The best digital calipers

These digital calipers from Vinca are the perfect combination of affordability and accuracy and are perfect for your first pair of calipers. Accurate down to the micron (0.001mm), these calipers will give the detail measurement you need for all but the most professional jobs. The Vinca set also comes in many different lengths, from four inches to 40-inches, giving you the freedom to use them for large woodworking projects or small electronics work.

OK, these are not the most accurate calipers in the world. They only measure down to 0.01mm, but that's more than enough for a standard project. It's the price point that makes these worth your time. At such a low cost, they are perfect for learning about calipers and using them for your first projects. I particularly like the inclusion of the zero button that allows you to measure from a previous measurement.

When it comes to digital calipers, Mitutoyo is the gold standard across the world. With a resolution down to the micron and superb accuracy due to its advanced onsite sensor (AOS), these calipers are staggeringly good. To give you an idea at how small a number that is, a human hair is around 0.04mm thick so that these calipers can measure very small indeed. Resolutions like this are essential when you are creating moving parts with minimal tolerances, and while the Mitutoyo are expensive, they really are the very best you can buy.

This is an excellent middle of the road set of calipers. The accuracy is good, the price is good, and they look good. The bonus with these is the IP rating. An IP rating means it has some limited water and dust resistance, so you don't have to worry about the occasional drop of water or sawdust grinding into your gears.

Now I know this isn't a digital caliper but hear me out. On more than one occasion, I have gone to pick up my digital calipers only to find the battery dead and them to be useless. So I bought this set of dial calipers to use in a pinch. It turns out that they are excellent for accuracy around 0.01mm and have both metric and SAE measurements, making them easy to handle whatever your location.