For most surveyors and damp specialists, the Protimeter Surveymaster 2 is still the meter to own — pin and pinless in one trusted, widely-recognised tool. Builders and trades who just need a reliable go/no-go reading should look at the Protimeter Mini, and if you only need a meter for the odd glovebox check, the Stanley Moisture Meter covers that for under £20.
At a Glance — Moisture Meters Compared
Model | Type | Best For | Approx. Price |
Protimeter Surveymaster 2 (BLD5365) | Pin + Pinless | Damp surveys, dilapidations, restoration | £380 |
Protimeter MMS3 (BLD9800-C-S) | Pin + Pinless, full system | Full professional damp diagnosis | £1,150 |
Protimeter Mini (BLD2000) | Pin only | Builders and trades needing trusted readings | £90 |
Protimeter Aquant (BLD5765) | Pinless only | Non-marking surveys, finished surfaces | £220 |
Trotec BM31 | Pinless only | Fast sweeping, screed and floor checks | £45 |
Dryzone Moisture Meter | Pin only | Budget trade go/no-go checks | £25 |
Stanley Moisture Meter (0-77-030) | Pin only | Occasional use, van glovebox spare | £18 |
The line-up below keeps the same pin-vs-pinless spread as before, with one change worth flagging up front: our old MMS3 pick was listed under Protimeter’s MMS2 part number by mistake, and the old glovebox-spare pick (a Screwfix own-brand) was never sold on Amazon in the first place. Both are corrected below.
1. Protimeter Surveymaster 2 — Best All-Round Professional
The Surveymaster remains the default meter for damp surveyors and restoration professionals in the UK, and for good reason — it switches between pin and pinless (search) modes in seconds, uses Protimeter’s WME scale that every damp specialist recognises, and is rugged enough to survive daily site use for years.
It’s not cheap, but if damp diagnosis is a regular part of your work rather than an occasional job, this is the meter that pays for itself in credibility with clients and insurers alike.
- Pin and pinless (search) modes
- WME reference scale
- Backlit display
- Trusted by surveyors and loss adjusters
2. Protimeter MMS3 Survey Kit — Best Top-End
For full professional damp diagnosis — relative humidity, temperature, dew point and deep-wall moisture all in one system — the MMS3 is Protimeter’s current top-end kit. Note: our previous listing here used the BLD8800 part number, which is actually the older MMS2 system rather than the MMS3; this pick has been corrected to the genuine current MMS3 Survey Kit (BLD9800-C-S).
It’s a serious outlay and overkill for anyone doing occasional damp checks, but for a dedicated damp and timber specialist producing formal survey reports, it’s the most complete package on the market.
- Full RH, temperature and dew point measurement
- Deep-wall probe compatible
- Hard case with primary accessories
- Professional survey-grade
3. Protimeter Mini — Best Value Pin Meter
The Protimeter Mini strips the brand’s trusted WME scale and build quality down to a simple pin meter, and it’s the one we’d point most builders and general trades toward. It won’t do pinless scanning, but for a quick, credible go/no-go reading on timber or plaster before you commit to further work, it’s accurate, well-known, and small enough to live in a pocket.
- Pin-type
- WME scale
- Pocket-sized
- Simple LED readout
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4. Protimeter Aquant — Best Non-Marking
When you can’t leave pin marks — on a finished floor, a client’s furniture, or a surface you’ll be handing back pristine — the pinless Aquant is the answer. It reads through the surface using capacitance rather than piercing it, so it’s the meter to reach for on flooring surveys and finished-room damp checks where a scarred board would be a problem.
- Pinless (non-invasive)
- LCD display
- Good for finished surfaces and flooring
5. Trotec BM31 — Best Budget Pinless
The BM31 is a genuinely capable pinless meter for a fraction of the Protimeter Aquant’s price. It won’t carry the same name recognition with surveyors, but for fast sweeping across screed, walls and floors to flag areas worth a closer look, it does the job reliably and the 5–40mm penetration depth covers most trade needs.
- Pinless, 0–100 relative scale
- 5–40mm penetration depth
- LCD display with hold function
6. Dryzone Moisture Meter — Best Cheap Trade Meter
For a straightforward pin-type meter that won’t break the bank, the Dryzone does what it says — a quick reading on wood, masonry and general building materials to flag whether an area is worth investigating further. It’s not a survey-grade instrument, but as a first meter or a spare kept in the tool bag, it earns its keep.
- Pin-type
- Simple LED/LCD readout
- Works on wood and masonry
7. Stanley Moisture Meter (0-77-030) — Best Glovebox Spare
Our previous pick here was a Magnusson meter, which turns out to be a Screwfix own-brand product that has never been sold on Amazon — so it’s been swapped for the Stanley 0-77-030, which fills exactly the same role: a cheap, no-frills pin meter to keep in the van for the odd quick check when you don’t want to reach for the good meter.
It won’t impress anyone on a formal survey, but as a backup that lives in the door pocket, it’s honest value.
- Two detection pins
- LCD screen
- Runs on 4 x AAA batteries
Buyer’s Guide – What Actually Matters
Understand WME Before You Trust Any Reading
Protimeter’s meters read in WME (Wood Moisture Equivalent) rather than a true percentage moisture content — it’s a reference scale calibrated against timber, so readings on plaster, brick or concrete should be treated as relative indicators, not absolute figures. Learn the scale on your specific meter rather than assuming numbers translate directly between brands.
Salts Will Fool a Cheap Meter Every Time
Hygroscopic salts left behind by historic damp will hold moisture and give a high reading on a pin or pinless meter long after the wall has actually dried out. A proper survey meter with a deep-wall probe, or a second check with a different method, avoids condemning a wall that’s actually fine.
Calibration Checks
Most meters, including the Protimeter range, have a simple calibration check built in (often via the pins or a calibration checkplate). Run it before every job — a meter reading a few percent out is worse than useless if you’re using it to make a call on whether to open up a wall.
Pair It With a Thermal Camera
A moisture meter tells you a surface is wet; a thermal camera helps you see how far the damp extends and trace where it’s coming from. Used together they’re far more reliable than either on its own — see our thermal camera guide below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pin or pinless — which should I buy first?
If you’re only buying one meter, a combined unit like the Protimeter Surveymaster covers both. If budget only stretches to one mode, pin meters are cheaper and more precise on timber; pinless meters are faster and non-marking on finished surfaces.
How accurate are budget meters like the Dryzone or Stanley?
Good enough for a go/no-go trade check, not accurate enough for a formal survey report. They’ll reliably tell you ‘this is dry’ vs ‘this needs investigating’ but won’t give you the precision a Protimeter will for documenting exact readings.
Can I use a moisture meter on masonry as well as timber?
Yes, most pin and pinless meters work across timber, plaster, brick and screed, but remember the reading is relative — masonry doesn’t have the same true moisture-content scale as wood, so treat higher readings as ‘worth investigating’ rather than an exact percentage.
Do I need the MMS3 or will a Surveymaster do?
For the vast majority of trade and survey work, the Surveymaster 2 is more than capable. The MMS3 system is aimed at specialists who need full RH, dew point and deep-wall diagnostics as a routine part of formal reporting.
