Keysight 3458A 8.5 Digit High-Performance Digital Multimeter

Key Features At A Glance

• 8.5-digit resolution with 0.6 ppm 24-hour DC voltage accuracy for transfer and calibration-standard measurements
• Up to 100,000 readings/sec at 4.5 digits and 6 readings/sec at 8.5 digits across DCV, ohms, and digitizing modes
• Seven measurement functions standard: DCV, ACV, DCI, ACI, two-wire and four-wire ohms, frequency, and period
• True RMS AC volts with selectable synchronous sub-sampling, analog, or random sampling techniques covering 1 Hz to 10 MHz
• Integrated digitizing with 16-bit resolution to 100,000 samples/sec, 12 MHz bandwidth, and 10 ns timebase resolution
• Two-source (10 V, 10 kΩ) electronic calibration plus self-verifying ACAL auto-calibration for all functions including AC
• 8 ppm/year voltage reference stability standard, with optional 4 ppm/year high-stability reference (Option 002)
• GPIB (IEEE-488) interface with optional extended reading memory expanding internal storage to 148 k bytes (Option 001)

The Keysight 3458A Multimeter is a high-performance 8.5-digit system multimeter engineered to deliver both high speed and high accuracy in a single instrument. Originally introduced under the Hewlett-Packard banner and carried forward through Agilent into the current Keysight lineup, the 3458A has long served as a reference-class bench and system DMM for production test, R&D, and calibration laboratory environments. The datasheet positions it as a multimeter that shatters performance barriers of speed and accuracy, combining seven measurement functions with digitizing capability in one chassis.

Per the datasheet, the 3458A is applied to test system throughput acceleration, calibration laboratory precision work, and high-resolution waveform digitizing. The instrument is positioned for production test floors where measurement speed and tight test margins drive yield, for calibration labs where 0.1 ppm transfer accuracy and low internal noise are required, and for engineering benches that need digitizing of repetitive or single-shot waveforms alongside conventional DMM measurements. Typical work described includes transfer measurements against intrinsic standards, automated characterization sweeps under GPIB control, and stand-alone measurement sequences executed from non-volatile program memory.

ValueTronics International has been a trusted source for new and pre-owned test and measurement equipment since 1992. Every instrument in our inventory is stored and processed in our 20,000 square foot secure warehouse at 1675 Cambridge Drive, Elgin, Illinois, where our in-house technicians perform the receiving, inspection, and functional verification work that distinguishes a professionally graded instrument from an unverified marketplace listing. When you order a 3458A from ValueTronics, you are working with a vendor that has the instrument in physical inventory, has tested it, and stands behind it — not a drop-shipper or pass-through broker.

Brand Heritage

The 3458A originated as a Hewlett-Packard product. In 1999, HP spun out its test and measurement business as Agilent Technologies, and in 2014 Agilent transferred its electronic measurement division to Keysight Technologies. Instruments built under the HP and Agilent labels share the same 3458A model designation and full support continuity through Keysight today.

Accessories Supplied

• 34137A Test lead set for 3458A
• Calibration certificate

Product Core & Specifications

Specification	Value
DC Voltage
Ranges	100 mV, 1 V, 10 V, 100 V, 1000 V (5 ranges)
Maximum Resolution	10 nV (100 mV and 1 V ranges)
Input Impedance	>10 GΩ (100 mV, 1 V, 10 V); 10 MΩ ±1% (100 V, 1000 V)
24 Hour Accuracy (10 V range)	0.5 ppm of reading + 0.05 ppm of range
90 Day Accuracy (10 V range)	4.1 ppm + 0.05 ppm
1 Year Accuracy (10 V range)	8 (4) ppm + 0.05 ppm
2 Year Accuracy (10 V range)	14 (10) ppm + 0.05 ppm
Maximum Sensitivity	10 nV
Resistance (2-wire and 4-wire)
Ranges	10 Ω, 100 Ω, 1 kΩ, 10 kΩ, 100 kΩ, 1 MΩ, 10 MΩ, 100 MΩ, 1 GΩ (9 ranges)
Maximum Resolution	10 µΩ (10 Ω range)
24 Hour Accuracy (1 kΩ range)	2 ppm + 0.2 ppm
Offset Compensation	Available on 10 Ω to 100 kΩ ranges
DC Current
Ranges	100 nA, 1 µA, 10 µA, 100 µA, 1 mA, 10 mA, 100 mA, 1 A (8 ranges)
Maximum Resolution	1 pA
24 Hour Accuracy (1 mA range)	10 ppm + 4 ppm
AC Voltage
Ranges	10 mV, 100 mV, 1 V, 10 V, 100 V, 1000 V (6 ranges)
Bandwidth	1 Hz to 10 MHz
Measurement Techniques	Synchronous Sub-sampled (SYNC), Analog (ANA), Random Sampled (RNDM)
Best Accuracy (SYNC, 45 Hz to 1 kHz)	0.01% of reading
Maximum Resolution	10 nV (10 mV, 100 mV ranges)
AC Current
Ranges	100 µA, 1 mA, 10 mA, 100 mA, 1 A (5 ranges)
Bandwidth	10 Hz to 100 kHz
24 Hour Accuracy (1 mA range)	0.06% + 0.02%
Frequency / Period
Frequency Range (Voltage)	1 Hz to 10 MHz
Frequency Range (Current)	1 Hz to 100 kHz
Period Range	100 ns to 1 sec
Best Accuracy	0.01% of reading (1 Hz to 40 Hz, 1 s – 25 ms gate)
Input Signal Range	700 V rms – 1 mV rms; 1 A rms – 10 µA rms
Time Base Accuracy	10 MHz ±0.01%, 0°C to 55°C
Digitizing
Resolution	16 to 24 bits
Sample Rate (Standard DCV)	0.2 to 100,000 samples/sec
Sample Rate (Direct Sampled)	Up to 50,000 samples/sec
Sample Rate (Sub-Sampled, effective)	Up to 100 Msamples/sec
Bandwidth (DSDC/DSAC/SSDC/SSAC)	12 MHz
Timing Resolution	10 ns (sub-sampling); 100 ns (direct sampling)
Time Jitter	<100 ps rms
System Specifications
Max Reading Rate to GPIB (SINT)	100,000 readings/sec
Max Reading Rate to Internal Memory	100,000 readings/sec
Function/Range Changes	340/sec
DCV Autorange Rate	110/sec
Reading Memory (Standard)	10,240 readings (20 k bytes)
Reading Memory (Option 001)	65,536 readings (+128 k bytes)
Non-volatile Memory	14 k bytes (for subprograms and/or state storage)
Interface	IEEE-488.1, IEEE-728, HPML (Multimeter Language)
General
Voltage Reference Stability	8 ppm/year standard (4 ppm/year with Option 002)
Operating Environment	0 to 55 °C
Operating Humidity	Up to 95% RH at 40 °C
Storage Temperature	−40 to +75 °C
Warm-up Time	4 hours to published specifications
Power Requirements	100/120 V, 220/240 V ±10%; 48-66 Hz, 360-420 Hz auto-sensed; <30 W, <80 VA (peak)
Fuse	1.5 A @ 115 V or 0.5 A @ 230 V
Safety Compliance	IEC 348, UL 1244, CSA
Military Classification	MIL-T-28800D Type III, Class 5, Style E, Color R
Warranty	One year
Input Terminals	Gold-plated tellurium copper
Physical
Dimensions (H × W × D)	88.9 mm × 425.5 mm × 502.9 mm
Net Weight	12 kg (26.5 lbs)
Shipping Weight	14.8 kg (32.5 lbs)

Important: Recommended pairing: a precision 10 VDC source and a precision 10 kΩ resistor are the two external standards required for the 3458A's electronic calibration of all functions, including AC.Important: Keysight recommends the use of PTFE cable or other high impedance, low dielectric absorption cable for resistance and low current measurements.Important: Current measurements at rates < NPLC 1 are subject to potential noise pickup. Care must be taken to provide adequate shielding and guarding to maintain measurement accuracies.Important: The optimum technical specifications of the 3458A are based on auto-calibration (ACAL) of the instrument within the previous 24 hours and following ambient temperature changes of less than ±1 °C.Important: Warm-up time of 4 hours is required to reach published specifications.

Please review the Manufacturer's Data Sheet to verify published specifications. Feedback on this webpage is always welcome — please reach out to your Test Architect at any time for questions or concerns. Thank you, we truly appreciate you being our customer.