Pin moisture meters measure the moisture content of an item by probing into its surface and measuring the electrical resistance of that material. This measurement method is invasive and disturbs the surface of the item, but provides higher accuracy when compared to non-invasive methods.

Combination pin and pinless moisture meters provide two different methods for measuring the moisture content of various items. Pins are invasive and disturb the item's surface but provide more accurate readings using resistance to measure the moisture. Pinless measurements use non-invasive methods such as ultrasound or capacitance to measure the moisture content of an item but with lower accuracy than pins.

Pinless moisture meters measure the moisture content of an item using non-invasive methods such as sonic, magnetic, or capacitive sensors. Their readings provide a close approximation and allow a large area to be scanned.