Price and published specification are only loosely related.
The examples that make the point
- A thirteen-euro angle gauge stating ± 0.2°, next to a forty-one-euro one stating no figure at all.
- An eleven-euro moisture meter publishing accuracy and resolution separately, next to a fifty-dollar one publishing a relative 0–100 scale.
- a twelve-dollar voltage tester stating CAT III, next to a seventy-five-euro one stating none.
Where cheap genuinely fails
Enclosures. Ingress ratings and drop resistance cost money and are what separate a drawer tool from a site tool.
Consistency over time. Bonded vials, carbide faces and hardened frames are what keep an instrument in specification after two years, and they are not cheap.
Availability. Several budget instruments we compare are sold on one market only, which for a buyer outside Germany means a search rather than a link.
What not to buy cheaply
Anything that goes near a live installation without a stated measurement category, and anything whose reading you would act on without a second check.
What gets asked here
How do I judge an instrument with no published figures?
By what you can verify yourself: zero it, measure something known, and compare it against another instrument. That is not calibration and it is better than nothing.
Is a known brand a guarantee?
No. Two of the best-known brands on this site publish three-line listings with no category rating, while a mid-market German brand publishes complete ratings across six products.
Last reviewed 31 August 2026