Wood Moisture Meters are typically useful in controlling the quality of products made out of wood. These units help determine whether the product is wet, dry or safe for use according to the specifications. Numerous physical properties of the product get affected by the quality of wood used. This alteration may, in turn, lead to the creation of non-uniform products.
Check out this list of top 10 wood moisture meters which give you the most reliable readings!
10. Proster Wood Moisture Meters ($21.95)
This moisture meter consists of 4 test probe pins and a digital LCD. It is ideal for detecting damp, rotting wood or wet walls. It has a range of 5% to 40% and a resolution of 1%. The operating temperature lies between 0 and 40 degrees Celsius. You may hold data and get a convenient display. It comes with a low battery indication. A 9 Volts battery powers the unit.
“This is a very handy little moisture meter. It comes with the meter, a 9-volt battery, two other prongs, a manual and a case to carry everything in. I like that this comes with a battery, so I don’t have to go out and get one right away. It has a cap over the prongs to keep you safe from stabbing yourself when not in use and the lid stays on tightly. The digital display is large, so it is easy to read. All you have to do is turn it on and poke the prongs into whatever you want to test and it ‘the moisture content, it’s that easy. Anyone could use it. I think it will be a good thing to have around.” – Amazon’s Customer Review.
Available here.
9. GoerTek Wood Moisture Meters ($15.97)
This unit is constructed of sturdy ABS plastic and has two integrated pins to probe in the wood. You can also select between four measured wood species A is for Teak, Afrormosia, Walnut, etc.; B is for White Poplar, Keruing, etc.; C is for Lauan, Ash, Elm, etc.; D is for Basswood, Larch, Pine, etc. The large LCD displays the current reading and can also hold these readings. The power supply is a 9 Volts battery included in the package.
“This digital moisture meter is coming in handy for testing hardwood and lumber moisture content in my basement shop. The meter is simple to use and has a moisture scale range of 0 to 99.9% with four user-selectable pre-calibrated wood species groups. The display is not backlit but has large, easy to read digits. The meter uses one 9-Volt battery which was included and will also auto power off 15-minutes after the last measurement is taken to conserve battery life. There is a removable plastic cap to cover the two metal probe tips during storage. Quite often, when I buy pressure treated lumber at HD or Lowes it is soaking wet, so I need to pile it in my basement with the dehumidifier running to let it dry for several days or sometimes even weeks before using it, or else I find it is almost guaranteed to shrink, cup, bow and/or split if used before reasonably dried. Now I can verify when the moisture content is low enough to use the wood for my various projects. This meter would also be useful for things like checking moisture levels for seasoned firewood and wallboard moisture levels to assure dryness before priming and painting.” – Amazon’s Customer Review.
Available here.
8. Extech Wood Moisture Meters ($45.99)
This moisture meter displays the moisture level in building materials such as wallboard, sheet rock, cardboard, plaster, concrete, and mortar. The tone rate beeps increase as the moisture level increases. It is easy to use, has a compact design and can hold data on freeze display.
Technical Specifications By The Manufacturer:
- Wood Moisture Icon Levels: Low: 5% to 11.9%; Medium: 12% to 15.9%; High: 16 to 50%
- Building Material Icon Levels Low: 1.5% to 16.9%; Medium: 17% to 19.9%; High: 20 to 33%
- Resolution: 0.1%
“Clear instructions and easy to use. The points are sharp, so it is easy to use, even in an awkward position in the crawlspace. The ability to lock the reading enables you to take a measurement without seeing the face.
A bit expensive for occasional use, but the trade-off is you can trust the reading.” – Amazon’s Customer Review.
Available here.
7. Wood Moisture Meters- Mudder($17.99)
This unit has a measuring range of 0%-99% with an accuracy of 0.5% and resolution of 0.1%. The memory contains four wood groups with calibration for approximately 50 species of wood. The hold function makes it easy to read and record. The unit conserves battery by shutting off after 15 minutes and is built robust and durable. It is ideal for furniture, floor, cordwood, firewood, and trees. The integrated electrode pins have a pin length of 10 mm, and the unit operates at an 85% maximum humidity level.
“Lost my expensive one, so rather than spend too much time looking for it, I ordered it. Of course, no sooner had I ordered this than I found the other one. Works every time. Anyway, I tried this on fifteen pieces waiting to be turned and compared the results between the expensive one and this one. Spot on every time. I’m going to order another one for my shop in VA in the likelihood that I misplace that one too.” – Amazon’s Customer Review.
Available here.
6. Wagner Meters Wood Moisture Meter ($395.00)
This extended range wood moisture meter is three times faster than any pin meter. The unit has a depth measurement of 3/4 inches and includes settings for all species of wood. It also contains user programmable species settings.
Technical Specifications By The Manufacturer:
- Moisture Content: 5% – 32%
- Digital Display in .1% increments (Note: If the SG selected is .80, the maximum MC reading will be 30%
- Specific Gravity: Selectable wood species setting .20-1.0
- Calibration: Verifiable with calibration block (sold separately)
The battery comes with shock resistant case and a belt clip. This unit is virtually unaffected by temperature or surface moisture. It is used by wood flooring manufacturers and installers, furniture and cabinet makers, lumber suppliers, contractors, builders, inspectors, architects, and engineers.
“I have been using this instrument for four months How did I ever do without this meter… I recently attended IWF-2002 in Atlanta. Wagner, etal were showing their various moisture meters at this show. I took some sawmill lumber to the show with me. I tried all of Wagner hand held moisture meters. I quickly discarded all of them except the MMC-210 and the MMC-220. I decided on the MMC-220 because of the capability to calibrate this meter for any species of wood using specific gravity. It is easy to calibrate and use and does not leave holes in the wood. I would recommend that anyone using saw mill lumber and air drying the same USE this meter. It is definitely the best of the hand held meters.” – Amazon’s Customer Review.
Available here.
5. Lignomat USA, LTD Wood Moisture Meter ($100.27)
This unit is a mini moisture meter with the measuring range of 6 – 45%. The unit has built-in calibration and a measuring depth of 3/16″ and 7/16″. The bright red numeric display makes the moisture readings accurate and error-free. You only need to press the pins into the wood, and the meter automatically turns on to provide a reading. The unit comes with a 9 Volts battery, pouch, two standard 3/16″ pins and two 7/16″ pins for taking deeper core readings.
“I needed a moisture meter as part of a home restoration project, but didn’t feel like spending a fortune or getting a cheap product that would yield questionable results. I selected this item as a compromise and have not been disappointed. The meter is dead simple to use. Set the meter to the appropriate scale (2 or 3) using the included wood species card, insert the meter probes, and check the readout. That’s it. It takes about 2 seconds to get a reading and you are on your way. I tested the meter on fir, pine, cedar, oak, maple and walnut. While I could not determine if the meter was 100% accurate since this was my only meter the readings were consistent with expected values (the cedar was fresh cut, the pine was firewood kept outdoors, and the others had been well seasoned indoors). The probes were very sharp and entered the wood with ease in all but the walnut which required a bit more effort due to the hardness. The probes will leave two small holes when penetrating the wood, but the reading is going to be more accurate and less expensive than than surface readers that I reviewed prior to purchase. My only recommendation is to go to the Lignomat website and consider the various models to match your specific use. This E/D model is best for the general purpose or around the house wood work (testing lumber for furniture, firewood, framing, fencing, etc) , but other options will be more suitable for construction trades or if you run your our small kiln. Since all of the models are generally based on the same design, I’m sure all of them will work just as well as this one.” – Amazon’s Customer Review.
Available here.
4. Risepro Wood Moisture Meter ($15.98)
This unit is a two pin, wood moisture tester. It gives highly accurate readings by penetrating two sharp pins. It has an inbuilt database with four types of wood.
A) Teak, Afrormosia, Walnut
B) White Poplar, Keruing
C) Lauan, Ash, Elm
D) Basswood, Larch, Pine
The smart instrument can provide you with the most accurate readings. It has a range of 0 – 99.9%, a resolution of 0.1% and accuracy +/-0.5%. You can display and hold the readings on a 1.7 inches LCD.
“I got this for my father-in-law who has a wood working hobby and uses all different types of wood. He recently made a two person swing and shortly after complained that it didn’t finish how he wanted because the wood was to soft from dampness; I know nothing about wood so I don’t even know what that means. To me, his swing and everything else that he has created is beautiful. I think that he will appreciate having this, and hopefully get a lot of use from it. It takes one 9V battery and has a nice size screen that is easy to read with bright numbers displayed.” – Amazon’s Customer Review.
Available here.
3. Stihl Wood Moisture Meter ($32.90)
This moisture meter detector comes with a measuring range of 6-42%. This unit is ideal for firewood which requires a moisture content of less than 20% to burn efficiently. The unit performs three functions, i.e., finding wood moisture (%), wall/plaster moisture (%) and temperature (C & F). It has a non-waterproof casing with a bright display (no backlight). It is simple to use and light to carry.
“About this instrument. It is not a Delmhorst or Wagner, that’s a given. No calibration of wood species, temp etc. Just bare bones temp and percent moisture. But it is the same technology used by all moisture meters minus the bells and whistles which are luxuries I just can’t afford. My money is reserved for consumables, and a $300-$400 high end instrument is out of the question. So here it is. It meets my expectations, and it’s accurate on both measurements, moisture and temp. A very nice tool for quick relative reference. And very affordable. And a note: it comes with Alkaline button batteries. When they need replacement, go for the silver oxide equivalent. they last 30% longer.” – Amazon’s Customer Review.
Available here.
2. Wood Moisture Meter – Dr.Meter($25.99)
This unit has a measuring range of 5%~40% with an accuracy of 1%. You can either select a two pin or a four pin sensor. You can also change the testing pins. It is used for a broad range of applications including checking moisture for wood, sheetrock, to a carpet. You can hold value and date. The unit runs on a 9 Volts battery. It has a decent built quality with a plastic body. The display is large and easy to read in various light conditions though lacks calibration, temperature adjustment, and multi-length probes.
“I’ve never owned a moisture meter before so I read a few reviews and bought this one. I burn a lot of firewood in the winters and started cutting my own a couple years ago. Last year I had a problem with a lot of the wood that I thought was seasoned, was too green and didn’t burn well. I got the meter and took it out to my wood pile and checked split wood from one tree and it consistently read within a couple percentage points. Tried a different tree, same consistent results. Went back to original tree and it read the same as it did the first time I checked. I guess that means its accurate. I read that firewood should be less than 20% to burn well. I have a pile about 18-20 (cherry) and I have a pile about 25-27 (oak). When the weather gets cold, I’ll burn them and see how they do. The meter gives a reading instantly when you probe the wood. Overall happy with my purchase so far.” – Amazon’s Customer Review.
Available here.
1. General Tools & Instruments Wood Moisture Meters ($29.71)
This pin-type moisture meter has an easy to read, large LCD and an ergonomic design. It is ideal for contractors and homeowners to measure moisture content in wood, concrete drywall, and subflooring; essential water damage tool. It also has smart Bluetooth function and comes with a hold trigger.
“This meter was a great help with accurate info as to the moisture content of my studs and baseplate after the flood. It saved me time and worry to know when the wood was ready to be drywalled.The price was also a neat surprise for such a valuable instrument.” – Amazon’s Customer Review.
Available here.
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Listed below are some links to relevant blogs:
10 Best Wood Moisture Meters