Rigol DM3058E Digital Multimeter: Specs and Buying Checks

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The Rigol DM3058E is a 5½-digit benchtop digital multimeter with True-RMS AC measurement and a 256 by 64 display. Rigol’s datasheet gives its resolution as 240,000 counts and its measurement speed as up to 123 readings per second. The E version drops the LAN and GPIB interfaces of the standard DM3058, so USB and RS-232 are the remote options. Rigol’s user’s guide rates the input for IEC Measurement Category II at up to 600 V. This article sets out those statements and what to check before buying.

Quick answer

Rigol’s datasheet gives 5½-digit resolution with 240,000 counts and a measurement speed of up to 123 readings per second.
The datasheet lists DC voltage from 200 mV to 1000 V and True-RMS AC voltage from 200 mV to 750 V.
The user’s guide states IEC Measurement Category II, with inputs connected to mains up to 600 V.
The E version does not have the LAN and GPIB interfaces that the standard DM3058 includes.
Check the Category II rating and the fuse ratings before you connect it to any circuit, and leave panel and service work to a licensed electrician.

What the DM3058E measures

The datasheet lists the basic measurement functions as DC voltage, DC current, True-RMS AC voltage, True-RMS AC current, two-wire and four-wire resistance, capacitance, continuity, diode test, frequency and period. It also lists support for six sensor types, including thermocouple, and says the meter can save or recall ten groups of configurations.

The datasheet gives DC voltage from 200 mV to 1000 V and True-RMS AC voltage from 200 mV to 750 V. Frequency measurement runs from 20 Hz to 1 MHz. Check the datasheet’s function table for the exact range of each function before you rely on a figure for your work.

Resolution, speed and display

The datasheet describes 5½-digit readings with a resolution of 240,000 counts. A count is one step on the display, so 240,000 counts means the display can show that many distinct readings on a range. Resolution and accuracy are different things. Accuracy is stated separately for each function and range in the datasheet’s specification tables, and those tables set the real tolerance of a reading.

Speed is stated as up to 123 readings per second. The datasheet presents this as a maximum, so do not assume that rate applies to every function and range. The display is a 256 by 64 LCD. The datasheet also lists file management using a USB disk and local storage, so you can save configurations and data to a USB drive.

Interfaces: the E version differs from the DM3058

The datasheet lists standard interfaces as USB Device, USB Host, LAN, RS-232 and GPIB. It then marks LAN and GPIB as available only for the DM3058. Its note says the DM3058E differs from the DM3058 only in that it does not support LAN and GPIB. Rigol’s en_IN product page makes the same point, listing LAN and GPIB as DM3058-only and RS232 among the connectivity options for the E model.

If your setup depends on Ethernet or GPIB control, the DM3058E is not the right model. Check the connectivity list before you buy, and confirm that USB or RS-232 meets your automation needs.

Safety rating: what the user’s guide states

The user’s guide states IEC Measurement Category II overvoltage protection. Its warning says Category II includes electrical devices connected to mains at an outlet on a branch circuit, such as small appliances and test equipment. It lists CAT I as 1000 V peak from the HI to LO terminal, and CAT II as inputs connected to mains up to 600 VAC under Category II overvoltage. Check the user’s guide for the full terms before you connect the meter.

The user’s guide also says that permanently installed devices, such as main circuit-breaker panels and sub-panel boxes, are not covered by the Category II protection. Those circuits can exceed the meter’s limits. Work on panels and service-entrance equipment belongs to a licensed electrician, using a tool rated for the location.

Fuses and input protection

The datasheet lists a rear-panel accessible 10 A, 250 V fast-melt fuse and an internal 12 A, 250 V slow-melt fuse. Replace a blown fuse only with the type and rating the manual specifies. If you cannot identify a fuse in the meter, stop and check the manual before you measure again.

How we chose the sources

This article uses three Rigol documents: the DM3058/DM3058E datasheet dated June 2024 (V2.0), the DM3058/DM3058E user’s guide (UGC03122-1110), and the DM3058-E product page on rigol.com for India. We opened each one on 2026-10-27 and confirmed its text can be read, except the product page, which we read as published text. We quote only figures and statements that appear in these documents. We did not use retailers, resellers or third-party manual archives for any specification in this article.

Who the DM3058E suits

The datasheet describes the DM3058 family as a 5½-digit multimeter for scientific research and education, and the product page calls the DM3058 and DM3058E an economical 5.5-digit digital multimeter for high-accuracy, multi-function and automated measurement. That fits a teaching lab, an electronics bench, or a research setup that needs a benchtop meter with True-RMS AC and USB control. It is not a handheld tool for a homeowner checking a light fixture or an outlet in a home. For another bench meter to compare against, see our guide to the Keysight 34461A.

If you need a smaller meter for field electrical work, choose a handheld digital multimeter with a CAT rating that matches the circuit. Our guide to the functions and types of digital multimeters explains the categories in plain terms.

Buying checklist

Confirm the functions and ranges you need appear in the datasheet function table, including the 200 mV starting range for voltage.
Check the accuracy table for each function and range before you rely on a reading.
If you need LAN or GPIB, do not buy the E version. The datasheet states those interfaces are for the DM3058 only.
Check the Category II rating in the user’s guide and match it to the circuits you will measure.
Confirm the fuse ratings and keep the manual’s replacement instructions with the meter.

Mistakes to avoid

Do not read 240,000 counts as an accuracy claim. The accuracy tables for each function set the tolerance.
Do not assume the DM3058E has LAN or GPIB. The datasheet and the product page both say those belong to the DM3058.
Do not use the meter on permanently installed mains equipment. The user’s guide says those circuits are outside the Category II protection.
Do not treat the 123 readings per second figure as the rate for every function. The datasheet presents it as a maximum.

FAQ

Is the DM3058E a benchtop or handheld meter?

It is a benchtop digital multimeter. The datasheet describes a 256 by 64 LCD, USB and RS-232 remote interfaces, and general specifications for power and dimensions. It is not a handheld tool.

What does the 240,000-count resolution mean?

It means the display can show 240,000 distinct steps on a range, according to the datasheet. It does not mean the meter is accurate to that many digits. Check the accuracy tables for the specific function and range.

What CAT rating does the DM3058E have?

The user’s guide states IEC Measurement Category II, with inputs connected to mains up to 600 VAC under Category II conditions. It lists CAT I as 1000 V peak. Check the guide for the full terms.

Does the DM3058E have LAN or GPIB?

No. The datasheet says the DM3058E differs from the DM3058 only in that it does not support LAN and GPIB. Its remote interfaces are USB and RS-232, as listed on the datasheet and the product page.

Does it measure True-RMS AC?

Yes. The datasheet lists True-RMS AC voltage from 200 mV to 750 V and True-RMS AC current among its functions.

What we could not verify

The sources we opened do not give a price, a shipping time or current availability, and this article does not state them. The datasheet’s accuracy tables are long, so this article quotes the function list and the headline figures only. For a purchase decision, read the accuracy table for each function and range you need. The product page is an official Rigol page, but we read it as published text and did not confirm every figure in it against the datasheet.

Bottom line

The Rigol DM3058E is a 5½-digit benchtop multimeter with True-RMS AC, a 240,000-count display and USB and RS-232 remote control. Its user’s guide rates it for Category II use up to 600 V. Buy it for bench and laboratory work that stays within those ratings and does not need LAN or GPIB. For panel or service-entrance work, use a tool with the right rating and a licensed electrician.

Sources

RIGOL, DM3058/DM3058E Digital Multimeter Datasheet, V2.0, June 2024, https://www.rigol.com/dam/global/downloads/brochures/en/data-sheet/multimeters/DM3058_DataSheet_EN.pdf (opened 2026-10-27)
RIGOL, DM3058/DM3058E Digital Multimeter User’s Guide, UGC03122-1110, https://www.rigol.com/dam/global/downloads/brochures/en/user-manual/multimeters/DM3058_UserGuide_EN.pdf (opened 2026-10-27)
RIGOL, DM3058-E product page (en_IN), https://www.rigol.com/en_IN/products/multimeter/DM3058-E.html (opened 2026-10-27)