TEROS 12
Advanced Soil Moisture Sensor + Temperature and EC

No need for calibration in most soil types 

You don’t have to worry about the complexity of calibration. We’ve already calibrated the TEROS soil moisture sensor to be extremely accurate in 95% of all soil types right out of the box.

We use a completely new calibration procedure that maximizes accuracy and minimizes sensor-to-sensor variability while keeping the cost reasonable. So you can be confident that every sensor you install is going to read exactly like the next one. Unlike other sensors on the market which spec an unverifiable  ±1.0% VWC accuracy, the TEROS 12 was rigorously tested by our soil physicists across a challenging range of soil types and EC levels so you can be confident in the accuracy of your data. If it’s an unusual soil, or if you need even better accuracy, then a soil-specific calibration might be the way to go (see performance comparison).

Plus, TEROS sensor repeatability can be checked with an accuracy verification standard. No other soil moisture sensor has this ability. Just slide the verification clip onto a sensor and plug it into a logger. If it reads within the right range, your sensor is good to go.

Small soil moisture sensor lets you think bigger

The TEROS 12 delivers the best volume of influence to sensor size on the market so you’re less susceptible to soil variability errors. We’ve optimized the circuitry in this 9.4-cm sensor to deliver an incredible one-liter volume of influence (versus the 200 mL typical for most sensors). Most soil sensors that measure this much volume are 20 cm or longer, causing installation headaches. Not only that, you can cut your installation time in half or more when you install with the new Borehole Installation tool. The tool mistake-proofs installation, eliminating common errors that cause uncertainty in the data—like air gaps, or preferential flow.

With you for the long haul—guaranteed

The culmination of our new TEROS water content line, the TEROS 12 soil moisture, temperature, and electrical conductivity sensor makes your life easier with a large volume of influence, reduced sensor-to-sensor variability, and a near-bulletproof form factor—which lasts up to 10 years in the field. These innovations, along with our well-published capacitance technology, an accuracy verification standard, and a blazing fast installation tool have combined to generate our most accurate, easy-to-use, highly durable—yet still economical—soil moisture sensor. In fact, we’re so confident about the long life of our TEROS sensor line, we’ve increased our standard warranty from one to three years.

Legendary technology—long-lasting performance

Backed by over 20 years of soil moisture research, the TEROS 12 soil moisture sensor combines METER’s trademark 70 MHz circuitry with an extremely ruggedized epoxy fill and securely attached, sharpened stainless steel needles that easily slip into the soil and are resistant to salts, so you can worry less about sensor deterioration. Very low power consumption and a high resolution provide increased precision over a longer period of time.  If you’re planning a long-term large sensor network and want long-lasting performance for less work and less of your research budget, then choose the TEROS 12.