Best Photographic Light Meters of 2026

Alan Eaton Avatar
Alan Eaton
Last Updated: Jan 7, 2026

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Photographic light meters are essential tools for photographers who want to achieve accurate and consistent exposure in their photographs. These devices measure the intensity of light in a scene and provide precise readings for shutter speed, aperture, and ISO settings. Whether shooting indoors or outdoors, in natural or artificial light, a light meter can help photographers capture images with the correct exposure, resulting in well-balanced and properly lit photos. From handheld models to those integrated into cameras, there are a variety of light meters available to suit different needs and budgets.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Dr.meter LX1330B Digital Illuminance Light Meter Cover #TOP 1
Dr.meter LX1330B Digital Illuminance Light Meter
ftb score rating icon 9.8
TOPTES TS-710 Light Meter Cover #TOP 2
TOPTES TS-710 Light Meter
ftb score rating icon 9.7
Handheld Digital Light Meter with Ambient Temperature Measurement Cover #TOP 3
Handheld Digital Light Meter with Ambient Temperature Measurement
ftb score rating icon 9.5

Top 10 Photographic Light Meters

#TOP 1

Dr.meter LX1330B Digital Illuminance Light Meter

1330B-V
Dr.meter LX1330B Digital Illuminance Light Meter Cover
Dr.meter LX1330B Digital Illuminance Light Meter, 0-200,000 Measurement Range Lux Meter, Lighting Intensity Brightness Measurement for Indoor Outdoor, Light Meters for Plants

The Dr.meter LX1330B Digital Illuminance Light Meter is a high-quality light meter with a 4-range setting for a dynamic metering ability. It features high accuracy with auto zeroing capabilities and an EZ-Read display for easy readability. The meter also has convenient switches for better control over your readings, including Data Hold & Peak Data hold. Its portability makes it easy to bring anywhere, fitting easily into a work bag or large pocket.

What We Like
4-range settings for dynamic metering ability
High accuracy with auto zeroing capabilities
EZ-Read display for easy readability
#TOP 2

TOPTES TS-710 Light Meter

TS-710
Orange
TOPTES TS-710 Light Meter Cover
TopTes TS-710 Light Meter, Lux/Foot Candles Meter with 180º Rotating Sensor, 0.1~200,000 Lux Range, Large Backlit Display, Light Meter for Plants, Car Headlights, Home & Office LEDs (Includes Battery)

The TOPTES TS-710 Light Meter is a versatile tool designed for precise light measurements. With its 180° rotating sensor and 2.25" backlit LCD screen, you can easily measure light from multiple angles and read the results even in low-light conditions. This light meter offers a wide range of measurement units, allowing you to optimize the lighting for your plants or diagnose and fix issues with car headlights or LED bulbs in your home. It also features a multi-functional design, with the ability to measure ambient temperature and humidity, record MAX/MIN values, and hold data. With its user-friendly features and reliable performance, the TOPTES Light Meter is a must-have for photographers, plant enthusiasts, and anyone looking to ensure consistent lighting in their environment.

What We Like
Precise light measurements
Versatile applications
Multi-functional design
#TOP 3

Handheld Digital Light Meter with Ambient Temperature Measurement

URCERI
4332004118
Yellow
small
Handheld Digital Light Meter with Ambient Temperature Measurement Cover
Light Meter Digital Illuminance Meter Handheld Ambient Temperature Measurer, Range up to 200,000 Lux, Luxmeter with 4 Digit Color LCD Screen

This handheld digital light meter measures luminosity from 0 to 200,000 Lux and ambient temperature with high accuracy. It features a 4 digit color LCD screen, MIN/Max readings, data hold, auto power off, and low battery indication. The wide range of application makes it perfect for set design, factory, office or home use. It is also lightweight and compact, which makes it easy to carry around.

What We Like
High accuracy of ±3% rdg ± 8 dgts (10,000 Lux)
4 digital color LCD screen, MIN/Max readings, data hold, auto power off, and low battery indication
Wide range of application, suitable for set design, factory, office or home use
#TOP 4

Cheffort Digital Lux Meter

AS803
Cheffort Digital Lux Meter Cover
Cheffort Digital Lux Meter, Illuminometer, Photometer, 0~200,000 Lux Measure Range, Lux/FC Unit Selection for Homes, Agriculture, Warehouses, Farms, Stage, Stadiums

The Cheffort Lux Meter is a reliable tool designed to measure light intensity with precision. It uses advanced silicon diode sensors to ensure accurate readings, helping you get consistent and trustworthy data. With a quick 1-second response time, you can capture measurements fast, saving you time during your tasks. The device also features a handy MAX/MIN data hold function, allowing you to easily track and save the highest and lowest light levels without hassle. Its large LED backlit screen makes it simple to read measurements even in low-light conditions, so you can work comfortably anytime and anywhere.

What We Like
High measurement accuracy
Fast 1-second response
Data hold for max/min values
Large LED backlit display
Automatic power-saving
#TOP 5

Mcbazel Digital Illuminance Light Meter

MT-gf-020485
Mcbazel Digital Illuminance Light Meter Cover
Mcbazel Digital Illuminance Light Meter, Photometer Light Intensity Sense Tester with LCD Display,Lux Meter Range up to 200,000 Lux for Grow Plants/Photography/Indoor/Garden

The Mcbazel Light Meter offers precise light measurements with an accuracy of ±3% plus 10 digits, helping you get reliable results whether you're working in photography, gardening, or indoor lighting. Its wide range can measure brightness up to 200,000 LUX, so you can handle very bright environments easily. The meter is designed for your convenience, allowing you to switch between LUX and foot-candle units quickly, and its clear LCD with backlight ensures you can read measurements even in dark spaces. Additionally, it shows you the highest and lowest light levels recorded and lets you freeze readings on the display, making it easier to track and record your results accurately.

What We Like
High accuracy
Wide measuring range
Easy unit switching
Backlit LCD display
Max/min and data hold
#TOP 6

UNI-T UT383 Digital Illuminance Meter

UT38321
UT383
UNI-T UT383 Digital Illuminance Meter Cover
UNI-T UT383 Light Meter Lux Meter Lumens Digital Illuminance Meter 0~199,900 Lux (0~18,500 FC) Foot Candles Luxmeter for Film Photography Plants Photometer Lighting Intensity Brightness Measurement

The UNI-T UT383 Digital Illuminance Meter is a professional and compact device that accurately measures light intensity in units of Lux or FC with a range of 0199,900Lux / 018,500Fc and high accuracy of ±(4%+8). Its large 4 digital LCD screen with backlight, 0.5s sampling time, overload indication, Max/Min, data hold, low battery indicator, and auto shutdown features make it easy to use and power-saving. Widely used in various scenarios, it comes with a gift box, a paper manual, and an e-Manual (free download).

What We Like
Accurately measures light intensity in units of Lux or FC
Compact, easy to use, and power-saving features
Widely used in various scenarios
#TOP 7

Sekonic L-308X-U Flashmate Light Meter

401-305
Black
Sekonic L-308X-U Flashmate Light Meter Cover
Sekonic L-308X-U Flashmate Light Meter (401-305)

The Sekonic L-308X-U Flashmate Light Meter is a versatile tool for photographers and videographers. With accurate exposure readings, it can measure both ambient and electronic flash light readings in full-stop mode. In addition, it has Photo Mode for still image photographers and HD Cine Mode for videographers who need to control light using shutter speeds and frame rates. The Cine Mode is designed for use with cinema grade cameras to provide one-tenth stop accuracy in exposure control.

What We Like
Accurate exposure readings down to a tenth-of-a-stop
Versatile tool for photographers and videographers
Measures both ambient and electronic flash light readings in full-stop mode
#TOP 8

BTMETER BT-881E Digital Illuminance/Light Meter

CA-BT-881 C/D/E
BTMETER BT-881E Digital Illuminance/Light Meter Cover
BTMETER BT-881E Digital Illuminance/Light Meter, Measure Lights 0.01~300,000 Lux (0.01~30,000 FC) Foot Candles, Par Meter Luxmeter for Plants Aquarium Light Tester

The BTMETER BT-881E Digital Illuminance/Light Meter is a highly accurate device that can instantly measure the amount of light you are getting with a 0.4 second response time. With a wide measuring range of 0.01300,000 Lux (0.0130,000 FC) and a resolution of 0.01, you can use this device for home, garden, aquarium, plants, school, office, state, LED lights, indoor and outdoor purposes. The light sensor can be rotated 270º for easy measuring from different angles, and it can memorize up to 33 sets of readings.

What We Like
Highly accurate readings
Fast response time
Wide measuring range
Rotatable light sensor for easy measuring from different angles
Can memorize up to 33 sets of readings
#TOP 9

BTMETER BT-881D Digital Illuminance Light Meter

935994
BTMETER BT-881D Digital Illuminance Light Meter Cover
BTMETER BT-881D Digital Illuminance Light Meter, Measure Lights 0.01~400,000 Lux (0.01~40,000 FC) Foot Candles Luxmeter with 270º Rotated Sensor for Plants LED Lights Indoor Outdoor Light Tester

The BTMETER Light Meter is a high-accuracy device that instantly measures the luminosity intensity you're getting. With a response time of 0.4 seconds, it samples 2-3 times per second, so you no longer have to guess. Its wide measuring range of 0.01-400,000 Lumens and resolution of 0.01 makes it ideal for measuring light intensity for LED grow lights, gardens, plants, schools, offices, states, LED lights, indoor and outdoor. The light sensor can be rotated 270º, allowing you to measure luminosity intensity from different angles without the need to turn around the light meter. Finally, the BTMETER Light Meter can record 33 sets of readings and has a relative measuring mode that shows you the difference between current and recorded data.

What We Like
High-accuracy
Fast response
Wide measuring range
#TOP 10

Soonkoda S8608 Digital Illuminance Light Meter

S8608
Soonkoda S8608 Digital Illuminance Light Meter Cover
Digital Illuminance Light Meter Tester 200,000Lux Meter (18,500FC) Luxmeter Lighting Intensity Brightness Measurement Tool for Indoor Outdoor Grow Plants Film Photography lumens LED Photometer

The Soonkoda S8608 Light Meter is a versatile tool designed to measure visible brightness easily and accurately. With a wide measuring range reaching up to 200,000 LUX, it allows you to check light levels in various settings, from homes to schools or factories. You can switch between different units like LUX and foot-candles to get the measurement that suits your needs best. The large screen display makes it simple to read the results quickly, helping you monitor lighting conditions efficiently whether you’re growing plants, shooting photos, or managing indoor lighting.

What We Like
Wide measuring range
Unit conversion (LUX/FC)
Large screen display
Versatile usage locations
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Do professional photographers use light meters?

Yes, professional photographers have been using light meters for a long time. Light meters help them measure the amount of light in a given environment, allowing for precise exposure control and better image quality.

2. Should I use a light meter for photography?

Using a light meter is highly recommended in photography because it helps the camera determine the correct exposure settings based on the available light. Without proper light metering, you may end up with underexposed or overexposed images, even in well-lit conditions.

3. What is the difference between a light meter and a camera light meter?

A light meter measures the incident light falling on the subject, while a camera's built-in metering system measures the light reflected by the subject and other elements in the scene. Using a light meter allows for more accurate and precise exposure control.

4. Do digital photographers use light meters?

While modern digital cameras have built-in light metering systems, some digital photographers still prefer using external light meters for more precise exposure control and to have greater creative control over their images.

5. What is the Sunny 16 rule?

The Sunny 16 rule is a guideline for achieving proper exposure in bright, sunny conditions. It suggests setting the aperture to f/16 and using a shutter speed that is the inverse of the film speed or ISO. This rule can be a helpful starting point when manual metering is required.

6. Are phones good light meters?

Yes, there are light meter apps available for smartphones that can accurately measure light levels. These apps can be a convenient alternative to dedicated light meters, providing reliable light measurements for photography purposes.

7. What is the best metering mode for photography?

The best metering mode depends on various factors such as the subject, its position in the frame, and the lighting conditions. For general purposes, matrix/multi-zone metering is often considered the most versatile and reliable metering mode.

8. What are the disadvantages of a light meter?

Some disadvantages of light meters include the need for additional information such as lamp orientation, distance, and task plane area to make accurate comparisons. It can also be challenging to compare illuminance products based solely on illuminance measurements.

9. What are the two types of light meters?

There are two types of light meters - incident and reflective. An incident light meter measures all the light falling onto a subject, while a reflective light meter measures the light reflected by the subject and the surrounding background. Incident light meters are helpful in achieving accurate exposure regardless of the brightness of the background.

10. Can you use a DSLR as a light meter?

Some photographers use their DSLR cameras as light meters by adjusting the manual settings and checking the histogram to ensure proper exposure. However, dedicated light meters offer more precise and reliable measurements for accurate exposure control.

Editor's Notes

During our photographic light meter research, we found 16 photographic light meter products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 42,213 customer reviews through our big data system to write the photographic light meters list. We found that most customers choose photographic light meters with an average price of $28.27.

The photographic light meters are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of photographic light meters, including Dr.meter, TOPTES, URCERI, Cheffort, Mcbazel. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 1,442 consumers with an average rating of 4.9.

Written by
Alan Eaton Avatar

Alan Eaton is a seasoned writer whose expertise is in anything related to electronics, such as headphones, monitoring equipment, computer, and so on, built over a 15-year career in the technology industry. Working in the trade during his youth, he accumulated a great deal of knowledge about machinery.