The best non-contact voltage testers, compared.
Top pick: Aicevoos A1 Best value: Aicevoos A1 – About £7.99, 4.6 from 1,726 reviews, dual AC windows, a buzzer, and a torch. Features per pound among pens with a usable review sample, not the second-highest score. Updated October 2026.
A non-contact voltage tester, often called a volt stick, senses the electric field around an alternating-current conductor. It shows that field with a lamp, LEDs, or a buzzer. In the UK you buy one to see whether a flex, a socket face, or a switch still looks live. It does not measure 230 V, and it does not prove a circuit dead. HSE guidance GS38 says these detectors should only identify live equipment. Proving dead needs a device that contacts the conductor, tested before and after you use it. On a listing, you judge a pen by its stated AC window, whether you can hear or see the alert in daylight, whether you can lower the sensitivity, and whether a measurement category is printed with a voltage beside it. UK mains are nominally 230 V AC at 50 Hz, with BS 1363 plugs. A figure of 12 V on that window is an alternating-current claim. Silence is not a result until the pen has just alarmed on a known live socket. Flat cells and a lamp you cannot see in daylight are usual reasons a check misleads. The order of those checks is in the [non-contact voltage tester buying guide](/hub/measuring-equipment/non-contact-voltage-tester/sub/non-contact-voltage-tester-buying-guide). If you will touch copper or disconnect a fitting, isolate first and use a contact tester.
A non-contact voltage tester, often called a volt stick, senses the electric field around an alternating-current conductor. It shows that field with a lamp, LEDs, or a buzzer.
Swipe for more
1-2 of 10
Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
Do you need a lower AC window as well as a mains window?
The Aicevoos A1 is £7.99, the lowest-priced dual-range pen in this set, with 4.6 from 1,726 amazon.co.uk reviews. It states 12–1000 V AC and 48–1000 V AC, a red or yellow lamp, a buzzer, a torch, auto-off at five minutes, and a class 2 laser under 1 mW. The listing says CE and double insulated, and it does not print CAT III or CAT IV. UK reviews use it on switches, sockets, and ceiling lights, and several say they would not spend more. One unit arrived with corroded AAA cells and worked after replacement. Another could not have its sensitivity reduced and alarmed on a phone from about 130–140 mm. A stabiliser review is filed on the ASIN and is not about the pen. In this set it is the best value when you want a loud dual-range pen and you can live without a printed measurement category, and the laser is a pointer, not a safer voltage test.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a loud dual-range pen at the low end of this set for household sockets and flexes.
Less suitable: You need a printed CAT rating, or a pen that stays quiet beside a phone.
Specifications
Common questions
What voltage does the Aicevoos listing claim?
Two AC windows, 12–1000 V and 48–1000 V, switched with the H/L key. The maximum in the spec block is 1000 V.
Are batteries listed in the box?
The spec block does not list them. Reviews mention AAA cells, and one unit arrived with corroded cells that worked after replacement.
Does the listing show a measurement category?
No. It says CE and, in the bullets, double insulated. It does not print CAT III or CAT IV.
The YOWEXA YW-322 is £9.99 with 4.6 from 312 amazon.co.uk reviews. It states 12–1000 V and 48–1000 V, one to three LEDs, a variable buzzer, a torch in the tip, two AAA cells, a manual, and CE with CAT III 1000 V and CAT IV 600 V. UK reviews use the low setting to cut spurious alarms on 230 V sockets and switches. The same file says 12 V work is unreliable, that it is AC only and no use on a car, and that one test failed at 12–14 V while 240 V worked. One review calls mains detection inconsistent, with tracing up to about 470 mm off the cable. A tyre-inflator review sits on the ASIN and does not describe the pen. It suits a compact dual-range pen with cells already fitted. It is a weaker choice if the job is a vehicle loom.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a compact dual-range pen for 230 V sockets and you will use the lower sensitivity.
Less suitable: You are buying it for a car, a camper DC loom, or cables buried in a wall.
Specifications
Common questions
What do the lights mean?
The bullets say one to three LEDs and a faster buzzer when the field is stronger or the tip is closer. They do not show a voltage number.
Are batteries included?
Yes. Included components are the YW-322, two AAA batteries, and a user manual.
Does the listing say it detects DC?
No. The range is written as AC. Reviews both claim and deny 12 V detection, including a note that it is AC only.
The Kaiweets listing at £10.99 is the largest review sample in this set, 4.5 from 16,240 amazon.co.uk ratings. The title says HT100 and the model field says HT101, part KW5023240. It states two AC windows, 12–1000 V and 48–1000 V, a buzzer, a torch, two AAA cells, and a screen that turns red above 90 V, with IEC CAT III 1000 V and CAT IV 600 V printed as a claim. UK reviews praise the beep on sockets and ceiling wiring, and the two sensitivity levels against pens that alarm on everything. The same file includes a unit that missed a live wire after working, a whole wall that read live, detection from about 150 mm, and harder readings on 12 V vehicle circuits than on 240 V mains. One review found no detection through armoured cable. In this set it is the top pick when you want a loud dual-range pen with a large review count. It does not prove a circuit dead.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a loud dual-range pen with the largest review count in this set for sockets, flexes, and ceiling wiring.
Less suitable: You need one model name on the box, a pen that stays quiet on a solid wall, or a tool that proves a circuit dead.
Specifications
Common questions
Why do the title and the model number differ?
The title says HT100. The spec model number is HT101 and the manufacturer part is KW5023240.
What happens above 90 V?
The bullets say the screen turns red and a safety symbol shows when voltage above 90 V is sensed.
Are batteries included?
Yes. The listing includes two AAA batteries and a user manual.
The VENLAB VD200 is £9.99 with 4.5 from 5,221 amazon.co.uk reviews, the second-largest count here. The listing states 12–1000 V AC and 48–1000 V AC, a red or orange lamp, a buzzer, a torch, two AAA cells, and IEC 61010-1 with CAT III 1000 V and CAT IV 600 V. UK reviews use it on old black wiring, light switches, and loft wires, and they like the loud beep. One first-time user did not learn from the instructions that red, not orange, is the live indication, and another unit arrived with flat cells. A review reports beeps where there was no socket and no red light. In this set it is a close alternative when you want the same class of dual-range claim at £9.99. It is still only a presence check.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a widely reviewed dual-range pen with batteries in the box and a colour plus beep alert.
Less suitable: You need the largest review sample, or you will treat an orange lamp as proof the wire is dead.
Specifications
Common questions
What is in the box?
The listing’s included components are a user manual and two AAA batteries, plus the pen.
What changes between red and orange?
The bullets say red and a faster beep nearer a live conductor, and orange with a slower beep nearer neutral or further away.
What category is printed?
IEC 61010-1, CAT III 1000 V, CAT IV 600 V, and CE.
The Kioylmo pen is £7.99 with 4.5 from 15 amazon.co.uk ratings, and the file has four UK review blocks. It states 90–1000 V AC, dual sensitivity inside that window, red and blue LEDs, a buzzer, a torch, and a self-test claim. The bullets say 1000 V safety standards and do not name CAT III or CAT IV. One reviewer says there was no manual and they used a video. The other short comments call it accurate and good value, without a test method. Fifteen ratings and four texts are too thin to treat 4.5 as a settled record. There is no window below 90 V. It is a single-range option only if you accept that the evidence is a handful of reviews.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a light single-range pen with a beep and you can live with a thin review file.
Less suitable: You need a large sample, a printed CAT line, or a 12 V AC window.
Specifications
Common questions
Is there a range below 90 V?
No. The bullets say 90 V to 1000 V AC and dual sensitivity inside that, not a 12 V window.
What standard is named?
The bullets say 1000 V safety standards. They do not name CAT III or CAT IV. The spec line says 1 year warranty.
Did reviews mention instructions?
One of four UK reviews says no manual was in the box and the buyer used a video.
The MUFASHA T-02a is £8.99 with 4.4 from 31 amazon.co.uk reviews, and the saved listing holds 13 UK review blocks. It states 12–1000 V AC and 48–1000 V AC, an H/L button, a red or orange lamp, a buzzer, a torch, a class 2 laser under 1 mW, and IEC 61010-1 with CAT III 1000 V and CAT IV 600 V. Reviews say batteries, including two AAA cells, were supplied, though the spec block does not list the cell type. Owners like the two ranges and a compact hook. The same small file calls the body flimsy for site use, questions the laser, and reports lights on wood, metal, and fabric during a 12 V camper try. Thirty-one ratings are not the sample behind the top pick. It is a dual-range option if you want a printed category line near £9 and you accept thin evidence.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a dual-range pen with a CAT line printed and you can accept a small review count.
Less suitable: You need a large UK sample, or a pen for a camper DC circuit.
Specifications
Common questions
How do you change range?
The bullets say an H/L button. They point the low-sensitivity range at doorbells, thermostats, fans, and printers.
What safety line is printed?
IEC 61010-1, CAT III 1000 V, CAT IV 600 V, and CE, plus a double-insulation claim.
Is the laser part of the voltage test?
No. The listing calls it class II, under 1 mW. Reviews describe it as a separate pointer.
The BSIDE AVD06 is the dearest pen here at £13.99, with 4.3 from 213 amazon.co.uk reviews. It states 12–1000 V, eight LEDs in green, yellow, and red, auto or manual mode, and a torch. The spec block says CE and RoHS, does not print a CAT figure, and lists only the detector, while reviews say a 9 V cell is required and was not in the box. UK users like graduated lights for a ceiling and a simple check on sockets. The same file says it is too sensitive to separate several wires, that it could not tell live from neutral at a UK 3-pin socket, and that one unit found nothing on a 12 V car reversing-light circuit. It is the adjustable pen if you want a dial and you will buy the cell. It is a poor default if you expected batteries and a CAT line at the top of this price band.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a sensitivity dial on a 12–1000 V pen and you will add a 9 V cell.
Less suitable: You want batteries in the box, a CAT mark, or a quiet pen among several cables.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the box include a battery?
Included components list only the detector. Reviews say a 9 V cell is required and was not supplied.
Is there a CAT rating?
The spec block says CE and RoHS. It does not print a CAT figure.
Can the listing separate live and neutral at a UK socket?
The bullets say the stronger signal is the live wire. One review says it could not tell live from neutral at a 3-pin socket.
The C.K T2271A is £8.84 with 4.2 from 422 amazon.co.uk reviews, from Carl Kammerling. The spec line says 70–1000 V, a bright red LED, CAT IV 1000 V, CE, and double insulation. The bullets do not claim a buzzer, and UK reviews confirm there is no sound and that the lamp is hard to see in daylight. Reviews say it takes two AAA cells, which are not in the included-components line. Owners like the familiar name for a quick look at which side of twin and earth is line. The same UK blocks include broken tips and battery caps, buttons that failed, and units that stopped within days or a month. One review says it indicated on any object until it was switched off. It fits if you already know the C.K stick and you can see the lamp, and it is the wrong pen if you need a beep in a bright room.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the known C.K stick for a visual check and you work where you can see a red LED.
Less suitable: You need a beep, a dual range, or a pen you will trust in daylight.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the C.K pen beep?
The bullets describe a bright red LED only. Reviews say there is no sound and that the lamp is hard to see in daylight.
What range is printed?
The spec block says a minimum of 70 V and a maximum of 1000 V. There is no 12 V window.
Are batteries included?
Included components list only the stick. Reviews say it takes two AAA cells.
The Astraveo pen is £8.85 with 3.4 from five amazon.co.uk reviews, and the saved listing has three UK blocks, one of them Vine. It states 90–1000 V AC, an LED, a buzzer, adjustable sensitivity, and CE with CAT IV 1000 V. One reviewer says it matched a pen they had used for years. Another could not switch it on with several new batteries and binned it. A third reports too many false-negative readings, and the instructions were covered by a label. Five reviews, including a unit that would not start, are not a buying sample. The title says LED flashlight while the bullets describe indicator LEDs. Skip it if you need evidence the pen arrives working.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You already accept a five-review listing and you only need a single 90–1000 V AC window.
Less suitable: You want a working unit on arrival, or any review sample above a handful.
Specifications
Common questions
What is the stated range?
90 V to 1000 V AC. The spec minimum is 90 V AC. There is no 12 V window.
Is a torch described in the bullets?
The title says LED flashlight. The bullets describe indicator LEDs and a buzzer, not a separate torch control.
How many reviews are on the listing?
The listing line is 3.4 from 5. The saved listing has three UK reviews, including one that would not turn on.
The Yukesaky dyy816 is £5.99 and the listing has no Customer Reviews line, so the star rating is n/a. The bullets claim 90–1000 V AC, an LED, a buzzer, and a torch. The spec block has no CAT mark, no cell type, no dimensions, and no auto-off. Weight is 17 g and the rank shown is 129 in Voltage Testers. A question on the page about DC is unanswered. There is no UK review text to say whether the beep is loud, the cell arrives fitted, or the pen switches on. At this price it is a listing of claims. It is the pen to leave if you need any review evidence before you pay.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You are comparing the cheapest single-range claim in this folder and you will not rely on reviews.
Less suitable: You want stars, a printed safety category, or any owner report that the pen works.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the listing say it detects DC?
The question is on the page and is not answered. The bullets say 90 V to 1000 V AC.
What is the star rating?
There is no Customer Reviews line in the saved listing, so the rating is n/a.
Is a safety category printed?
No. The spec block has no CE or CAT line.
Ten non-contact voltage tester listings on amazon.co.uk were scored from the listing text and the UK review notes already saved with each row. This is not a lab test, and a score does not mean a pen can prove a circuit dead. The working method is three blocks: Amazon stars at (stars ÷ 5) × 35, with no Customer Reviews line scoring 0; review count at log10 of the count × 6, capped at 25; and a presence-check kit capped at 25. The shelf price is not in the score. It decides the best value award only. Deductions apply for a thin review file, a unit that would not switch on or repeated false negatives in a sample of five, broken caps or buttons in a large UK file, a required cell missing from the box, a title that disagrees with the model number, a review of a different product on the ASIN, and flat or corroded cells. The three weights below are those blocks scaled from 35, 25 and 25 to 41, 29 and 30 so the figures on this page total 100.
Amazon stars
41%In the method this block is (stars ÷ 5) × 35. A listing with no Customer Reviews line scores 0. The weight 41 is that 35-point block scaled so the three weights on this page total 100.
Review count
29%In the method this block is log10 of the review count × 6, rounded half up and capped at 25. No reviews score 0. Fewer than 20 reviews deducts 8, and fewer than 6 deducts a further 6. The weight 29 is that 25-point cap scaled so the three weights total 100.
Presence-check kit
30%In the method this block is capped at 25: 10 for a buzzer and a lamp, or 4 for a lamp only; 8 for a dual 12–1000 V and 48–1000 V AC window or an adjustable 12–1000 V window, or 4 for a single window from about 70–90 V; 5 for a CAT mark with a voltage beside it, 1 for an unnamed 1000 V safety line, or 0 for CE only or a blank; and 2 when the cells are named in the spec or the included-components line. The weight 30 is that 25-point cap scaled so the three weights total 100. Shelf price is not in the score.
Start with the job the pen must not do, then the AC window, the alert, the sensitivity, the category line, and the cells. The notes below follow that order for these ten listings. None of the scores is a laboratory test.
A non-contact voltage tester, often called a volt stick, senses the electric field around an alternating-current conductor and shows it with a lamp, LEDs, or a buzzer. In the UK you buy one to see whether a flex, a socket face, or a switch still looks live, not to measure 230 V and not to prove a circuit dead. HSE guidance GS38 says these detectors should only identify live equipment. Proving dead needs a device that contacts the conductor, tested before and after.
GS38 says a voltage stick identifies live equipment and does not prove it dead. Silence is not a result until the pen has just alarmed on a known live socket. A flat cell is a common reason for a quiet pen.
A stated 12–1000 V AC range is an alternating-current claim. It is not evidence the pen will trace 12 V DC in a car or a camper. UK reviews in this set call that job unreliable.
A buzzer plus a lamp is easier to notice than a lamp alone. UK reviews of the C.K T2271A say there is no sound and that the red LED is hard to see in daylight.
If you will touch copper or disconnect a fitting, isolate and use a two-pole tester or a GS38-style test lamp. The pen only supports treating the conductor as live. Dual-range listings here say 12–1000 V AC and 48–1000 V AC. Single-range listings say about 70–90 V to 1000 V AC. The 12 V figure is an AC claim, not a vehicle-loom tracer. A buzzer plus a lamp beats a lamp-only design. UK reviews of the C.K T2271A call that lamp faint in daylight.
Read the category and the voltage together. CAT III 1000 V and CAT IV 600 V is printed as a claim on YOWEXA, MUFASHA, Kaiweets, and VENLAB. An unnamed 1000 V safety line, or CE with no CAT figure, is a weaker statement. CAT II is socket outlets, CAT III is fixed distribution, and CAT IV is the meter and the service fuse. The mark was not verified here. Cells named in the spec or the included-components line matter because flat and corroded cells show up in UK reviews.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want a beep you can hear on a household flex, a socket face, or a switch, and you are not proving the circuit dead. The Aicevoos A1 is about £7.99, with 4.6 from 1,726 reviews, dual AC windows, a lamp, and a buzzer. The listing does not print a CAT line.
You already keep a contact tester for proving dead, and you want the pen only as a first look at sockets, flexes, and ceiling wiring. The Kaiweets listing is about £10.99, 4.5 from 16,240 ratings, with two AAA cells named in the box and a CAT line claimed. The title says HT100 and the model field says HT101.
You hoped to trace 12 V in a car, a camper, or a doorbell. These pens sense an alternating-current field. The YOWEXA YW-322 states a 12–1000 V AC window and UK reviews say it is AC only and no use on a car. Read that limit before you buy. It does not detect 12 V DC.
In this set of ten amazon.co.uk listings, the top pick is the Kaiweets pen at about £10.99, titled HT100 with model number HT101. It has 4.5 from 16,240 ratings, two AAA cells in the box, dual AC windows, and a claimed CAT III 1000 V and CAT IV 600 V line. The best value is the Aicevoos A1 at about £7.99, 4.6 from 1,726 reviews, with dual AC windows, a buzzer, and a torch, and no CAT line. VENLAB and YOWEXA score higher than the Aicevoos because they print a category and name the cells. The Yukesaky pen at about £5.99 is cheaper and has no review line, so it does not take the best value award. None of these scores is a lab test, and none of these pens proves a circuit dead.
Aicevoos A1
About £7.99, 4.6 from 1,726 reviews, dual AC windows, a buzzer, and a torch. Features per pound among pens with a usable review sample, not the second-highest score.
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 21 October 2026. Shelf prices and star lines are the amazon.co.uk figures captured with these ten 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 for this comparison. We did not lab-test these non-contact voltage testers.
