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At a glance
Our top picks
Fluke 117
The meter working electricians actually buy with their own money, not just the one brands push.
Check price on Amazon →Why we picked it ↓
Fluke 115
The same Fluke reliability as the 117, in the same body, without the electrician-specific extras (NCV, AutoVolt, LoZ).
Check price on Amazon →Why we picked it ↓
KAIWEETS KM200s
Covers the fundamentals of the Fluke at under half the price — the sensible first meter.
Check price on Amazon →Why we picked it ↓Also great
- 4
AstroAI DM6000ARCheck pricePrice →Best for Electronics Hobbyists4.3★★★★☆ - 5
Klein Tools MM400Check pricePrice →Best for Electrical Panels4.4★★★★☆ - 6
Fluke 87VCheck pricePrice →Best for Professionals4.8★★★★★ - 7Milwaukee 2235-20Check pricePrice →Best Clamp Meter4.6★★★★★
- 8
Craftsman CMMT14171Check pricePrice →Best for Automotive4.4★★★★☆ - 9Extech EX330Check pricePrice →Best Compact4.2★★★★☆
- 10
UNI-T UT139CCheck pricePrice →Best Value Auto-Ranging4.4★★★★☆ - 11
Fluke 179Check pricePrice →Best for Industrial Work4.7★★★★★ - 12
Klein Tools MM450Check pricePrice →Best Slim True RMS4.5★★★★★ - 13
Fluke 107Check pricePrice →Best Pocket Fluke4.3★★★★☆ - 14
Brymen BM235Check pricePrice →Best Features for the Money4.6★★★★★ - 15
Fluke 17B+Check pricePrice →Best Value Fluke4.5★★★★★ - 16
Fluke 15B+Check pricePrice →Best Basic Fluke4.3★★★★☆ - 17
Fluke 106Check pricePrice →Best Budget Pocket Fluke4.2★★★★☆ - 18
Fluke 101Check pricePrice →Smallest Fluke4.1★★★★☆ - 19
Fluke T5-600Check pricePrice →Best Electrical Tester4.4★★★★☆ - 20
Fluke 323Check pricePrice →Best Fluke Clamp Meter4.7★★★★★ - 21
Fluke 117/323 KitCheck pricePrice →Best Combo Kit4.6★★★★★
Quick shopping
Compare at a glance
Swipe sideways on mobile to see every spec.
| Model | Award | Rating | Accuracy | Safety rating | Auto-ranging | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1Fluke 117✓ Tested | Best Overall | 4.8★★★★★ | True RMS | CAT III 600V | Yes | Check price → |
| #2Fluke 115✓ Tested | Best for Field Service | 4.8★★★★★ | True RMS | CAT III 600V | Yes | Check price → |
| #3KAIWEETS KM200s | Best Budget | 4.5★★★★★ | True RMS | CAT II 600V | Yes | Check price → |
| #4AstroAI DM6000AR | Best for Electronics Hobbyists | 4.3★★★★☆ | True RMS, 6,000-count | Not stated by AstroAI | Yes | Check price → |
| #5Klein Tools MM400 | Best for Electrical Panels | 4.4★★★★☆ | Auto-ranging (not True RMS) | CAT III 600V | Yes | Check price → |
| #6Fluke 87V✓ Tested | Best for Professionals | 4.8★★★★★ | True RMS | CAT III 1000V / CAT IV 600V | Yes | Check price → |
| Best Clamp Meter | 4.6★★★★★ | True RMS | CAT III 600V | Not stated by Milwaukee | Check price → | |
| #8Craftsman CMMT14171 | Best for Automotive | 4.4★★★★☆ | True RMS | CAT III 600V | Yes | Check price → |
| Best Compact | 4.2★★★★☆ | Auto-ranging (True RMS not stated) | CAT III 600V | Yes | Check price → | |
| #10UNI-T UT139C | Best Value Auto-Ranging | 4.4★★★★☆ | True RMS, 6,000-count | CAT III 600V | Yes | Check price → |
| #11Fluke 179 | Best for Industrial Work | 4.7★★★★★ | True RMS | CAT III 1000V / CAT IV 600V | Yes (manual override) | Check price → |
| #12Klein Tools MM450 | Best Slim True RMS | 4.5★★★★★ | True RMS | CAT III 600V | Yes | Check price → |
| #13Fluke 107 | Best Pocket Fluke | 4.3★★★★☆ | Average-responding (not True RMS) | CAT III 600V | Yes (per display) | Check price → |
| #14Brymen BM235 | Best Features for the Money | 4.6★★★★★ | True RMS | CAT III 600V / CAT IV 300V | Yes (manual override) | Check price → |
| #15Fluke 17B+ | Best Value Fluke | 4.5★★★★★ | Not stated as True RMS by Fluke | CAT III 600V / CAT II 1000V | Yes (manual override) | Check price → |
| #16Fluke 15B+ | Best Basic Fluke | 4.3★★★★☆ | Not stated as True RMS by Fluke | CAT III 600V / CAT II 1000V | Yes (manual override) | Check price → |
| #17Fluke 106 | Best Budget Pocket Fluke | 4.2★★★★☆ | Average-responding (not True RMS) | CAT III 600V | Yes | Check price → |
| #18Fluke 101 | Smallest Fluke | 4.1★★★★☆ | Not stated as True RMS by Fluke | CAT III 600V | Yes | Check price → |
| #19Fluke T5-600 | Best Electrical Tester | 4.4★★★★☆ | Average-responding (not True RMS) | CAT III 600V | Automatic AC/DC voltage selection | Check price → |
| #20Fluke 323 | Best Fluke Clamp Meter | 4.7★★★★★ | True RMS | CAT III 600V / CAT IV 300V | — | Check price → |
| #21Fluke 117/323 Kit | Best Combo Kit | 4.6★★★★★ | — | CAT III 600V (both tools) | — | Check price → |
In depth
Detailed reviews
Fluke 117
The meter working electricians actually buy with their own money, not just the one brands push.
Best for:Electricians, serious hobbyists
The Fluke 117 is the meter most working electricians reach for. True RMS readings, non-contact voltage detection, and a CAT III 600V rating make it reliable in real electrical panels, not just hobby projects.
- Accuracy
- True RMS
- Safety rating
- CAT III 600V
- Auto-ranging
- Yes
- Best for
- Electricians, serious hobbyists
Reasons to buy
- +Trusted, well-documented reliability
- +Non-contact voltage (NCV) detection built in
- +Durable enough for daily field use
Reasons to avoid
- −Premium price for casual hobbyists
- −No Bluetooth/app connectivity
Fluke 115
The same Fluke reliability as the 117, in the same body, without the electrician-specific extras (NCV, AutoVolt, LoZ).
Best for:Field technicians, general electrical and electronics work
The Fluke 115 is Fluke's field-service meter — True RMS, CAT III 600V, and a 6,000-count backlit display, like the 117, but without non-contact voltage detection or the AutoVolt AC/DC auto-selector. A strong pick if you want Fluke's reliability without the electrician-focused extras.
- Accuracy
- True RMS
- Safety rating
- CAT III 600V
- Auto-ranging
- Yes
- Best for
- Field technicians, general electrical and electronics work
Reasons to buy
- +Same Fluke reliability and accuracy as the 117
- +Same size and weight as the 117 at a lower price
- +Includes capacitance and frequency measurement
Reasons to avoid
- −No non-contact voltage (NCV) detection
- −No AutoVolt AC/DC auto-selector or LoZ mode the 117 has
KAIWEETS KM200s
Covers the fundamentals of the Fluke at under half the price — the sensible first meter.
Best for:Home use, beginners
For under half the price of the Fluke, the KM200s covers the fundamentals well: auto-ranging, True RMS, and a non-contact voltage detector. A sensible first meter for home and hobby use.
- Accuracy
- True RMS
- Safety rating
- CAT II 600V
- Auto-ranging
- Yes
- Best for
- Home use, beginners
Reasons to buy
- +Excellent value for the feature set
- +Backlit display for low-light use
- +Smart auto-ranging simplifies readings
Reasons to avoid
- −Build quality isn't field-tool grade
- −CAT II rating means it's not meant for service-panel work
AstroAI DM6000AR
The go-to recommendation for Arduino and Raspberry Pi tinkering — cheap enough not to worry about.
Best for:Microcontroller & electronics projects
This is the meter you'll see recommended most often for Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and general electronics tinkering — True RMS and 6,000-count resolution give it more precision than its price suggests, with both auto and manual ranging on tap.
- Accuracy
- True RMS, 6,000-count
- Safety rating
- Not stated by AstroAI
- Auto-ranging
- Yes
- Best for
- Microcontroller & electronics projects
Reasons to buy
- +Very affordable for True RMS + 6,000-count resolution
- +6,000-count display resolves small changes
- +Both auto and manual ranging available
Reasons to avoid
- −Build and included leads reflect the budget price point
- −No CAT rating stated by AstroAI, so keep it to low-voltage electronics, not panels
Klein Tools MM400
A solid auto-ranging CAT III meter with temperature and capacitance, but not True RMS, and Klein has now discontinued it.
Best for:Tradespeople, home electrical work
Klein's MM400 is an auto-ranging, CAT III 600V meter with a 4,000-count backlit display that also reads temperature, capacitance, frequency and duty cycle. It is not True RMS, and Klein lists it as no longer in production (the MM420 replaces it), so buy it only at a clear discount or look at a True RMS meter for HVAC and variable-speed drive work.
- Accuracy
- Auto-ranging (not True RMS)
- Safety rating
- CAT III 600V
- Auto-ranging
- Yes
- Best for
- Tradespeople, home electrical work
Reasons to buy
- +Drop-rated to 1 m (3.3 ft) for job-site use
- +Measures temperature, capacitance, frequency and duty cycle
- +Backlight, min/max and range hold
Reasons to avoid
- −Not True RMS, so readings on non-sinusoidal signals are less accurate
- −Discontinued by Klein (replaced by the MM420)
- −No low-impedance mode or NCV
Fluke 87V
The step-up pick for anyone who needs CAT IV protection and high-resolution readings daily.
Best for:Industrial technicians, daily professional use
The 87V is Fluke's industrial-grade step up from the 117 — a 1000V CAT III / 600V CAT IV rating, a 6,000-count main display with a 19,999-count high-resolution mode, and a 32-segment analog bar graph for watching signals change in real time.
- Accuracy
- True RMS
- Safety rating
- CAT III 1000V / CAT IV 600V
- Auto-ranging
- Yes
- Best for
- Industrial technicians, daily professional use
Reasons to buy
- +Joint-highest CAT rating in this list (CAT IV 600V / CAT III 1000V)
- +19,999-count high-resolution mode
- +Analog bar graph tracks fast-changing signals
Reasons to avoid
- −Among the most expensive picks here
- −Overkill for casual home use
Milwaukee 2235-20
Skip the test leads entirely for current readings — clamp it on and read.
Best for:Quick current checks without disconnecting wiring
A clamp meter measures current without breaking the circuit open, which is faster and safer for everyday electrical troubleshooting. The 2235-20 covers up to 400A AC with a 1-inch jaw opening and the same CAT III 600V and True RMS fundamentals as a good multimeter.
- Accuracy
- True RMS
- Safety rating
- CAT III 600V
- Auto-ranging
- Not stated by Milwaukee
- Best for
- Quick current checks without disconnecting wiring
Reasons to buy
- +No need to break the circuit to measure current
- +1-inch jaw fits most residential/commercial wiring
- +Backed by Milwaukee's tool ecosystem and reputation
Reasons to avoid
- −Measures AC current only (400A AC); no DC amps
- −Bulkier than a pocket multimeter
Craftsman CMMT14171
The one pick here built specifically for diagnosing cars, not just household wiring.
Best for:Automotive diagnostics
Craftsman's CMMT14171 adds RPM, dwell angle, and duty-cycle measurement on top of standard True RMS multimeter functions — the specific toolkit automotive diagnostics actually needs, at a CAT III 600V rating.
- Accuracy
- True RMS
- Safety rating
- CAT III 600V
- Auto-ranging
- Yes
- Best for
- Automotive diagnostics
Reasons to buy
- +RPM, dwell, and duty-cycle functions built in
- +Familiar, trusted Craftsman brand
- +Also measures temperature and frequency
Reasons to avoid
- −Automotive functions are wasted if you don't work on cars
- −Not rated for CAT IV panel work
Extech EX330
A genuinely pocket-sized meter with a non-contact voltage detector built in.
Best for:Quick checks, pocket carry
The EX330 is a mini auto-ranging meter (147 × 76 × 42 mm, 260 g) with a built-in non-contact voltage (NCV) detector for a fast first check before you even connect leads, plus Type K temperature, capacitance, frequency and duty cycle. Extech doesn't list it as True RMS, unlike its True RMS models, so treat AC readings on distorted waveforms with caution.
- Accuracy
- Auto-ranging (True RMS not stated)
- Safety rating
- CAT III 600V
- Auto-ranging
- Yes
- Best for
- Quick checks, pocket carry
Reasons to buy
- +Genuinely pocket-sized
- +Built-in non-contact voltage detector
- +Low price for a name-brand meter
Reasons to avoid
- −Extech doesn't list it as True RMS, so don't rely on it for distorted waveforms
- −4,000-count display, coarser than 6,000-count meters
UNI-T UT139C
True RMS and auto-ranging at a price that undercuts most of this list.
Best for:Budget-conscious buyers who still want True RMS
UNI-T's UT139C packs True RMS accuracy, a 6,000-count display, and both auto and manual ranging into one of the more affordable meters here — a strong value pick if you don't need a specific brand name.
- Accuracy
- True RMS, 6,000-count
- Safety rating
- CAT III 600V
- Auto-ranging
- Yes
- Best for
- Budget-conscious buyers who still want True RMS
Reasons to buy
- +True RMS at a budget price
- +Both auto and manual ranging
- +Non-contact voltage detection included
Reasons to avoid
- −Less established brand recognition than Fluke/Klein
- −Build quality is adequate, not rugged
Fluke 179
Fluke's do-everything bench-and-field meter: CAT IV 600V, True RMS, temperature and a 6,000-count display with bar graph.
Best for:Industrial maintenance, electronics, HVAC
The Fluke 179 is the full-featured member of Fluke's 170 series: True RMS, CAT III 1000V and CAT IV 600V, a 6,000-count backlit display with an analog bar graph, and temperature measurement with the supplied thermocouple. It adds Min/Max-Average recording and both manual and automatic ranging, so it suits industrial maintenance and electronics work where the 117's electrician-focused extras matter less than range and resolution.
- Accuracy
- True RMS
- Safety rating
- CAT III 1000V / CAT IV 600V
- Auto-ranging
- Yes (manual override)
- Best for
- Industrial maintenance, electronics, HVAC
Reasons to buy
- +CAT IV 600V for service entrances and outdoor feeds
- +Temperature, capacitance to 10,000 µF and frequency to 100 kHz
- +Min/Max-Average recording and analog bar graph
Reasons to avoid
- −Costs more than the 117 for features many electricians won't use
- −No non-contact voltage detection
Klein Tools MM450
A slim, current Klein True RMS meter with a reverse-contrast display and wide temperature range, rated CAT III 600V.
Best for:Home electrical, appliance and HVAC work
The MM450 is Klein's current slim True RMS meter: CAT III 600V, auto-ranging, with a reverse-contrast 4,000-count display that adjusts its own backlight, Lead-Alert lights that show where the test leads belong, and temperature from −40°F to 1832°F. At 258 g and 2.8 cm thick it carries easily, and it is drop-rated to 2 m. It lacks a low-impedance mode and NCV, so it suits home electrical and appliance work more than panel troubleshooting.
- Accuracy
- True RMS
- Safety rating
- CAT III 600V
- Auto-ranging
- Yes
- Best for
- Home electrical, appliance and HVAC work
Reasons to buy
- +Slim 2.8 cm body and 258 g
- +Lead-Alert lights guide test lead placement
- +Temperature from −40°F to 1832°F
Reasons to avoid
- −CAT III 600V only (the CAT IV figure on listings is the leads)
- −No low-impedance mode or NCV
- −4,000-count display
Fluke 107
A palm-sized Fluke with CAT III 600V and a 6,000-count display, but not True RMS.
Best for:A compact second meter, home and auto checks
The Fluke 107 is a 200 g, palm-sized meter rated CAT III 600V, with a 6,000-count backlit display, capacitance, frequency and duty cycle, and a 1 m drop rating. Fluke states plainly that it is not True RMS, so on variable-speed drives and electronic loads its AC readings are less trustworthy than a 115 or 117. It suits a glovebox or toolbag second meter, or anyone who mostly checks batteries, outlets and continuity.
- Accuracy
- Average-responding (not True RMS)
- Safety rating
- CAT III 600V
- Auto-ranging
- Yes (per display)
- Best for
- A compact second meter, home and auto checks
Reasons to buy
- +Palm-sized: 142 × 69 × 28 mm, 200 g
- +6,000-count backlit display
- +Capacitance, frequency and duty cycle
Reasons to avoid
- −Not True RMS
- −No temperature, low-impedance mode or NCV
Brymen BM235
True RMS with AutoV LoZ, NCV, VFD mode and temperature: more electrician features than most meters at its price.
Best for:Electricians and enthusiasts who want every feature
Brymen's BM235 packs features usually found on pricier meters: True RMS, a 6,000-count backlit display, AutoV low-impedance voltage, non-contact voltage detection, a VFD mode for variable-speed drives, Type-K temperature, Max/Min/Avg and relative zero, with 1000V-rated HBC fuses. Brymen's catalog and the meter's own markings give CAT III 600V and CAT IV 300V. The US listing is the EEVblog edition, and support runs through Brymen's distributors rather than a big US brand.
- Accuracy
- True RMS
- Safety rating
- CAT III 600V / CAT IV 300V
- Auto-ranging
- Yes (manual override)
- Best for
- Electricians and enthusiasts who want every feature
Reasons to buy
- +AutoV LoZ and NCV built in
- +VFD voltage and frequency mode
- +Max/Min/Avg, relative zero and Type-K temperature
Reasons to avoid
- −CAT IV only to 300V, below the Fluke 179 and Klein MM700
- −Less familiar brand in the US; Amazon listing is the EEVblog edition
Fluke 17B+
A full-size Fluke with temperature, frequency, MIN MAX and relative mode, but not True RMS.
Best for:Electronics hobbyists, students, appliance repair
The 17B+ is Fluke's feature-rich entry meter: CAT III 600V (CAT II 1000V), a 4,000-count backlit display, auto and manual ranging, and functions the 117 lacks, including temperature with the supplied Type K probe, frequency to 100 kHz, duty cycle, capacitance to 1,000 µF, MIN MAX and relative mode. Fluke doesn't call it True RMS, so on drives and electronic loads its AC readings are less dependable than a 115 or 117. Note that the Amazon listing's photo shows the newer 17B MAX, so check which model it ships.
- Accuracy
- Not stated as True RMS by Fluke
- Safety rating
- CAT III 600V / CAT II 1000V
- Auto-ranging
- Yes (manual override)
- Best for
- Electronics hobbyists, students, appliance repair
Reasons to buy
- +Temperature, frequency and duty cycle built in
- +MIN MAX and relative mode
- +Hazardous-voltage LED lights at 30V or more
Reasons to avoid
- −Not True RMS
- −4,000-count display
- −Amazon listing photo shows the newer 17B MAX
Fluke 15B+
The 17B+ body and safety rating without frequency, temperature or MIN MAX: a plain, tough Fluke for volts, amps and ohms.
Best for:Basic electrical and electronics checks
The 15B+ shares the 17B+'s case, CAT III 600V / CAT II 1000V rating, 4,000-count backlit display, 10A current ranges and 1,000 µF capacitance, but drops frequency, duty cycle, temperature, MIN MAX and relative mode. That makes it a straightforward, durable meter for checking voltage, current, resistance and continuity. Like the 17B+, Fluke doesn't describe it as True RMS.
- Accuracy
- Not stated as True RMS by Fluke
- Safety rating
- CAT III 600V / CAT II 1000V
- Auto-ranging
- Yes (manual override)
- Best for
- Basic electrical and electronics checks
Reasons to buy
- +Fluke build with µA to 10A current ranges
- +Capacitance to 1,000 µF
- +Simple controls: only HOLD and RANGE
Reasons to avoid
- −Not True RMS
- −No frequency, temperature or MIN MAX
- −4,000-count display
Fluke 106
The 107's palm-sized body for less, without diode test, frequency or duty cycle.
Best for:A small, cheap backup meter
The 106 is the 107's simpler sibling: the same 142 × 69 × 28 mm, 200 g body, CAT III 600V rating and 6,000-count display, with 4A and 10A current ranges, resistance to 40 MΩ, capacitance to 1,000 µF, continuity and data hold. It drops the 107's diode test, frequency and duty cycle, has no mA or µA ranges, and Fluke positions it for work where True RMS isn't needed.
- Accuracy
- Average-responding (not True RMS)
- Safety rating
- CAT III 600V
- Auto-ranging
- Yes
- Best for
- A small, cheap backup meter
Reasons to buy
- +Palm-sized: 200 g
- +6,000-count display
- +4A and 10A current ranges
Reasons to avoid
- −Not True RMS
- −No diode test, frequency, mA or µA ranges
Fluke 101
Fluke's smallest, simplest meter: volts, ohms, capacitance and frequency in 160 g, but no current measurement at all.
Best for:Voltage and continuity checks only
The 101 is Fluke's most basic meter: 130 × 65 × 27 mm and 160 g, CAT III 600V, a 6,000-count display, 600V AC/DC, resistance to 40 MΩ, capacitance, frequency to 100 kHz, duty cycle, diode and continuity, with a 1 m drop rating. It has only two input jacks and cannot measure current, and Fluke doesn't call it True RMS. It isn't sold on Fluke's US site, so the Amazon listing comes from a third-party importer, and it carries a one-year warranty rather than two.
- Accuracy
- Not stated as True RMS by Fluke
- Safety rating
- CAT III 600V
- Auto-ranging
- Yes
- Best for
- Voltage and continuity checks only
Reasons to buy
- +Smallest Fluke here: 160 g
- +Frequency, duty cycle, diode and capacitance
- +1 m drop rating
Reasons to avoid
- −No current measurement at all
- −Not True RMS
- −One-year warranty; US listing is a third-party import
Fluke T5-600
Not a multimeter but an electrician's tester: volts, continuity and up to 100A AC through an open jaw, no leads in the circuit.
Best for:Electricians' quick voltage and current checks
The T5-600 is an electrical tester rather than a multimeter. It reads up to 600V AC or DC with automatic AC/DC selection, resistance to 1,000 Ω, continuity, and up to 100A AC through its OpenJaw current fork, so you can check a load's current without breaking the circuit. It is CAT III 600V, survives a 3 m drop, and stores its probes in the back. It is average-responding rather than True RMS and has no capacitance, frequency, diode or DC current.
- Accuracy
- Average-responding (not True RMS)
- Safety rating
- CAT III 600V
- Auto-ranging
- Automatic AC/DC voltage selection
- Best for
- Electricians' quick voltage and current checks
Reasons to buy
- +100A AC current through the open jaw, no circuit break
- +Automatic AC/DC voltage selection
- +Survives a 3 m (10 ft) drop
Reasons to avoid
- −Not a full multimeter: no capacitance, frequency or diode test
- −Resistance only to 1,000 Ω
- −AC current only; average-responding
Fluke 323
A True RMS clamp meter for current measurement without breaking a circuit open — a different tool than a standard multimeter, not a replacement for one.
Best for:Fast current checks without breaking the circuit
The Fluke 323 reads AC current up to 400A by clamping around a conductor, with True RMS accuracy on non-sinusoidal loads. It doesn't measure DC current, capacitance, or frequency, and has no backlight or temperature mode — it's built specifically for clamp current work, not as a general-purpose meter. See our clamp meter buying guide for when this matters over a standard multimeter.
- Accuracy
- True RMS
- Current range
- Up to 400A AC
- Safety rating
- CAT III 600V / CAT IV 300V
- Best for
- Fast current checks without breaking the circuit
Reasons to buy
- +True RMS accurate on non-sinusoidal AC loads
- +CAT IV 300V rating for front-of-panel work
- +Compact and light at 265g
Reasons to avoid
- −AC current only — no DC current measurement
- −No backlight, temperature, or frequency mode
Fluke 117/323 Kit
The Fluke 117 and 323 clamp meter bundled together, covering both general multimeter work and clamp current checks in one purchase.
Best for:Electricians who want both tools in one purchase
This official Fluke bundle pairs the 117 — our Best Overall multimeter pick — with the 323 True RMS clamp meter, covering general electrical troubleshooting and no-disconnect current checks in one kit. It costs more than either tool alone, but less than buying both at full price separately.
- Includes
- Fluke 117 multimeter + Fluke 323 clamp meter
- Safety rating
- CAT III 600V (both tools)
- Carrying case
- Included soft case
- Best for
- Electricians who want both tools in one purchase
Reasons to buy
- +Covers both general multimeter and clamp current work
- +Official Fluke bundle, not a third-party pairing
- +Includes a carrying case
Reasons to avoid
- −Higher upfront cost than either tool alone
- −No savings if you only need one of the two tools
No longer sold on Amazon
- Southwire 14070T: Amazon lists the Southwire 14070T as currently unavailable. The Fluke 179 is the closest in-stock alternative here with CAT IV 600V and True RMS.
Methodology
How we chose
We started from the multimeters most often recommended by electricians and hobbyists, then compared CAT safety rating, True RMS, resolution, and extras like NCV and low-impedance mode against the work each kind of buyer actually does.
Picks marked "Hands-on Tested" have been bought and tested by us; the rest are desk research. A pick only carries that badge once we have actually bought and tested that unit. More on how we research.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What does a CAT rating mean?+
CAT (Category) ratings indicate how much transient voltage spike a meter is rated to safely withstand. CAT III 600V is the standard recommendation for home electrical panels and most residential wiring work. CAT IV covers the utility side: service entrances, meter bases and outdoor feeds. A meter and its test leads are only as safe as the lower of their two ratings.
Do I need True RMS?+
True RMS matters if you're measuring non-sinusoidal signals — common with modern electronics, variable-speed motors, and dimmer switches. For basic DC continuity checks, it's less critical. An average-responding meter is calibrated for a clean sine wave, so on a distorted waveform it can read noticeably high or low, which is why HVAC and drive work call for True RMS.
Should I get a clamp meter instead of a standard multimeter?+
A clamp meter measures current by clamping around a wire — no need to break the circuit open, which is faster and safer for everyday checks. It's a great addition to a standard multimeter, not usually a replacement, since clamp meters are less practical for resistance, continuity, and low-current work.
What does 6,000-count mean on a multimeter?+
The count is the largest number the display can show before it switches range. A 6,000-count meter reads up to 5,999, so a 5 V rail shows as 5.000 V on its 6 V range. A 4,000-count meter tops out at 3,999, so the same 5 V lands on the 40 V range and reads 5.00 V, one digit less. For most household work either is fine; for electronics, the extra digit helps.
What is a LoZ (low-impedance) mode and do I need it?+
A normal meter input is very high impedance, so it can show a voltage on a disconnected wire that is only capacitively coupled to a live one, often called ghost voltage. LoZ mode loads the circuit enough to drain that phantom reading, so you see whether the conductor is really live. Electricians who test in shared conduit benefit most. Here, the Fluke 117 and Brymen BM235 have it; the Fluke 115 does not.
Is an expensive Fluke more accurate than a budget meter?+
Not always on a simple DC reading: a good budget True RMS meter such as the UNI-T UT139C will read a battery or a 12 V supply perfectly well. Where the premium meters pull ahead is verified safety ratings, input protection, durability and higher-category ratings like the CAT IV 600V on the Fluke 87V and 179. Pay for those if you work on mains or panels; for low-voltage hobby work, the budget picks are enough.