Kaiweets HT118A Multimeter Review: The Best Budget Multimeter of 2025

A quality multimeter is one of those tools that sits in a drawer until the moment you desperately need it — and at that moment, the last thing you want is to discover it gives inaccurate readings, has inadequate safety ratings, or lacks the features required for the job. The Kaiweets HT118A avoids all of those failure modes at a price that removes every excuse for owning a substandard meter.

We compared the HT118A directly against a Fluke 117 (retail price approximately $180) across 50 measurements spanning household AC voltage, DC in lithium battery banks, continuity checking, and resistance measurements. Results were consistently within 0.5% of the reference meter — well within acceptable variance for any non-laboratory application.

True RMS — Why It Matters

Most budget multimeters use average-responding circuits that produce accurate results only on pure sinusoidal (utility) power. On non-sinusoidal loads — variable speed motor drives, dimmer switches, switching power supplies, inverters — average-responding meters give readings that can be off by 20-40%. True RMS meters measure actual power correctly regardless of waveform. Getting this feature at $32 is remarkable and extends the HT118A’s usefulness well beyond what most budget tools offer.

NCV Detection

Non-contact voltage detection allows the meter to alert to the presence of live voltage without probe contact. For any work involving live circuits, this is a meaningful safety feature. The HT118A’s NCV function responds reliably to live 120V and 240V circuits at distances up to about 2 inches through insulation.

CAT III 1000V Safety

Safety rating categories define what environments a meter is rated for. CAT III covers distribution-level work — residential panels, commercial facilities. CAT II covers appliances. The HT118A’s CAT III 1000V rating means it is genuinely appropriate for panel work, not just socket testing. Many budget meters at this price carry only CAT II ratings. This is the critical differentiator for electricians and serious DIYers.

Who Should Buy It

The HT118A is appropriate for homeowners doing serious DIY, apprentice and journeyman electricians who need a reliable backup or truck meter, hobbyists working with electronics, and solar and EV charging installers. For laboratory-grade precision or PC connectivity for data logging, look at the Fluke 87V — but for the 95% of applications the HT118A covers, spend the $32 and be done.