Best Digital Caliper in 2022 (Reviews and Comparison)

1. Mitutoyo 500-196-30

The Mitutoyo 500-196-30 is an excellent electronic caliper designed to bring you accurate results in a variety of applications. This handy tool is packed with features that make your job easy.

This extremely accurate tool gives measurements on an easy-to-read LCD display that shows both metric and imperial units. With this readout, you’ll be able to take measurements anywhere from .01mm all the way up to 150mm (or, in imperial units, .0005” to 6”). Along the way, the Mitutoyo provides even more accuracy through the use of Advanced Onsite Sensor (OAS) technology, which allows the caliper to ignore dirt, water, oil and other elements that can get in the way of accurate measurements.

In addition, the Mitutoyo allows you to zero-set the readout at any point along the scale, allowing you to take small, incremental readings. This caliper also comes with a convenient protective case.

WHAT WE LIKE

The Mitutoyo 500-196-30 advertises itself as being the “next generation” of digital calipers, and as far as we can tell they’re making good on that claim. This is an outstanding digital caliper that gives you everything you need. The handy display makes it a cinch to take your readings, and its ability to measure up to .01mm means that no object, face or surface is too small for you to work with. It’s built from sturdy stainless steel, and that construction plus the wooden case will help to ensure a long and lasting life.

The Neiko 01407A is another excellent digital caliper, and one worth taking a look at. It comes with a lot of features that you would expect to find on higher-end calipers. Constructed from stainless steel, this durable caliper boasts a large LCD display that can switch between metric and imperial units, as well as fractions. So you always have the best, most accurate information,

In addition, the Neiko 01407A can handle even the smallest of measurements, going as small as .01mm or .0005”. Like many models, this unit can go up to 6 inch, but even larger ones up to 12 inches are available. Finally, this unit also comes with a protective case to help you get the most like out of your caliper.

WHAT WE LIKE

The Neiko 01407A is an impressive digital caliper, mainly due to the fact that it packs so many features into a very cost-friendly package. Not only that, but it comes with some features that high-end products don’t always include, such as detail markers to allow you to get specific measurements even when you can’t rely on or use the digital readout. For these reasons, this is definitely a caliper to checkout.

The Clockwise Tools DCLR-0605 digital caliper is another impressive entry in the budget-friendly digital caliper arena. It comes with everything that you would normally expect, and even manages to surprise with an extra added feature or two.

First, the usuals: this digital caliper has a large, easy-to-read LCD display that gives you readings in a variety of methods, including metric, imperial and fractions. This, plus the detailed markings on the side of the unit, allow you to get your accurate measurements no matter the circumstances.

Even more, this caliper comes in stainless steel for durability, and is accurate down to .01mm or .0005”, which seems to be an industry standard.

WHAT WE LIKE

Taking the standard options out of the picture, you might wonder what more this caliper has to offer. Well, first off, it actually allows you to transfer your measurement data to a computer for storage. This is a handy feature when you are taking a lot of measurements and need to make sure to get them all recorded quickly. Just plug and transfer, and let your PC do the remembering for you!

Another thing I liked is the fact that this caliper actually comes with an extra battery, allowing you to work longer than some of the others. For these reasons, we recommend you taking a look at the Clockwise Tools DCLR-0605.

The Fowler 54-101-150-2 is another solid entry in the digital caliper game. Like the others, this caliper has a large, easy-to-read digital display that shows your measurements. Unlike some of the others, the Fowler 54-101-150-2 does not display in fractions – only metric and imperial units are used. 

This caliper is also constructed of stainless steel, comes in a sturdy, protective case and also has a one-year warranty attached, which is nice because some calipers are prone to wearing down quickly when put through heavy use.

WHAT WE LIKE

While this product contains most of the bells and whistles you would expect from similar items, we consider the lack of fractional measurements to be a definite negative. It wouldn’t be that hard to include, is considered standard among similar products and would give you more bang for your buck. Other than that, though, we think you could do a lot worse than the Fowler 54-101-150-2.

The General Tools 147 is our final selection, and while it’s a good caliper, it definitely does not hold up to the same standards as some of the others we’ve seen. First, the good: it has the same stainless steel body and large LCD display that we’ve seen on the other calipers. It comes with a case and warranty, which helps to set your mind at ease. It also reads in metric, imperial and fractions, just like some of the others.

Our main issue with this digital caliper is its resolution, which is just not as good as the others. While the other four products we’ve reviewed are accurate down to .01mm, or .0005”, the General Tools 147 only goes down to .02mm, or .001”. Depending on your work, this might not be a deal-breaker, but if you’re in a shop where complete and total accuracy is required, you have to look for the smallest resolution possible, and the General Tools 147 just doesn’t have it.

WHAT WE LIKE

While this is a good caliper overall, it’s the lack of resolution that gets us. Don’t get us wrong: this is a good caliper for what it does, and it’s not tricking you or being under-handed in any sense. But it just doesn’t go down to the resolution levels we’ve come to expect or would like to see in a digital caliper.