Last reviewed: July 2026 · MLC editorial team · US market edition
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A multimeter is a safety device first and a measuring instrument second. The number that matters more than counts or accuracy is the CAT rating - whether the meter can take a transient spike on the circuit you probe without becoming shrapnel. Every pick below carries a genuine CAT III or better rating from an independently certified brand.
How we picked these
- Genuine CAT III 600V+ rating (independently certified, not just printed)
- True-RMS reading - non-RMS meters misread modern electronics loads
- Auto-ranging, backlight, and continuity response fast enough to beep on a quick tap
- For electronics work: microamp range and millivolt resolution; for electricians: low-Z mode to kill ghost voltage
Prices shown are typical street prices in $ at review time and move with promotions. Links are affiliate links - MLC earns a commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you, which funds the free reference charts on this site.
Reviewed picks
Fluke 117
The residential electrician's meter - low-Z mode, NCV detection, and a decade of daily drops in it.
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Typical price: $180-$230 · Check price on Amazon (ad)
Fluke 87V
The industrial standard on motor drives, plant floors and HVAC heavy work. The meter the others are measured against.
Typical price: $400-$480 · Check price on Amazon (ad)
Klein Tools MM720
Klein's flagship DMM - true-RMS, temp, capacitance, rugged. The natural pick if your bags are already orange.
Typical price: $90-$120 · Check price on Amazon (ad)
Brymen BM235 (Greenlee DM-210A)
The value-performance sleeper, also sold as the Greenlee DM-210A. Real certification, crisp display, fast continuity.
Typical price: $100-$130 · Check price on Amazon (ad)
Southwire 13070T
A certified-brand budget meter for homeowners who want real safety compliance without Fluke money.
Typical price: $50-$70 · Check price on Amazon (ad)
Recommendations at a glance
| Pick | Typical price | Link |
|---|
| Fluke 117 | $180-$230 | Amazon |
| Fluke 87V | $400-$480 | Amazon |
| Klein Tools MM720 | $90-$120 | Amazon |
| Brymen BM235 (Greenlee DM-210A) | $100-$130 | Amazon |
| Southwire 13070T | $50-$70 | Amazon |
Related reference on MLC
Frequently asked questions
What does the CAT rating actually mean?
CAT ratings describe which part of an electrical installation a meter can safely probe: CAT II is plug-in loads, CAT III is distribution wiring and panels, CAT IV is the supply origin. The rating reflects transient-spike energy the meter can absorb - probing a panel with a CAT II meter risks arc blast if a spike lands while connected.
Is true-RMS necessary?
For anything driven by electronics - LED lighting, VFDs, modern appliances - yes. Non-RMS averaging meters assume a clean sine wave and can misread distorted waveforms by 10-40%. All the picks above are true-RMS.
Fluke 117 or 87V?
The 117 is the electrician's daily meter: compact, low-Z, NCV. The 87V adds the microamp range, higher accuracy, analogue bargraph and the industrial CAT III 1000V/CAT IV 600V rating - it earns its price on motors, drives and plant, not house sockets.
Are £25 meters dangerous?
On low-energy circuits, no. The danger is mains distribution work: uncertified meters have failed explosively in transient tests that certified meters shrug off. The rule: cheap meter for electronics and batteries, certified CAT III for anything wired to the grid.