A distance-measuring device for the contactless measurement of the distance to a target, including a housing; a measuring apparatus which utilizes an optical measuring beam, which is arranged in a housing, and by which the distance to the target can be measured contactlessly; at least one reference stop arranged on the housing and that can be selected by the user in order to carry out the measurement; an operating and input array arranged on the housing and serving to operate at least one measuring apparatus; a visual display arranged on the housing and coupled to the operating and input array to indicate an operating state and/or the measured distance from a selected reference stop to the target. The housing has at least one optical signaler separate from the visual display and unambiguously associated with a reference stop and being activatable whenever that reference stop is selected.