Instruments that measure moisture content in various materials; may be manual or electronic (analog or digital); digital versions may have specific settings for fiberboard, construction material, and different types of wood.

What Is a Moisture Meter?

Moisture meters are instruments used to measure the water content of wood, concrete, and other hardened materials. Results are reported as a percentage.

Some meters are preprogrammed for different materials like fiberboard or calibrated for different types of wood.

How Does a Moisture Meter Work?

Two basic types of moisture meters are available.

• Pin-type meters measure electrical resistance (resistivity) or conductance of the material; because water conducts electricity, increasing water content correlates to higher conductance; pins are inserted into the wood to take the measurement
• A second non-invasive type is based on the dielectric properties of wood; the meter generates a low-frequency electrical wave that travels between the two pads placed on opposite sides of the wood

What Is a Moisture Meter Used for?

Moisture meters can be used to measure moisture in furniture, wood floors, and other construction or building projects. The ideal state of the wood is equilibrium moisture content (EMC). EMC means that the moisture in the wood is roughly the same as in the surrounding environment.

Moisture meters can also be used to measure the moisture in drywall, finish plaster, and other materials. For these materials, results are expressed as the Wood Moisture Equivalent (WME) or as if it were wood.