10 Best Multimeters in 2022
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Multimeters are handy electrical tools, combining the measuring value of voltmeters, ammeters, and ohmmeters in a single compact and versatile device that’s an essential part of any electrician’s tool kit and a valuable piece of your household DIY arsenal. If you’re looking to buy a new multimeter to help with electrical tasks, you’re going to want to make sure that you buy the best multimeter you can find in order to get the best performance possible from your multimeter.
There are many different multimeters available on the market in 2022, and each one has its own strengths and weaknesses. In order to save you the time and effort required to work out exactly which multimeters are the best options available, we’ve done all of the research and testing necessary to narrow the field down to our top 10 multimeters 2022.
Below, you can find our best multimeter reviews 2022, exploring the major distinguishing features of our favorite multimeter models, as well as a handy buyers guide to help you fully understand the important features you might want to consider when you’re looking to buy the best multimeter possible.
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View the Best Multimeter, Below.
- Craftsman 34-82141 Digital Multimeter
- Fluke 117 Electricians True RMS Multimeter
- Cen-Tech Digital Multimeter
- Etekcity Digital Voltage Tester Meter
- Extech EX330 Autoranging Mini Multimeter
- Klein Tools 69149 Electrical Test Kit
- Crenova MS8233D Auto-Ranging Digital Multimeter
- AstroAI Digital Multimeter
- Fluke 115 Compact True-RMS Digital Multimeter
- INNOVA 3320 Auto-Ranging Digital Multimeter
1. Craftsman 34-82141 Digital Multimeter
While the Craftsman 34 82141 Digital Multimeter may not be quite as precise and accurate as a Fluke multimeter or other professional electrical tool, it is an excellent choice for new users thanks to its impressive affordability and wide range of functions. This offers more than enough usability and functionality for most household DIY users, and is well built and durable, with a rugged outer rubber case to protect from impacts from accidents such as dropping, ensuring that this model of multimeter remains fully functional at all times, even when used heavily in poor conditions for extended periods of time.
Affordable and accessible, the Craftsman 34 82141 Digital Multimeter is a great entry-level option for more casual users who just need regular household measurement tools for DIY work.
Check Price on Amazon ➞2. Fluke 117 Electricians True RMS Multimeter
Featuring professional quality design and build quality, the Fluke 117 Electricians True RMS Multimeter is designed for use by electricians and serious DIY users in search of a high quality, advanced tool. This premium multimeter may not come with a holster for security, but this is a minor price to pay for such a high-performance multimeter loaded with advanced features.
Its True RMS technology allows for easy, safe reading of non-linear loads with a high level of accuracy, while the backlit LED screen makes working in poor lighting and visibility conditions far easier than most competing models. This is a versatile and durable multimeter that operates comfortably in a wide range of temperatures, maintaining its high performance in even the worst conditions.
Offering high performance in a professional quality package, the Fluke 117 Electricians True RMS Multimeter is among the best multimeter options for serious users and professionals in need of a great, high-performance tool.
Check Price on Amazon ➞3. Cen-Tech Digital Multimeter
The Cen Tech Digital Multimeter is a compact and accessible portable multimeter that offers a high level of basic functionality, with 7 different main measurement functions. Its large LCD display offers bold, clear numbers, making it exceptionally easy to read, while the simple single dial control system is easy to use in all situations.
The compact body of this multimeter is a significant selling point, as the whole thing is roughly credit card sized, making it incredibly easy to fit into any toolkit and carry around, ensuring that you always have a multimeter tool to hand for use in any situation in which you might need to measure an electrical current for any reason.
Functional and easy to use, the Cen Tech Digital Multimeter is an excellent choice for almost any user. Its compact and portable design makes it easy to use on the go, and easy to transport in any situation.
Check Price on Amazon ➞4. Etekcity Digital Voltage Tester Meter
The Etekcity Digital Voltage Tester Meter is one of the smallest and most easily affordable multimeter options out there. This is a high value, accessible option that provides measurement of a full ten different functions, although it is not appropriate for all current types. The portability of this miniature multimeter is a significant selling point, as it is small enough to be easy to carry with you at all times for on the go electrical measurement at any time.
As an added bonus, it also incorporates a durable rubber sleeve for protection, helping to keep the multimeter safe. This is an important element, as the build quality of the Etekcity Digital Voltage Tester Meter is a little on the fragile end, meaning that any added protection available is worth taking full advantage of.
Simple and affordable but impressively high performance, the Etekcity Digital Voltage Tester Meter is a great entry-level option that still provides enough performance for professional use.
Check Price on Amazon ➞5. Extech EX330 Autoranging Mini Multimeter
Despite its small size, the Extech EX330 Autoranging Mini Multimeter offers impressive functionality, making it an excellent choice for on the go electrical tasks. This best compact multimeter includes a built-in non-contact AV voltage detector, allowing you to obtain accurate AC voltage readings without any risk to yourself from contacting current, keeping you safe and comfortable at all times.
Thanks to the 4000 count of the Extech EX330 Autoranging Mini Multimeter, users can easily measure resistance, DC or AC voltages, frequency, and even duty cycles. As an added bonus, this multimeter includes a thermometer for easy reading of temperatures with a high level of accuracy. The final important feature of this multimeter is its protective rubber holster, which offers a high level of resistance to both electrical shocks and impact from accidents and dropping, keeping this multimeter in perfect working condition for as long as possible even when used very heavily.
Packing a high range of functionality into a compact body, the Extech EX330 Autoranging Mini Multimeter is a high-value miniature multimeter that’s easy to carry with you at all times.
Check Price on Amazon ➞6. Klein Tools 69149 Electrical Test Kit
The Klein Tools 69149 Electrical Test Kit is a flexible electrical testing tool kit comprising the MM300 Manual Ranging digital Multimeter, the NCVT 1 Non-Contact Voltage Tester, and the RT105 Receptacle Tester. These cover all of the major required electrical testing functions for DIY household or professional electrical measurement situations, with each element offering valuable features for testing.
The NCVT 1 easily detects standard voltage levels for circuit breakers, cords, cables, outlets, wires, switches, and lighting fixtures. The MM300 tests continuity using simple and easy to read visual and audible indicators for a simple user experience, while the RT105 plugs easily into most standard electrical receptacles to detect the most common wiring problems found in outlets.
The versatility of the selection of testing devices included in the Klein Tools 69149 Electrical Test Kit makes this a valuable and flexible choice for use in a wide range of different electrical testing situations
Check Price on Amazon ➞7. Crenova MS8233D Auto-Ranging Digital Multimeter
The Crenoca MS8233D Auto Ranging Digital Multimeter is an auto-ranging tester, automatically detecting the required range of voltages to measure without needing manual indication of the required voltage range for an easier user experience. As a further usability feature, this multimeter features a large LCD display with strong backlight power, making it easy to read and clear even in poor visibility and low light conditions.
The Crenoca MS8233D Auto Ranging Digital Multimeter also features a range of additional functions for added versatility, including built-in overload protection for safety and security, and a data hold and maximum value hold functionality, offering memory of the detected values for future reference without the need for manually writing the numbers down.
Offering a wide range of valuable functions, the Crenova MS8233D Auto Ranging Digital Multimeter is a versatile and valuable multimeter that offers a high level of functionality ideal for almost any user.
Check Price on Amazon ➞8. AstroAI Digital Multimeter
A powerful and versatile multimeter, the AstroAI Digital Multimeter incorporates a range of helpful features that allow it to perform several valuable functions, as well as some handy durability elements. This multimeter may be unable to test AC voltage, but it can accurately measure voltage, DC current, resistance, diodes, continuity, and other functions.
The large, backlit LCD display is easy to read and clear enough for clear reading in poor visibility conditions or low light levels, making it easy to use in even the worst conditions, while the overload protection keeps the electrical systems of this multimeter safe from electrical surges and overload. In terms of physical safety features, the AstroAI Digital Multimeter includes tough rubber corner guards to protect it from impacts from accidents and dropping, as well as an inbuilt kickstand for easy hands-free operation.
The AstroAI Digital Multimeter is an excellent multimeter option for almost any user, from casual DIY users to more professional electricians, thanks to its versatility and range of premium functions.
Check Price on Amazon ➞9. Fluke 115 Compact True-RMS Digital Multimeter
The Fluke 115 Compact True RMS Digital Multimeter is a high quality, compact multimeter for automotive electrical maintenance and repair. This automotive design means that it has a lower voltage measurement than most home or professional multimeters, ideal for automotive system maintenance.
This is a particularly compact and lightweight multimeter that offers a high level of user-friendliness and comfort, helping it to stand out from the crowd of automotive multimeters. Its large, backlit LED screen is easy to read in all situations, offering excellent usability in poor visibility or low light environments, and its compact nature makes it easy to carry with you at all times for use in any situation.
The Fluke 115 Compact True RMS Digital Multimeter is straightforwardly the best multimeter option for automotive use, thanks to its reliability and high quality design.
Check Price on Amazon ➞10. INNOVA 3320 Auto-Ranging Digital Multimeter
Ideal for repair and maintenance of vehicles and household electrical systems, the Innova 3320 Auto Ranging Digital Multimeter offers a high level of power and functionality in an easy to use package. This multimeter includes a UL certification, guaranteeing safety, and a high level of accuracy during component testing. The biggest usability feature of this multimeter is its automatic ranging functionality, eliminating the need to manually input the range of your electrical current.
The large size of the LED digital display makes it easy to read, further adding to the user-friendly nature of this model of multimeter. As an added bonus, it also features sturdy rubber corner guards, protecting this multimeter from impact from accidents and dropping, helping to keep it running even after taking heavy use for a long time.
Versatile and easy to use, the INNOVA 3320 Auto Ranging Digital Multimeter is a great entry level option that offers a high level of functionality without being too complicated to use, thanks to the number of automated functionality elements.
Check Price on Amazon ➞Multimeter Buyer’s Guide
Major Features of a Multimeter
There are many different features available for multimeters, and it is important to consider which features are the most important ones for your planned use when you are looking to buy a new multimeter, as many multimeters will include some of these features but not all of them. More functions generally mean a more versatile multimeter, but overloading your multimeter with too many different functions may make it hard to read and hard to control, as the readout will be small and chaotic.
Autorange is a valuable function found on many multimeters. Auto range multimeters can automatically readjust themselves to fit the measurement range of each input, reducing the need for manual recalibration between readings in order to simplify your reading experience.
The display rate of a multimeter is the speed at which its digital display refreshes the image rendered on the screen. A faster display rate will give a slightly more accurate reading, but only marginally; this function is a nice added bonus, but is not 100% essential for most users.
Transistor testing functionality can be found on some of the higher end multimeter models available. This functionality allows the multimeter to check whether a transistor is functioning properly within any electronic system or circuit, enabling you to test the operation of integrated circuits or digital logic systems.
Temperature sensor functionality is relatively self-explanatory. This function allows the multimeter to measure the temperature of an electrical device, making these multimeters valuable for checking the functionality of a temperature sensitive electrical device.
Capacitance functionality in a multimeter means that it is able to measure a system’s ability to store an electrical charge. This is a relatively uncommon feature, usually found on high-end digital multimeters.
The hold function of a multimeter is a valuable usability element. This function prevents the multimeter from erasing the readings on the screen, allowing you to freeze the reading in place so you can easily write down multiple readings and keep track of things more easily.
The final function worth considering when looking at a multimeter is the ISO or NIST calibration. This feature shows the compliance of the multimeter with certain certified companies, indicating how well your multimeter will function with most third party accessories. This is a valuable feature to consider if you’re planning on using any additional accessories with your multimeter.
Digital vs. Analog Multimeters
The two main types of multimeter available are digital multimeters and analog multimeters, each of which has certain features that are worth considering when you’re trying to decide which multimeter to buy.
Digital multimeters are more accurate than analog multimeters, in general, and have the added advantage of being able to download readings onto a computer. The digital LCD screens present on these models of multimeter are also generally clearer to read in poor light conditions, as well as providing clear, unequivocal decimal readouts for precise, numerical readings.
This clarity and functionality mean that digital multimeters are generally much more popular than analog multimeters nowadays, and the vast majority of multimeters on the market in 2022 are digital. Not all use this system, however, and a number of analog multimeters are still being produced today for those that prefer the durability and old school functionality of an analog device.
Analog multimeters, meanwhile, can be a little harder to read than their digital counterparts, due to their lack of a clear digital display. These use an old fashioned swinging needle to receive readings, rather than a precise numerical digital display. They are a little less accurate, and the numbers given have to be interpreted by the user, calculated from the gap between the marked numbers using the level of accuracy of the multimeter.
While this may make them sound clearly worse than digital multimeters, analog multimeters are often used by professional electricians thanks to their high level of durability, being generally more stable and reliable than digital multimeters.
What is a Multimeter?
A multimeter is an important electrical tool that provides a range of valuable information about electrical measurements when working with electrical systems and devices. In most cases, these measurements are used to work out what is causing particular problems with the electrical system in question. The readings provided by a multimeter are calculated by measuring a number of electrical values and working out the difference between them.
These values are usually things such as voltage, current, resistance, or other common electrical elements. A multimeter is an important device for electricians and home DIY users, allowing safe working around electrical systems with ease. Most multimeters are designed to be user-friendly and easy to use, even the more professionally targeted models, meaning that you do not need extensive training in order to use a multimeter to stay safe while working with electrical systems.
Why use a Multimeter?
There are two major reasons for most people to want to use a digital multimeter for electrical systems. The first of these is clear diagnosis; the information provided by a multimeter is valuable for diagnosing electrical problems in your systems. Multimeters can accurately pinpoint the problems with your electrical systems by pinpointing current changes and doing a range of different tests to ensure you know exactly what has gone wrong.
The second major reason to use a multimeter is safety. Electrical equipment is dangerous and can cause severe injury or even death if you do not use it properly. One of the most important uses for a multimeter by both professional and home users is to remain safe when working with electrical equipment in situations such as ensuring that an electrical device or cable is not currently live before starting to work with it. Multimeter testing is a vital part of staying safe when working with electrical devices!
Expert Tip
If you’re just looking for a multimeter for simple household DIY tasks, you do not need to break the bank. Cheaper multimeters are more than able to provide the basic functions required for most home DIY electrical projects!
Did you know?
All multimeters are able to read DC currents, but some are unable to read AC currents. If you need to measure an AC current, you are going to need to make sure you buy the right type of multimeter!