PCE-DRA 1 is a handheld digital antifreeze refractometer used to determine the percentage or content and freezing point of propylene glycol- and ethylene glycol-based solutions. This waterproof IP65-rated digital refractometer features automatic temperature compensation (ATC) from +10 ... +40 °C / +50 ... +104 °F, as well as a large, easy-to-read LCD that shows both the measured value and the temperature.
Measurement parameters:
- Ethylene glycol %, propylene glycol %, temperature °C
- Measuring range: 0 ... 100 % ethylene glycol
- Resolution: 0.1 % / 0.1 °
- Accuracy: ±0.5 % / ±0.5 °C
- Automatic temperature compensation (ATC)
- Easy calibration with distilled water
PCE-DRC 1 is a handheld digital refractometer used to determine the specific gravity (sg) of electrolyte solution batteries as well as the freezing point of propylene or ethylene glycol-based coolants. The refractometer also works well for measuring cleaning products. This waterproof IP65-rated digital refractometer features automatic temperature compensation (ATC) from +10 ... +40 °C / +50 ... +104 °F, as well as a large, easy-to-read LCD that shows both the measured value and the temperature.
Measurement parameters:
- Coolant or antifreeze (ethylene glycol), propylene glycol,
battery acid, cleaning supplies, temperature
- Measurement range: -50 ... 0 °C
- Resolution: 0.1 °
- Accuracy: ±0.5 °C
- Automatic temperature compensation (ATC)
PCE-DRP 1 is a handheld digital refractometer used to determine the sugar content / coffee p1 / refractive index of coffee and similar liquids in the 0 ... 50 % Brix / 0 ... 25 coffee p1 / 1.3330 ... 1.4200 nD measuring range. This waterproof IP65-rated digital refractometer features automatic temperature compensation (ATC) from +10 ... +40 °C / +50 ... +104 °F, as well as a large, easy-to-read LCD that shows both the measured value and the temperature.
Measurement parameters:
- Brix, coffee p1, refractive index, temperature
- Measurement range: 0 ... 50 % Brix
- Resolution: 0.1 % Brix
- Accuracy: ±0.2 % Brix
- Automatic temperature compensation (ATC)
PCE-DRP 2 is a handheld digital refractometer used to determine the sugar content / coffee p2 of coffee and similar liquids in the 0 ... 30 % Brix / 0 ... 25 coffee p2 measuring range. This waterproof IP65-rated digital refractometer features automatic temperature compensation (ATC) from +10 ... +40 °C / +50 ... +104 °F, as well as a large, easy-to-read LCD that shows both the measured value and the temperature.
Measurement parameters:
- Brix, coffee p2, temperature
- Measurement range: 0 ... 25 coffee p2
- Resolution:0.01 coffee p2
- Accuracy: ±0.2 coffee p2
- Automatic temperature compensation (ATC)
PCE-DRS 1 is a handheld digital sodium chloride (NaCl) refractometer used to determine the salinity or salt content (%, ‰), specific gravity (SG) and refractive index (nD) of liquid. This waterproof IP65-rated digital refractometer features automatic temperature compensation (ATC) from +10 ... +40 °C / +50 ... +104 °F, as well as a large, easy-to-read LCD that shows both the measured value and the temperature.
- Measurement parameters:
- Salt content, refractive index, specific gravity, temperature
- Measurement range: 0 ... 280 ‰ salinity
- Resolution: 01 ‰
- Accuracy: ±2 ‰
- Automatic temperature compensation (ATC)
PCE-DRS 2 is a handheld digital sodium chloride (NaCl) and chlorine (Cl) refractometer used to determine the salinity or salt content (‰), chlorine content (‰), specific gravity (SG) and refractive index (nD) of liquid. This waterproof IP65-rated digital refractometer features automatic temperature compensation (ATC) from +10 ... +40 °C / +50 ... +104 °F, as well as a large, easy-to-read LCD that shows both the measured value and the temperature.
Measurement parameters:
- Salt content, chlorine content, refractive index,
specific gravity, temperature
- Measurement range: 0 ... 100 ‰ salinity / 0 ... 57 ‰ chlorine
- Resolution: 1 ‰ / 0.001 SG
- Accuracy: ±2 ‰ / ±0.002 SG
- Automatic temperature compensation (ATC)
PCE-DRU 1 is a handheld digital refractometer used to determine the urea (NH2) 2C0 (AdBlue) content / refractive index of liquid in the 0 ... 51 % / 1.3330 ... 1.4056 nD measuring range. This waterproof IP65-rated digital refractometer features automatic temperature compensation (ATC) from +10 ... +40 °C / +50 ... +104 °F, as well as a large, easy-to-read LCD that shows both the measured value and the temperature.
Measurement parameters:
Urea (NH2) 2C0, refractive index, temperature
- Measurement range: 0 ... 51 %
- Resolution: 0.1 %
- Accuracy: ±0.2 %
- Automatic temperature compensation (ATC)
PCE-DRW 1 is a handheld digital refractometer used to determine the sugar content / specific gravity of beer and similar liquids in the 0 ... 50 % Brix / 1.000 ... 1.130 d 20⁄20 measuring range. This waterproof IP65-rated digital refractometer features automatic temperature compensation (ATC) from +10 ... +40 °C / +50 ... +104 °F, as well as a large, easy-to-read LCD that shows both the measured value and the temperature.
Measurement parameters:
- Brix, specific gravity (d 20⁄20), temperature
- Measurement range: 0 ... 50 %
- Resolution: 0.1 % Brix
- Accuracy: ±0.2 % Brix
- Automatic temperature compensation (ATC)
PCE-DRW 2 is a handheld digital refractometer used to determine the sugar content / alcohol content (% vol ap) / °Oechsle (°Oe) / KMN (babo) of wine and similar liquids in the 0 ... 45 % Brix / 0 ... 22% vol ap / 3 ... 150 °Oe / 0 ... 25 KMW measuring range. This waterproof IP65-rated digital refractometer features automatic temperature compensation (ATC) from +10 ... +40 °C / +50 ... +104 °F, as well as a large, easy-to-read LCD that shows both the measured value and the temperature.
Measurement parameters:
- Brix, % vol ap, °Oechsle, KMW, temperature
- Measurement range: 0 ... 45 % Brix
- Resolution: 0.1 % Brix
- Accuracy: ±0.2 % Brix
- Automatic temperature compensation (ATC)
PCE-DRB 1 is a handheld digital refractometer used to determine the sugar content / refractive index of liquid in the 0 ... 90 % Brix / 1.3330 ... 1.5177 nD measuring range. This waterproof IP65-rated digital refractometer features automatic temperature compensation (ATC) from +10 ... +40 °C / +50 ... +104 °F, as well as a large, easy-to-read LCD that shows both the measured value and the temperature.
Measurement parameters:
- Brix, refractive index, temperature
- Measurement range: 0 ... 90 % Brix
- Resolution: 0.1 % Brix
- Accuracy: ±0.2 % Brix
- Automatic temperature compensation (ATC)
PCE-DRH 1 is a handheld digital refractometer used to determine the sugar content / water content / degrees Baumé (Bé°) / refractive index of honey in the 0 ... 90 % Brix / 5 ... 38% water / 33 ... 48 Bé° / 1.3330 ... 1.5177 nD measuring range. This waterproof IP65-rated digital refractometer features automatic temperature compensation (ATC) from +10 ... +40 °C / +50 ... +104 °F, as well as a large, easy-to-read LCD that shows both the measured value and the temperature.
Measurement parameters:
- Brix, water content, degrees Baumé (Bé°), refractive index, temperature
- Measurement range: 0 ... 90 % Brix
- Resolution: 0.1 % Brix
- Accuracy: ±0.2 % Brix
- Automatic temperature compensation (ATC)
PCE-DRB 2 is a handheld digital refractometer used to determine the refractive index and dextran, fructose, glucose, lactose and maltose content (%) of liquid. This waterproof IP65-rated digital refractometer features automatic temperature compensation (ATC) from +10 ... +40 °C / +50 ... +104 °F, as well as a large, easy-to-read LCD that shows both the measured value and the temperature.
Measurement parameters:
- Dextran, fructose, glucose, lactose, maltose, temperature
- Measurement range: 1.3330 ... 1.5177 nD
- Resolution: 0.0001 nD
- Accuracy: ±0.0003 nD
- Automatic temperature compensation (ATC)
ABBE-REF 1 is a high-precision Abbe refractometer for the accurate measurement of refractive indexes (nD), sucrose or sugar contents (% Brix) and mean dispersion values (nF-nC) of transparent and translucent liquids and substances. This bench-top Abbe refractometer can be used to determine refractive indexes in a temperature range from 0 ... +70 ºC (temperature control included).
Measurement ranges:
1.300 ... 1.700 nD / 0.0 ... 95 % Brix
- Scale division: 0.0005 nD / 0.25 % Brix
- Resolution and accuracy: 0.0002 nD / 0.1 % Brix
PCE-010 is a handheld refractometer used to determine the % Brix (sucrose or sugar content) of low-concentration translucent liquids such as fruit and vegetable juices, maple sap and industrial coolants. This portable pocket Brix refractometer is specially designed to provide high-accuracy readings.
- Measurement range: 0 ... 10 % Brix
- Resolution: 0.1 %
- Accuracy: ±0.1 %
PCE-018 is a handheld refractometer used to determine the % Brix (sucrose or sugar content) of low-concentration translucent liquids such as fruit and vegetable juices, maple sap and industrial coolants. This portable pocket Brix refractometer is specially designed to provide high-accuracy readings.
- Measurement range: 0 ... 18% Brix
- Resolution: 0.1 %
- Accuracy: ±0.1 %
PCE-032 is a handheld refractometer used to determine the % Brix (sucrose or sugar content) of translucent liquids such as grape juice, fruit juice, wine and beer. Thus, this portable pocket Brix refractometer is the ideal tool for winemakers, vineyard managers and brewers.
- Measurement range: 0 ... 32 % Brix
- Resolution: 0.2 %
- Accuracy: ±0.2 %
PCE-4582 is a handheld refractometer used to determine the % Brix (sucrose or sugar content) of high-concentration translucent liquids such as condensed milk, jam, jelly and concentrated juice. This portable pocket Brix refractometer is specially designed to provide high-accuracy readings.
- Measurement range: 45 ... 82% Brix
- Resolution: 0.5 %
- Accuracy: ±0.5 %
PCE-5890 is a handheld refractometer used to determine the % Brix (sucrose or sugar content), % water content and degrees Baumé (density) of honey. This portable pocket honey refractometer has a triple scale to allow the user to view all three measurement parameters at once.
- Measurement range: 58 ... 90% Brix, 12 ... 27%
water content, 35 ... 43 Bé°
- Resolution: 0.5 % or °
- Accuracy: ±0.5 % or °
PCE-ALK is a handheld refractometer used to determine the % volume of alcohol content (vol%) of pure alcohols and alcoholic solutions. For best results, use this refractometer with sugar-free, pigment-free alcoholic solutions.
- Measurement range: 0 to 80% (% volume of alcohol content)
- Resolution: 1 vol% (0 ... 60 vol%); 2 vol% (60 ... 80 vol%)
- Accuracy: ±1%
PCE-Oe is a handheld refractometer used by winemakers to determine the sugar content of unfermented grape juice to predict the alcohol content of wine. This portable pocket winemaker's refractometer has a triple scale to allow the user to view all three measurement parameters at once.
- Measurement range: 0 ... 90 °Oe, 0 ... 44% Brix /
sac, 0 ... 25 KMN / babo
- Resolution: 1 °Oe, 0.2% Brix, 0.2 KMN
- Accuracy: ±2 °Oe, ±0.2% Brix, ±0.5 KMN
If you're in need of a refractometer, you've come to the right place. To help you determine which refractometer model will best meet your needs, ask yourself the following questions before purchasing.
Do you need a portable or stationary refractometer?
Your answer to this question depends largely on the nature of the refractomer's intended use. Will you be measuring the refractive index in a laboratory or on a manufacturing production line where you will remain in the same place taking repetitive measurements with your refractometer? Or will you be measuring the refractive index on the go, in the field or in many different scenarios and locations?
An Abbe refractometer typically is a tabletop or benchtop device for stationary use. Analog or digital handheld refractometers usually are lightweight 
and portable, with some even capable of being stored in your pocket. These pocket-size refractometers especially are handy for taking on-the-spot measurements in breweries, vineyards and even automotive body shops.
What measurement accuracy is required?
An analog handheld refractometer with an optical reading scale should have an accuracy of ± 0.5% Brix. A modern digital handheld refractometer should have an accuracy of ± 0.2% Brix. The accuracy of an ABBE refractometer should be ± 0.3% Brix.
Because refractive index is temperature dependent, to ensure the most accurate measurement readings using any refractometer, it is important to allow the sample, refractometer and ambient temperatures to equalize before measuring. This step is essential, even when using a refractometer with automatic temperature compensation. To know whether the temperatures have come to an equilibrium, take five measurements in a row. The readings should not vary by more than the stated accuracy or precision of the refractometer.
Is a calibration certificate needed for your refractometer?
All refractometers from PCE Instruments (PCE) are manufacturer or factory calibrated. PCE's handheld and Abbe refractometer models also can be zeroed or calibrated at any time by the user.
For companies requiring an ISO calibration certificate, many PCE refractometer products can be calibrated in an ISO-certified laboratory environment against certain reference standards (certified test fluids). Refractometer models with an ISO calibration option will feature an ISO calibration certificate as an accessory available for an additional fee.
In the following, you can see some example indicator scales of some refractometers. If the measurement parameters you require are not available with the products we offer, please do as described below or get in touch with our engineers and technicians who are happy to give advice on our refractometers
Refractometer for beekepers
Refractometer for salt content
Refractometer for antifreeze
For example, if the result is 12.9 % Brix, you can do a dry test of the same substance in a drying cabinet or a chemical analysis of it in a laboratory. In this example, the result is 8.2 % solids content.
You now have to divide the two results (12.9 : 8.2). Result = 1.57. Now you know the correlation between the refractometer and the laboratory result. If you now use the refractometer for in-process or field measurements, you only need to divide the measured value by 1.57 to get the actual laboratory value.
Follow the links to find some more information about our refractometers (Conversion charts ) as well as detailed instructionsto compare refractive values measured by different refractometers. Lots of our refractometers display the reading in degrees Brix. A liquid has one degree Brix (=1 % Brix) if it has the same density as a solution of 1 g of sucrose in 99 g of water. It has 10 Brix (=10 % Brix) if it has the same density as a solution of 10 g of sucrose in 90 g of water. The sucrose serves as the reference for the sugar content. The amount of soluble dry solids in a 
liquid (and thus approximately the sugar content) is usually displayed in "degrees Brix" (° Brix). This indirectly provides an objective value of the ripeness of a fruit. Some EC marketing standards (e. g. for kiwi fruits and melons) now stipulate that a „sufficiently ripe“ fruit must fulfil certain Brix values. This unit of measurement which is very common in the use of refractometers is named after Adolf F. Brix, a scientist of the 19th century who developed this calibration in 1870 in order to determine the sugar content of liquids. The EC marketing standards for kiwi fruit and melons / watermelons expressly stipulate that the Brix value must be measured with a refractometer in order to determine the harvest maturity of fruit. The Abbe refractometer is a special type of refractometer. This type of refractometer is an optical device that determines the refractive index of liquids. It is a total refractometer, which means that its measuring principle is based on the fact that the critical angle of the total reflection at an interface depends on the refractive indices of the involved optical media. The total reflection takes place at the interface between the glass prism with a known, high refractive index and the liquid to be measured which is optically thinner and has a lower refractive index. The interior design of the Abbe refractometer enables precise determination of the critical angle with a thin liquid layer which is applied between two glass prisms. These refractometers are available in our online shop.
In this video, you can see how an analogue refractometer is used. You can see the optical indicator scales of the refractometer. The first refractometer you see is the PCE-4582 for concentrated juice, evaporated milk, honey, jams, marmalades and emulsions. After that, the sugar content of raspberry juice is measured with the refractometer PCE-2862 . The result is 51 Brix. Then, you can see how the winegrower refractometer PCE-Oe is used for wine analysis. This refractometer has a triple scale for Oechlse, sucarose / Brix and KMN/Babo.
Should you require additional assistance in determining the right refractometer product for your application, please don't hesistate to contact us at or +44 (0) 2380 987 035 for PCE Instruments UK, or or +1 (561) 320-9162 for PCE Americas Inc.
