We present a refractometer with main-and vernier-scale to measure the refractive index (RI) of liquids with high precision by using the fine spectrum structure of a tilted fiber Bragg grating (TFBG). The absolute RI values are determined by the accurate wavelength of cut-off mode resonances. The main-and vernier-scale are calibrated by measuring large groups of fine spectra at different cut-off mode resonances in a small RI range, and the use of vernier-scale certainly reduces the RI measurement uncertainty resulted from the discrete cladding mode resonances. The performance of the TFBG-based vernier refractometer is experimentally verified by exploring the temperature dependence of RI of anhydrous ethanol in a near infrared region, showing an enhanced accuracy to the order of 10(-4), high repeatability and temperature self-calibration capability. (c) 2017 Optical Society of America