A multimeter is the second tool every solderer needs, right after the iron. Most kit faults — a joint that looks fine but does not connect, a solder bridge, a reversed diode — are found in seconds with a continuity beeper. We ranked the meters worth owning, from a budget first meter to the professional tool people keep for decades.
Written by Kerem Başbuğ · Last updated September 28, 2026 · How we rank
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| Product | Best For | Our Score | Price | Amazon link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Best Professional Multimeter Fluke 17B+ Digital Multimeter | Serious hobbyists and anyone doing regular electrical work who wants a buy-once meter. | 9.2 | See on Amazon $$$ | Check Price → |
 Best Value Multimeter AstroAI True RMS 6000-Count Auto-Ranging Multimeter | Hobbyists who want a single meter for electronics, cars and home troubleshooting. | 8.8 | See on Amazon $ | Check Price → |
 Most Rugged Budget Meter Klein Tools MM325 Manual-Ranging Multimeter | People who want one sturdy meter for electronics and occasional household electrical checks. | 8.5 | See on Amazon $ | Check Price → |
 Best Budget Multimeter AstroAI AM33D Digital Multimeter | Kit builders and beginners who need a first meter for continuity and voltage checks. | 8.4 | See on Amazon $ | Check Price → |
Fluke
The buy-once meter. Overkill for kit building alone, but the one to own if the meter also comes out for household wiring or car electrics.
Watch out for: Several times the price of a hobby meter
Read the full Fluke 17B+ Digital Multimeter review — pros, cons and verdict →AstroAI
Our overall pick for most benches: auto-ranging and True RMS remove the two frustrations of basic meters, and capacitance mode helps diagnose kits as well as test joints.
Watch out for: Auto-ranging is slightly slower to settle than manual
Read the full AstroAI True RMS 6000-Count Auto-Ranging Multimeter review — pros, cons and verdict →Klein Tools
The pick for a meter that lives in a toolbox as well as on the bench — a trade-brand build with a battery test function, at a budget price.
Watch out for: Manual ranging means choosing the range yourself
Read the full Klein Tools MM325 Manual-Ranging Multimeter review — pros, cons and verdict →AstroAI
The meter we suggest first because of the continuity beeper: it finds the unconnected joints and solder bridges behind most kit faults, for very little money.
Watch out for: 2000-count resolution is basic for precision work
Read the full AstroAI AM33D Digital Multimeter review — pros, cons and verdict →| Feature | Why it matters | Do you need it? |
|---|---|---|
| Continuity beeper | Finds open joints and solder bridges without looking at the screen | Essential |
| Diode test | Confirms LED and diode orientation | Essential |
| Auto-ranging | You pick the quantity, the meter picks the range | Strongly recommended |
| Capacitance | Checks suspect capacitors in kits and repairs | Useful |
| True RMS | Accurate AC readings on distorted waveforms | For AC and electrical work |
| Safety rating (CAT) | Protection on high-energy mains circuits | For household wiring |
"Counts" describes display resolution: a 2000-count meter shows up to 1999 before changing range, a 6000-count meter up to 5999. More counts means finer readings, which matters for precision measurement rather than everyday checks. Auto-ranging is the bigger quality-of-life upgrade for beginners, because choosing the wrong range is the most common source of confusing readings.
Power off before measuring resistance or continuity, and move the red lead back to the voltage socket after measuring current — leaving it in the current socket is how most meter fuses get blown. Our cold solder joint guide shows what to look for once the meter has found a bad connection, and common soldering mistakes covers the faults the continuity beeper catches most often.
Building out a full bench? See the electronics workbench essentials for the order to buy tools in, plus our rankings of bench power supplies and oscilloscopes for beginners.