How to choose a universal hardness tester
By Grant, Inspection Tool Specialists. Reviewed November 2026.
Three things decide which hardness tester you need: the scale your specification names (Rockwell, Brinell, Vickers or Knoop), the sample you test (its size, surface and hardness range), and whether you need automatic readings and records. Answer those first.
This guide covers bench hardness testers for metals. Portable and rubber or plastic testers are covered in our hardness tester guide.
Which scale?
| Scale | Indenter and load | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Rockwell (HRC, HRB) | Diamond or ball, quick reading from the depth of indent | Heat-treated steel and general workshop testing |
| Brinell (HB) | Large ball and high load, averages over coarse structure | Castings, forgings and softer steels |
| Vickers (HV) | Diamond pyramid, small loads | Thin sections, case depths, platings and small parts |
| Knoop | Elongated diamond indent, small loads | Very thin layers and brittle materials |
One machine or several?
A universal tester covers several scales by changing the indenter and load. It suits laboratories and heat-treatment shops that must report in whichever scale the customer asks. A dedicated Rockwell or Brinell tester is cheaper if you need only one scale and high throughput.
Manual, digital or automatic
Manual testers rely on the operator to read the indent, which is slower and open to error. Digital testers measure the indent electronically. Vision and optical systems measure Brinell and Vickers indents automatically from an image. Automation costs more, and pays back where you test many samples or must keep consistent records.
Calibration
Check each scale on certified reference blocks before a batch, and keep the record. Confirm which reference blocks each quote includes, because they are needed for every scale you test.
Our range
| Application | Suggested starting point |
|---|---|
| Manual Rockwell, workshop, tight budget | HR-150 manual Rockwell tester |
| Digital Rockwell for industrial quality control | DigiRock industrial QC Rockwell or Rock-150 digital Rockwell |
| Universal, several scales | DigiRock BRV2 universal tester or DigiRock BRV3 touch screen |
| Brinell, closed loop | Brinell-3000 closed-loop Brinell tester |
| Brinell with optical measurement | Vision SHB-3000X Brinell tester |
| Vickers, digital | SV Series digital Vickers tester |
| Micro Vickers and Knoop | MicroVicky VH1010 micro Vickers and Knoop tester |
| Micro Vickers, advanced | Vexus MHV-1000Z micro Vickers tester |
As a guide to our current range, including VAT: manual Rockwell testers from about R29,200; digital Rockwell testers from about R46,400; Brinell testers from about R67,700; Vickers testers from about R91,000; universal testers from about R74,700, with optical universal systems up to about R820,000. Prices change, so check the product pages and confirm the reference blocks each quote includes.
Questions we will ask you
Tell us the hardness scale and range your specification names, the material and the size and shape of the sample, whether you need several scales on one machine, whether readings must be automatic and recorded, whether testing is in a laboratory or a workshop, and the standard you test to. With that we can recommend a tester and provide pricing.