Five different moisture instruments were considered for use as candidates to integrate into HVI systems. Three measured electrical properties of cotton (capacitance, and two conductivity methods) and two measured reflectance of near infrared light. All were compared with weight loss by oven drying. The two infrared light systems differ in illumination geometry, light wavelength and reflectance detector material. One reflectance method was nearly as accurate as oven measurements (±O.2%). Moisture content in 1500 cottons covering the full range of grade and trash content are reported for the best near infrared method at 60% RH.