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
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Our Picks For The Top Refractometers
- 1. Tiaoyeer Advanced Automatic Refractometer
- 2. Milwaukee Alkaline Battery LCD Refractometer
- 3. Agriculture Solutions Chromium Salinity Refractometer
- 4. Anpro Focus Adjustment Dual Scale Refractometer
- 5. Magnum Media Salinity Specific Gravity & PPT Refractometer
- 6. Aichose Automatic Temperature Compensation Honey Refractometer
- 7. Ade Advanced Optics ATC Easy Read Refractometer
- 8. AUTOUTLET Lightweight Salinity Refractometer
- 9. Robinair Precision Auto Refractometer Kit
- 10. Agriculture Solutions Automobile Antifreeze Refractometer
- 11. SMARTSMITH Analyze & Optimize Beekeeping Refractometer
- 12. Aichose Sugar Content Hydrometer Refractometer
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.
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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Our experts reviewed the top 12 Refractometers and also dug through the reviews from 5 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Refractometers.
DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.
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.
More to Explore
In 1869, German physicist and optical scientist Ernst Abbé built the first refractometer. Five years later, he published a booklet discussing the use of prisms and total reflection to measure the refractive index of fluids. Abbé used the device in his work, designing lenses for a German optical manufacturer.
Around the end of WWI, other manufacturers began producing refractometers, which were primarily created for laboratory use.
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