COMPARISON · MULTIMETERS
Fluke 115 vs Fluke 87V: Key Differences
The short answer: buy the Fluke 115 if you need a reliable True RMS meter for building wiring, appliances and general field service up to 600 V; buy the Fluke 87V if you probe service equipment, work above 600 V, tune instrument loops, chase flame-sensor microamps or troubleshoot motor drives. Both are True RMS Flukes we own and have used, but the 87V belongs to a different class: CAT IV rating, ten-times-tighter DC accuracy, low-current ranges, temperature, a drive filter and a lifetime warranty.
By the OhmSavvy Research Team ·
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Fluke 115
4.8★★★★★The same Fluke reliability as the 117, in the same body, without the electrician-specific extras (NCV, AutoVolt, LoZ).
Fluke 87V
4.8★★★★★The step-up pick for anyone who needs CAT IV protection and high-resolution readings daily.
Specs side by side
| Fluke 115 | Fluke 87V | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.8★★★★★ | 4.8★★★★★ |
| Accuracy | True RMS | True RMS |
| Safety rating | CAT III 600V | CAT III 1000V / CAT IV 600V |
| Auto-ranging | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Field technicians, general electrical and electronics work | Industrial technicians, daily professional use |
| Max voltage | 600 V AC/DC | 1000 V AC/DC |
| Display | 6,000 counts | 6,000 counts; 19,999 in high-res mode |
| Analog bar graph | 33 segments | 32 segments, 40 updates/s |
| DC volts accuracy | ±(0.5% + 2) | ±(0.05% + 1) |
| AC volts accuracy | ±(1.0% + 3), 45 to 500 Hz | ±(0.7% + 2) |
| Current ranges | 6 A and 10 A only; 1 mA best resolution | 10 A (20 A for 30 s), mA and µA; 0.01 µA DC resolution |
| Resistance | To 40 MΩ | To 50 MΩ |
| Capacitance | 1 nF to 9,999 µF | To 9,999 µF |
| Frequency / duty cycle | To 50 kHz (2020 manual: 99.99 kHz) / Not stated | To 200 kHz / yes |
| Temperature | No (Fluke 116 only) | -200 °C to 1090 °C excl. probe; 80BK probe included |
| Recording | Min/Max/Avg with elapsed time | Min/Max plus 250 µs Peak Capture |
| Drive low-pass filter | No | Yes, 3 dB at 1 kHz |
| Size / weight | 167 × 84 × 46 mm, 550 g | Size not stated; 355 g (624 g in holster) |
| Battery | One 9 V, about 400 h | About 400 h |
| Warranty | 3 years | Lifetime |
Specs checked against manufacturer documentation and official Amazon listings. Both products hands-on tested by OhmSavvy. How we research.
Key differences
- →Safety category: the 87V carries CAT IV 600V and CAT III 1000V; the 115 stops at CAT III 600V, which excludes the service entrance and anything over 600 V.
- →DC precision: Fluke lists ±(0.05% + 1) for the 87V against ±(0.5% + 2) for the 115, and only the 87V offers a 19,999-count high-resolution mode.
- →Low current: the 115 has no mA or µA input and resolves 1 mA at best. The 87V has dedicated mA and µA ranges down to 0.01 µA DC.
- →Industrial extras exist only on the 87V: thermocouple temperature, duty cycle, 200 kHz frequency, a low-pass filter for drive outputs and 250 µs Peak Capture.
- →Identical on paper: True RMS, capacitance to 9,999 µF, an analog bar graph, roughly 400 hours per battery, and no non-contact or LoZ function on either.
- →The bare 87V is lighter (355 g against 550 g), and its warranty is lifetime rather than three years.
What the two meters share
It helps to start with the overlap, because it is bigger than the gap in cost suggests. Both read AC volts and amps as True RMS, so neither is fooled by the distorted current of an LED driver or a switch-mode supply. Both auto-range, both have an analog bar graph that moves faster than the digits, both measure capacitance up to 9,999 µF for motor-run and supply capacitors, and both run around 400 hours on a battery. Neither has non-contact voltage detection or a low-impedance ghost-voltage input; for those, the Fluke 117 is the model to look at.
OhmSavvy bought and used both meters, so each carries our Hands-on Tested badge. We haven't published bench measurements from that use, so every number on this page comes from Fluke's spec tabs and datasheet. Where Fluke's own documents disagree (the 115's top frequency is 50 kHz on the datasheet and 99.99 kHz in the 2020 manual), we say so.
Fluke 115 vs 87V differences in numbers
The accuracy gap is easiest to see on a real reading. Take a 12.60 V DC battery bus. On its 60.00 V range the 115's ±(0.5% + 2) works out to 0.063 V plus two counts of 0.01 V, about ±0.08 V. The 87V's ±(0.05% + 1) gives 0.0063 V plus one count, about ±0.016 V. Both are fine for "is it charged?"; only the 87V is tight enough to judge a few tens of millivolts of voltage drop across a connection or to check a reference against its tolerance.
Current: the gap most buyers miss
On a spec sheet both meters "measure 10 A", but the 115 has only 6 A and 10 A ranges. Its best resolution is 1 mA, and it has no separate mA or µA jack. The 87V adds both low-current ranges and resolves DC current to 0.01 µA, which is 100,000 times finer.
Two common jobs show why it matters. A 4-20 mA transmitter loop has a 16 mA span, so on the 115 each 1 mA step is 1 ÷ 16 = 6.25% of the span: you can see the loop is alive, but not whether it reads 50% or 53%. A furnace flame sensor usually runs a few microamps, which the 115 can't see at all. If either job is on your list, see our guides to multimeters for 4-20 mA loop testing and measuring microamps.
Temperature, recording and drive work
| Feature | Fluke 115 | Fluke 87V |
|---|---|---|
| Thermocouple input | None | -200 to 1090 °C, 80BK probe (-40 to 260 °C) in the box |
| Min/Max recording | Min/Max/Avg with elapsed time | Min/Max |
| Fast-event capture | No | 250 µs Peak Capture |
| VFD output reading | No filter; carrier inflates it | Low-pass filter, 3 dB at 1 kHz |
| Duty cycle | Not stated | Yes |
| High-resolution mode | No | 19,999 counts |
Min/Max isn't the same as Peak Capture
Fluke 115 or 87V: which should you buy?
| Your work | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Home wiring, outlets, appliances | Fluke 115 | CAT III 600V and True RMS cover it; the 87V's extras sit idle |
| Field service on equipment under 600 V | Fluke 115 | Volts, 10 A, capacitance and frequency in one meter |
| Meter base, service drop, outdoor feeders | Fluke 87V | CAT IV 600V; the 115 isn't rated there |
| Solar strings or 690 V plant | Fluke 87V | Rated to 1000 V |
| Furnace flame sensors | Fluke 87V | µA range; the 115 resolves only 1 mA |
| Instrument and 4-20 mA loops | Fluke 87V | mA range and 0.05% DC accuracy |
| VFD and motor troubleshooting | Fluke 87V | Low-pass filter and Peak Capture |
| Duct, pipe or bearing temperature | Fluke 87V | Thermocouple input with probe included |
| Electronics bench, hobby repair | Fluke 115 | Same capacitance range; µA work is better served by a bench meter or the 87V |
Skip the 115 if any 87V row above describes your regular work: no setting or accessory adds CAT IV, µA or temperature to it later. Skip the 87V if you never leave CAT III, never need low current and never see a drive; you'd be paying for a lifetime warranty on features you won't touch. If you want the 115's core plus non-contact detection and LoZ, read Fluke 115 vs Fluke 117; for the cheaper route to CAT IV, see Fluke 87V vs Fluke 179.
Match the rating to where you probe
Choose the Fluke 115 if…
- ✓You measure receptacles, branch circuits, appliances and controls inside the building, all within CAT III 600V
- ✓Amps for you means load current, where 1 mA steps on the 6 A range are fine
- ✓You want Fluke's core True RMS meter without paying for industrial features you won't use
Choose the Fluke 87V if…
- ✓You take readings at the meter base, service conductors or anything above 600 V
- ✓You need mA or µA ranges for 4-20 mA loops or furnace flame sensors, or a thermocouple input
- ✓You commission or repair variable-frequency drives and want the low-pass filter and 250 µs Peak Capture
The bottom line
For most electricians, technicians and serious DIYers working inside buildings, the Fluke 115 measures everything they need with True RMS accuracy and Fluke durability. The Fluke 87V earns its place when the job needs CAT IV or 1000 V, low-current ranges, temperature, 0.05% DC accuracy or drive-friendly filtering, and its lifetime warranty makes it a meter you buy once.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between the Fluke 115 and the Fluke 87V?+
Scope. The 115 is a CAT III 600V field-service meter with True RMS, 10 A current and capacitance. The 87V is an industrial meter rated CAT IV 600V and CAT III 1000V, with about ten times tighter DC accuracy, mA and µA ranges, temperature, a 19,999-count mode, a drive low-pass filter, Peak Capture and a lifetime warranty.
Can the Fluke 115 measure milliamps or microamps?+
Not usefully. Its only current ranges are 6 A and 10 A, with 1 mA as the finest step, and there is no separate mA or µA input. Small currents such as a 4-20 mA loop show only in coarse 1 mA steps, and flame-sensor microamps don't register. The Fluke 87V has dedicated mA and µA ranges.
Is the Fluke 87V lighter than the Fluke 115?+
Yes, bare. Fluke lists the 87V at 355 g and the 115 at 550 g. Once the 87V is in its holster it weighs 624 g, so in everyday carry the two feel similar. Fluke gives the 115's size as 167 × 84 × 46 mm; the 87V's dimensions aren't in the specifications we used.
Does either meter have non-contact voltage detection or LoZ?+
No. The 115 lacks VoltAlert and the low-impedance AutoVolt input, which in the 110 Series belong to the Fluke 117. Fluke lists neither feature for the 87V. Owners of either meter typically carry a separate pen-style voltage detector and load-test suspicious readings on disconnected conductors.
Is the Fluke 87V worth it over the 115 for a home electrician?+
Usually not. Household circuits sit in CAT III, rarely exceed 240 V, and seldom need microamps, temperature or 0.05% accuracy, so the 115 covers the work. The 87V makes sense if you also service furnaces, work on drives or solar, or want one meter for life under Fluke's lifetime warranty.
Do the Fluke 115 and 87V have the same battery life?+
Close to it. Fluke rates the 115 at about 400 hours typical on one 9 V alkaline battery with the backlight off, and the 87V at about 400 hours as well. Running the backlight shortens the 115's figure, so keep a spare battery in the case for long service days.
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