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Keysight 34470A Digital Multimeter: Specs and What to Check

The Keysight 34470A is a 7½-digit benchtop digital multimeter in Keysight’s Truevolt series. Keysight’s own product pages state a basic 1-year DC voltage accuracy of 16 ppm, a maximum reading rate of 50,000 readings per second and internal memory for 50,000 readings. It has a 4.3-inch colour display and LAN and USB as standard interfaces, with GPIB available as an option. The pages we opened do not state a CAT category rating, so this is a bench instrument. Read the points below before you decide whether it fits your work.

Quick answer

• Resolution: 7½ digits, per the Keysight product pages.
• Basic 1-year DC voltage accuracy: 16 ppm, per the Keysight product pages.
• Maximum reading rate and memory: 50,000 readings/s and 50,000 readings, per the Keysight product pages.
• Interfaces: LAN and USB standard; GPIB optional, per the US product page.
• CAT rating: not stated on the pages we opened.

What a 7½-digit bench meter is for

Seven and a half digits means the meter can display very small changes in a voltage, which matters when a reading must be traced back to a standard or compared with a tight tolerance. A bench meter at this level is typically used in calibration, in product validation and in labs where a reading feeds a data file. It is not the tool for checking a breaker or a car battery in the field. Those jobs need a handheld meter with a CAT rating that matches the circuit.

The 34470A also includes features aimed at logging and analysis. Keysight’s US page describes digitizing and advanced triggering (DIG) as included, and it lists histogram, bar and trend charts on the 4.3-inch display. Those features let you watch how a reading behaves over time, not just where it sits at one moment. Keysight’s product pages also cite a 1 µA range with pA resolution for low-current measurements.

Specifications Keysight publishes

The table below uses only what we read on Keysight’s own pages on 2026-10-27. Where a page does not state a figure, the cell says so.

Feature	What Keysight states	Where we read it
Resolution	7½ digits	US, GB and SG product pages
Basic 1-year DCV accuracy	16 ppm	US, GB and SG pages
Maximum reading rate	50,000 readings/s	US, GB and SG pages
Internal memory	50,000 readings (standard)	US, GB and SG pages
Interfaces	LAN and USB; GPIB optional	US, GB and SG pages
Display	4.3-inch colour graphical display with histogram, bar and trend charts	US product page
Low-current range	1 µA range with pA resolution	US product page
CAT rating	Not stated on the pages we opened	US, SG product pages

The reading rate deserves a note. Keysight states 50,000 readings per second as the maximum, but the pages do not say at which digit setting or with which filter that rate applies. Lower digit settings and faster integration times are normally what make the top rate possible, so the figure is a ceiling rather than a rate you will see on every measurement.

How the 34470A differs from the 34465A

Keysight’s 34465A product page sits in the same Truevolt family, and the two pages are useful to read together. The 34465A is a 6½-digit meter with a basic 1-year DCV accuracy of 30 ppm, a maximum reading rate of 50,000 readings per second and internal memory for 50,000 readings. It also lists LAN, USB and GPIB as interfaces, with GPIB optional. In practical terms, the 34470A adds one digit of resolution and improves the stated basic DC voltage accuracy from 30 ppm to 16 ppm. The reading rate and the memory figure are the same on both pages.

That difference matters only if your measurements need the extra digit and the tighter accuracy. For many bench jobs, a 6½-digit meter is enough. If you are weighing the two, decide whether the 16 ppm figure is needed in your work before you pay for it. For a different Keysight bench model, see our roundup covering the 34461A.

Points to check before you buy

1. Confirm the interface. LAN and USB are standard. GPIB is an option, so check whether your system needs it and order the right configuration.
2. Check the safety rating for your work. The pages we opened do not state a CAT category. Do not use the meter on mains or other high-energy circuits on the strength of this article.
3. Plan the memory use. The standard memory is 50,000 readings. If you log at the top rate, the memory fills quickly, so decide how you will download or store the data.
4. Match the accuracy to the job. The 16 ppm figure is a basic 1-year number. Check the calibration interval you intend to keep.
5. Look at the software plan. The Keysight pages describe the instrument and its front-panel features, but they do not describe a software package. Confirm what your control or logging software needs.

Safety note

Work on mains circuits can kill. A bench instrument with a high-speed interface is not a field safety tool, and the pages we opened do not say it is rated for mains work. Panel, service and receptacle work belongs to a licensed electrician. If you are new to multimeters, start with our guide to using a multimeter step by step, which covers the basic sequence for everyday checks.

How we chose

This article covers the Keysight 34470A because it was on the assigned keyword list. We opened three Keysight pages on 2026-10-27: the US product page for the 34470A, the GB Truevolt series overview page and the SG product page for the 34470A. The 34465A product page was used only to compare the two models. We did not use distributor pages, reseller listings or review sites for any figure.

What we could not verify

• The full range table, including the voltage, current and resistance ranges. The pages we opened do not list every range.
• Any CAT category rating. The pages state none.
• The accuracy tables for each function and range. The data sheet holds those tables, and the Keysight PDF links on the pages returned a web page rather than readable PDF text to us, so we did not use it.
• The reading rate at each digit setting and filter combination.
• What accessories and leads come in the box.

Frequently asked questions

How many digits does the 34470A show?

Keysight’s product pages state 7½ digits.

What is the basic DC voltage accuracy?

Keysight states 16 ppm basic 1-year DCV accuracy. Accuracy at other ranges and intervals is in the full data sheet.

What interfaces does it have?

LAN and USB are standard. GPIB is optional, according to the US product page.

Does it have a CAT rating?

The pages we opened do not state one. Do not treat the meter as a mains-rated field tool based on this article.

How does it differ from the 34465A?

The 34470A has 7½ digits and 16 ppm basic DCV accuracy. The 34465A has 6½ digits and 30 ppm. Both pages list 50,000 readings/s and 50,000 readings of memory.

Is it a handheld meter?

No. It is a benchtop instrument with a colour display and network and USB connections.

Bottom line

The Keysight 34470A is a 7½-digit bench meter with a published basic DC voltage accuracy of 16 ppm, a 50,000 readings/s ceiling and LAN and USB connections. It suits lab and logging work where the extra digit matters. It is not a field meter, and the pages we opened do not state a CAT rating, so keep it on the bench and use a CAT-rated handheld meter for mains work.

Sources

• Keysight Technologies, Advanced Benchtop Digital Multimeters: 34470A, US product page, https://www.keysight.com/us/en/product/34470A/truevolt-series-7-5-digit-bench-multimeter.html (opened 2026-10-27)
• Keysight Technologies, Truevolt Series 6.5 and 7.5 Digit Multimeters, GB overview page, https://www.keysight.com/gb/en/products/digital-multimeters-dmm/truevolt-series-multimeters.html (opened 2026-10-27)
• Keysight Technologies, Advanced Benchtop Digital Multimeters: 34470A, SG product page, https://www.keysight.com/sg/en/product/34470A/digital-multimeter-7-5-digit-truevolt-dmm.html (opened 2026-10-27)
• Keysight Technologies, 34465A product page (comparison only), https://www.keysight.com/us/en/product/34465A/truevolt-series-6-5-digit-bench-multimeter.html (opened 2026-10-27)