Your guide to selecting the right refractometer

1:01 PM | 22 Mar 2022

Looking for a refractometer but overwhelmed by choice? Follow our seven proven, easy-to-follow steps. You’ll feel the stress melt away as you quickly and confidently zero in on the perfect refractometer for your application and budget!

Get Instrument Choice’s 7-step refractometer selection guide here.

About Refractometers

Refractometers determine the concentration of a particular substance within an aqueous solution by measuring the sample’s refraction angles and correlating them to already established refractive index values.

Refractometers are used extensively in manufacturing, food, beverage, chemical, agricultural, and medical industries.

Parameters measured by refractometers include (but are not limited to):

Brix
Refractive index
Specific gravity
Salinity
Moisture content
Ethyl alcohol; and
Peracetic Acid.

Six things to look for when buying a refractometer

1. Select a refractometer that measures what you need

Refractometers measure numerous parameters. It may seem basic but deciding what you need to measure for your known application(s) will eliminate a huge number of products.

2. Model Selection

While you’ll encounter many models, you may notice they fall into two main groups - digital refractometers and optical refractometers.

Check out the pros and cons of each meter type in the table below and decide what’s right for your needs. That will remove a chunk of time-wasting!

Digital Refractometers		Optical Refractometers
Pros	Cons	Pros	Cons
Higher resolution and accuracy Measured results are easy to understand and not up for interpretation. More user-friendly features: More recent models have NFC or Bluetooth for easy data transfer.	Require batteries or a power source Generally higher cost compared to optical models.	Most optical refractometers do not require batteries. Price: For the most part, these meters are cheaper than their digital counterparts.	Typically lower resolution and accuracy. Reading may be subjective, depending on how users interpret the scales. Users look through an eyepiece to view the scale. Associated risks are worth considering when measuring chemicals or other potentially dangerous samples.

3. Measurement Range

Your chosen parameter will have a corresponding measurement scale. Not only browse the meters that measure your required parameter – focus on devices with the scale and range you require.

Scientist’s Comment: An extended range often means reduced accuracy or a higher price. To illustrate, check out the range difference for the three Brix meters we’ve listed below. If you click the links, you can also compare current prices.

Digital Hand-held Pocket Refractometer - IC-PAL-1

Range: Brix 0.0 to 53.0%

Digital Hand-held Pocket Refractometer - IC-PAL-2

Range: Brix 45.0 to 93.0%

Digital Hand-held Pocket Refractometer - IC-PAL-3

Range: Brix 0.0 to 93.0%

4. Accuracy

Accuracy comes at a price. Generally, the more accurate, the greater the refractometer’s cost. In situations where accuracy is vital, you need a meter that meets your minimum acceptable level of accuracy. In less critical circumstances, you can get away with less precision.

5. Automatic Temperature Compensation

Automatic temperature compensation (ATC) is becoming an essential feature of refractometers. It’s because ATC massively increases the accuracy and speed of your measurements. This is done by correcting each measured value factoring for ambient temperature.

What’s the alternative? To obtain an accurate measurement using a meter without ATC, you must wait for your sample and your meter to reach an ambient temperature. If not, you’ll need to make a manual temperature adjustment calculation.

Scientist’s Comment: Your time is too valuable. Wherever possible, choose a multimeter with ATC.

6. Additional Functions & Features

Your search should be narrowed to a handful of more suitable products following the five factors listed above. Next, we recommend asking yourself the following questions.

In what environment will you use the refractometer?	Do you need a meter with a high IP rating to protect against dust and water? Are you working in a food-safe environment that requires adequate cleaning and sanitisation?
Who will be using the refractometer?	Consider the skill set of the persons expected to use the refractometer and what you would like them to achieve. A laboratory-grade refractometer with a complex interface would be overkill for everyday use. On the other hand, a basic optical meter might not cut it in a research role.
Is the meter’s design right for your task?	Hone in on refractometers design. Will you need to transport it often? Or will a benchtop meter be suitable?

7. Price

By now, you may have already found the best multimeter for your application(s). If not, comparing the prices of your short-listed models to get value for money now makes sense - but not before.

The Final Word

If you become stuck on any of the steps listed prior, contact us! Our customer service team members are qualified, experienced scientists ready and available to give professional, unbiased recommendations. We guarantee we’ll help you find the best refractometer for your needs.

Browse all refractometers here

Need more information or assistance finding the right refractometer for your application? Speak with an Instrument Choice Scientist: Call 1300 737 871 or email [email protected].