How to choose a force gauge
By Grant, Inspection Tool Specialists. Reviewed November 2026.
Three things decide which force gauge you need: what you are measuring (a push or pull on a part, the tension in a belt, rope or wire, or the closing force of a door), the largest load you will apply, and how the results must be recorded. Answer those and the range narrows quickly.
This guide covers digital force gauges, belt, rope and wire tension meters, wireless tension dynamometers, closing-force systems and torque meters.
Push, pull or tension?
| Application | Instrument type | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Push or pull on a component or assembly | Digital force gauge, with a test stand for repeatable tests | Snap-fit tests, switch actuation, spring checks, production sampling |
| Tension in a belt on a drive | Belt tension tester | Setting and checking drive belt tension during maintenance |
| Tension in a wire, cable or rope | Wire, cable or rope tension meter, or a clamp-on dynamometer | Guy wires, lifting slings, cable checks on site |
| Closing force of a door, gate or window | Closing-force measuring device | Elevator doors, sliding roofs, tailgates, window regulators, rail and bus doors |
| Torque on a cap, fitting or shaft | Torque meter | Bottle caps, fasteners and drive torque |
Choose a capacity above your largest load
Choose a gauge whose capacity is above the largest force you will apply, with a margin, rather than one that is only close. A gauge with far more capacity than you need gives coarser readings at low loads. Recently we were asked for a 50 to 250 kN rope dynamometer with no exact match in range: the nearest options were a 200 kN unit, which is too small for the top of that range, and a 500 kN unit, which covers it but reads coarsely at the bottom. Tell us your minimum and maximum loads and we can show where each option fits.
Belt tension
A belt tension tester needs the belt type, the belt width and the free span between the pulleys to give a useful reading. Tell us the range you need if you know it. Our portable belt testers range from about R8,800 to over R16,000, and the choice depends on the drive and how you need to read it.
Wire, cable and rope tension
Wire and rope tension meters measure the load in a line in place. Check the diameter range before you buy. A guy-wire job, for example, needs a meter with a quick-adjustment mechanism that fits the full range of wire diameters on the mast or tower, and it has to fit the space at the anchor point. For lifting and load-bearing work, the procedure and any lifting regulations that apply set the requirement, so check them before you choose the equipment.
Closing force on doors and windows
Closing-force measuring devices are fitted to the door, window or roof for the test, and record the force as it closes. They are used on elevator doors, sliding roofs, tailgates, window regulators and rail and bus doors. These systems are among the higher-priced items in our range, so confirm the standard or specification the test must meet before you order.
What affects the reading?
- Alignment: pull or push along the axis of the gauge. An angled pull reads low, and side loads can damage the gauge.
- Peak or live: many gauges hold the peak value. Choose one that shows live readings if you need the force during the movement.
- Records: USB, Bluetooth or wireless output if readings must go into a report or be logged.
- Checks: verify the gauge against a known load before a batch of tests, and keep the record. Calibration certificates are available at extra cost on many models.
Which gauge should I buy?
| Application | Suggested starting point |
|---|---|
| Quick push and pull checks, tight budget | FG107 digital force gauge |
| Precise tests from 5 N to 1 kN | PCE-DFG 200 X digital force gauge (other capacities in the PCE-DFG X series) |
| Push and pull sets for the bench | EFG10S-S push-pull set, with the FGS-1 test stand |
| Belt tension on a drive | AT-180S belt tension tester or PCE-BTM 2000A |
| Wire or cable tension | LTMS wire and cable tension meter |
| Rope tension, clamp-on | TMI-RT clamp-on rope tension meter |
| Heavy tension with wireless readout | GWD200 10 t wireless tension dynamometer (3 t to 50 t capacities available) |
| Closing force on sliding roofs and tailgates | FM208 closing-force device |
| Torque on caps and fittings | TG-104 digital torque meter |
As a guide to our current range, including VAT: digital force gauges from about R6,100 to about R32,000, depending on capacity and features; belt and rope tension meters from about R8,800 to about R46,000; wireless tension dynamometers from about R19,000 to R85,000; closing-force systems from about R41,000 upwards; torque meters from about R10,700. Prices change, so check the product pages.
Questions we will ask you
Tell us the load range (minimum and maximum, in newtons, kilograms or kN), whether you are pushing, pulling or measuring tension, the wire, rope or belt details, the access you have, whether readings must be stored or reported, and the standard or specification you must meet. With that we can recommend a gauge and provide pricing.