How to choose a weather or wind meter
By Grant, Inspection Tool Specialists. Reviewed November 2026.
Three things decide which wind or weather instrument you need: whether you need a handheld reading or a fixed installation with alarms, whether you measure outdoor wind or airflow in ducts, and whether the readings must be logged or sent to a control system. Answer those first.
Which instrument?
| Need | Instrument | Typical in our range |
|---|---|---|
| Quick wind speed check, tight budget | Digital anemometer | WT82 digital anemometer |
| Airflow in ducts and HVAC | Pitot tube or vane anemometer | PCE-HVAC 2 pitot tube anemometer; PCE-VA 11 vane anemometer |
| Wind speed for crane and lifting work | Wind speed alarm controller | PCE-WSAC 50 wind alarm controller; PCE-WSAC 50W+ wireless alarm and logger |
| Weather station with logging | Weather station | CWG 2 weather station; PCE-FWS 20N-2 station |
| Ultrasonic wind sensing for fixed sites | Ultrasonic wind sensor | Ultrasonic anemometer |
Calibration and siting
Anemometers read differently depending on where and how they are held or mounted. Mount fixed sensors clear of obstructions, keep handheld readings at the same height and position, and check the instrument against a reference where the reading matters.
Price guide
As a guide to our current range, including VAT: digital anemometers from about R1,200; cup, vane and pitot anemometers from about R4,900 to R23,500; wind alarm controllers from about R13,000 to R37,500; weather stations from about R11,700; ultrasonic sensors from about R34,900 to R62,000. Prices change, so check the product pages and confirm the mounting and software each quote includes.
Questions we will ask you
Tell us whether you need a handheld reading or a fixed installation, the wind speed range, whether you measure outdoor wind or airflow in ducts, whether you need alarms or outputs to a control system, the logging you need, and the procedure or standard you follow. With that we can recommend an instrument and provide pricing.