The Best Refractometer
We looked at the top 12 Refractometers and dug through the reviews from 5 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Refractometers.
Our Review Process
Don't Waste Your Money is focused on helping you make the best purchasing decision. Our team of experts spends hundreds of hours analyzing, testing, and researching products so you don't have to. Learn more.
Our Picks For The Top Refractometers
This refractometer is small and lightweight, making it easily portable. The device can be used for everything from checking the sugar content in your home brew to determining the ripeness of fruit. It's easy to use, accurate and produces quick results.
Economical PickWhen shopping on a budget, this affordable refractometer is the way to go.
If you're searching for a digital refractometer, this option is an excellent buy. It features a large LCD screen with easy to read results that are extremely accurate. All you need to do is add three drops of your sample and in 2 seconds, you'll have your results!
Easy to ReadThis refractometer uses a 9-volt battery and features an indicator to let you know when it's time for a battery change.
This refractometer is ideal for aquarium, swimming pool and marine monitoring. Test dual units simultaneously with specific gravity and PPT. Calibrates quickly and easily with no battery required.
Use with WaterThis refractometer measures salinity of water.
You won't need a homebrew hydrometer when you go with this refractometer. The device measures the sugar content in your beer and provides automatic temperature compensation between -50 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit. The unit is lightweight, portable and takes just seconds to use.
Best for HomebrewsIncluded with this refractometer is a hard storage case, a cleaning cloth, dropper and small screwdriver.
This salinity measurement instrument is portable and easy to use. In fact, the refractometer comes in a hard storage case, along with a cleaning cloth and set of instructions. With the instrument, you'll be able to measure on two scales instead of one. Results will be in both specific gravity and parts per thousand.
Professional QualityUse this refractometer when measuring seawater or low concentrated salt solutions.
Buying Guide
Required by people with a few select, niche hobbies or occupations, a refractometer is a unique tool with particular properties. Because of this, making the best choice can be challenging. Before shopping for a refractometer, considering several factors can help you determine what to look for to select the right tool for your needs.
Industry and application are the first considerations to bear in mind. If you are a professional beekeeper who wants to ascertain the best time to harvest honey, a refractometer designed to measure moisture, Brix (the sugar content of the liquid), and Baume (the density of the honey). Alternatively, if you have a saltwater pool, you will need a refractometer that tests the salinity of the water.
Ease of use is another factor to consider. You will appreciate a lightweight, portable device that you can pick up and carry as needed. And a prism that is easy to clean will provide more accurate results.
Prism material can be important, as well. While glass prisms are the most economical, they are not as durable as sapphire prisms, which are four times harder than glass.
Why we recommend these refractometers?
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What to Look For
- If you prefer a manual instrument, shop for a transmission-style refractometer. With this device, you place a sample on the prism and align it by turning a control knob.
- If you prefer an automatic instrument, shop for a reflection-style refractometer. With this device, you place a sample on the prism and press a button to read the measurements.
- Density is not the only thing that can change the refractive index of a liquid. Temperature can affect it, as well. A high-quality refractometer will feature automatic temperature compensation, sometimes labeled ATC. This feature will provide consistent reports over a range of practical temperatures.
- Look for a dual-scale refractometer. These instruments report results in both Brix and specific gravity units.
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