination of differences in elevation.

Levelling rods can be one piece, but many are sectional and can be shortened for storage and transport or lengthened for use. Aluminum rods may adjust length by telescoping sections inside each other, while wooden rod sections are attached to each other with sliding connections or slip joints.

There are many types of rods, with names that identify the form of the graduations.