Top 5 Digital Calipers for Machinists
One of the first tools that machinists mention when asked to name the most important tool in their toolbox is a caliper. Although not as accurate as micrometers, calipers are handy and practical tools that can help machinists take quick measurements of their parts. If you don’t have your own caliper or need to purchase a new one, you should do it quickly.
There are three main types of calipers: Vernier, Dial and Digital. Since one type is not unanimously considered better than the others, the selection is generally based on personal preference. If you don’t know where to start, you can check out our guide to find out the pros and cons of each model.
In this post, we will help you identify the best digital calipers for your needs. Digital calipers, unlike their Vernier and Dial relatives, have a digital display that makes it easier to read measurements. And remember, these tools require batteries. The models listed below support long battery life, but the day will come that you need to swap out those batteries. Check out this article to learn more about changing digital caliper batteries.
As we extensively stressed in other blog posts, when it comes to inspection and measurement, having a precise and reliable tool is key. That’s why we always recommend spending a little more by purchasing a tool from manufacturers that are well known for the quality of their products. We understand, however, that sometimes your budget might not allow that, so we’ve included some more affordable models that will also help you get the job done.
We were curious which digital calipers have become the most popular among metalworkers in 2020, so we asked the Practical Machinist community via social media to express their preference. Out of the 200+ responses, there were five brands that dominated the conversation. Those favored models are as follows…
Recommended Digital Calipers
#1 Mitutoyo 500-752-20, Digimatic Caliper
#1 Mitutoyo 500-752-20, Digimatic Caliper
This coolant-proof model was hands down the most raved about digital caliper by the Practical Machinist community. Multiple machinists who have used different brands in their career claimed Mitutoyo was the one who got it right. Accuracy and ease of reading were the two expressed strengths of this digital caliper.
#2 Brown & Sharpe 00590092 Twin-Cal IP40 Digital Caliper
#2 Brown & Sharpe 00590092 Twin-Cal IP40 Digital Caliper
If products made in the USA are your top choice, this is your tool! The Brown & Sharpe model features a smooth and durable stainless-steel frame. Compatible with all work environments, this digital caliper is built to withstand exposure to dust and liquid. Another very popular model that was mentioned numerous times by the community is the Brown and Sharpe Etalon Model.
#3 Starrett Stainless Steel IP67 Electronic Slide Caliper
Starrett Stainless Steel IP67 Electronic Slide Caliper
Another USA-made option, the Starrett digital caliper is coolant-proof and built to protect against dust, water, and oil, so you won’t have to worry about wear. The heavy-duty hardened stainless steel bar provides longevity and corrosion resistance.
#4 Shars Aventor IP67 Waterproof Electronic Digital Caliper
Aventor 0-6″/0-150mm IP67 Waterproof Electronic Digital Caliper
The Aventor digital caliper model by Shars is a much more affordable option and well respected among the Practical Machinist community members and best for more casual measurements in areas you wouldn’t want to put a high end tool. This digital caliper can be operated for 10,000 hours continuously without failure. The tool features a guide way surface that is lapped in the direction of the slider movement, though a small detail, it produces an even and smooth run for the slide.
#5 INSIZE 1108-300 Electronic Caliper
INSIZE 1108-300 Electronic Caliper, 0″ – 12″
The Insize digital caliper is also a more affordable option and respected among the Practical Machinist community. Although it is not a high-end tool, this option will be an accurate and reliable addition to your toolbox. This electronic caliper includes a sturdy case.
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34 Comments
buy American
I did buy a Starrett 799 but the case and packaging are a let down. Very disappointed for a top dollar unit. There should be a foam insert that wraps around the caliper. Even the Chinese $10 calipers come in a case with wrap around foam!
I would rate Tesa digital calipers much better than Mitutoyo. I have the same Tesa for about 30 years. We have several scrap Mitutoyo’s and do not use Mitutoyo any more.
I’m with you. Every one of my brown and sharp tools is as good as the day it was made, and they were great when I bought them, some more than 40 years ago.
i have a starrett digital vernier.#721. starrett said that it,s obsolete and cannot be repaired. when i slide toget a measurement,it stays at zero. i think it can be fixed.any help. the old verniers are great. i hate to let it go.any help will be appreciated
Hello, I am lead repairman for ICM in Shelby Twp. Michigan. Starrett has gone the way of many manufacturers these days…they have somewhat stopped making many parts replacements for their older model gages, rendering them obsolete. I think they maybe would like customers to buy new gages from them? Parts are depleted over the years and when they are no longer available they do not replenish their stock. I know exactly how you feel about a trusted measuring instrument…if they have served you well for years and you’ve become accustomed to them, you do not want anything to happen to them. I personally have had to inform my customers that this is happening more often now, and they may have to decide on replacing their favorite measuring tools.
It may be worth contacting Long Island Instrument Works.
What about Brown & Sharpe???
I love my new B&S Tesa digital calipers.
Expensive yes
I agree about Tesa. To Frankster; B&S hand measuring tools are under TESA, which is in turn under Hexagon Metrology.
we use Mitutoyo Dial 0-6″ & like it very much, very accurate. Use digitals if you want more accuracy
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How accurate is the digital caliper. Compared to the dial one.
A digital caliper won’t lie to you. I am a farmer first and a machinist second. Once I had an emergency job and read the dial one turn off . Made the part too small (naturally). The dial caliper is now in the cotton field next to the shop. Went digital.
Digital brown and sharp calipers with the round depth rod, are the only way to go.
When I got out of machining school I invested a lot of money in a bunch of Starrett tools inc luding their original digital caliper. GARBAGE. Battery life about one month. No fine adjust. Fought with Starrett for months until they finall replaced it with an improved model. Still no fine adjust, and still a slow read rate, but at least a on /off switch to save batteries. I learned the best model on the market is Mitutoyo. I buy the ones with carbide jaws. Expensive, but worth every penny.
I replace my digital tools every 3 to 4 years anyway so carbide tip is nice but not necessary. I use my calipers daily so they get worn in a few years regardless of the quality. Of course you don’t want to buy crap. But you don’t need the best.
Go with Mitutoyo Solar power…No playing with batteries
I have mine for over 15 years.
Best I ever used.
I have Mititoyo solar power. Can’t read them if not in birght light! Not all of our shop is brightly lit, especially the material storage area. They are nice as long as the light is bright enough tho.
Retired so most of what I do is for myself. Calipers (any ones mostly) are all ok. I have some battery operated ones and they work fine, until I go to measure and the battery is dead. My go to ones are dial calipers. Accuracy was mentioned, but for me the micrometer comes into play when I am trying to get to a specific size.
I have experienced the traditional calipers and loved it.I however get blown away by the digital technology and how easily it displays the measurements. I would recommend that anybody should know to read all the types.
Really wish there was a U.S., or any non-PRC manufactured, caliper that included a direct read out of fractional measurements.
I am very fortunate to be able to buy any brand of Caliper I want. That said I chose the B&S 8”. Not only are they less expensive than Starrett they are not made in China like Starrett. I’ve used B&S, Starrett and Mititoyo tools for 40+ years, until now. No more China products regardless of the quality or slave labor prices.
I hate to bust the bubble on the Starrett and Tesa Brown & Sharpe models shown but both of those are made in China (Check Grainger’s site). I don’t know specifically about B&S but Starrett has a lot of common calipers and gauges made in China as part of their global program. I ordered a 6 inch dial caliper a while back. Although well made I was very surprised to find they were not made in the USA. I thought that I saw something in the catalog or on the web that disclosed this but I was unable to find this at present.
As far as I know, The Tesa (B&S) calipers are still Swiss. I recently bought one and a friend brought it from Germany. The text on the back is in English. I have another one brought to me from Sweden and it has the name Limit on it, also a very good caliper. trying to buy one here in the states is difficult. The only vendor I have found is out of Australia and be ware of the exchange rate.
I have ~ 20 calipers. But all I have of this list is a couple Mitutoyo calipers. I will buy some of the others.
I went back to a dial caliper as one too many times I found the zero off after taking a reading with a digital.
Having worked on all of these brands, I certainly agree that the Mitutoyo for the price is the best. If price isn’t a question, I also agree that you can’t go wrong with the Brown & Sharpe’s. I have seen a few Insize instruments come in for repair and I am impressed with the quality and the parts availability. We repair almost every measuring instrument made here at Indicare Gage Repair Services. http://www.indicaregage.com
been using Tesa Tools for over 50 years, never let me down , they all are Swiss made in the olden Days
Anybody that uses a digital caliper for much more then sorting bolts is kidding themselves. They are OK to get within 5 or 10 thousandths on a roughing cut or tell metric from American stock sizes but if you want to get within a thousandth or two. though, they are worthless.
So for under 30 bucks my choice is Vinci. Work as good or better the any of the overpriced jap junk or chi-com knock offs for a few years. Buy a couple when they are on sale and when they crap out just grab a brand new one off the top shelf of the storage cabinet and keep going. You will not only be money ahead overall but you will have money in your pocket to buy beer with for 10 or 15 years over what it would have cost you for ONE jap-crap caliper.
I use Mahr, Mauser and Mitutoyo, both digital and dial. All are top-notch.
I have an old (50 yrs) Fowler dial caliper that was ran over by an electric forktruck snd still passed calibration after replacing the glass over he dial!
I’ve been happy with a Mitu 4″ Absolute (Mfr Part #:500-195-30). I have a 6″ SPI, but since I got the Mit 4″, it sees far more action. The smaller size is very handy, fits in a pocket, easy to get on a lathe workpiece. For 90% of measurements, the 4″ is enough, the
6″ sits in the case saving battery life