Top 10 Best Moisture Testers 2021

Best Reviewer may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page.

Model	Features
Zevek Digital Moisture Meter [ Our #1 Choice ] Read Our Review	Moisture meter Measures damp in woods, masonry and air temperature, 3 METERS IN 1 Backlit display with large text, with one button operation SO ITS EASY TO READ AND USE Stainless steel prongs, STRONG AND EASY TO CLEAN Batteries included, USE STRAIGHT FROM THE BOX, plus sleep mode which PROLONGS BATTERY LIFE
Brennenstuhl Moisture Detector Read Our Review	To determine the moisture content of wood or building materials such as concrete, brick, screed, plasterboard, wallpaper, etc. Practical hold function also enables measuring in places that are difficult to access. Battery low voltage indicator Robust, handy housing with separate battery compartment for 9 V block.
Stanley 077030 Read Our Review	Gives moisture reading based on electrical resistance across 2 pins. LCD screen with dual measurement bar graph. Measures moisture in wood from 6-44 percent.
Proster Damp Meter Read Our Review	Perfect for wood, firewood, logs, cardboard, paper, concrete and many kinds of wall. Switch different modes according to 4 wood groups, including approximately 50 species of wood, which makes measuring more accurate. Large HD LCD with data hold function to show results

Damp in the home is a problem and one that many of us come across in time. It can be caused by many different factors and can be difficult to deal with if left unattended for a while. Damp also affects other things – caravans, for example, which stand in the elements all year are often subject to damp problems. Then there’s the wood you store for your fire or log burner: wood stored outside may not dry as much as you want it to, so will not burn as hot as you require.

We can’t help the weather in the UK; it is notoriously wet in some parts of the country, and not a lot can be done about it. However, we can deal with damp, and if you get a hold of the problem early enough, it can be eliminated. The trick is to know how to find it, and how to deal with it. There are many ways to deal with a damp problem – whether in your home or elsewhere – and it pays to be able to detect it at an early stage. That’s why we decided to review moisture meter. These may not be the most exciting gadgets, but they are very useful, and inexpensive, too.

Would you make use of a moisture meter? You might be surprised at how useful one of these small, cheap devices can be. They are very handy to have around the house, so you can check for damp if you suspect it or make sure your wood store is as dry as it can be. So lets take a look at the best moisture testers available on the market.

Best Wood Moisture Meters for Logs

1: Zevek Digital Moisture Meter

We begin our review with a choice that is very much par for the course. When reviewing items such as these, that is devices that are designed for a very specific purpose, it is difficult to find differences, so expect some very definite similarities between the ten on this list. This moisture meter is a neat little device that is intended for use in and around the home, and is an effective monitor of damp and moisture.

This one, as with most, can monitor moisture in wood, brick and more, and also records air temperature, and displays it all on a large LCD screen with a handy backlight for easy reading. It has a one-button operation system so you will find it very easy to use, and the stainless-steel prongs – which are used to detect the moisture level – are very durable and easy to clean. It also has a sleep mode, a protective cap, and comes complete with battery so is ready to use right away. At a shade less than £20 it is not the cheapest here, but it is good quality and does the job.

2: Brennenstuhl Moisture Detector

This one is a nice design, with ergonomic styling that makes it easy to hold in one hand. It measures a wide range of moisture – between 5 and 50% for wood, and up to 33% for building materials, so is very useful for construction projects and keeping your eye on your wood store. It promises accuracy to a high degree, and the easy to read screen also features a hold function, so you can keep your results when using in awkward places.

This model features a shutdown after just a few minutes, so battery power is preserved, and is very simple to use. It’s useful for many purposes, and is perfect for checking wood that is being stored for burning. All in all, it’s a useful and handy measurement device that is perfectly good for the usage it is designed for. One downside – it comes without a battery, so you need to purchase your own. At around £14, however, it is good value.

3: Stanley 077030

When it comes to tools and DIY, there are few names that carry as much of a reputation as Stanley. One of the biggest makers of household and professional tools, there is no doubt you probably have something they made in your toolbox. This excellent moisture meter is a great design, and comes with the quality you expect from such a brand. It uses the standard electrical resistance form of measurement, with two pins for measuring, and is easy to use.

This one measures up to 44% moisture levels in wood, and can also be used on other materials such as those being utilised in a construction project, and it promises an excellent level of accuracy. The large LCD screen shows the measurements in figures and as a bar graph, so you get a clear indication of the results. This is a good all-round device with many fine attributes, and comes with a battery. At around £22 it is one of the more expensive, but you get the assured quality of the Stanley brand.

4: Proster Damp Meter

Proster is another brand with a wide variety of measuring products, and this moisture meter is a very neat design that is easy to use with one hand. It also has the handy save mode, so if measuring at an awkward angle, you can save the measurement for easy reading. The large LCD display is simple to read and displays the figures in large numerals. It’s a durable design that is made for a long life, and you will find it great for accuracy.

Indeed, for more accuracy, this one has four modes and can be switched between as many as 50 different types of wood for even more accurate measurements. Indeed, it provides accuracy of plus or minus 0.5%, and can measure up to 99.9% moisture in wood, for which it is primarily intended. The only downside is that the battery is not included, but at little over £10 this one is very good value.

5: THZY Moisture Sensor

This one is a little different to those we have reviewed so far; it is a moisture meter, but it is intended primarily for use in the garden. It’s a small and very useful device for the gardener, in fact, as it is designed to measure the moisture level in soil. The lengthy probe is plugged into the soil itself, and the large and easy to read screen provides the moisture level easily and readily. In that, it’s a great device, but it’s not up to much when you want to check your wood store or building materials.

This one doesn’t provide a digital reading but a conventional analogue scale with a needle, and it is colour coded for ease of use. It is interesting too in that it does not need batteries – it is ready to use without. If you are a keen gardener, or you have a lot of houseplants that need tending to, this is the device for you, and at under £10 it is very good value. For checking the moisture in wood or other materials, you need to look elsewhere.

6: Stihl Wood Moisture Meter

Another brand with an excellent reputation for making quality tools and other devices, Stihl guarantees quality that is hard to beat. This moisture meter is specifically intended for measuring the moisture in wood, and as such is very good at what it does. Although recommended specifically for measuring the moisture in wood, this one can also be used for construction materials and packaging items such as cardboard.

It is very compact and sturdy, and is clearly designed for a long life, and is easy to hold and use with one hand and simple operation. It measures up to 42% moisture in firewood (if the level is above 18%, by the way, your wood will not burn properly) and displays the results on an easy to read, large LCD screen. It is accurate to a high degree and battery operated, and comes complete with battery and full instructions. At around £18 it is not the cheapest of these, but it is a quality gadget.

7. No Cry Digital Moisture Meter

This device, from the NoCry brand, is a dedicated meter designed to detect moisture and humidity in specific places. It’s a hand-held model that has many different settings, and can be used to check for moisture in your floors, walls, ceilings, and in fact just about anywhere. This is a professional standard device that is adjustable for detecting moisture in more than 100 different materials, including the commonplace woods across the hard, medium and soft woods, plus concrete and other constructions materials.

This model features auto-calibration, so you can be assured of accurate readings, plus it also offers a variety of options on the bright and large LCD screen, including a choice of temperature readings, brightness settings, and battery level. Batteries are included – it’s not rechargeable – and it comes with a handy carry pouch with belt loop. If you want a dedicated meter, this could be the one that does the job for you, and at the price it is very reasonable for a quality item.

8: GoChange Digital Moisture Meter

This one is typical of the breed, so you can expect it to be good, and this moisture meter is a very neat design that is easy to use with one hand. It also has the handy save mode, so if measuring at an awkward angle, you can save the measurement for easy reading. The large LCD display is simple to read and displays the figures in large numerals. It’s a durable design that is made for a long life, and you will find it great for accuracy.

The large LCD screen, complete with backlight, is easy to read and displays the moisture level in big numbers, and the tough electrode pins are durable and will last a lifetime. You get the usual auto-off function after ten minutes of no use, and it also has a battery included so you can use it right away. The only downside we can see is that the batteries are not included, but at not much more than a tenner we can overlook that.

9: TopElek Soil Moisture Meter (not for wood)

This is another soil moisture meter for use in the garden, and it also reads the pH level. It’s a small and very useful device for the gardener, in fact, as it is designed to measure the moisture level in soil. The lengthy probe is plugged into the soil itself, and the large and easy to read screen provides the moisture level easily and readily. In that, it’s a great device, but it’s not up to much when you want to check your wood store or building materials.

This one doesn’t provide a digital reading but a conventional analogue scale with a needle, and it is colour coded for ease of use. It is interesting too in that it does not need batteries – it is ready to use without. If you are a keen gardener, or you have a lot of houseplants that need tending to, this is the device for you, and at under £10 it is very good value. For checking the moisture in wood or other materials, you need to look elsewhere.

That’s our list of the top 10 best moisture meters, and we are sure there will be one there for your required use. Before we go on to sum things up, let’s have a quick reminder of the important features that you need to look out for.

How It Works

You might be wondering why you need a moisture meter: we’ve mentioned a few uses above, and there are many more. What you may not be aware of is that damp in the home can lead to a variety of health problems. A dry home is a healthy one, so knowing where you have moisture and damp is essential. The causes can be many, but in older homes it may be necessary to get a damp course so your home is protected from damp rising from the ground.

Bricks and mortar can harbour damp, and these moisture meters are among the most useful devices in discovering the problem early on. These meters are digital and give a clear, easy to see read out, and they are also simple to use. Battery powered, they are designed to be portable and to be used for detection damp in a wide variety of materials, so they can be used in and outside the house. Perfect, in fact, for making sure your store of logs is dry and ready for the cold winter months.

Remember, let damp alone and it will cause you problems that will be expensive to deal with; nip it in the bud and you will find you have a more comfortable, healthy home that is easy to live in and pleasant to be around. Keep your wood dry and you will have a hot, beautiful fire to keep you warm, one that is easy to light and that burns efficiently. So, you might not think a moisture meter is an essential item, but buy one of these – and for very little cost – and you will find it is a great addition to your tool box. So, with no further ado, let’s have a look at the top 10 moisture meters you can buy right now.

Important Features to Consider

The most important factor to consider with one of these is what you want it for; if you are primarily using it to measure the moisture in firewood, all of these bar two will do it. The same eight will also measure moisture in bricks, concrete and other materials so will be ideal for that usage.

You should also consider the range of measurement and the accuracy – they do vary – and also the use of a ‘hold’ button so you can keep your result on screen for future use. The price range of these is pretty slim so is not a consideration. That’s about it, so all that remains now is for us to wrap this up!

Let’s Wrap It Up!

So now you realise how useful a moisture meter can be, you want one! They really are a great addition to your tool kit, and as most are under £20, not at all expensive. Whether you are building and want to make sure the materials are suitably dry, or you are simply wanting to keep a check on your firewood, there’s one here for you. We’ve even included a couple that are for checking the moisture in soil, so you can keep your house and garden plants healthy.

Which would we recommend? In all honesty, all of these are very good, but for use with wood we would perhaps suggest you look at either of the models from Proster, as they are accurate for different types of wood, and also well-priced. Also, the models from known brands Stihl and Stanley deserve a mention as they are quality items.

Whichever you choose you will be satisfied, and you will enjoy easy to light fires from now on!