Best Pinned Wood Moisture Meter
Tavool Wood Moisture Meter
Tavool Wood Moisture Meter features two modes, one for wood and another for building materials like drywall or laminate flooring. A temperature readout helps locate drafts inside wall cavities throughout the house.
Eight preprogrammed settings allow for different types of wood. It performs with an accuracy of ±two percent. A large, easy-to-read LED display makes switching between measurement modes easy, and it shuts down automatically if accidentally turned on.
Style: Pinned.
Range: Wood: 6% to 60%, Building materials: 0.2% to 2.9%.
Accuracy: ±2%.
Power supply: 9v battery.
Pros
- Inexpensive;
- User manual explains everything clearly.
Cons
- You need to make holes in the material with each reading;
- Hard to get the pins deep into dense woods.
Best Pinless Wood Moisture Meter
Klein Tools ET140 Pinless Moisture Meter
Keep your work surface free of holes with the inexpensive Klein Tools ET140 Pinless Moisture Meter. It detects moisture up to 3/4-in. deep in hardwoods, softwoods, masonry and drywall with an easy-to-read LED display.
We love the bar of green, yellow and red LED lights below the display which lets you quickly determine if the material is wet or dry. It’s another high quality tool from the Klein Tools family.
Style: Pinless.
Range: Wood up to 55%, building materials up to 100%.
Accuracy: ±4%.
Power supply: 9v battery.
Pros
- Doesn’t produce holes in work surface;
- Inexpensive;
- Quick color coded readings.
Cons
- Pinless meters are not as accurate.
Best Pin/Pinless Wood Moisture Meter
Dr. Meter Pin/Pinless Moisture Tester
The reasonably priced Dr. Meter Pin/Pinless Moisture Tester measures moisture in wood and most other building materials. The device can also be used as a leak detector.
There are four modes: softwood, hardwood, masonry and drywall. It beeps when wood moisture exceeds 17% or drywall humidity exceeds 70%. That’s helpful when you’re bringing logs inside for the fireplace, or after a basement flood.
Style: Pin/pinless.
Range: Pin mode: wood 5% to 50%, building materials: 1.5% to 33%. Pinless mode: wood 5% to 53%, building materials: 0% to 35%.
Accuracy: Pin mode ±2%, pinless mode ±4%.
Power supply: 9v battery.
Pros
- Both pin and pinless;
- Inexpensive;
- Over saturation alert.
Cons
- Versatile but not as accurate as the best pin or pinless models.
Best Wood Moisture Meter for Cabinetmakers
Wagner Orion 910
Custom cabinetry demands the accuracy of a pinned meter without riddling your raw materials with pinholes. If your budget allows, the Wagner Orion 910 is the right meter for you.
It features easy species selection via up/down buttons, a programmable excessive moisture alarm, a calibrator and a rubber casing that’s easy to grip.
This device measures moisture in wood or other material 3/4-in. deep, with an accuracy of ±0.1-percent — about as good as it gets. The Wagner Orion 910 is a great choice for lumber, flooring and other non-wood building materials.
Style: Pinless.
Range: Wood: 4% to 32%.
Accuracy: ±0.1%.
Power supply: 9v battery.
Pros
- Doesn’t leave holes in work surface;
- Super accurate;
- Seven-year warranty.
Cons
- Expensive.
Best Wood Moisture Meter Splurge
Teledyne FLIR MR176
A picture is worth a thousand pinholes. Teledyne FLIR MR176‘s built-in camera produces a thermal image to identify moisture-rich areas. Once found, obtain an accurate reading via its pinless sensor or pin probe attachment.
The device can display relative moisture, dew point, vapor pressure, ambient air temperature and relative humidity, all on the same screen. Use it to detect moisture and drafts in walls, ceilings and other large surfaces.
Style: Pin/pinless.
Range: Pin 7% to 30%, pinless 0% to 100%.
Accuracy: ±1.5% for up to 30%; reference only above that.
Power supply: Rechargeable battery.
Pros
- Thermal image camera is a game-changer;
- Rechargeable battery.
Cons
- Expensive;
- Overkill for testing lumber.
Best Wood Moisture Meter Value
Proster Digital Moisture Meter
The three-button Proster Digital Moisture Meter is an ideal entry level meter for lumber, firewood, uncut logs and cardboard paper products. According to the manufacturer, the sensitive electrode pins measure with ±0.5-percent accuracy.
It features an easy-to-read LCD display, auto power-off functionality and nearly 50 preprogrammed species of wood, all in an affordable and durable ABS plastic device.
Style: Pin.
Range: Up to 99.9%.
Accuracy: ±0.5%.
Power supply: 9v battery.
Pros
- Inexpensive;
- User friendly.
Cons
- May not be as accurate as manufacturer says.
Best All-Around Moisture Meter
General Tools Four-in-One Digital Moisture Meter
The pricy General Tools Four-in-One Digital Moisture Meter gives you the most accurate readings for finding mold in your home. The pin/pinless device features a humidity sensor, water leak detector and a mold tester. It can detect moisture levels of 5% to 50% in wood or 1.5% to 33% in concrete and drywall.
The dual display has a hold function for storing a reading for later review, an auto diagnostic check and auto power off after three minutes of inactivity. You’ll also receive a molded plastic case, lanyard, two spare pins and an instruction manual to get you started.
Style: Pin/pinless.
Range: Wood: 5% to 50%. Building materials: 1.5% to 33%.
Accuracy: ±3%.
Power supply: 9v battery.
Pros
- Both pin and pinless;
- Four modes;
- Includes lots of accessories.
Cons
- Pricey;
- May be challenging to use.
Why You Should Trust Us
With more than 30 years working in the building trades, I used my hands-on experience and first-hand knowledge to select the best wood moisture meters on the market. I’ve contributed to constructing a city in the Oregon desert, co-established two landscaping companies and worked as a carpenter, plumber and furniture refinisher. Since 2010, I’ve been sharing my expertise through DIY articles and serving as an online consultant, including with Home Depot’s Pro Referral service.
We consulted with Brad Rodriguez, founder of Fix This Build That to learn more about how moisture meters work and why they’re an important tool. Rodriguez channeled his love of woodworking into building a website that teaches everyone from beginners up to seasoned woodworkers how to complete various projects.
FAQs
How accurate are wood moisture meters?
This is the No. 1 feature to note. Some expensive meters boast ±0.1% accuracy. A woodworker usually doesn’t need that and can get by with a cheaper, less accurate meter. The highest error range that ensures meaningful results is ±5%.
How much does a moisture meter cost?
As with anything, moisture meters can be simple and straightforward or loaded with extras. Prices range from less than $20 to more than $1,000.
Are pin or pinless moisture meters better?
As mentioned earlier, pin-type meters measure moisture by penetrating the wood’s surface, pinless meters use a sensor plate that makes contact with the wood’s surface. Pinless meters are able to measure moisture content deeper inside the wood than pin-type meters, but they don’t get as accurate of a reading.