Best Multimeters for Electricians

The Fluke 117 is our best multimeter for electricians doing branch-circuit troubleshooting: True RMS, AutoVolt/LoZ and built-in VoltAlert address that job directly. Choose the Fluke 87V MAX for its higher voltage/category markings and motor-drive filter, or the Klein MM420 when temperature and small-current ranges matter more than LoZ. If a clamp already covers current and you mainly need voltage and continuity, consider the deliberately narrower Fluke 113.

Quick picks by electrical job

All four meters are True RMS; the differences below decide our recommendations. Ratings and functions are manufacturer specifications, not our measurements.

Compare specifications and all conditions

Branch-circuit troubleshooting

Choose

Fluke 117

Voltage limit and CAT marking

600 V; CAT III 600V

Deciding feature

AutoVolt/LoZ and VoltAlert

All specifications

Main reason to choose another

No dedicated µA/mA ranges or temperature

Industrial maintenance and motor drives

Choose

Fluke 87V MAX

Voltage limit and CAT marking

1000 V; CAT III 1000V / CAT IV 600V

Deciding feature

AC low-pass filter; IP67 case

All specifications

Main reason to choose another

No selectable LoZ voltage mode documented

Temperature and small-current checks

Choose

Klein MM420

Voltage limit and CAT marking

600 V; CAT III 600V

Deciding feature

µA/mA ranges, thermocouple, Lead-Alert

All specifications

Main reason to choose another

No LoZ voltage mode documented

Voltage/continuity beside an existing clamp

Choose

Fluke 113

Voltage limit and CAT marking

600 V; CAT IV 600V

Deciding feature

VCHEK low-impedance voltage/continuity

All specifications

Main reason to choose another

No current, frequency or temperature function

Full comparison table ↔

Swipe to compare. Row labels stay visible.

Job	Choose	Voltage limit and CAT marking	Deciding feature	Main reason to choose another
Branch-circuit troubleshooting	Fluke 117	600 V; CAT III 600V	AutoVolt/LoZ and VoltAlert	No dedicated µA/mA ranges or temperature
Industrial maintenance and motor drives	Fluke 87V MAX	1000 V; CAT III 1000V / CAT IV 600V	AC low-pass filter; IP67 case	No selectable LoZ voltage mode documented
Temperature and small-current checks	Klein MM420	600 V; CAT III 600V	µA/mA ranges, thermocouple, Lead-Alert	No LoZ voltage mode documented
Voltage/continuity beside an existing clamp	Fluke 113	600 V; CAT IV 600V	VCHEK low-impedance voltage/continuity	No current, frequency or temperature function

Job	Choose	Voltage limit and CAT marking	Deciding feature	Main reason to choose another
Branch-circuit troubleshooting	Fluke 117	600 V; CAT III 600V	AutoVolt/LoZ and VoltAlert	No dedicated µA/mA ranges or temperature
Industrial maintenance and motor drives	Fluke 87V MAX	1000 V; CAT III 1000V / CAT IV 600V	AC low-pass filter; IP67 case	No selectable LoZ voltage mode documented
Temperature and small-current checks	Klein MM420	600 V; CAT III 600V	µA/mA ranges, thermocouple, Lead-Alert	No LoZ voltage mode documented
Voltage/continuity beside an existing clamp	Fluke 113	600 V; CAT IV 600V	VCHEK low-impedance voltage/continuity	No current, frequency or temperature function

Start with the missing task in your bag. Buying another current range makes less sense if the unresolved problem is ghost voltage; buying LoZ alone makes less sense if the job requires temperature.

Best for branch-circuit troubleshooting: Fluke 117

The 117's official page lists AutoVolt automatic AC/DC selection, a low-impedance mode for ghost voltages and VoltAlert non-contact detection. That combination earns it our default recommendation for this job.

The important distinction is a choice of voltage inputs. The shared users manual specifies approximately 3 kΩ for Auto-V/LoZ, versus greater than 10 MΩ for ordinary DC volts. You can choose the mode appropriate to the circuit; the 113's voltage input is always low impedance.

Its limits are equally useful buying information. The 117 is marked CAT III 600V, measures AC/DC current through leads up to 10 A, and has a smallest DC-current step of 1 mA on its 6 A range. That is not a dedicated microamp or milliamp range. Temperature is not a documented function: the product page contains temperature entries in its comparison material and footnotes, but the 117's own function table in the manual provides none. We do not count those entries as a 117 feature.

VoltAlert is a screening aid: the manual warns that voltage can be present with no indication and says not to rely on it with shielded wire.

For a broader brand decision, use our Fluke versus Klein comparison.

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Best for industrial maintenance: Fluke 87V MAX

Choose the 87V MAX when the work calls for CAT III 1000V / CAT IV 600V, a 1000 V measurement limit or an AC low-pass filter for inverter and variable-frequency-drive measurements. Fluke specifies an IP67 case and a 4 m drop rating with the holster.

Its dedicated µA/mA ranges and temperature function also broaden the job list. The standard package includes a temperature probe and TL175 TwistGuard leads. These are reasons to choose it for maintenance; simply wanting LoZ is not. The MAX manual describes a voltage input of approximately 10 MΩ, and documents no selectable LoZ voltage mode.

A low-pass filter and LoZ solve different problems. The filter rejects unwanted higher-frequency components; LoZ loads the circuit. Fluke also warns against using the low-pass filter to verify the presence of hazardous voltage. Follow the manual's limits rather than treating the filter as a general safety setting.

There is a documentation ambiguity worth preserving: the MAX manual prints two AC-current accuracy columns without labels distinguishing them, while the product page gives a single specification. We do not rank it by that AC-current accuracy figure.

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Best for temperature and small currents: Klein Tools MM420

The MM420 is our alternative when a tool bag lacks a thermocouple input or dedicated small-current ranges. Klein specifies True RMS, automatic ranging, 600 V AC/DC, 10 A AC/DC and CAT III 600V, with Lead-Alert LEDs indicating lead placement.

The manual starts its current ranges at 400 µA, alongside mA and A ranges. It lists 10 MΩ input impedance and no LoZ voltage mode. Choose it for the functions it adds; our branch-circuit pick remains the 117 when rejecting ghost voltage is the priority.

The included thermocouple needs a separate limit check. Although Klein lists a meter temperature range reaching 1000°C, the manual limits the supplied probe to below 180°C. The headline meter range does not describe the probe in the box. Test leads with CAT III/CAT IV safety caps, the thermocouple and batteries are included.

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Narrower voltage/continuity choice: Fluke 113

The Fluke 113 Utility Multimeter earns consideration beside an existing clamp meter. Its VCHEK setting detects AC/DC voltage or provides continuity when voltage is not detected. It also measures resistance, capacitance and diodes; “voltage/continuity choice” describes the buying reason, not its entire function list.

The shared manual identifies it as True RMS and marks it CAT IV 600V. It has no current-measurement jack, frequency function or temperature function. Its voltage input is approximately 3 kΩ, with no ordinary high-impedance voltage mode. We would choose it only when that narrower scope fits the job.

Two restrictions make it less interchangeable with a general multimeter. Fluke's current US page specifies a 3 VDC minimum in VCHEK autorange. The manual requires a 1 minute wait after voltage measurements to maintain the accuracy of resistance, capacitance, diode and continuity readings. Both matter when your work extends beyond basic power-circuit checks.

• Yes: Your existing clamp covers the current measurements you need
• Yes: Low-impedance voltage and continuity are the missing functions
• No: You need a high-impedance voltage input for sensitive controls
• No: You need frequency or temperature in this meter

For the exact US package, Fluke lists part 3078875 with TL75 leads, a holster, users manual and an installed 9 V battery. R-FLUKE-113 is the separate factory-reconditioned option. Check the model and condition before ordering.

How we choose

Recommendations are based on official US product pages, function tables, manuals and accessory specifications. We prioritise the working location, voltage input and functions missing from an existing kit. The figures for accuracy, protection and durability belong to the manufacturers.

We read model-specific columns rather than assigning every comparison-table feature to the page's headline meter. We also preserve disagreements and distinguish the instrument's range from its supplied accessories. Our research method explains the approach; our general multimeter guide covers other uses.

Buying guide: match the meter to the whole job

When LoZ matters on branch circuits

Fluke's stray-voltage application note explains that capacitive coupling between energised wiring and adjacent disconnected wiring can produce a voltage reading on a high-impedance meter. LoZ places a load on that coupling. That makes it useful for this troubleshooting question; it does not turn every low reading into permission to touch a conductor.

The 113 instructions warn that its low-impedance input can alter electronic-control voltages or damage circuits sensitive to that load. Its US product page also warns of powered GFCI/RCD tripping during phase-to-earth LoZ measurements.

Compare the working location, meter and leads

Fluke's category guide places feeders, short branch circuits and fixed distribution equipment in CAT III, and service entrances and electricity meters in CAT IV. Select both the category and the voltage for the actual location. A high voltage limit alone does not settle the choice.

The Fluke safety instructions limit combinations to their lowest-rated component. Higher-rated leads cannot upgrade a lower-rated meter.

1. 1

   Start with the working location

   Match its required category and voltage before comparing extra functions.

2. 2

   Check the meter marking

   Its measurement range does not replace its CAT marking.

3. 3

   Read the lead and accessory markings

   Include probes, caps and clips; the lowest component rating limits the combination.

4. 4

   Check the required probe configuration

   Protective caps and tip exposure affect the applicable lead rating.

Choose the package without duplicating the clamp

If you already own a suitable clamp, our recommendation is to buy the multimeter for the missing voltage mode, temperature or small-current capability. If you are choosing both tools, see clamp meter versus multimeter and our clamp meter shortlist.

The 117/323 kit pairs the 117 with a clamp rated for 400 A AC; the 323 has no DC jaw-current range. Its kit page has an accessory discrepancy: the overview names TL175 leads and a TPAK hanger, while the box list names generic silicone leads and does not name the hanger. Confirm the accessory manifest for that package.

For the standalone 117, CAL adds a traceable calibration certificate with data. For the industrial pick, check that the model is 87V MAX, not simply 87V; Fluke's comparison lists IP67 for the MAX and IP30 for the original. These suffixes and bundles deserve checking before the purchase link.

Verdict

Our default electrician pick is the Fluke 117 for AutoVolt/LoZ and VoltAlert. Choose the 87V MAX when its industrial ratings and filter match the job, or the MM420 for temperature and small-current ranges. Consider the 113 beside an existing clamp when low-impedance voltage and continuity are enough. Buy to the required task, then check the complete meter-and-lead combination.