The 6485 is a picoammeter, a meter for very small currents, and it doesn't source anything. We list it with the SourceMeters because that's where low-current bench gear lives here. It's the successor to Keithley's popular Model 485. Keithley added a 20 mA range, ten times the resolution on every range, a 2,500-reading buffer and up to 1,000 readings a second, and kept a 485 emulation mode so old programs still run. It's a feedback ammeter, so the voltage drop it adds to your circuit stays under 200 µV, and it resolves 10 fA on the 2 nA range. The input is a plain BNC on the back, so ordinary low-noise BNC cable works instead of triax. Tektronix still sells it. If you need a built-in voltage source, look at the 6487 instead.
BNC on the rear panel; 220 V DC maximum continuous input
Interfaces
IEEE-488 and RS-232, plus an analog output and Trigger Link
Mains input
100–120 V or 220–240 V, 50–60 Hz
Weight
Under 2.8 kg
Also listed as
Model 6485, 6485 pico ammeter
Typical eBay ask (Oct 14, 2026)
$1,525–$2,600
Options and accessories
What should come with it
4801 low-noise BNC input cable and CAP-18 shield cap (supplied new)
4802-10 and 4803 low-noise cables
7078-TRX-BNC adapter for triax test fixtures
Check the listing photos and the rear panel against this list, and ask the seller about anything you can’t see. A missing option or probe should come off the price.
What to check
At picoamp levels the cable and connector matter, so a damaged input cable or a bent BNC adds noise and offset. New units shipped with a 4801 low-noise BNC cable and a CAP-18 shield cap, so check whether they're included.
01Zero check: Ask for a photo with zero check on and the input capped. The reading should settle near zero on the 2 nA range.
02BNC input: Look at the rear BNC input in the photos. It should be clean and tight, with no bent center pin.
03Cable: Check whether the 4801 low-noise BNC cable and CAP-18 shield cap are included. Without them you'll need proper low-noise cable before your first measurement.
04Model: Make sure the label says 6485 and not 6487. The 6487 adds a 500 V source and is a different instrument.
05Display: Ask for a photo of the display powered on. All 12 characters should be bright and readable.
06Line voltage: Ask which line voltage it's set for. It must match your mains, 100–120 V or 220–240 V.
07Calibration: Ask for the last calibration certificate. A dated certificate from a named lab, with data, means something, and a sticker or "cal'd" in the title proves little.
We'd buy next.day.automation's 6485 at $1,850 delivered with free shipping, near the $1,790 median, from a US dealer whose photo shows the display lit. There are at least 84 for sale, mostly from China resellers asking about $1,330–1,800 delivered, and several share titles and watermarked photos (LEYPIN, Aimevo) across accounts, so the meter pictured may not be the one you get. The other US sellers here ask $2,024–2,543 delivered. None is titled with the 4801 low-noise BNC cable or CAP-18 shield cap that came with it new, so budget for low-noise cable, and ask for a photo with zero check on and the input capped, settling near zero on the 2 nA range, plus the label to rule out a 6487. Skip yuajjcpu's $5,623 ask, about 3.1 times the median.
Listed now
84
For parts
0
Typical ask
$1,525–$2,600
Full range
$1,327–$5,623
★Cheapest
$1,789.89est. delivered
The lowest delivered 6485 we'd consider, at $1,790, with the seller's own photo. It ships from China and the photo shows it switched off, so ask for a photo of this unit with its serial and the zero check running.
A US dealer's 6485 at $1,850 delivered with free shipping, titled with its ranges and IEEE-488 and RS-232, and the photo shows the display lit. No cable is titled, so add a low-noise BNC cable to your budget.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 14, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
For sale on eBay
8 of 84 listed
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 14, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used
★Cheapest
1 PCS Keithley 6485 Picoammeter/dm
$1,789.89est. delivered
$1,589.89 + $200.00 shipping
Buy It Now$1,589.89
Good buy
Ships from China, shown switched off. Ask for a photo of the actual unit with its serial.