Best Moisture Meters in the UK

Review & Comparison, Last Update February 14, 2024
If you're engaged in woodworking, you will likely need a moisture meter. This small inexpensive device can save you a lot of trouble and help make all your wooden projects stable and worth a hundred dollars. Don't mess up in the lumberyard, get a moisture meter and run quick tests yourself. ...Read more ...Read less
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BEST 2024
PROS
CONS
OUR VERDICT
TYPE
DISPLAY
MEASURE RANGE
Power Source
CONVENIENCES
WARRANTY
 
PROS

The Stanley 077030 is equipped with an LCD screen with dual measurement bar graph that simplifies the use. It also comes with a protective cup that has two sockets to test the electrodes. 

CONS

Batteries discharge quickly.

OUR VERDICT

This model is a very accurate device that detects moisture in wood and many other building materials such as plaster, concrete, drywall, etc. With its comprehensive LED display and quite a wide range of readings, this meter is a must-have for a builder.

detailed parameters
TYPE

Pin

DISPLAY

Digital with backlight

MEASURE RANGE

Wood: 6 - 44 % 

Masonry: 0.2 - 2 %

Power Source

4 x "AAA" batteries

CONVENIENCES

Measuring environment temperature (0 — 40° C), Low battery indicator, Test sockets supplied in the cap, Auto shut-off, Carry pouch with belt loop

WARRANTY

1 year

PROS

The device can automatically adjust the measurement data, including the temperature and moisture level of the air. Likewise, it can save the maximum and minimum values, which will come in handy for assessing the total measured data.

CONS

Changing the batteries is quite a time-consuming task.

OUR VERDICT

This particular model from NoCry features a slightly bigger and brighter LCD screen compared to its competitors. The 4 custom measurement modes make it easy to convert collected data from Fahrenheit to Celsius as well as quickly acquire the moisture levels of wood and masonry.

detailed parameters
TYPE

Pin

DISPLAY

Digital with backlight

MEASURE RANGE

Wood: 1 ~ 70 %

Masonry: 0.1 ~ 2.4 %

Power Source

1 x "6F22" battery

CONVENIENCES

Measuring environment temperature (-20° C — 70° C), 4 custom measurement modes, Min/max readings, Low battery icon, Auto shut-off, Storage pouch included

WARRANTY

Limited lifetime

PROS

The model operates on 4 LR44 batteries (included in the pack). What makes it great, though, is its ability to conserve power owing to the automatic shut-off system. When the meter eventually starts running low on power, however, the low-battery indicator will let you know.

CONS

The backlighting turns off too quickly.

OUR VERDICT

The AP-2GD digital moisture detector will come in handy in case you need to measure the moisture levels in wood and masonry materials quickly and without hassle. The device works great for checking walls, foundation, and floor tiles inside and outside your house or flat.

detailed parameters
TYPE

Pin

DISPLAY

Digital with backlight

MEASURE RANGE

Wood: 6 ~ 42 %

Masonry: 0.2 ~ 2 %

Power Source

4 x "LR44" batteries

CONVENIENCES

Measuring environment temperature (0 — 40° C), Hold function, Low battery icon, Auto shut-off, Small screwdriver included

WARRANTY

2 years

PROS

On the back of humidity level measuring in percents, this meter has a graphic indicator that determines the correspondence of readings to the recommended standards. Pretty convenient, isn't it?

CONS

The protective lid wears off with time.

OUR VERDICT

The Brennenstuhl 1298680 is capable of measuring the humidity of quite a wide range of materials, from wallpapers and woods to concrete and dryboard. This, auto shut-down, and a very handy housing make this tool invaluable if you plan on renovating a house.

detailed parameters
TYPE

Pin

DISPLAY

Digital with backlight

MEASURE RANGE

Wood: 5 - 50 %

Masonry: 1.5 - 33 %

Moisture level indicator

Power Source

1 x "6F22" battery

CONVENIENCES

Hold function, Low battery indicator, Auto shut-off

WARRANTY

1 year

PROS

This moisture meter is designed with incredibly soft covering and ribbed sides to ensure the safest grip. Plus, it comes with a lanyard to secure the humidity detector around your wrist for additional convenience.

CONS

The battery charge indicator may provide incorrect information from time to time.

OUR VERDICT

Thanks to a dust-protecting housing and compact size, this model is irreplaceable in the kind of workplace where a great amount of filings is produced all in the day's work. Indeed, this is a very user-friendly tool to make your work simpler.

detailed parameters
TYPE

Pin

DISPLAY

Digital with backlight

MEASURE RANGE

Wood: 6 - 42 %

Masonry: 0.2 - 2 %

Power Source

4 x "LR44" batteries

CONVENIENCES

Measuring environment temperature (0 — 40° C), Low battery indicator, Auto shut-off, Hand strap

WARRANTY

1 year

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Stanley 077030

Made by Professionals for Everyday Use

Since its foundation in 1843, Stanley has been producing exceptional tools for carpentry and other building related areas. Take their 077030 as an example. It is a pretty simple tool that nevertheless provides you with sufficiently accurate information about the condition of your building materials. This portable moisture meter determines the humidity level of woods including but not limited to concrete, plaster, and mortar in the range of 6% to 44% and 0.2% to 2.0% respectively. It shows the results on a pretty large LCD display on a bar graph with two scales for wooden and other building materials. Also, at the top of the screen, you will notice current temperature readings for more extended use. Plus, thanks to a backlight of the screen, you can check your readings even in poor light. However, what we liked more about this model, aside from its essential functions, is the availability of a tester. The protective cap of the Stanly 077030 has four sockets so that you could use it not only to keep the electrodes safe when you don't apply your meter but also test whether it works the way it should. By the way, you will find very detailed instructions on how to use your moisture meter and test it in the manual.

All in all, this humidity detector by Stanley is a cost-efficient investment. It will give you precise readings and unparalleled performance for many years to come.

Review of Stanley 077030 Moisture Meter

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price £25.15
Stock In stock
ASIN B003ASOBG8

 

NoCry (NCDMM)

Designed for Precise Measurements

This digital moisture meter from NoCry has pretty much everything you need for accurate measurements, including a brightly lit LCD screen with 2 brightness modes and the ability to switch between Fahrenheit and Celsius display modes.

When it comes to numbers, the model can effectively detect moisture levels of up to 70% in wooden materials and from 0.1 up to 2.4% in mortar and masonry. With that in mind, the device ranks among the most accurate meters for measuring moisture for the price.

Power-wise, the model is equipped with a single 6F22 battery that lasts quite a bit and will get you through a couple of months of active use. The battery replacement process, on the other hand, can be somewhat time-consuming, so expect to spend a few minutes to insert a new one when the old battery runs out of juice. To save the battery life a tad bit longer, the meter is equipped with an auto shut-off function.

Like many other moisture meters, the NoCry NCDMM is capable of not only measuring the moisture levels in wood or masonry but can also detect the temperature. Conversely to other models on our list, though, the temperature range of this model is -20°C — 70°C, which is much wider.

Wrapping things up, the NoCry is an excellent moisture meter and, considering the price, sturdily-built housing, and strong probes, it is definitely the perfect fit for the job.

Review of NoCry (NCDMM) Digital Moisture Meter

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price £22.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B079BZJQWZ

 

AOPUTTRIVER (AP-2GD)

Small, Handy, Accurate

The AOPUTTRIVER AP-2GD is a slightly smaller model, measuring only 8 x 4 x 2 centimetres and weighing 50 grams without the batteries. With the batteries inserted, it will be a tad bit heavier. Fortunately, you won’t need to purchase the first set yourself since the pack comes equipped with a full set of batteries.

Although the battery life is fully dependant on how often you will use the meter, we were pleasantly surprised to find out that you can go through a lot of measurements before the low battery indicator starts flashing, so you can reasonably expect at least a few months of operation given that the sensor is being used regularly.

As for the accuracy, the meter is capable of measuring both the temperatures in the air and the moisture levels in wooden materials and masonry. Despite having a fairly modest price tag, the model can detect moisture quite accurately, which makes it a go-to pick for users working with construction materials. If you want to check how wet firewood or construction wood is, this device will tell you that within a range of 6 to 42%, with a small deviation of ±1%. As for the masonry, the range is limited to 0.2 to 2%, which is fairly standard for a device of this category.

In the end, the AP-2GD from AOPUTTRIVER proved to be a decent budget-friendly option for measuring the moisture levels in wood, mortar, and masonry quickly and easily.

Review of AOPUTTRIVER (AP-2GD) Wood Moisture Meter
Last updated price £11.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B07WFZ3R18

 

Brennenstuhl 1298680

A Reliable Assistant

Featuring a durable design, accurate performance, and a reasonable price, this moisture meter by Brennenstuhl is a must-have tool when it comes to every handyman's instrument kit. The device is capable of testing for moisture practically any type of texture ranging from wood to any other construction materials precisely (+/- 3%) in the range of 5 - 50 % and 1.5 - 33 % respectively. What we liked the most, though, is how user-friendly this moisture detector is. It not only shows you the humidity percentage of the material you test but also signalises about its level with drops on the left corner of the LED display. One drop is for the low humidity level, while three of them indicate that it is fairly high. The acoustic signal is another useful feature that allows you to use this tool to its fullest potential. What we mean by that is, when you need to test the materials in hard to reach places or in poor light, and you know that you won't be able to see the screen while doing so, you can turn the acoustics on and listen to the tone that will become noticeably higher with the moisture level. You can also use the hold button to freeze all of the readings on the display and read them afterward. Which is rather helpful, wouldn't you say?

All in all, the Brennenstuhl 1298680 unifies all the features we want to see in a portable moisture meter. It is accurate, handy, and gives its user a few spare options that simplify the entire process making it a great value for the money.

Review of Brennenstuhl 1298680 Moisture Detector MD

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price £24.62
Stock In stock
ASIN B003CSNV2Q

 

Kamasa 55961

Effortless Control

This mini moisture meter by Kamasa is a helpful tool for repair works when you need to test the humidity level of woods, cardboard, paper, and other materials for repairs. It also determines the ambient temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit for your convenience in the range from 0 to 40°C, which you can set up with a single press of a button. Being designed as a pocket-size tool, this moisture meter fits a hand perfectly, while a ribbed housing ensures secure and convenient grip. Plus, a wrist lanyard that comes in the box also contributes to the overall convenience of use. The LCD screen might seem a bit small, yet it shows all the readings in pretty large print so reading them is not going to be a problem. To power your Kamasa 55961, you will need 4x button cell batteries that are very simple to replace. By the way, you will know when it's time to change them thanks to the battery charge indicator that appears on the display when the battery is low. This model also has an auto turn-off that is very convenient in case you tend to forget to turn the device off. The meter will switch off after 15 seconds of no use saving the charge of batteries.

All in all, this moisture meter by Kamasa will be of great help for you whether you have decided to renovate your house or just want to check wooden logs before firing them up. Accurate, reliable, and user-friendly, this tool is a godsend to every house.

Review of Kamasa 55961 Mini Moisture Meter

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price £22.25
Stock In stock
ASIN B003AMUKGO

 

What Is a Moisture Meter?

A lot of people could attest to the fact that paying for a moisture meter, as well as a variety of other helpful instruments, once may save you a lot of money in the long run. Being a tiny and compact device, a moisture meter can easily serve you as a kind of insurance providing a lot of information about the lumber you plan to work with. A too dry or too wet piece of wood can easily ruin the end product, and so, it’s important to check out the moisture content of the wood right before you employ it in your future project. That’s the type of situations where a moisture meter will not only come in handy but is actually rather mandatory. Offering a wide measurement range, it is an essential appliance of any contractor, furniture maker and any other person that often works with wood. We have examined a lot of moisture meters aiming to find the best models on the market today. As a result, we have narrowed it down to the five best models that feature high-quality, simple use, and reasonable price, and hope it won't be challenging for you to find the right moisture meter for you.

Some other handy tools you can use in woodworking scenarios are described in the following reviews: orbital sanders, circular saws, and wood lathes.

Best Moisture Meters

Sources:

1. Moisture Meter Reliability Study, InspectAPedia.

2. Moisture meter, Wikipedia. June 27, 2016.

3. Moisture Meters - The Secrets of Choosing and Using, YouTube.

4. Moisture Equipment, Grain Inspection, Packers & Stockyards Administration.

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Publish Date: 2017-12-06 12:56:48