The Best Cup Anemometers & Pole Mounted Anemometers
Last updated May 2020
If you’re looking for recommendations for cup and/or pole mounted anemometers (pole mounted anemometers almost always use cups), then you’re in the right place!
Want to skip straight to the product recommendations? Click here 👇
At A Glance: Best Mounted Anemometers
Last update on 2021-01-27
What Is A Cup Anemometer?
Well, taking a step back, ‘anemometer’ comes from the Greek word anemos, which means wind. It’s a device used to measure wind speed and is commonly used in meteorology.
A cup anemometer, therefore, is simply a type of anemometer. They’re known for being particularly accurate, measuring wind by counting the number of turns or rotations as the air flows. The faster the wind speed, the higher the number of rotations will be.
Invented in the 19th century, they are still widely used today. Both by hobbyists such as myself, and by professionals. Three cup anemometers are an accepted industry standard for a lot of wind-based studies.
What Should I Consider When Buying A Cup Anemometer?
I’m glad you asked. Let’s think about some of the factors to consider.
Firstly, how many cups does it have? You’ll find anemometers with 2, 3, or 4 cups. If you read up on Wikipedia (no need, I’ve done it for you), you’ll learn that the 3-cup anemometer was specifically designed for accuracy. No need to go into the details here, but basically, if you’re looking for something as accurate as possible, go for 3 cups.
Where will you be using it? Does it need to be portable? Some anemometers will be handheld & easily portable, while others… might still be portable-ish, but are more intended to be mounted on a pole or a vehicle etc.
What is your budget? An obvious one, but let’s not forget about it. When buying an anemometer, you’ll find quite a range of prices. Think about the features that you actually need. I’ve shown a wireless weather station with a bunch of bells and whistles in this article which I love, but if you’re on a tight budget, it’s probably overkill.
Best Cup Anemometers: Our Recommendations
So, without further ado, let’s get into our recommendations for the top cup / mounted anemometers you can buy online!
Pole Mount Anemometer by Inspeed
Another product by Inspeed, but I couldn’t leave this one out of an article about the best cup anemometers, really…
This sturdy cup anemometer with dual digital display handles reads wind speed from 5 up to 150+ mph. It’s a great option when you’re planning to fix it in one spot, perhaps at home (vs. the previous magnetic one for on-to-go, maybe). The Pole Mount anemometer by Inspeed is portable and can function where AC power is not available. The pole is not included, but it does include a handy metal bracket with holes for mounting. An extra wire and display mount plaque can also be bought separately.
Remember that the pole isn’t included with this!
Details and updated pricing found from Amazon 👇
- Battery powered - last for months continuous use
- Accurate (3 to 4% of reading or +/- 1mph)
- 1 second update rate for gusts
- Captures Max and Average
- Dual digital display can be hundreds of feet away
Last update on 2021-01-27
Magnetic Mount Anemometer Wind Meter by Inspeed
This digital cup anemometer with dual display is designed specifically for storm chasers. The wind sensor registers speeds of over 125 mph and the magnetic mount allows you to monitor the wind from inside your vehicle. It now comes with a metal cup rotor for increased durability.
While it is particularly suited as a vehicle-mounted anemometer, the powerful magnetic base really works with any metal surface. The product comes with a 25-ft cable too, which is great for checking wind speeds without going outside!
Details and updated pricing found from Amazon 👇
- Attaches to (metal) vehicles
- Includes Wind sensor, 25' wire, display
- For storm spotting, chasing, reporting
Last update on 2021-01-27
Inspeed Vortex Handheld Anemometer
Well, there’s not a huge amount to say about this one. If you’re looking for a handheld mounted anemometer, this is a safe choice with a good build quality from a reputable brand with Inspeed.
It’s nice and light, and folds up nicely for storing.
If you’re looking for a cheaper option, and don’t need to fix something in place while you’re not there, this could be a good choice.
Worth noting that it’s unlikely to work for picking up wind speeds of <5mph, which could be relevant or not depending on your use case!
Details and updated pricing found from Amazon 👇
- Super rugged
- Folds flat for storage
- For wind 5 to 150 mph
- Does not need to be pointed into the wind
- 5.6 ounces
Last update on 2021-01-27
Best Weather Station With Mounted Anemometer
Okay, so clearly this might be a little overkill if all you want is a cup anemometer. But if you’re looking for more, one of these awesome bits of kit will do the job (and more!) very well.
ECOWITT GW1002 Wi-Fi Weather Station with Solar Powered Wireless Anemometer
I’ve recommended Ecowitt products before on this website, and this model is a particular favorite. With this gadget, you’ll be able to easily measure temperature, wind speed, humidity, rainfall, wind direction (and more) all in one.
With the solar powered wireless anemometer, you can mount this outside, e.g. on the side of a building, and stream the information to your phone / mobile app (the app comes free with the device).
Details and updated pricing found from Amazon 👇
- WIFI Weather Station: allows you to monitor your home and backyard weather conditions on your phone(iOS&Android) via our free WS View app(within your home network) and Ecoiwtt weather server(remote monitoring); supports to add optional sensors: max 8 WH31 multi-channel temp and humidity sensor / 8 WH51 soil moisture sensor / 4 WH41 PM2.5 air quality sensor
- Separated Weather Sensors for Best Locations: Solar Powered Anemometer - measures wind direction, wind speed, wind gust, UV & light data; updates to your console every 16.5 second; Self-emptying Rain Collector - The wireless funnel-shaped rain collector is self-emptying and easy to install; Outdoor Temp & Humidity sensor - wall-mountable or hanging design, easy to install
- Live Data on APP: Makes all sensor data available to mobile application (WS View for iOS or Android) on your local network; Mobile application is also used for local viewing of sensor data, and to assist in configuration of services
- Graph & History Records on the Website: supported to upload all the sensors data to our free Ecowitt Weather server(ecowitt.net) to view all the data graph and download the history records on the website; Email alerts functions available for all the sensors
- Other Supported Weather Servers: Supports uploads outdoor sensor data to weather underground, weathercloud and WOW; enables you to view historical records from your WU station(outdoor temperature, humidity, wind, rain); also supports uploading to customized website(needs to have the same protocol with wunderground or ecowitt weather server)
Last update on 2021-01-27
Portable Anemometers
This article is focused primarily on cup anemometers & pole mounted anemometers, but I appreciate that some people like to know all the options. If you’ve read this far, and would also like to consider a handheld portable anemometer, this section is for you.
Here’s a comparison table with some links to get up-to-date prices & buy from Amazon. Enjoy!
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| Wind Speed Range | |||||
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| Measurement | Maximum Wind Gust, Average Wind Speed, Air, Water & Snow Temperature, Wind Chill | ||||
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| Display Backlight | |||||
| Auto Power Off | |||||
| Price |