The best analogue multimeters, compared.
Top pick: Gardner Bender GMT-319 – Highest score: the manual states 20 kΩ/V DC and CAT II 1000 V, which no other kept listing states. Best value: Draper 37317 pocket analogue – About £16.99 and 4.2 from 260 reviews, with IEC 1010 on the listing and a June 2023 manual, against a 0–50 V scale. Updated October 2026.
An analogue multimeter shows volts, amps and ohms with a moving-coil needle. UK shoppers still buy one when they want to watch a value change rather than write down a precise digit. You recognise a suitable analogue multimeter by a readable scale, leads that stay in the sockets, a stated sensitivity if you work on electronics, and a manual that names the cell and the fuse. Accuracy is usually a percentage of full scale, so a reading near the bottom of a wide range is coarse even when the meter is inside its specification. A printed high-voltage scale is not permission to test a UK socket or a consumer unit. CAT II covers appliances, CAT III covers sockets and boards, and CAT IV is the supply origin. UK mains are 230 V. A protection line that stops at that voltage is not headroom above a higher scale. Current or ohms on a live supply is how these meters arc. The order of those checks is in the [analogue multimeter buying guide](/hub/measuring-equipment/analogue-multimeter/sub/analogue-multimeter-buying-guide).
An analogue multimeter shows volts, amps and ohms with a moving-coil needle. UK shoppers still buy one when they want to watch a value change rather than write down a precise digit.
26 products checked · 58 hrs invested · +21,400 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
Where will you connect it?
The Gardner Bender GMT-319 is the £39.83 pointer whose amazon.co.uk bullets state 7 functions, 19 ranges, a colour-coded dial, replaceable leads, and fuse overload protection, with a 1000 V maximum. The listing line is 4.2 from 1,023 reviews, but the saved listing holds 14 reviews dated in the United Kingdom, so that count is not 1,023 UK opinions. The maker's manual states 20 kΩ/V DC, 8 kΩ/V AC, CAT II 1000 V, a mirror scale, resistance to 10 MΩ, a buzzer below 100 Ω, and a separate 10 A jack, plus ±4% of full scale on DC. Two AAA cells are what the working notes record for the resistance ranges. One UK review describes a meter that failed after a 250 V AC mains check, which fits a CAT II instrument taken past a portable appliance. The printed weight of 0.28 g is not a usable mass. In this set it is the top pick when you want the only kept listing whose manual states 20 kΩ/V, and you should leave it if you need CAT III for a socket or a board.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a larger dial and a stated 20 kΩ/V sensitivity for electronics or a moving voltage, and you will stay inside CAT II.
Less suitable: You need a consumer unit, a UK review sample of 1,023, or a pointer under £20.
Specifications
Common questions
What does the GMT-319 listing actually specify?
Bullets say manual ranging, a colour-coded analogue display, replaceable leads, fuse overload protection, and a 20-position dial. The headline is 7 functions and 19 ranges, up to 1000 V. Separate range figures are not in the listing.
How many of the 1,023 reviews are in the saved listing as UK reviews?
The listing line says 4.2 from 1,023. The saved listing contains 14 reviews dated in the United Kingdom, including a meter that failed after a 250 V AC mains check.
Is the listing weight usable?
The technical line says 0.28 g and 5.1 x 5.1 x 7.6 cm. Those figures are stored as printed. They are not a weighed result.
The Draper 37317 is a pocket pointer at £16.99 with 4.2 from 260 amazon.co.uk reviews, and the listing cites IEC 1010 without printing the ranges. The June 2023 manual, which is separate from the amazon text, states CAT II, 10 kΩ/V DC, DC and AC to 500 V, and a 1.5 V and 9 V battery test. Reviewers say an AA cell is required for resistance and is not in the box. Several also say the scale that covers 12 V runs from 0 to 50 V, so 12.2 V, 12.9 V, and 13.2 V look the same. Lead fit is a repeated complaint, and the sockets may not take ordinary probes. Reviewers describe no on/off switch on this meter. For occasional low-voltage checks, where a named UK manual matters more than a large dial, it is the best value on this shelf. It is the wrong tool if you need half a volt of resolution or a consumer-unit rating.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a named UK pocket meter for occasional low-voltage checks and will buy an AA cell.
Less suitable: You need half-volt resolution around 12–14 V, ordinary GS38 leads in these sockets, or a consumer unit.
Specifications
Common questions
What standard does the Draper listing name?
The specification line says IEC 1010. The listing does not print a CAT number or the voltage ranges.
Does the listing include the cell for resistance?
The included-components line names the multimeter only. Reviewers say an AA cell is required for resistance and is not supplied.
Can reviewers separate a charging voltage from a resting 12 V battery?
Several say the scale that covers 12 V runs from 0 to 50 V, so 12.2 V, 12.9 V, and 13.2 V look the same.
This unbranded pointer is the £8.68 listing with the fullest range table in the set: DC 0.25, 2.5, 10, 50, 250, and 1000 V, an AC line printed as 10, 50, 250, and 100 V, DC current at 0.5, 50, and 500 mA, and resistance at ×1, ×10, ×100, and ×1k. The same bullets cap overload protection at 230 V maximum, which is UK mains voltage and not headroom above a 1000 V scale. The star line is 4.0 from 11 reviews, too small a sample to outrank a 260-review Draper. Cells are one 9 V and two 1.5 V, not included, and a UK reviewer confirms the case is unscrewed to fit them. One short review mentions capacitors. A longer UK review says it does not measure capacitors, has no 10 A range, and that the hFE mark has no transistor socket. It is a reasonable low-voltage buy only if you want those printed ranges and you stay well below the 230 V protection line.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a printed range table under £9 for low-voltage work and you will buy the three cells.
Less suitable: You need a 10 A range, a stated CAT rating, or evidence from more than 11 reviews.
Specifications
Common questions
What overload figure does this listing give?
A bullet says overload protection up to a maximum of 230 V. DC voltage positions go up to 1000 V on the same bullet list.
Are the cells in the box?
No. The bullet says one 9 V cell and two 1.5 V cells, and that they are not included. A UK reviewer confirms the case is unscrewed to fit them.
Does a UK reviewer say it measures capacitance?
One short review mentions checking capacitors. A longer UK review says it does not measure capacitors, has no 10 A range, and that the hFE marking has no transistor socket.
The Hilka 34100055 is the £8.79 pointer on this amazon.co.uk shelf, and the listing itself states no DC, AC, current, or resistance ranges. Across 162 reviews at 3.9 stars, buyers who checked it against a known meter report readings that do not match the source: one saw a 1.5 V cell read over 3 V, and a 12.4 V battery read about 30 V. Several reviews call the leads and prods thin, including a lead that broke within 30 minutes and prods that fell off on first use. A parts site lists ranges and a mirror for the same model number, but that specification is not on the amazon.co.uk page, so you cannot treat it as what this listing promises. A needle may still twitch on a low-voltage circuit if you only want to see movement, though those documented errors mean you should not record a number from it. The 20 g weight line is what the catalogue prints, not a weighed result. It is a weak default when you need a stated range or a lead that stays in the socket.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the cheapest named pointer in this set and will check any reading against a meter you already trust.
Less suitable: You need a stated range, reliable leads, or a voltage you can write down.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the Hilka listing state its voltage ranges?
No. The listing bullets say analogue multi tester and do not give DC, AC, current, or resistance ranges.
Do UK reviewers trust the readings?
Not all of them. One buyer compared it with a Fluke: a 1.5 V cell read over 3 V, and a 12.4 V battery read about 30 V.
What do reviewers say about the leads?
Several call the leads and prods thin or fragile. Reports include a lead that broke within 30 minutes and prods that fell off on first use.
The Fyearfly listing titled as an MF47 is a large pointer at £31.19 and 820 g, with 3.9 from 13 reviews, and the title says 0–2500 V, 0–10 kΩ, and 0–10 A plus an anti-burn buzzer. Those figures are not in a specification table, and the technical lines also say a minimum of 250 V DC. Four UK reviews are in the file: one former AVO user says the needle constantly needs adjustment on voltage and resistance, while another likes the large dial because small fluctuations stay visible. A reviewer found no instructions in the box, another could not tell whether the compartment takes an AA cell or a C cell, and a reviewer calls the probes cheap. The 2500 V title line was not tested in this comparison, and the listing states no CAT rating. It can suit you if you want a big dial to watch a wander and you will zero it often. It is a poor match if you wanted an AVO replacement with a known cell and a stated category.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a large pointer to watch a voltage move and you will adjust the zero often.
Less suitable: You want a vintage AVO, a known cell size, or a high-voltage rating that has been tested.
Specifications
Common questions
Where do the 2500 V and 10 A figures come from?
They are in the title, not in a specification table. The technical lines also say a minimum of 250 V DC and a maximum of 2500 V. Capacitance is named in the title only.
What do the four UK reviews say about the needle?
One former AVO user says it constantly needs adjustment on voltage and resistance. Another likes the large dial because small fluctuations stay visible.
Does the listing include instructions and a known cell?
A reviewer says instructions were not in the box. Another could not tell whether the compartment takes an AA cell or a C cell. The listing does not state the cell.
The Fyearfly teaching pointer is £15.99 with 3.6 from 13 reviews, and the bullets claim a mirror scale, a carbon pointer, 21 ranges, and a measurement error of 2.5 percent without listing those ranges one by one. None of the eight review texts in the file are dated in the United Kingdom. They come from Germany, Italy, or France, so the star line is not a UK sample. One reviewer says the ohms zero would not set, and another says resistance cannot be measured. A third says the needle shows short fluctuations more clearly than a digital meter, which is the job a pointer can still do. There is no CAT figure on the listing. At 210 g and about 14 × 9.5 × 4 cm it is a classroom-sized case, not a named trade meter. Consider it only if you accept an unstated range list and a thin review file.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a claimed mirror scale for a bench demonstration and will check that ohms actually zero before you rely on it.
Less suitable: You need UK review evidence, a printed range table, or any work near mains.
Specifications
Common questions
What error does the Fyearfly teaching listing claim?
A bullet says the measurement error is 2.5 percent. It also claims a mirror scale, a carbon pointer, and 21 ranges. It does not list the individual ranges.
Are there UK reviews in the saved listing?
No. The listing line is 3.6 from 13. The eight reviews in the file are dated in Germany, Italy, or France.
What do those reviews say about ohms?
One says the ohms zero would not set. Another says resistance cannot be measured. A third says the needle shows short fluctuations more clearly than a digital meter.
The SENRISE YX 1000A is a pocket pointer at £11.09 with 3.1 from 78 reviews, the weakest star line in this set, and one bullet does print DC ranges: 0–10, 50, 250, and 1000 V. AC, current, and resistance figures are not in the bullets, though resistance and continuity appear in the title. Reviewers say it needs an AA cell that would not fit until a dimple in the holder was flattened, and that the probe plugs fall out. Several describe the case as smaller and flimsier than they expected and say they would not use it on mains. A 12 V car battery sits between the 10 V and 50 V positions, so the reading lands on the 50 V range. The 80 g line is what the page prints. It can show that a low-energy DC voltage is present if the plugs stay in, and it is a poor choice when you wanted a complete range table or anything near UK mains.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a printed DC scale under £12 for a low-voltage presence check and will make sure the plugs stay seated.
Less suitable: You need mains work, a lead that stays in, or a scale that separates 12 V from 14 V.
Specifications
Common questions
Which ranges does the SENRISE listing print?
One bullet gives DC voltage as 0-10, 50, 250, and 1000 V. AC, current, and resistance figures are not in the bullets. Resistance and continuity are in the title.
What cell do reviewers say it needs?
Reviewers say an AA cell, and that it would not fit until a dimple in the holder was flattened. The listing does not say a cell is included.
What do reviewers say about using it on mains?
Several say the meter is smaller and flimsier than they expected, and that they would not use it on mains. Loose probe plugs are a repeated complaint.
Seven analogue multimeter listings on amazon.co.uk were scored on 19 October 2026 from the listing and the review file, not from a lab measurement of accuracy. Amazon stars, and how far that file is actually from the United Kingdom, count 30. Stated ranges, sensitivity and protection count 30, with the listing first and a manual only when it is labelled as the manual. Review sentiment on readings, leads and cells counts 25. Shelf price against what that listing actually states counts 15. Deductions cover gross voltage errors in UK reviews, a star line built on reviews that are not dated in the United Kingdom, a 1000 V or 2500 V figure with no category, a protection line that stops at 230 V, listing figures that cannot be a real weight or size, and very small review counts. The 0–100 score is not a measured accuracy ranking.
Amazon stars and UK review file
30%Up to 30 points from the star average and how far the review file is actually from the United Kingdom. A star line built on reviews that are not dated in the United Kingdom is deducted. Very small review counts, about 11 to 14 texts, are deducted. The 1,023-review line on one listing is not treated as 1,023 UK reviews.
Stated ranges, sensitivity and protection
30%Up to 30 points for ranges, sensitivity and protection, listing first. A manual counts only when it is labelled as the manual. A 1000 V or 2500 V figure with no category is deducted, as is a protection line that stops at 230 V beside higher scale marks. Listing figures that cannot be a real weight or a real size are deducted.
Readings, leads and cells
25%Up to 25 points from review sentiment on readings, leads and cells. Gross voltage errors against a known meter are deducted. Leads that break, plugs that fall out, and a cell that is missing or will not fit stay in the score.
Shelf price against the listing
15%Up to 15 points for the shelf price against what that listing actually states. A lower price does not win this block when the page prints no ranges, or when a 230 V protection line sits beside 1000 V positions and the review file is tiny.
Match the job, then the category of the circuit, then sensitivity, leads and the ohms cell, then the shelf price. The notes below follow that order for these seven listings. None of the scores is a laboratory test.
An analogue multimeter shows volts, amps and ohms with a moving-coil needle. UK shoppers still buy one when they want to watch a value change rather than write down a precise digit. The listings in this category are pocket pointers or larger dials. They are not CAT III installation testers. Recording a tenth of a volt is a different job.
Accuracy is a percentage of full scale. A scale that runs from 0 to 50 V can make a resting battery and a charging voltage look the same, even when the meter is inside its specification.
A printed 1000 V or 2500 V mark is not CAT III and not permission to open a consumer unit. A protection line that stops at 230 V is UK mains voltage, not headroom.
Voltage can work with no cell. Resistance needs one, and you zero ohms first. Trusting a listing weight that cannot be a real mass, or treating a digital meter as analogue because a search mixed them, leads to the wrong buy.
The first check is the job. Watch a moving voltage, or record a tenth of a volt. The second job is a digital meter. The next check is where you will connect it. CAT II is appliances. CAT III is sockets and boards. CAT IV is the supply origin. In this set, one manual states CAT II 1000 V. Several cheap listings state no category at all. A printed 1000 V or 2500 V scale is not permission to test a UK socket or a consumer unit, and the 2500 V title line was not tested here. UK mains are 230 V.
Scale and leads are the complaints that repeat on the cheaper pointers: tiny dials, plugs that fall out, and sockets that may refuse ordinary GS38 leads. A 0–50 V scale that covers 12 V cannot separate a resting battery from a charging voltage around 13 V. Voltage can work with no cell. Resistance needs one, and you zero ohms before you trust the reading. On this shelf the named pocket meter needs an AA cell that is not supplied.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want a larger dial and a stated 20 kΩ/V DC sensitivity, and you will stay inside CAT II. The Gardner Bender GMT-319 is about £39.83. Its manual states 20 kΩ/V DC and CAT II 1000 V. The listing line is 4.2 from 1,023 reviews, with 14 UK-dated reviews in the file. It is the wrong meter for a socket or a consumer unit.
You want a named UK pocket meter for the odd low-voltage check and a 1.5 V or 9 V battery test, and you will buy an AA cell. The Draper 37317 is about £16.99, with 4.2 from 260 reviews and IEC 1010 on the listing. The 0–50 V scale does not separate about 12 V from about 13 V.
You want a big pointer so a small movement stays visible, and you will zero it often. The Fyearfly listing titled as an MF47 is about £31.19 and 820 g, with 3.9 from 13 reviews. The 0–2500 V and 0–10 A figures are title lines, not a tested range, and the listing states no CAT rating.
In this set of seven amazon.co.uk listings, the top pick is the Gardner Bender GMT-319 at about £39.83. The bullets state 7 functions, 19 ranges, replaceable leads and fuse protection, with a 1000 V maximum, and the manual states 20 kΩ/V DC and CAT II 1000 V, which no other kept listing states. The star line is 4.2 from 1,023 reviews. The file holds 14 reviews dated in the United Kingdom, so that count is not 1,023 UK opinions. It is still CAT II. Leave it for a socket or a consumer unit. The best value is the Draper 37317 at about £16.99, with 4.2 from 260 reviews, IEC 1010 on the listing and a June 2023 manual that states CAT II and 10 kΩ/V DC. The amazon page does not print the ranges, and a 0–50 V scale does not separate about 12 V from about 13 V. The unbranded meter is cheaper and prints more ranges. It stays below both awards because of 11 reviews and a 230 V protection line beside 1000 V positions. None of these scores is a lab test.
Gardner Bender GMT-319
Highest score: the manual states 20 kΩ/V DC and CAT II 1000 V, which no other kept listing states.
Draper 37317 pocket analogue
About £16.99 and 4.2 from 260 reviews, with IEC 1010 on the listing and a June 2023 manual, against a 0–50 V scale.
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.
Public UK sources from the research digest, last checked on 19 October 2026. Shelf prices and star lines are the amazon.co.uk figures captured with these seven listings. The price bands are this set, not a market average.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are from the UK listings checked on 19 October 2026. We did not lab-test these analogue multimeters.
