Surface Measuring Instrument Global Market Report 2025

The surface measuring instrument market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $2.07 billion in 2024 to $2.26 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.5%. The growth in the historic period resulted from increasing demand for quality control, rising adoption of precision engineering, growing need for surface inspection in manufacturing, expansion of the automotive and aerospace industries, and increasing regulatory compliance requirements.

The surface measuring instrument market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $3.21 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.1%. The growth in the forecast period is driven by the rising adoption of advanced metrology, the expansion of electronics and semiconductor manufacturing, increased investments in smart factories, the growing need for predictive maintenance, and the expanding use of portable surface measuring instruments. Key trends expected in the forecast period include advancements in non-contact measurement systems, greater investment in research and development, innovations in portable and handheld devices, wider adoption of digital and connected measurement solutions, and the integration of AI and machine learning into surface analysis processes.

The rising demand for precision manufacturing is expected to drive the growth of the surface measuring instrument market going forward. Precision manufacturing involves producing components with extremely high accuracy and tight tolerances using advanced tools and technologies. This demand is growing in the medical device industry, where highly accurate and reliable components are critical for patient safety and device performance. Surface measuring instruments aid precision manufacturing by accurately assessing component texture, flatness, and roughness, ensuring parts comply with strict quality and specification standards. For example, in July 2023, according to the Office for National Statistics, a UK-based government department, the manufacture of basic metals reached $9.56 billion (£7.1 billion) and wearing apparel $1.88 billion (£1.4 billion) in 2022, showing the largest proportional sales increases of 17% and 15%, respectively. Therefore, the increasing demand for precision measurement is driving the growth of the surface measuring instrument market.

Leading companies in the surface measuring instrument market are focusing on innovations such as portable surface measuring instruments to improve on-site measurement capabilities, shorten inspection time, and enhance operational efficiency. Portable surface measuring instruments are handheld devices that enable accurate evaluation of surface texture, roughness, and flatness directly on-site, allowing faster inspections and real-time quality control. For instance, in November 2023, Mahr GmbH, a Germany-based metrology company, launched the MarSurf M 410, a new portable surface measuring instrument designed for high-precision surface roughness measurement in both laboratory and production settings. It features a skidless probe system, a large rotatable touchscreen, and a modular design for flexible use with separate operating and drive units. The device offers a wide measuring range with fine probe tips, automatic probe positioning, and a versatile docking station for various measurement angles, including overhead.

In July 2024, Mahr Inc., a US-based manufacturer and supplier of industrial metrology equipment, acquired OptoSurf GmbH for an undisclosed amount. Through this acquisition, Mahr aims to strengthen its optical surface metrology capabilities, enabling precise nanometer-scale measurements to improve surface quality and performance across advanced industrial sectors such as electromobility, aerospace, and medical technology. OptoSurf GmbH, a Germany-based company, specializes in manufacturing optical surface measuring instruments, particularly scattered light sensors for roughness measurement.

Major players in the surface measuring instrument market are KLA Corporation, Keyence Corporation, AMETEK Inc., Hexagon AB, Nikon Metrology NV, Bruker Corporation, Carl Zeiss AG, Jenoptik AG, Renishaw plc, Mitutoyo Corporation, Wenzel Group GmbH & Co. KG, Mahr GmbH, Nearfield Instruments, Krüss Optronic GmbH, Tokyo Seimitsu Co. Ltd., Optical Gaging Products Inc., Ryokosha Co. Ltd., Bowers Group Ltd., Schuetz GmbH & Co. KGaA, Hommel-Etamic GmbH, LDB Corporation, Mitaka Kohki Co. Ltd., Okaya Seiryu Kogyo Co. Ltd., and Trimos SA.

North America was the largest region in the surface measuring instrument market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in surface measuring instrument report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report’s Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

The swift increase in U.S. tariffs and the ensuing trade tensions in spring 2025 are significantly affecting the machinery sector by increasing costs for steel, hydraulic systems, and precision bearings critical components often imported from tariff-affected regions. Manufacturers of construction, agricultural, and industrial machinery now face squeezed margins, as many long-term contracts prevent immediate price adjustments. The uncertainty has also delayed investment in automation and smart machinery technologies, slowing productivity gains. To adapt, firms are accelerating local supplier development, redesigning products to use alternative materials, and leveraging predictive maintenance to extend equipment lifespans amid higher replacement costs.

The surface measuring instrument market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides surface measuring instrument market statistics, including surface measuring instrument industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a surface measuring instrument market share, detailed surface measuring instrument market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the surface measuring instrument industry. This surface measuring instrument market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

A surface measuring instrument is a highly precise device used to examine and quantify the detailed characteristics of a material’s surface, including its roughness, waviness, and overall topography. These instruments utilize advanced measurement techniques such as contact profilometry, optical scanning, or laser-based methods to deliver comprehensive and highly accurate data on surface texture, feature dimensions, and spatial distribution.

The main types of surface measuring instruments include contact profilers, laser scanners, optical measuring instruments, coordinate measuring machines, and surface roughness testers. Contact profilers assess surface features by physically contacting the surface with a probe, providing detailed information on texture and roughness. These instruments include hand-held instruments, portable instruments, benchtop instruments, and automated measuring systems. They are widely used in metrology laboratories, manufacturing, research and development, and quality control, serving key end-user industries such as aerospace and defense, automotive, electronics, medical devices, and construction.

The countries covered in the surface measuring instrument market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The surface measuring instrument market consists of sales of portable surface measuring devices, stylus profilometers, optical interferometers, confocal microscopes, focus variation instruments, and handheld roughness testers. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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