A digital measurement instrument with excellent environmental durability and at least a conventional level of usability including a main scale, a slider movable relative to the main scale, a displacement sensor configured to detect displacement or position of the slider in relation to the main scale, and a control circuit. The control circuit controls change between a normal measuring mode and an origin setting mode. The control circuit also sets and stores a first area, the first area being a preset predetermined range outside of a measurement range. The control circuit also changes operation mode from the normal measuring mode to the origin setting mode when the slider is detected to have stopped within the first area for a consecutive predetermined period of time. Additionally, the digital calipers are provided with no mechanical push button switches.