The FLIR MR277 is an all-in-one building inspection instrument that combines a 160 x 120 thermal imaging sensor, a pinless moisture sensor, a temperature and relative humidity hygrometer, an infrared thermometer, and a laser pointer in a single handheld unit. FLIR positions the MR277 as a moisture meter with Infrared Guided Measurement (IGM), where the built-in thermal camera visually guides the user to the precise spot that may require further moisture testing and investigation.

Moisture meters in the FLIR MR family are used to locate, identify, and document moisture intrusion and building envelope issues in restoration, remediation, and inspection workflows. The MR277 specifically supports scanning large areas for moisture and air leaks with its thermal sensor, pinpointing problem locations with the integrated laser, and capturing exact moisture measurements with either the integrated pinless sensor or the included external pin probe. The instrument is designed to help users identify problems before they become major issues.

Brand Heritage

FLIR Systems is the long-established brand in commercial and industrial thermal imaging. FLIR was acquired by Teledyne Technologies in 2021, and the company operates as Teledyne FLIR. The FLIR brand has been retained because of its strong recognition with field service, building inspection, and predictive maintenance professionals, and the moisture meter and IGM product lines continue under the FLIR name.

Compare Other Models in This Series

The FLIR MR moisture meter family covers a wide range of inspection, restoration, and remediation use cases from a single-function moisture pen up to a full thermal-imaging inspection system. Across the family, the unifying capability is moisture detection in wood and common building materials, with the higher-tier instruments adding pinless sensing, hygrometer functions, infrared thermometry, and built-in thermal imaging that FLIR markets as Infrared Guided Measurement, or IGM.

Within the family, the MR277, MR176, and MR160 carry built-in thermal sensors for IGM; the MR77 adds an IR thermometer and Bluetooth METERLiNK for integrating moisture readings onto thermal images from compatible FLIR cameras; the MR60 is a full-featured pin and pinless meter with 11 material-group settings; the MR59 is a Bluetooth ball-probe pinless meter; the MR55 is a Bluetooth pin meter with 11 material-group settings; and the MR40 is a pocket moisture pen with integrated flashlight.

Each model linked from this comparison has its own dedicated product page with new pricing, an accessory compatibility detail per the FLIR accessory chart, and shipping availability information from Elgin.

Within the family, the MR277 is the highest-resolution thermal imaging moisture meter, with a 160 x 120 thermal sensor, MSX image enhancement, a 2 MP visual camera, radiometric JPG capture, support for up to 15,000 stored images, an integrated IR thermometer, and Bluetooth connectivity to the FLIR Tools app. It is also the only MR meter that supports pin moisture measurement across all 11 wood groups rather than the 9 wood groups supported by the MR176, MR160, MR77, and MR60.

Thermal imaging resolution is the primary differentiator at the top of the family: the MR277 uses a 160 x 120 sensor while the MR176 and MR160 use an 80 x 60 sensor. The MR77 has no thermal imager but adds an IR thermometer (0 degrees C to 100 degrees C on the MR277; -20 degrees C to 200 degrees C on the MR77) along with Bluetooth METERLiNK for sending moisture readings into compatible FLIR thermal cameras. The MR60 is a pin and pinless meter without thermal imaging, with up to 9,999 stored images and 11 material-group settings. The MR59 is a Bluetooth pinless ball-probe meter, the MR55 is a Bluetooth pin meter with 11 material groups, and the MR40 is a pocket moisture pen with a single-scale pin sensor and built-in flashlight.

Hygrometer and humidity capability also varies. The MR277 measures relative humidity from 0 to 100 percent with 2.5 percent accuracy; the MR176 covers 10 to 90 percent with 2.5 percent accuracy; the MR77 covers 0 to 99 percent with banded accuracy of 3 percent, 2.5 percent, and 3 percent; and the MR55 covers 0 to 100 percent with banded accuracy of 5 percent, 3.5 percent, and 5 percent. The MR59, MR60, MR40, and MR160 do not include a hygrometer. Drop-test ratings are 3 m (9.8 ft) on the MR277, MR176, MR160, MR60, MR55, and MR40, and 2 m (6.6 ft) on the MR77 and MR59.

Additional differences in specifications beyond the few shown above are not listed here — see each model's full specifications below.

Accessories Supplied

• FLIR MR176 Imaging Moisture Meter
• FLIR E6-XT Thermal Imager
• FLIR MR08 Hammer / Wall Cavity Combo Probe

Product Core & Specifications

Please review the Manufacturer's Data Sheet to verify published specifications. Feedback on this webpage is always welcome — please reach out to your Test Architect at any time for questions or concerns. Thank you, we truly appreciate you being our customer.