A surface finish stylus and associated methods for a multi-directional scanning probe the stylus having an elongate stylus shaft having a longitudinal axis and one or more contact elements protruding from the elongate shaft for contacting a surface to be measured. The one or more contact elements are configured to enable measurement of surface finish during motion of the stylus shaft relative to a surface along a measurement direction that is non-parallel to the longitudinal axis. The multi-directional scanning probe may be carried by a coordinate measuring machine or machine tool.