Having a good pocket multimeter can come in handy for DIY and professional electrical work.
The best pocket multimeters are lightweight, accurate, and durable (without compromising on safety).
On the other hand, a poor-quality pocket multimeter feels like a children’s toy. Inaccurate, flimsy, and made from cheap materials.
To help you separate the good from the bad – we’ve reviewed the Top 6 Pocket Multimeters of 2023.
Buy with the confidence that you’re buying one of the best pocket multimeters on the market. Let’s jump straight into the reviews.
- Diode and continuity test with buzzer
- Extremely accurate pocket multimeter
- CAT III 600 V safety rated
- Includes non-contact voltage detector
- Measures AC & DC to 600 V
- CAT III 300 V safety rated
- Tests for proper wiring & shorts
- Diode test for electrical testing
- Great value for the money
Contents
Top 6 Best Pocket Multimeters
Fluke 101 Pocket Multimeter – Best Overall
- Basic dc accuracy 0.5%
- CAT III 600 V safety rated
- Diode and continuity test with buzzer
The Fluke 101 Pocket Multimeter ranks #1 because of its sturdy build quality. First, it features a strong elastic casing that’s durable enough to withstand drops during work. So you can rely on this multimeter working for several years before needing another device.
It includes diode and continuity testing with a buzzer. The Fluke 101 LCD has a display screen that helps you read multiple tests made by the multimeter. The LCD is large enough to show results, making it a great choice for apprentice electricians.
This multimeter is also known for its compact size. It weighs 160g, which makes it easier for the user to carry it around the workshop. And it has a CAT III 600 V safety, allowing the user to test a wide range of applications without fear. Thus, making it a good device for those working on heavy-duty electrical projects.
Fluke is known for producing excellent multimeters with great power conservation options. The Fluke 101 is no exception and comes with a handy automatic shutoff feature. When the meter is idle for too long, the device shuts off to conserve power. Because of this, it helps when doing longer projects, as its battery is built to last.
The Fluke 101 features the irresistible combination of a great price point and impressive performance, making it an obvious choice for our best pocket multimeter spot. Aside from the slightly sluggish continuity test mode, we didn’t run into any notable issues while using this model. Highly recommended for DIY home use as well as professional electricians who need a quality pocket multimeter.
Check Price- Diode and continuity test with buzzer
- Extremely accurate pocket multimeter
- CAT III 600 V safety rated
- Small lightweight design for one-handed use
- Battery is easy to replace
- Slow continuity and auto ranging options
Amprobe PM55A Pocket Multimeter – Premium Choice
- Digital multimeter measures alternating current (AC) voltage and direct current (DC) voltage to 600 volts (V), resistance to 6 megaohms, capacitance to 2,000 microfarads,...
- Average-sensing meter provides accurate readings when measuring linear loads where the current or voltage has a sinusoidal waveform
- Non-contact voltage detector senses AC voltage without making contact with the circuit
For those wanting a premium quality device, you can’t go wrong with the Amprobe PM55A Pocket Multimeter. It can measure up to 9 functions including resistance (6MΩ max), frequency (30 kHz), current (2 mA), and volts (to 600V). It also includes an audible continuity feature and diode test feature, giving you enough tools needed to get accurate testing results.
Since it weighs 3 oz and is less than 5 inches tall, you can take this device anywhere. Not only can it measure the important ranges, but has additional features not usually found in multimeters. These features include auto resistance/voltage detection, ghost-voltage screen, and voltage detection.
Thanks to its design, the Amprobe PM55A Pocket Multimeter is solidly put together. It has a rugged case that’s covered by a silicone boot. The test probes are attached to the underside of the unit, keeping them out of the way until you need them and ensuring they aren’t vulnerable to damage.
This multimeter has a 6000 count display, which places it ahead of its competitors. Since it is a 3 5/6-digit device, it can show 59.99 units on a range charge. All of the icons are neatly displayed on the screen including LoZ Auto, V, low battery indicator, Ω, µA, and nF.
The main thing that sets this model apart from the competition is that it comes equipped with a bunch of helpful extras that can make your life easier, especially if you use your meter frequently. If you need more options and are okay to pay a bit extra, this is the right pocket multimeter for you.
Check Price- Includes non-contact voltage detectorr
- Measures AC & DC Voltage to 600 V
- CAT III 300 V safety rated
- Average-sensing meter provides accurate readings when measuring linear loads
- Measures resistance up to 6 megaohms
- Hardwired leads
- Slightly pricier than alternatives
Craftsman 82351 Pocket Multimeter – Great Value
- Measures up to 600 volts alternating current and 10A alternating current for electrical installation home appliance repairs
- Measures up to 600 volts direct current and 10A direct current for auto marine and electronic installations or repairs
- Audible tone sounds below 30 ohms to check proper wiring and shorts
If you’re looking for the best precision budget pocket multimeter, you won’t find a better product than this one from Craftsman. While it may not come with all of the fancy bells and whistles we saw in the Amprobe model, this pocket multimeter offers ruggedness and reliability at an affordable price point.
While many of its budget-tier competitors will malfunction and break within months of their purchase, we had no trouble with this model’s construction or its software. The Craftsman 82351 is also compact, allowing it to be fit into a pocket and taken on the go.
Unlike other budget meters, this model also comes equipped with a rubber holster, ensuring that it doesn’t get damaged by low-velocity impacts and drops from a short height. More impressively, this model is also just as accurate as more expensive models, ensuring you don’t lose any precision.
Where this model and other budget multimeters fall short is in their speed. The Craftsman Pocket Multimeter is a little slower than the previous two models. As it can only measure up to 600A and 600V, this multimeter is only recommended for DIY and hobbyist use.
However, all of this is made up for by the excellent price to performance ratio that this product offers. Despite a few weaknesses because of its affordable cost, the Craftsman multimeter is an excellent choice for those on a tight budget. If you’re not going to be using your multimeter very often (e.g. just for a few DIY or home projects from time to time), this is the right pocket multimeter for you.
Check Price- Excellent value for money
- Tests for proper wiring & shorts
- Diode test for electrical testing
- Audible tone sounds below 30 ohms to check proper wiring and shorts
- Readings take some time
- Not as durable as Fluke or Amprobe’s pocket multimeter
Woods DMMW3 Pocket Multimeter
- Package Dimensions: 8.87 L x 1.58 H x 5.12 W (inches)
- Package Weight: 0.44 pounds
- Country of Origin : China
If you’re looking for one of the most compact multimeters around, the DMMW3 from Woods is a solid contender. This model is about the same size as a smartphone, and it’s just as easy to slide into your pocket, ensuring that you can bring this model places that other meters can’t go.
With a CATIII rating up to 300V, this multimeter is ready for most jobs, though it may not be versatile enough for professional electricians. A further issue that helped keep it out of our top three is that this model can only measure up to 600V on AC or DC.
Despite these minor flaws, the DMMW3 comes with plenty of redeeming features, including a protective exterior case and a surprisingly varied set of functions for a meter of its size. These include both HOLD and MAX commands, which aren’t present on many of its competitors.
We were also impressed by the removable leads. If they were ever to be damaged, they can be replaced instead of having to purchase a new product. Since this model’s main strength is its slim profile, we’d recommend it for users who don’t have a lot of space in their toolkit, or perhaps don’t carry one at all.
Check Price- Very slim
- Good price
- Removable leads
- 600V max
- Less precise than other pocket multimeters on this list
- Flimsy quality
AstroAI Pocket Multimeter
- VERSATILE DIGITAL MULTIMETER - Accurately measures AC/DC Voltage, DC Current, Resistance, and Diode. This Multimeter is a really useful tool for solving industrial and...
- TROUBLESHOOTING WITH ACCURACY - This Multimeter has a sampling speed of 2 times per second; Built-in a backlight LCD display with 3 ½ digits (1999 count) 0.6”, and high...
- ENSURES SAFETY - Double ceramic fuse is anti-burn and protects from overloading.The silicone cover is able to protect the multimeter from failing damage and prevent electric...
Yet another budget multimeter, this pocket model from AstroAI offers an excellent price point at the expense of compactness. This is one of the largest multimeters on this list, and it straddles the line between a pocket meter and a full-sized model. However, its larger size does make this model a little easier to use.
The AstroAI multimeter features a slick design, with the main control dial similar to those on larger meters. This dial is accompanied by two orange buttons, one which controls the brightness of the backlight on the display and one which acts as a HOLD function.
This model takes readings at a rate of two samples per second, making it one of the slowest multimeters on this list, so we wouldn’t recommend it for professional use. The inclusion of removable test leads ensures that the device can keep functioning even if they end up getting bent or damaged.
This model didn’t make the cut as our top pick in the budget category because of its lack of features compared to the Craftsman model. For an insignificantly higher price, you get much better performance and more versatility out of the Craftsman 82351.
- Extremely affordable
- Straightforward interface
- Replaceable test leads
- Large dimensions
- Slow sample rate
Allosun EM3081 Pocket Multimeter
- Power supplied by 2 pieces 1.5V botton cell.( Remove the back panel first and move the battery's insulating piece away before using )
- It owns 3 1/2-digit LCD, with a max reading of 1999.
- It is easy to carry for its box-type design.
The final model on this list is also one of the smallest. The Allosun EM3081 is a clamshell-type compact multimeter. The folding cover doubles as a storage area for the leads while they’re not in use. Unfortunately, to keep this meter as compact as possible, the leads are hardwired into it.
Equipped with a rotating dial and a toggle switch, the controls for this multimeter are simple and easy to grasp. The 3-½ digit LCD features large numbers that are easy to see at a distance. We were also impressed by the accuracy of this compact multimeter, though the speed of readings left much to be desired.
Since you have to wait up to one second to get a reading while using this meter, we can’t recommend it for professional use. The hinges of the cover also seemed flimsy, though they didn’t break during our time using the multimeter. For these reasons, it’s difficult to recommend this multimeter over one of our top three picks.
However, if you’re looking for a compact multimeter with a protective cover, this is the smallest and most reliable model that you’ll be able to find. Despite its issues, this meter is available for a low enough price point that it offers an impressive amount of value for your money.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ISAMUA6?tag=eknow-tools-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1
- Protective clamshell design
- Accurate readings
- Simple controls
- Questionable hinges
- It takes a long time to take a reading
- Not as durable as Amprobe or Fluke Pocket Multimeters
