Reading a meter from a photo: which digits count? (checklist)

Read the meter from the whole numbers before the decimal (or the red digits): these give the consumption (water and gas in m³, electricity in kWh). When photographing, shoot straight-on and clear, include the full digit row and the serial number, with a date — so the reading is documented dispute-free and provable at move-out. (The context is Hungarian; adapt to your market.)

Which digits do you read?

Most mistakes come from including the red (decimal) digits. The rule:

Electricity meter (kWh): the black/white whole numbers, without the decimal (red-framed) digits.
Gas meter (m³): the whole cubic-metre digits before the red ones.
Water meter (m³): the black digits give whole m³; red gives litres — for billing, whole m³ counts.

If unsure, photograph the whole thing and compute consumption from the whole-number difference between two readings.

How to photograph it right (checklist)

Meter photo checklist

Shoot straight-on, not at an angle — every digit sharp.
Include the full digit row, red (decimal) digits included.
Show the meter's serial number too (for identification).
Enough light; use flash if needed, avoiding glare.
Turn on the phone's date stamp, or note the date.
A separate photo of each meter: water, gas, electricity (and submeters).
Do the same at both move-in and move-out.

Why photograph the meter?

The photo is dispute-free evidence: it records the exact reading on a given day. You need it in two key moments:

At move-in and move-out — for the handover protocol, so utilities can be settled accurately.
At monthly settlement — the utility settlement for rentals is based on the reading; a photo makes it undisputable.

Without it, move-out becomes one word against another, and the deposit settlement can turn contentious.

Interpreting the reading

Consumption is always the difference between two readings, within the same digit range:

Consumption = current reading − previous reading (whole numbers)

If the meter “rolls over” (e.g. 9999 → 0000), correct the difference by the meter’s full digit range — rare, but watch for it at high consumption.

Where RentTab helps

RentTab stores the meter photo and the reading together, per property and per meter, with a date. So every reading has a visual proof, consumption is computed automatically between two readings, and the monthly settlement is one click away — no lost paper or disputed numbers.

Frequently asked questions

Which digits do you read on a meter? The whole numbers before the decimal or the red digits. Electricity in kWh, gas and water in m³. The red (decimal) digits usually aren’t counted for billing.

How should I photograph the meter? Straight-on, clear and sharp, with the full digit row and the serial number, dated. One photo per meter.

Why does the date on the photo matter? Consumption is the difference between two dates — the date proves when a reading was taken. Decisive at move-in and move-out.

What if the tenant reports the wrong number? The dated photo is the authoritative source; the settlement is adjusted to it. That’s why you should photograph every reading.