<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
<headerData>
<submissionType>144</submissionType>
<filerInfo>
<filer>
<filerCredentials>
<cik>0001462630</cik>
<ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
</filerCredentials>
</filer>
<liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>
</filerInfo>
</headerData>
<formData>
<issuerInfo>
<issuerCik>0000009092</issuerCik>
<issuerName>BADGER METER INC</issuerName>
<secFileNumber>001-06706</secFileNumber>
<issuerAddress>
<street1 xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">4545 W. Brown Deer Rd.</street1>
<city xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">Milwaukee</city>
<stateOrCountry xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">WI</stateOrCountry>
<zipCode xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">53223</zipCode>
</issuerAddress>
<issuerContactPhone>414-355-0400</issuerContactPhone>
<nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>Begale Fred J</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
<relationshipsToIssuer>
<relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
</relationshipsToIssuer>
</issuerInfo>
<securitiesInformation>
<securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
<brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
<name>R.W. Baird</name>
<address>
<street1 xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">777 E. Wisconsin Ave</street1>
<city xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">Milwaukee</city>
<stateOrCountry xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">WI</stateOrCountry>
<zipCode xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">53202</zipCode>
</address>
</brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
<noOfUnitsSold>2064</noOfUnitsSold>
<aggregateMarketValue>310000</aggregateMarketValue>
<noOfUnitsOutstanding>29200677</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
<approxSaleDate>03/04/2026</approxSaleDate>
<securitiesExchangeName>NYSE</securitiesExchangeName>
</securitiesInformation>
<securitiesToBeSold>
<securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
<acquiredDate>03/04/2026</acquiredDate>
<natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Options granted 3/4/2016</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
<nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
<isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
<amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>2064</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
<paymentDate>03/04/2026</paymentDate>
<natureOfPayment>Compensation</natureOfPayment>
</securitiesToBeSold>
<nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
<noticeSignature>
<noticeDate>03/04/2026</noticeDate>
<signature>/s/ William R.A. Bergum, Attorney-in-Fact for Fred J. Begale</signature>
</noticeSignature>
</formData>
</edgarSubmission>
