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Wood moisture meters can be an indispensable tool around the home and on the jobsite. Moisture measurement can tell you whether your firewood is ready for use or if a piece of hardwood is stable enough for furniture making. It can warn of hidden water damage or potential problems with framing lumber, or that floorboards need extra time to acclimate to the room before installation. In any situation where the water content of wood needs to be assessed, these digital moisture monitors are the best devices for the job.
Our favorite model is the Lignomat Mini-Ligno E/D Pin Moisture Meter, which is extremely accurate, user-friendly, and simply designed. Just ahead, we take a closer look at this excellent tool. We also discuss the various factors that ought to be considered when choosing the best wood moisture meter for both DIY and professional use.
Best Overall
Lignomat Mini-Ligno E/D Pin Moisture Meter
Product Specs
- Style: Pin
- Range: 6 percent to 45 percent
- Accuracy: 0.5 percent
Pros
- User-friendly with no complicated settings
- Extreme accuracy perfect when working on precision projects
- Comfortable cap handle for reduced user fatigue
Cons
- No pinless option
The Lignomat Mini-Ligno E/D moisture meter is a premium tool designed for a specialized purpose. This pin moisture meter boasts an accuracy of 0.5 percent on a precision scale of 6 percent to 45 percent and comes calibrated for use with wood and wood products. Its durable, ergonomic construction makes it easy to hold and use, with sharp pins that can push through even the toughest wood. It includes two sets of pins with measuring depths of 3/16 inch and 7/16 inch.
The real benefit of this model is the simplicity of the design. You simply select the wood type to be measured, hardwood or softwood, then push the pins into the material. An auto on/off switch between the pins activates the meter and preserves battery life. All you have to do is select the wood type and read the display. It doesn’t get much easier than that.
What our tester says: “The Lignomat moisture meter is pretty much everything you need from a moisture meter. I couldn’t help but enjoy the Lignomat’s accuracy and the way the cap forms a comfortable handhold during testing.” —Tom Scalisi, Product Reviews tester & writer
Get the Lignomat moisture meter at Amazon, Walmart, or Acme Tools.
More Wood Moisture Meters Worth Your Money
During our research, we found wood moisture meters with a variety of different price tags and specifications. The following selections range from budget-friendly models to feature-rich professional devices.
- Proster Digital Wood Moisture Meter, available at Amazon.
- Klein Tools ET140 Pinless Moisture Meter, available at Amazon or The Home Depot.
- Dr.meter MD918 Pinless Wood Moisture Meter, available at Amazon.
- Calculated Industries 7445 AccuMASTER Pin & Pinless Moisture Meter, available at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Walmart.
- Lignomat Scanner SD Moisture Meter, available at Amazon.
- Wagner Meters Orion 950 Pinless Wood Moisture Meter, available at Amazon.
- General Tools Digital Pin/Pinless Moisture Meter, available at Amazon or Walmart.
How We Chose the Best Wood Moisture Meters
We have covered general-purpose moisture meters before so here we wanted to focus specifically on those for testing moisture in wood. We wanted to provide options for everyone, from those checking their firewood to general contractors and furniture makers.
We researched over three dozen different moisture measuring devices to put together this curated list, looking at both pin and pinless moisture meters. We checked how accurate they were, the types of wood they were suitable for, how easy they were to use, and how much they cost.
We also contacted professionals for their input. Bob Berriz of remodeling experts Berriz Design Build, located in Arlington, Virginia, tells us, “Accuracy to within 2 percent is critical.” He added, “Mold and structural damage cost thousands to repair. An inexpensive meter, used properly, provides cheap insurance for any wood project.” Francisco Romero of Romero Hardwood Floors, based in Revere, Massachusetts, has similar advice: “I recommend a meter that provides readings within 1 to 2 percent accuracy and can measure at least 6 to 30 percent moisture content.” He also says that for contractors “data logging is key,” explaining that it tracks readings over time, verifying the wood has reached the target moisture before installation.
FAQs
So far we’ve looked at what we consider to be the overall best wood moisture meter. We’ve also offered some alternatives and discussed how we made our choices. In the following section, we answer some of the questions that often cropped up during our research.
It depends what you want to use the wood for. Firewood should ideally be below 20 percent moisture; wood used outdoors should be 10 to 14 percent, and wood used indoors should be 6 to 8 percent.
The quick and easy way to test if your moisture meter is accurate is to check the same area two or three times; results should be consistent. If they aren’t, then recalibration may be necessary. This typically requires contacting the manufacturer. A high-end wood moisture test meter may come with its own calibration device.
According to the American Society for Testing and Materials, oven-dry testing is the scientific method, although this is not practical for most. A handheld moisture probe like those featured here meets most needs.
Both types of moisture meter can be very accurate, but one isn’t necessarily better than the other. You’ll want to check the specification of each device.
If you’re heating with a wood stove, for example, then your best moisture meter for firewood could be a cheap model because high accuracy isn’t necessary. If your plan is to use it for fault-finding in construction lumber or wood stability for furniture making, you’ll want to invest more to ensure accuracy.