In this paper, we propose a new model of the magnetic control force exerted on the levitation object in magnetic levitation systems. The model assumes that the magnetic force is a function of the voltage applied to an electromagnet and the position of a levitation object. The function is not explicitly expressed but represented through a 2D lookup table constructed from the experimentally measured data. Unlike the conventional model that reveals only local characteristics of the magnetic force, the proposed model shows global characteristics satisfactorily. Specially devised measurement equipment is utilized in order to gather the data required for model construction. An experimental procedure to construct the model is presented. We apply the proposed model to designing a sliding mode controller for a lab-built magnetic system. The validity of the proposed model is illustrated by comparing the performances of the controller adopting the conventional model with that of the controller adopting the proposed model.