The Best Refractometer - 2021
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.
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Our Picks For The Top Refractometers
- The Best Refractometer
- 1. Magnum Media Salinity Specific Gravity & PPT Refractometer
- 2. Anpro Dual Scale Refractometer
- 3. Agriculture Solutions Salinity Refractometer
- 4. Aichose Honey Refractometer
- 5. Ade Advanced Optics Beer Wort and Wine Refractometer
- 6. Aichose Refractometer for Diesel Engines
- 7. AUTOUTLET Salinity Refractometer
- 8. SunGrow Aquarium Refractometer with Calibration Tool
- 9. Robinair Coolant and Battery Refractometer
- 10. Agriculture Solutions Automobile Antifreeze Refractometer
- 11. SMARTSMITH Refractometer Honey
- 12. Aichose Refractometer with ATC
Professional QualityUse this refractometer when measuring seawater or low concentrated salt solutions.
Best for HomebrewsIncluded with this refractometer is a hard storage case, a cleaning cloth, dropper and small screwdriver.
Use with WaterThis refractometer measures salinity of water.
Check the Quality of Honey and Other High-Sugar LiquidsThis refractometer is ideal for beekeeping.
Why we recommend these refractometers?
Products Considered
Products Analyzed
Expert Reviews Included
User Opinions Analyzed
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.
The Best Overall
Magnum Media Salinity Specific Gravity & PPT Refractometer
Our Take
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.
The Best Bang For Your Buck
Anpro Dual Scale Refractometer
Our Take
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.
Overall Product Rankings
1. Magnum Media Salinity Specific Gravity & PPT Refractometer
10. Agriculture Solutions Automobile Antifreeze Refractometer
Our Refractometer Findings
Magnum Media Salinity Specific Gravity & PPT Refractometer
What We Liked: 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.
Anpro Dual Scale Refractometer
What We Liked: 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.
Agriculture Solutions Salinity Refractometer
What We Liked: 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.
Aichose Honey Refractometer
What We Liked: This portable refractometer allows you to conveniently check the quality of high-sugar liquids, including honey, maple syrup or molasses. The tool is beneficial for harvesting at the best time. The three-in-one scale allows you to check moisture, brix and baume simultaneously.
Ade Advanced Optics Beer Wort and Wine Refractometer
What We Liked: Use a dropper to place a sample on the prism and the dual-range refractometer measures the brix and specific gravity of wort or wine. Built-in automatic temperature compensation provides accurate readings. It is sturdy, compact and lightweight, making it convenient, portable and easy to use.
Our Refractometer 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.
DWYM Fun Fact
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.
The Refractometer Tips and Advice
- 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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