--- title: "This Moisture Meter is Our Top Pick for an Accurate Wood Moisture Reading" description: "The best wood moisture meter can help you detect excess moisture in your home or firewood. See our top pick based on our testing." date: "2024-10-07" modified: "2024-10-07" authors: - name: "Bob Beacham" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.bobvila.com/authors/bob-beacham/" url: "https://www.bobvila.com/reviews/best-wood-moisture-meters/" categories: - "DIY" - "Repair & Maintenance" - "Reviews" tags: - "choose" - "Commerce" - "DIY" - "MPR" - "wood" --- # This Moisture Meter is Our Top Pick for an Accurate Wood Moisture Reading ![The Best Wood Moisture Meters]() *Photo: Amazon* 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. 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 ![The Best Wood Moisture Meters]() *Photo: Amazon* 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. ## Author Bob Beacham is an engineer by trade and has spent 35 years working on everything from auto parts to oil rigs. He is also an avid DIY enthusiast. Bob started writing for the BobVila.com team in 2020 and covers tools, outdoor equipment, and home improvement projects.