---
title: "What is a calibrator?"
image: "https://www.beamex.com/app/uploads/2022/11/mc6-ex.png"
url: "https://www.beamex.com/faq/what-is-a-calibrator/"
language: "en-GB"
modified: "2026-08-17T13:31:52+00:00"
---

# What is a calibrator?

A calibrator is a highly accurate measurement device that is used to verify the accuracy of other less precise measurement instruments. This process is known as calibration. The calibrator may be referred to as a reference standard, while the instrument being calibrated is known as the Device Under Test (DUT).

Calibration involves comparing the measurements obtained from the DUT with those of the calibrator, and documenting the results in a calibration certificate. If significant errors are identified, the DUT must be adjusted to ensure its accuracy. For more information on calibration, please refer to our [“What is Calibration”](https://www.beamex.com/resources/what-is-calibration/) page.

To be effective, the calibrator must be more accurate than the DUT. It is generally recommended to have a Test Accuracy Ratio (TAR) of at least 4:1, which means that the calibrator is four times more accurate than the DUT. However, this ratio is not always possible, so it’s important to consider the total uncertainty of the calibration.

To maintain accuracy, the calibrator must be calibrated regularly and have traceability to appropriate national standards. Calibrators are typically calibrated in accredited calibration laboratories or similar facilities.

Beamex offers a wide range of professional calibration instruments, including temperature calibrators, pressure calibrators, process calibrators, and other multifunction calibration solutions. [Explore the different calibrator models here](https://www.beamex.com/calibrators/) to find the right solution for your calibration needs.

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":["WebPage","FAQPage"],"@id":"https://www.beamex.com/faq/what-is-a-calibrator/","url":"https://www.beamex.com/faq/what-is-a-calibrator/","name":"What is a calibrator? - Beamex","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://www.beamex.com/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://www.beamex.com/faq/what-is-a-calibrator/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https://www.beamex.com/faq/what-is-a-calibrator/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https://www.beamex.com/app/uploads/2022/11/mc6-ex.png","datePublished":"2026-08-03T11:22:34+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-17T13:31:52+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.beamex.com/faq/what-is-a-calibrator/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https://www.beamex.com/faq/what-is-a-calibrator/"]}],"mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What is a calibrator?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"<p>A calibrator is a highly accurate measurement device that is used to verify the accuracy of other less precise measurement instruments. This process is known as calibration. The calibrator may be referred to as a reference standard, while the instrument being calibrated is known as the Device Under Test (DUT).</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Calibration involves comparing the measurements obtained from the DUT with those of the calibrator, and documenting the results in a calibration certificate. If significant errors are identified, the DUT must be adjusted to ensure its accuracy. For more information on calibration, please refer to our <a href=\"https://www.beamex.com/resources/what-is-calibration/\">“What is Calibration”</a> page.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>To be effective, the calibrator must be more accurate than the DUT. It is generally recommended to have a Test Accuracy Ratio (TAR) of at least 4:1, which means that the calibrator is four times more accurate than the DUT. However, this ratio is not always possible, so it’s important to consider the total uncertainty of the calibration.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>To maintain accuracy, the calibrator must be calibrated regularly and have traceability to appropriate national standards. Calibrators are typically calibrated in accredited calibration laboratories or similar facilities.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beamex offers a wide range of professional calibration instruments, including temperature calibrators, pressure calibrators, process calibrators, and other multifunction calibration solutions. <a href=\"https://www.beamex.com/calibrators/\">Explore the different calibrator models here</a> to find the right solution for your calibration needs.</p>"}}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https://www.beamex.com/faq/what-is-a-calibrator/#primaryimage","url":"https://www.beamex.com/app/uploads/2022/11/mc6-ex.png","contentUrl":"https://www.beamex.com/app/uploads/2022/11/mc6-ex.png","width":1080,"height":1080},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.beamex.com/faq/what-is-a-calibrator/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.beamex.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"FAQ","item":"https://www.beamex.com/faq/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"What is a calibrator?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://www.beamex.com/#website","url":"https://www.beamex.com/","name":"Beamex","description":"Calibration solutions, calibrators, software and services | Beamex","publisher":{"@id":"https://www.beamex.com/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https://www.beamex.com/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.beamex.com/#organization","name":"Beamex","url":"https://www.beamex.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https://www.beamex.com/#/schema/logo/image/","url":"https://www.beamex.com/app/uploads/2022/06/beamex-logo.svg","contentUrl":"https://www.beamex.com/app/uploads/2022/06/beamex-logo.svg","width":358,"height":62,"caption":"Beamex"},"image":{"@id":"https://www.beamex.com/#/schema/logo/image/"},"legalName":"Beamex Oy Ab","foundingDate":"1975","description":"Beamex is your trusted partner for calibration excellence, providing accurate measurements, reliable data, and traceability for a safer and less uncertain world.","telephone":"+358 10 550 5000","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"Ristisuonraitti 10","postalCode":"68600","addressLocality":"Pietarsaari","addressCountry":"FI"},"sameAs":["https://www.instagram.com/beamexcalibration","https://www.facebook.com/BeamexCalibration","https://www.linkedin.com/company/beamex/","https://blog.beamex.com/","https://www.youtube.com/BeamexCalibration","https://twitter.com/beamexglobal","https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/beamex"],"subOrganization":[{"@id":"https://www.beamex.com/#org-de"},{"@id":"https://www.beamex.com/#org-fr"},{"@id":"https://www.beamex.com/#org-uk"},{"@id":"https://www.beamex.com/#org-us"},{"@id":"https://www.beamex.com/#org-se"},{"@id":"https://www.beamex.com/#org-nl"},{"@id":"https://www.beamex.com/#org-ca"},{"@id":"https://www.beamex.com/#org-cn"}]},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.beamex.com/#org-de","parentOrganization":{"@id":"https://www.beamex.com/#organization"},"name":"Beamex GmbH","telephone":"+49 2161 62115 0","faxNumber":"+49 2161 62115 99","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"Am Nordpark 1","postalCode":"41069","addressLocality":"Mönchengladbach","addressCountry":"DE"}},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.beamex.com/#org-fr","parentOrganization":{"@id":"https://www.beamex.com/#organization"},"name":"Beamex S.A.S.","telephone":"+33 3 20 04 57 62","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"270 Avenue de la République","postalCode":"59110","addressLocality":"La Madeleine","addressCountry":"FR"}},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.beamex.com/#org-uk","parentOrganization":{"@id":"https://www.beamex.com/#organization"},"name":"Beamex Limited","telephone":"+44 1455 821 920","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"Unit 1, Interchange 21, Centre Court","postalCode":"LE19 1WR","addressLocality":"Leicester","addressCountry":"GB"}},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.beamex.com/#org-us","parentOrganization":{"@id":"https://www.beamex.com/#organization"},"name":"Beamex, Inc.","telephone":"+1 770 951 1927","contactPoint":[{"@type":"ContactPoint","telephone":"+1 800 888 9892","contactType":"customer service","areaServed":"US"}],"address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2018 Powers Ferry Road SE, Suite 100","postalCode":"30339","addressLocality":"Atlanta","addressRegion":"GA","addressCountry":"US"}},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.beamex.com/#org-se","parentOrganization":{"@id":"https://www.beamex.com/#organization"},"name":"Beamex Calibration Solutions AB","telephone":"+46 70 140 54 10","contactPoint":[{"@type":"ContactPoint","telephone":"+46 72 198 03 23","contactType":"sales","areaServed":"Götaland"},{"@type":"ContactPoint","telephone":"+46 70 140 54 10","contactType":"sales","areaServed":"Svealand"},{"@type":"ContactPoint","telephone":"+46 72 198 03 20","contactType":"sales","areaServed":"Norrland"}],"address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","postOfficeBoxNumber":"24103","postalCode":"104 51","addressLocality":"Stockholm","addressCountry":"SE"}},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.beamex.com/#org-nl","parentOrganization":{"@id":"https://www.beamex.com/#organization"},"name":"Beamex B.V.","telephone":"+31 76 799 8606","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"Lage Mosten 49-63","postalCode":"4822 NK","addressLocality":"Breda","addressCountry":"NL"}},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.beamex.com/#org-ca","parentOrganization":{"@id":"https://www.beamex.com/#organization"},"name":"Beamex Calibration Solutions Ltd.","telephone":"+1 289 424 2639","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2425 Matheson Boulevard East, 8th Floor, Unit 909","postalCode":"L4W 5K4","addressLocality":"Mississauga","addressRegion":"ON","addressCountry":"CA"}},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.beamex.com/#org-cn","parentOrganization":{"@id":"https://www.beamex.com/#organization"},"name":"Beamex Measurement Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.","telephone":"+86 4000 888 980","faxNumber":"+86 21 6104 1418","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"Rm 401, #2 Bldg, 690 Bi Bo Road, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park","postalCode":"201203","addressLocality":"Shanghai","addressCountry":"CN"}}]}
```
