Starrett Dial Indicator Gauge

Starrett Dial Indicator Gauges: A Legacy of Precision

When machinists, engineers, and serious DIY enthusiasts reach for a dial indicator gauge, Starrett is one of the first names that comes to mind — and for good reason. Founded in the late 19th century and steeped in American manufacturing heritage, Starrett has built its reputation on instruments that deliver uncompromising accuracy in the most demanding shop environments. Their dial indicator gauges are a direct expression of that philosophy: rugged, reliable, and precise down to fractions of a thousandth of an inch.

What Sets Starrett Dial Indicators Apart

Starrett dial indicators feature a shockless, hardened steel gear train and jeweled bearings — a construction approach that protects the instrument's internal mechanism from the knocks and vibrations of real-world shop use. Dial indicators translate small linear distances into rotational movement to measure dimensions up to 4.000", with accuracies up to 0.0001". Resolution across the Starrett indicator lineup varies from 0.001" to 0.00005", giving professionals the flexibility to select the right tool for any tolerance requirement.

Accurate, rugged, versatile, convenient to use — Starrett mechanical dial indicators with bottom plungers are the measurement workhorses of industrial production. Regular analog styles with indicating hands are more readable than digital styles when measurements are being visually monitored by an operator, and Starrett offers five regular dial sizes to fit most applications with both space limitations and readability requirements.

Key Product Lines

Starrett offers a variety of each of the major indicator classes: mechanical dial, electronic display, lever-style test, and back plunger. Here are some of the standout series in the dial indicator category:

• 25 Series (Standard Dial Indicators): A classic AGD-compliant bottom-plunger indicator with jeweled bearings and a lug-on-center back — a go-to for general inspection and machine setup tasks.
• 81 Series: The Starrett 81 Series features a shockless, hardened steel gear train and jewel bearings, furnished with a lug-on-center back, with antimagnetic and special non-shock mechanisms available as options.
• 196 Series (Universal Back Plunger): The Starrett 196 Universal Back Plunger Dial Indicator features graduations to .001" and 0.02mm that handle by far the majority of jobs. These workhorse back-plunger indicators feature AGD stem holding fixtures and a great variety of compatible AGD contact points.
• 708/709 Series Dial Test Indicators: These indicators offer an easy-to-read angled head and the flexibility of three dovetail mounts, with a swivel head feature that allows positioning from horizontal to vertical and at any angle up to 90°.
• Last Word Dial Test Indicator: The venerable Last Word Dial Test Indicator is among the most versatile available, with its small size and variety of attachments handling all jobs with ease and accuracy.
• W4900 Touchscreen Electronic Indicator: Starrett's W4900 is the world's first full-capability touchscreen electronic indicator, delivering an unparalleled combination of versatility, performance, accuracy, and ease of use.

AGD Compliance and Industry Standards

Starrett dial indicator contact points are standard #4-48 thread on AGD Group 1, 2, 3 & 4 — specifications developed in 1945 at the request of the U.S. Commerce Department through the National Bureau of Standards. This means Starrett indicators are broadly compatible with a wide ecosystem of fixtures, bases, and accessories, making them a practical long-term investment for any shop.

Starrett offers everything needed for indicator-based measurement: a broad line of each indicator type, an extensive range of accessories to configure and position the gage, and as needed, an indicator-based, custom-engineered solution. Whether you're truing up a lathe chuck, checking runout on a brake rotor, or performing precision QC inspection, Starrett's dial indicator gauges give you the confidence that your measurement is right the first time. Explore the full Starrett brand catalog to discover their complete lineup of precision measurement tools.