We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (2024)

Table of Contents
What Type of Thermometer is the Most Accurate? The Different Types of Thermometers (And When to Use Them) What Healthcare Providers Want You to Know Best Overall Braun No Touch 3-in-1 Thermometer Key Specs: Why We Recommend It Keep In Mind Best For Kids Vicks Non-Contact Infrared Thermometer Key Specs: Why We Recommend It Keep In Mind Best Infrared Berrcom Non Contact Infrared Forehead Thermometer Key Specs: Why We Recommend It Keep In Mind Best Fever Indicator HoMedics Non-Contact Infrared Body Thermometer Key Specs: Why We Recommend It Keep In Mind Best Tympanic (Inner Ear) Equate Infrared 1-Second In-Ear Digital Thermometer Key Specs: Why We Recommend It Keep In Mind Best Smart Thermometer Kinsa Smart Thermometer Key Specs: Why We Recommend It Keep In Mind Best Oral Boncare Digital Oral Thermometer Key Specs: Why We Recommend It Keep In Mind Compare How We Tested What to Look for in At-Home Thermometers Our Experts Why Trust Verywell Health

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

We tested more than two dozen thermometers—these were the most accurate and easiest to use.

ByKayla Hui, MPH

Updated on September 17, 2024

Medically reviewed byArno Kroner, DAOM

Fact checked byMarley Hall

We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (1)

While your body temperature fluctuates throughout the day due to a variety of factors using a thermometer to check a sudden temperature change can let you know it's time to see the doctor. Health experts are pretty unanimous when it comes to what defines a fever—100.4ºF. Maryellen Flaherty-Hewitt, MD, FAAP, a pediatric specialist, says that a fever is typically a sign of the body fighting against an infection. While an elevated temperature may be worrying, it’s a sign that your body is recovering. She also mentioned that identifying a fever and having an accurate body temperature reading is crucial l when it comes time for a physician to properly assess your health. She adds that investing in an accurate thermometer can keep you and your family’s health in check.

When shopping for a thermometer, keep in mind who will be using it (like your child) and how comfortable they will be while using it. Additional thermometer features (like connected apps) can also be beneficial in tracking your health. To make shopping easier, we tested 25 thermometers and reviewed each to find the best based on five categories: ease of setup, response time, consistency of results, ease of use, and data readability. An integrative medicine doctor from our Medical Expert Board also reviewed the contents of this article for medical accuracy surrounding thermometers and the effectiveness of various types of thermometers.

What Type of Thermometer is the Most Accurate?

Katz says that digital rectal thermometers are the most accurate at measuring core temperature. That’s because they measure the internal body temperature by insertion, and the reading is less likely to be influenced by external factors, such as drinking hot or cold beverages and environmental temperatures. However, rectal thermometers are predominantly used to take temperatures of infants and toddlers up to 3 years old.

For adults, oral thermometers can give accurate and dependable results—just make sure you use them properly, including watching what you eat or drink prior to taking your temperature. Taking a reading shortly after you've eaten something hot or cold can throw off the reading.

The Different Types of Thermometers (And When to Use Them)

There are different types of thermometers that target different areas of the body to get your temperature readings, such as oral, tympanic, temporal, and rectal areas. According to Bradley Katz, MD, PhD, a neuro-opthalmologist, rectal thermometers are considered to be the most accurate because they check internal body temperature and are less likely to be influenced by drinking cold or hot drinks, or fluctuating temperatures. However, in practice, oral thermometers are most commonly used among adults. Rectal thermometers are more widely used among children or patients in a hospital setting, Katz adds. The different types of thermometers are:

  • Oral: Reads temperature from the mouth and are best for use from ages 4 and up
  • Tympanic: Reads temperature from the ear and are best for use from ages 6 months and up
  • Temporal: Reads temperature from the forehead and are best for use from 3 months and up
  • Rectal: Reads temperature from the anus or anal canal and are best for use from birth to 3 years old
  • Axillary: Reads temperature from the armpit

What Healthcare Providers Want You to Know

  • Forehead thermometers: While forehead thermometers are popular (because they don’t require physical contact to read temperature), research studies have found that their accuracy may be lower compared to ear or armpit thermometers, especially if not positioned correctly, says Katz.
  • Positioning: Positioning is important to get a correct reading because different body areas have varying levels of heat concentration. Katz says they should be held perpendicularly and from the manufacturer's recommended distance to the forehead for the best accuracy. Temperatures should also be taken away from direct sunlight, a heat source, and without a hat or headband to minimize factors that can influence the temperature reading.

In This Article

  • What Type of Thermometer is the Most Accurate?

  • The Different Types of Thermometers (And When to Use Them)

  • What Healthcare Providers Want You to Know

  • Our Picks

  • How We Tested

  • What to Look for in At-Home Thermometers

  • Our Experts

  • Why Trust Verywell Health

Pros

  • Good for families and kids of all ages

  • No contact

  • Can be used on food

Cons

  • Only stores one user

Key Specs:

Weight: 8 ounces | Bluetooth/App Connectivity: No | Dimensions: 5.31 x 2.36 x 7.87 inches | Power Source: AA Batteries (included)

Why We Recommend It

The Braun No Touch Thermometer is our best overall pick because it’s efficient, easy to use, reliable, and accurate. During both our lab and real-world testing, we found that this is a great no-contact thermometer for families because you can change the mode based on the age range of the person being tested (infants, toddlers, and up). Because infants' fevers (101.3ºF) are higher than adults' (100.4ºF or higher), this thermometer takes the guesswork of reading your results. It reads green, yellow, or red to show whether your temperature is normal or elevated.

We were able to track our body temperature changes after the slightest difference in activity, such as drinking water. The no-contact nature is perfect for taking children’s temperature since they can tend to squirm, and it also helps stop germ transmission as well. Plus, you can use this thermometer on food and bathwater.

Keep In Mind

The reading does take a little longer than advertised (we got a proper reading in five seconds though the instructions claimed it would only take two) but given the pinpoint accuracy that didn’t bother us at all.

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (3)

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (4)

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (5)

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (6)

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (7)

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (8)

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (9)

Pros

  • Kid friendly

  • Smiley face fever indicator

  • No contact

Cons

  • Hard to open battery compartment

  • Pricey

Key Specs:

Weight: 5.61 ounces | Bluetooth/App Connectivity: No | Dimensions: 3.46 x 1.57 x 5.51 inches | Power Source: Batteries (included)

Why We Recommend It

The Vick’s Non-Contact Infrared Thermometer made taking our kids’ temperatures a seamless process. We love that this thermometer is simple to set up and is no-contact to reduce the spread of germs between children. The display on the digital screen is easy for kids to understand: red with a frowny face means they have a fever, and green with a smiley face means they're healthy.

This thermometer gave us consistent readings faster than the instructions advertised (one second), which is important when taking the temperature of small children who may not want to sit still for long. While it only logs one user, it stores up to 50 readings so you can look back at past readings.

Keep In Mind

The battery compartment is a little hard to open. This also sits at a higher price point than other no-contact thermometers.

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (11)

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (12)

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (13)

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (14)

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (15)

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (16)

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (17)

Pros

  • Memory storage

  • Easy-to-use

  • Bold, bright display

Cons

  • Batteries not included

Key Specs:

Weight: 5.29 ounces | Bluetooth/App Connectivity: No | Dimensions: 1 x 2 x 1 inches | Power Source: Batteries

Why We Recommend It

The Berrcom Non-Contact Infrared Thermometer is easy to use and has an easy display to read. When we say it’s easy to use—we mean it. During testing, we actually didn’t read the instructions before use and still managed to use it perfectly and get consistent readings. Plus, it's highly sensitive and if our temperature shifted just a little, this thermometer would recognize it and record it. The display is big and bright with a color-coded backlight indicating whether you don’t have a fever (green), a slight fever (orange), or a high fever (red).

This thermometer can record up to 32 temperatures and it’s simple to flip between Fahrenheit and Celsius. It has six modes (including food and bathwater reading options) and has a low battery indicator to tell you when you need to replace the batteries.

Keep In Mind

The batteries didn’t come included when we received this thermometer, so you may have to go get some from the store.

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (19)

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (20)

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (21)

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (22)

Pros

  • Has a quiet mode

  • Audible beep for fevers

  • Human and object mode

Cons

  • Reading can shift based on distance from head

Key Specs:

Weight : 5.29 ounces | Bluetooth/App Connectivity: No | Dimensions: 3.5 x 1.5 x 5.63 inches | Power Source: Batteries (included)

Why We Recommend It

We chose Homedics Non-Contact Infrared Body Thermometer as our pick for the best thermometer for a fever indicator because, unlike other thermometers that will only light up, this thermometer has an audible beep to alert you if you have a fever. The display screen lights up according to your temperature (green for normal, yellow for low-grade fever, and red for high fever) and tells you the results in bold writing that is easy. to read, especially in the dark. There’s also a quiet mode that you can select so the thermometer doesn’t wake up children during middle-of-the-night readings. It has a very wide base that easily fits in your hand comfortably.

This thermometer also comes with an object mode, so be sure you set it to human mode or else it won’t record your temperature correctly. Otherwise, this thermometer is accurate and reliable.

Keep In Mind

We noticed that the temperature reading would shift slightly based on how far we held it from our forehead. To make sure your results are accurate, make sure to keep the same hand-to-forehead distance every time.

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (24)

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (25)

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (26)

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (27)

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (28)

Pros

  • Straightforward

  • Good for kids

  • Fast readings

Cons

  • Inconsistent readings if switched between ears

  • Needs frequent sanitization

Key Specs:

Weight : Not listed | Bluetooth/App Connectivity: No | Dimensions: 5.7 x 1.41 x 1.49 inches | Power Source: Batteries (included)

Why We Recommend It

If you prefer tympanic (or inner ear) options, our favorite is the Equate Infrared 1-Second In-Ear Thermometer. It was immediately ready to use out of the box during testing, and we found it to be a simple and sturdy thermometer that gave us reliable readings consistently. It’s a straightforward thermometer that doesn’t require an app or any Bluetooth connection. Readings were ready within three to five seconds, faster than we expected, and beeped when it was done recording the temperature.

The thermometer display is bright, with bold writing so you can easily read your temperatures and it will remember up to 10 readings. There’s also a low battery indicator, a Fahrenheit and Celsius conversion option, and it comes with a protective storage cap and case.

Keep In Mind

We noticed inconsistent readings if we used this thermometer between different ears, so stick to a single ear. We also noticed that it worked best without the ear covers so we had to clean the tip more often, especially between switching users.

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (30)

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (31)

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (32)

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (33)

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (34)

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (35)

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (36)

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (37)

Pros

  • Personalized medical advice through the app

  • Multiple user profiles

  • Fun elephant animation for kids

Cons

  • No protective case

  • App doesn’t sync efficiently

Key Specs:

Weight : 1.59 ounces | Bluetooth/App Connectivity: Yes | Dimensions: 5.63 x 3.03 x 0.94 inches | Power Source: Batteries (included)

Why We Recommend It

Nowadays, everything has an app, and that includes thermometers. Our pick for the best smart thermometer is the Kinsa QuickCare Smart Thermometer. Even though it's high-tech, it’s not hard to use. During testing, we found that the app made getting our temperature results fun because it offers interactive features (you can even ask the app questions when you’re feeling sick to learn more about your symptoms). The app can also track medicine usage and dosage and provides multiple user profiles to keep track of the whole family's readings.

As you take your temperature, the thermometer gives you a light and sound indication when it’s done taking the reading. We adored the little elephant animation on the thermometer. It distracted our kids when taking their temperature, which was an added bonus. To top it off, all of our results were accurate and consistent.

Keep In Mind

This thermometer doesn’t come with a protective case. We also wish the app synced more efficiently.

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (39)

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (40)

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (41)

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (42)

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (43)

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (44)

Pros

  • Basic and straightforward

  • Tracks temperature

  • Easy-to-read display

Cons

  • Inconsistent timing of results

  • Difficult set-up process

Key Specs:

Weight : 0.37 ounces | Bluetooth/App Connectivity: No | Dimensions : 4.93 x 0.76 x 0.49 inches | Power Source: Batteries (included)

Why We Recommend It

The Boncare Digital Oral Thermometer is our pick for the best oral thermometer because it’s affordable, straightforward, and no fuss. This oral thermometer uses a soft silicone tip that’s comfortable for babies and adults alike when taking their temperature. The silicone tip is also washable so you can clean the thermometer easily.

During testing, we found that it gave fairly accurate readings that took between five to 30 seconds. When you turn on the thermometer it’ll display the last reading you had so you can compare your current results to your most recent.

Keep In Mind

The time it took to take our temperature readings was inconsistent. Even though this is a fairly basic thermometer, setting it up proved to be a little difficult, and we had to turn it on and off again in order to take another reading.

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (46)

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (47)

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (48)

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (49)

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (50)

  • We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (51)

How We Tested

The Verywell Health team spent eight hours in the Verywell Testing Lab and an additional six months at home testing 25 thermometers to find the best ones. We picked our top thermometers based on the following criteria:

  • Ease of setup: We noted how easy it was to set up each thermometer, how intuitive the process was, and how many components (i.e. batteries, Bluetooth, app)were needed to be able to properly use each product.
  • Response time: We judged how quick and seamless the process was and paid attention to how long it took to get our results. We also noted if the response time matched what the instructions claimed. Then we recorded if the thermometer told us via light or sound that the reading was ready.
  • Consistency of results: We tested the thermometers throughout different periods of the day to account for hormonal changes, shifts in environments, and other internal and external factors that can impact the consistency of the readings.Because temperature can fluctuate throughout the day, we opted to rate each thermometer for consistency of results rather than reading accuracy.
  • Ease of use: When operating the thermometer we paid close attention to whether or not all features of each product were easy to use, and how easily we were able to get accurate temperature readings.
  • Data readability: We made note of how many users the thermometer tracked, the legibility of the physical reading, and whether you could convert the thermometers from Celsius to Fahrenheit and vice versa.

What to Look for in At-Home Thermometers

When looking for a thermometer, Katz recommends people look for a thermometer that’s easy to read and use and that has the quickest (most accurate) response tunes possible. Beyond the temperature reading capabilities, some thermometers have additional features:

  • Fever indicators—a system that tells you if the fever is normal, mild, or high—are popular on many of the digital thermometers we tested and can provide helpful guidance on when to seek medical attention.
  • Smartphone apps are also helpful for tracking and keeping record of temperature history—many "smart" thermometers include these, but sometimes they can complicate the otherwise simple process of taking a temperature reading.

We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (59)

Our Experts

  • Maryellen Flaherty-Hewitt, MD, FAAP, Interim Section Chief of General Pediatrics Yale Medicine
  • Bradley Katz, MD, PhD, professor at the University of Utah Medical Center and CEO of Axon Optic

Why Trust Verywell Health

Receiving her master’s degree in public health in 2020, Kayla Hui is a seasoned public health practitioner and health journalist. She has interviewed dozens of experts, reviewed numerous research studies, and tested a plethora of products to deliver well-researched product reviews and roundups. Her goal is to help readers make more informed decisions about their health and well-being.

3 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Fever. (2019, November 19). https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/fever

  2. Chen, Hsuan-Yu, et al. Investigation of the Impact of Infrared Sensors on Core Body Temperature Monitoring by Comparing Measurement Sites.Sensors (Basel, Switzerland), vol. 20, no. 10, May 2020, p. 2885.doi:10.3390/s20102885

  3. Fever in children: Overview. (2019). Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279455/

We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (60)

By Kayla Hui, MPH
Hui is a health writer with a master's degree in public health. In 2020, she won a Pulitzer Center Fellowship to report on the mental health of Chinese immigrant truck drivers.

See Our Editorial Process

Meet Our Medical Expert Board

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?

We Tested 35 Thermometers To Find the Best Ones for Easy & Reliable Temperature Checks (2024)
Top Articles
L'Oréal Paris Waterproof Make-Up Remover 125 ML
Your Guide to Best Makeup Removers, From Micellar Water to Cleansing Balms
The 15 Very Best Makeup Removers
Latest Posts
Make-up remover kopen bij De Online Drogist
Make-up remover Rose | Loveli Care
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Prof. Nancy Dach

Last Updated:

Views: 5259

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (57 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Prof. Nancy Dach

Birthday: 1993-08-23

Address: 569 Waelchi Ports, South Blainebury, LA 11589

Phone: +9958996486049

Job: Sales Manager

Hobby: Web surfing, Scuba diving, Mountaineering, Writing, Sailing, Dance, Blacksmithing

Introduction: My name is Prof. Nancy Dach, I am a lively, joyous, courageous, lovely, tender, charming, open person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.