The best contour gauges, compared.
Top pick: Tracer contour gauge, 250 mm Best value: MECHEER contour gauge, 10 inch – Best value at £9.99: the only listing on the top value band, with 4.2 from 1,015 reviews, once 6 cm of depth is enough. Updated 22 October 2026.
A contour gauge, also called a profile gauge, copies the outline of a pipe, a door lining or a skirting edge so you can trace it onto a board or a tile before you cut. In the UK you use one when fitting floors and trim. It is a row of plastic pins in a frame. You press the pins against the shape, then transfer that outline. A suitable gauge is wide enough for the obstacle, and a lock holds the pins if you carry the shape to the saw. Pin thickness and stiffness decide how tight a curve you can copy. A 10 inch body, about 250 mm, is the usual width for a door lining. A 5 or 6 inch body is for a tight spot only. Two frames that clip together cover more width and add a joint. Marks along the frame read a straight length. They do not measure the curve. How to press, orient and trace, then cut on the waste side, is on the [how to use a contour gauge](/hub/measuring-and-marking-tools/contour-gauge/sub/contour-gauge-how-to-use) page.
A contour gauge, also called a profile gauge, copies the outline of a pipe, a door lining or a skirting edge so you can trace it onto a board or a tile before you cut. In the UK you use one when fitting floors and trim.
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
How wide is the obstacle?
The Tracer ACG2 is a 250 mm plastic gauge sold with a deep-hole pencil, at £20.95 on amazon.co.uk. The pencil claim is a 2B lead that marks up to 100 mm inside a 3 mm hole or 145 mm inside a 6 mm hole. The star line is 4.6 from 32 reviews, the highest rating and the smallest sample in this set, and the rank is 224 in Measuring & Layout Tools. Only six UK review texts are in the file: they praise the pencil and a plywood bathroom floor, one says the bars still move when the lock is on, and another says the pins are too thick for fine contours. Weight is 501 g, with metric and imperial scales. Buy it for the pencil if you accept a thin review file, and do not treat 4.6 as proof the lock holds.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the deep-hole pencil with a 250 mm gauge and you will test the lock on scrap first.
Less suitable: You are choosing on star rating alone, or you need a lock that the saved reviews agree on.
Specifications
Common questions
What comes with the Tracer 250 mm gauge?
Included components are the contour gauge and a deep-hole pencil. The bullets say the pencil is 2B and can mark up to 100 mm in a 3 mm hole or 145 mm in a 6 mm hole, with an integrated sharpener. A case is not listed.
Does the Tracer lock hold?
The bullets say the lock holds all pins. Of the six UK reviews in the saved listing, one says the bars still move when locked, and another says the lock worked on a plywood bathroom floor. The star line is 4.6 from 32 ratings.
What is the Tracer gauge made of?
The material field says plastic. Pin thickness is not stated. One UK review says the pins are too thick for fine contours.
The DODOWIN 10 inch gauge is the locked tool UK reviewers use for laminate at doorways, at £15.98 with 4.5 from 4,456 amazon.co.uk reviews. The bullets state about 10 cm of depth and a screwdriver so you can loosen the teeth for delicate mouldings or tighten them. A locking handle is meant to hold the shape before you transfer it. The package is 33.4 × 13.7 × 2.7 cm and 530 g, and the manufacturer line is Unibank Tech. Rank on the captured listing is 37 in Marking Tools. Reviewers also call the pins a little coarse and the body a bit flimsy for daily trade use. Some reviews call it connectable, but this listing’s package quantity is one; the 20 inch pair is a different ASIN. It is the top pick in this set for a single 10 inch floor job when the stated depth matters, and a poor daily driver if you need a stiffer trade body.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You are scribing laminate at a doorway and you want a lock plus a stated depth of about 10 cm.
Less suitable: You need a second length in the box, or a stiffer gauge for every day on site.
Specifications
Common questions
How deep is the DODOWIN 10 inch gauge?
The bullets state a 10 cm measurement depth, about 4 inches, for pipes, door frames and architraves. UK reviews include a request for longer blades, so check the obstacle against that claim.
Can you adjust the DODOWIN 10 inch teeth?
The bullets say a screwdriver is included so you can loosen the teeth for delicate mouldings or tighten them. They also say to use the locking handle before you transfer the shape.
Is the DODOWIN 10 inch a two-piece set?
The package quantity is 1 and the title is a 10 inch tool. Some UK reviews call it connectable. This listing’s bullets do not say a second gauge is in the box. The 20 inch connectable pair is a different ASIN.
The Saker gauge is an orange 25 cm ABS body with a lock, at £21.99 and 4.5 from 1,612 amazon.co.uk reviews. The size field says 25 cm or 10 inches and the package quantity is one model code, SAK5106-GJ16398-C012. A bullet also mentions 5 inch and 10 inch, which this card does not treat as a second gauge in the box. Weight is 400 g and rank is 12 in Marking Tools. UK reviews say the lock is worth paying for, and they also say the pins are stiff, the locking pin flaps when open, and the frame will not profile tight against a wall. There is no stated pin thickness or depth. It can copy a 25 cm outline if the frame sits square. It is a frustrating buy if you needed the gauge hard against a wall, or if you ordered it expecting two widths.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a single locked 25 cm gauge and the frame can sit square to the face.
Less suitable: You need the pins hard against a wall, or you expected a separate 5 inch gauge in the box.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the Saker 25 cm gauge lock?
The bullets say you lock the teeth after contouring. The title calls the lock adjustable. UK reviews include buyers who say the lock is worth the extra cost.
Is the Saker gauge a 5 inch and a 10 inch?
The size field is 25 cm / 10 inches and the package quantity is one model code. The bullets also mention 5 inch and 10 inch. A second gauge is not listed under included components.
What is the Saker contour gauge made of?
The bullets say high-quality ABS plastic. The weight is 400 g and the colour field is orange.
The DODOWIN 20 inch listing is two connectable 10 inch gauges at £34.99, with 15 spare blades, a tape measure, a screwdriver and screws. The bullets state ABS pins at 0.05 inch and a lock, and a technical field prints measurement accuracy of 1 mm with no test method. amazon.co.uk shows 4.5 from 677 reviews. Only six of the review texts are headed United Kingdom, and those say the link between the two gauges comes apart and the plastic blades bend. Weight is 1.01 kg and the rank line is 178 in Sewing Tools, which is the node on the file rather than a reason to buy it for sewing. The extras are real on the bullet list, but the joint is the part the UK texts criticise. Buy the pair only if you need more than 10 inch and you will test the clip before you cut a board; a single DODOWIN 10 inch is the simpler buy when the obstacle fits one body.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You need more than 10 inch and you will test the clip on scrap before you trust it.
Less suitable: One 10 inch gauge covers the obstacle, or a joint that opens is unacceptable.
Specifications
Common questions
What is in the DODOWIN 20 inch box?
The bullets list two connectable 10 inch gauges, 15 extra blades, a tape measure, a screwdriver and some screws. The weight is 1.01 kg.
Do the two DODOWIN gauges stay joined?
The bullets say you can join DODOWIN gauges. One of the six UK reviews in the saved listing says the connection is not long enough and the halves come apart, and that the plastic bends. The other UK texts in that file are short praise, including tiling.
Does DODOWIN state an accuracy?
The technical table says measurement accuracy 1 mm. That is a listing field, not a laboratory result. Blade thickness in the bullets is 0.05 inch.
The connectable JOREST set is a 5 inch gauge and a 10 inch gauge that the bullets say you can use apart or splice to 15 inch, at £23.99. Blade thickness is stated at 0.05 inch, the splice gap is stated under 0.06 inch, and a screwdriver adjusts tightness. amazon.co.uk shows 4.4 from 6,283 reviews, and the same rank line as the single JOREST, 3 in Marking Tools. Package weight is 820 g. UK reviews praise laminate around doorways, and one buyer returned the set because the smaller lock arrived with parts missing. A review, not the spec line, mentions a pencil and a mini tape, so those are not treated as included. It is the set to buy when one 10 inch body is short, provided both locks work when you open the box, and about £9 more than the single JOREST is wasted money if you never join them.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You need 5, 10 and 15 inch from one box and you will check the small lock on day one.
Less suitable: A single 10 inch gauge is enough, or you cannot accept a half that will not lock.
Specifications
Common questions
What lengths does the JOREST connectable set give?
The bullets say the 5 inch and 10 inch tools can be used apart or spliced to 15 inch. They state a splice gap under 0.06 inch and a blade thickness of 0.05 inch.
Can you adjust the JOREST connectable pins?
Yes. The bullets say blade looseness is adjusted with a screwdriver. That differs from the single JOREST 10 inch, which says factory tightness and no manual adjust.
Does the smaller JOREST gauge lock?
The title says with lock. One UK review returned the set because the smaller gauge mechanism would not lock and parts looked missing. The star line is 4.4 from 6,283 reviews.
AI Gear’s 10 inch gauge is the listing with the largest review file here, 4.4 from 5,461 amazon.co.uk reviews, at £16.99. The bullets say 25.4 cm and Allen-key screws at the ends that loosen or tighten the pins. UK reviews say it is easy around door frames, that the key is thin and easy to lose, and that one bathroom quadrant was inaccurate enough for cardboard to work better. Weight is 360 g and the package is 28.5 × 14 × 2.5 cm. The technical table does not state a material, a pin thickness, a depth or a scale, and rank is 8 in Marking Tools. Tighten the screws before you lift the gauge and the outline can travel; leave them loose, or lose the key, and the pins shift. It suits a door-frame scribe if you will keep the key, and it is the wrong tool when you need a stated depth or a material on the spec line.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the biggest review file on a 10 inch gauge and you will keep the Allen key.
Less suitable: You need a stated depth, a named material, or a clamp you can close without a loose key.
Specifications
Common questions
How do you tighten the AI Gear contour gauge?
The bullets say Allen key screws at the ends loosen or tighten the pins. UK reviews say the key is thin and easy to lose, and that pins can shift if you do not tighten them.
What is the AI Gear gauge made of?
The technical table does not state a material. The listing question about materials is unanswered in that table, so the material is not stated
What width does AI Gear state?
The bullets say 10 inch / 25.4 cm. Package dimensions are 28.5 x 14 x 2.5 cm and the weight is 360 g. The style name is 10 inch Red.
The single JOREST 10 inch gauge is the orange locked body at £14.99, with blades stated at 0.05 inch and scales in inches and centimetres on both sides. amazon.co.uk shows 4.4 from 2,076 reviews and rank 3 in Marking Tools. Tightness is factory-set; this listing says you do not adjust it, unlike the connectable JOREST pair. The package is 31.3 × 13.4 × 2.4 cm and 410 g. UK reviews use it for fireplace wallpaper and for vinyl at door jambs, and they mention a lock button. One review reports missing teeth, and reviewers say 0.05 inch is workable for pipes and coarse for detailed moulding. The title mentions measuring an angle, but the table has no degree scale: it copies an outline. It suits a single 10 inch job with a lock you do not want to tune, and it is the wrong box if you needed the 5 inch half as well.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want one locked 10 inch gauge and you accept factory pin tension.
Less suitable: You need a second length, adjustable tension, or a needle gauge for fine beads.
Specifications
Common questions
Can you adjust the JOREST 10 inch pin tension?
The bullets say tightness is set in manufacture and that you do not adjust it. This is the single 10 inch model, not the connectable 10+5 inch set, which does mention a screwdriver.
How thick are the JOREST 10 inch blades?
The bullets state 0.05 inch. UK reviews say that is fine for pipes and too coarse for detailed work, and that sticky slides can bend the outer pins if you force them.
Does the JOREST 10 inch gauge measure angles in degrees?
The title mentions measuring an angle. The technical table has no degree scale. It copies an outline. Scales on the body are inches and centimetres.
The Amazon Basics set gives you a 5 inch and a 10 inch gauge for £13.29, and neither one locks. amazon.co.uk shows 4.3 from 2,001 reviews. The listing calls both friction-fit, with centimetre and inch scales, four magnets on the 10 inch back and two on the 5 inch. Item weight is 625 g and the model line is DS-CTG001. UK reviews say odd shapes around pipes and flooring are easy to capture and harder to transfer, because nothing clamps the pins. The magnets store the tool on steel; they do not hold the outline. Rank 1 in Gouges is the node printed on the listing, not a test of copying accuracy. Trace before you lift the gauge and the pair is enough; carry the shape to another room and you want a lock instead.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You will trace the board while the gauge is still pressed to the obstacle.
Less suitable: The cut happens at a bench in another room.
Specifications
Common questions
Do the Amazon Basics gauges lock?
The title says non-locking friction-fit. The bullets say the pins are held during marking. UK reviews say odd shapes are easy to capture and harder to transfer without a lock.
What sizes are in the Amazon Basics set?
The listing states one 12.7 cm gauge and one 25.4 cm gauge, which the bullets also call 5 inch and 10 inch. Both have metric and imperial scales.
Do the Amazon Basics gauges have magnets?
Yes. The bullets state four magnets on the back of the 10 inch gauge and two on the 5 inch gauge, for storage on steel.
The MECHEER 10 inch gauge is the locked body reviewers use around door frames, at £9.99 with 4.2 from 1,015 amazon.co.uk reviews. The bullets state a 25 cm length, 0.2 cm pins and a 6 cm maximum depth, and they tell you to measure the obstacle first. A screwdriver is in the included-components line, the listed size is 12 × 2 × 25 cm, and the weight is 530 g. Inch and centimetre scales sit on both sides. The same reviews that praise the lock also say the pins are very stiff when unlocked and too thick for a fine profile. The listing warns you not to pull the lock to the end of its travel, so the clamp is a stop, not a vice you wind home. At this price and review count it is the best value in the set when 6 cm of depth covers the moulding, and a poor match when the architrave is deeper or the beads are finer than 0.2 cm.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a locked 10 inch gauge around a door frame and 6 cm of depth is enough.
Less suitable: The moulding is deeper than 6 cm, or finer than a 0.2 cm plastic pin.
Specifications
Common questions
How deep a shape can the MECHEER 10 inch copy?
The bullets state a maximum measuring depth of 6 cm and tell you to measure the obstacle first. The stated measurable length is 25 cm.
How do you use the MECHEER lock?
The listing says the lock keeps the shape, and it warns you not to pull the lock to the end of its travel. A screwdriver is listed in the included components. UK reviews say the lock helps around door frames and that the pins are very stiff when unlocked.
How thick are the MECHEER pins?
The bullets state a pin thickness of 0.2 cm. That is the listing figure, not a measured test.
TOPWAY’s 10 inch gauge copies a flat door jamb at £9.99, then struggles when the same body is held vertically on skirting. amazon.co.uk shows 4.2 from 191 reviews and rank 36 in Marking Tools. The bullets specify 250 mm, ABS and aluminium alloy, a zinc alloy lock, and a bolt that sets tightness. The package is 34.4 × 13.9 × 3.2 cm and 550 g. There is no model number, no stated pin thickness and no stated depth. UK reviews praise the lock and also say the teeth bend before they slide; one buyer left an elastic band on the pins. The tension bolt only helps while the teeth still move. It is a reasonable locked 10 inch tool on a flat jamb, and a weak choice once the pins have already taken a set.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You are marking a flat door jamb and you will stop if a tooth bends.
Less suitable: You need a stated depth, or you are holding the gauge vertically on skirting all afternoon.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the TOPWAY 10 inch gauge lock?
The bullets say a zinc alloy lock, and that tightness is adjusted by a bolt. UK reviews praise the lock and also say the teeth bend before they slide.
What is the TOPWAY gauge made of?
The bullets say high-quality ABS plastic and aluminium alloy, with a zinc alloy lock, and they describe it as non-scratch. Blade thickness is not stated.
How long is the TOPWAY contour gauge?
The title says 10 inch and the bullets say 250 mm. Package dimensions are 34.4 x 13.9 x 3.2 cm and the weight is 550 g.
A 6 inch ABS gauge at £8.09 is the short body in this amazon.co.uk set, and UK reviewers who wanted a longer tool said so. The listing shows 3.6 from 67 reviews and rank 47 in Marking Tools, with a package of 17.8 × 10.3 × 2.8 cm and a weight of 200 g. The bullets promise a metal lock. Reviews of this 6 inch ASIN say the tool that arrived had no metal lock, and one buyer says a securing screw snapped after two uses. That conflict is why this card does not treat a lock as present. For a small pipe you can trace before the pins move, the width is the other limit. It is the cheapest shelf price here, and a weak match if the outline has to survive a walk to the saw.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You only need a short outline and you will check the tool for a lock before you rely on one.
Less suitable: You are copying a door lining, or the shape has to stay put on the way to the bench.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the SULIVES 6 inch gauge have a metal lock?
The amazon.co.uk bullets say a robust metal lock. Several United Kingdom reviews of this 6 inch ASIN say there is no lock, and one says a securing screw snapped. Treat the lock as unconfirmed until you see the tool.
How wide is the SULIVES profile gauge?
The title says 6 inch. The package dimensions are 17.8 x 10.3 x 2.8 cm and the weight is 200 g. Reviewers also say it is smaller than they expected.
What is the SULIVES gauge made of?
The bullets say high-quality ABS. The technical table does not add a separate material field or a blade thickness.
Eleven amazon.co.uk listings, captured on 19 October 2026, were scored from 0 to 100 in four parts. Stars are the rating divided by 5, times 40. The sample part is a log of the review count, scaled so 6,283 reviews score 20. Fit covers width, a lock the reviews support, adjustable tension, stated pin thickness, scales and depth, with penalties when a lock claim conflicts with the reviews. Value is a price band in this set. There was no laboratory check of copying accuracy. The top pick is the highest total. Best value is the highest value score among the others. The MECHEER listing at £9.99 with 1,015 reviews is the only one on 15 for value. The DODOWIN 10 inch listing at £15.98 with 4,456 reviews scores 13 on value and takes the top pick on the higher total.
Amazon star rating
40%The listing average is placed on a 0–40 band: the stars divided by 5, times 40, rounded. A 4.5 becomes 36. Stars are not a measured copying tolerance.
Review sample
20%A log of the review count, scaled so the largest file in this set, 6,283 reviews, scores 20. A 4.6 from 32 ratings cannot outrank a 4.5 from several thousand on this part.
Fit for the job
25%Width, a lock the saved UK reviews support, adjustable tension, a stated pin thickness, scales and a stated depth. Points come off when a lock claim conflicts with reviews, when pins bend or will not sit, or when the listing contradicts itself.
Value in this set
15%A price band against the review count on these eleven listings. Under £10 with 1,000 or more reviews scores 15. £30 or more scores 5. A rating under 4.0 scores 4.
Choose the width, then the lock, then the pins. Scales and extras come after that. The table is the eleven listings. None of these gauges was checked in a lab, and a star average is not a copying tolerance.
A contour gauge, also called a profile gauge, is a row of plastic pins in a frame. You press the pins against a pipe, a door lining or a skirting edge, then trace that outline onto a board or a tile. In the UK this is a floor and trim tool. It is not a measuring lab, and it is not a stamped trade measure. Quality is a shape that forms when you press and stays put while you trace. A printed accuracy of 1 mm is not a test result.
A photo of a metal lock is not the tool in the box. On the 6 inch listing the bullets say a metal lock and several UK reviews say there is none. One saved review of a 250 mm gauge says the bars still move when locked. Judge the lock against those texts, then test it on scrap.
A 5 or 6 inch body is for a tight spot. A door lining is usually a 10 inch, about 250 mm, job. Reviewers of the short gauge said they wanted a longer tool. Joining frames for a small obstacle adds a joint you do not need.
Keep the same orientation from the obstacle to the board. A mirrored outline wastes the piece. On laminate, leave an expansion gap of about 12 mm even when the shape looks right. Cut on the waste side of the line.
Width is the first decision. A 10 inch body, about 250 mm, covers a typical door lining. A 5 or 6 inch body is for a tight spot, and a short gauge is a poor match for an architrave. Two frames that clip together reach further and add a joint you should test before you cut. One connectable set is described as 5, 10 or 15 inch. A pair of 10 inch frames is sold as a longer set. Do not join gauges for a small obstacle. A review says error can creep in once several gauges are clipped together.
Pin pitch and stiffness decide whether the outline is usable. Pins stated at about 0.05 inch or 0.2 cm cannot copy a tighter curve than their own thickness. Thick pins facet a bead. Pins that will not slide, and pins that bend, both spoil the trace. A tension screw or an Allen key lets you loosen delicate work and tighten it before you lift the gauge. A key that is easy to lose, or a lock you must not pull fully home, is part of the buy. Factory-set tension means you cannot loosen a sticky row.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You are fitting a floor and you need a lockable 10 inch outline of a door lining or a pipe, with an expansion gap still left in the room. The DODOWIN 10 inch gauge is £15.98, with a stated depth of about 10 cm and 4.5 from 4,456 reviews. UK reviews call the pins a little coarse and the body light for daily trade use.
You are copying a tight curve onto a tile, and you will keep a spare because thick pins facet a bead. The single JOREST 10 inch gauge states 0.05 inch blades, at £14.99, with 4.4 from 2,076 reviews. Reviewers say that pitch is workable for pipes and coarse for fine moulding. It is one frame, with factory-set tension.
You want a single lockable 10 inch gauge and you do not need a second frame. The MECHEER gauge is £9.99, with 4.2 from 1,015 reviews, a stated 6 cm depth and 0.2 cm pins. UK reviews say the lock helps around door frames and that the pins are stiff and too thick for a fine profile.
The top pick is the DODOWIN contour gauge, 10 inch, at £15.98. amazon.co.uk shows 4.5 from 4,456 reviews. The bullets state a lock, a screwdriver for pin tension and about 10 cm of depth. UK reviews call the pins a little coarse and the body a bit flimsy for daily trade use. The best value is the MECHEER contour gauge, 10 inch, at £9.99, with 4.2 from 1,015 reviews. It is the only listing on the top value band in this set. UK reviews say the pins are stiff and too thick for a fine profile, and the stated depth stops at 6 cm.
MECHEER contour gauge, 10 inch
Best value at £9.99: the only listing on the top value band, with 4.2 from 1,015 reviews, once 6 cm of depth is enough.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Sources taken from the research digest. Listings were captured on 19 October 2026.
This article contains affiliate links. If you buy through these links we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts come from stored amazon.co.uk listings. We did not measure these gauges in a lab.
