The Best Digital Calipers to Accurately Measure Objects

The Best Digital Caliper Buying Guide

Calipers are a must-have when doing any DIY work, and with electronic calipers, you can get avoid any inaccuracies. This buying guide will cover what you need to know to shop for a digital caliper.

What Is a Caliper?

Calipers are tools used to measure the length of a 3D object. Measuring lines on a flat surface is relatively simple — you can use a ruler or some other similar tool to get the measurement of a line, curve, or another shape quite easily. Things get complicated when measuring something 3D, however. How do you get the length of an object, from top to bottom, when it has ridges, curves, and other shapes? Even using something as flexible as measuring tape won’t yield accurate results.

That’s where calipers come in. They measure the top and the bottom of an object, or two edges of an object, to get the length from that particular point to the other. It’s a very intuitive device that’s perfect for measuring hand-sized items no matter what shape they may be in. There’s just one issue when it comes to accurate measurements — human error. 

The Problem With Manual Calipers

Manual calipers are fairly simple tools, but getting the right measurements can be a little tricky. You can, of course, get an accurate measurement with them, but it’s quite the process if you’re not familiar with it already. And if you end up misreading the measurement, you’ll be writing down the wrong length, which can ruin the entire project. Human error should be minimized as much as possible when taking measurements, which is why digital calipers are such a huge upgrade.

With electronic calipers, you can ensure that you get an accurate measurement down to the micrometer. The digital measurements are accurate thanks to calibration tests run by the manufacturers of the calipers before they are shipped. This ensures the measurements you make are accurate no matter how many times you use the device, and you won’t be prone to misreading them since you can easily see what the displayed number is.

Things to Consider When Buying a Digital Caliper

Length

Digital calipers can be bought in varying lengths. Some digital calipers are around 6 inches long or 8 inches long, whereas others can be 12 inches long or more. The length of the caliper determines the items that you can measure as they can’t measure items larger than themselves. 

When choosing a digital caliper, think about what items you plan on measuring with it. If it’s just the thickness of wooden beams, for example, then a 6-inch caliper may be enough for smaller projects. You may want to look into buying a 12-inch caliper instead if you plan on working on bigger endeavors, however.

Accuracy 

The accuracy of a digital caliper is always tested by the manufacturer before it’s shipped, but it never hurts to double-check. If buying from a store directly, you can measure with it and compare the results to other calipers for reference. You can also check reviews online and check if people have experienced inaccuracies with the product.

Durability

Digital calipers are meant to be used again and again, so you may want to invest in a digital caliper that’s durable enough for you to use for years on end. Most digital calipers are made out of stainless steel, so you should be fine in this regard.

Price Range of Digital Calipers

Surprisingly, digital calipers don’t vary too much in price. Many of them are sold at the $20-$30 mark, with some of the more premium brands hovering in the $30s. This is not the case when you buy longer calipers though. The longer the caliper, the higher the material cost, and this can shoot up the final price of the electronic caliper by quite a bit. Budget digital calipers also exist, with some going for as little as $10, though the overall quality of the calipers at this price range leaves a lot to be desired.