The 10 Best Thermometers
Editor's Notes
May 04, 2021:
There were some older models in this list that I’ve now removed, and some designs like the Summer Infant Pacifier that I also felt weren’t universal enough to warrant a place here. I also wanted to move this list towards non-contact infrared thermometers, though there are still 2 probes left in this list -the iProven DTR-1221A and Kinsa QuickCare Digital, the latter being a smart option. Infrared options have improved significantly, and they tend to be a lot more accurate and affordable than ever before. They’re also slightly faster than the digital sticks, or probes.
Note that we have a separate list for basal thermometers as well as one for thermostats, in case you’re looking for one of those and accidentally wound up on here. Many smartwatches also have the ability to read your temperature, so I wouldn’t personally recommend investing in a wearable thermometer unless it’s incredibly lightweight, like the FeverGuard Wearable, as there’s no point in wearing something so bulky that only offers only a single function.
February 17, 2020:
Most of the items on our list were replaced in this update. The iProven DMT489 is among the most versatile and trustworthy models available today, and many a parent will appreciate that it can be used for both forehead and ear readings. It’s as simple as pressing the designated button for each method. Leave the cover on for a forehead reading, and remove it to access the ear probe. Results can be seen clearly via the backlit screen, and a fever alarm informs you when a high temperature is present. The iProven DTR-1221A, another model from the same manufacturer, also comes on board. This one is multifunctional in its own right, as it can be used to get readings orally or rectally. This makes it suitable for patients of all ages, and it efficiently shows results in just 10 seconds. It can be changed from Fahrenheit mode to Celsius with the touch of a button.
For selections that can be paired with your smartphone via a downloadable companion app, look to the Kinsa Smart Ear and the Kinsa QuickCare Digital. The app can list your temperature history, offer medication reminders, and provide guidance on when to contact your doctor.
The Braun Thermoscan 7 color codes your results to indicate whether a temperature is normal, elevated or in the fever range. It interprets the results based on the age of a young child, as what’s considered a fever changes from newborn to toddler. For another versatile choice that can be used orally, rectally, or under the arm, look to the Vicks V912US, which shows your number brightly on its large, round screen. This simple model comes with a waterproof design for easy washing of the probe after each use, and its automatic shutoff feature helps the battery to last for a long time.
If you’re in the market for a no-touch model, check out the newly added Innovo FR201 and the CocoBear Infrared. Both feature infrared technology that lets you hold them a couple of inches from the patient’s forehead to get your reading. These both also feature modes for measuring the air in your room, as well as the temperature of foods and liquids.
If your baby loves his or her binky, the Summer Infant Pacifier is worthy of a look. Just gently place it into the mouth, and it works similar to any other digital thermometer. Its screen will light up and beep once the results are ready, and will be colored red when it detects a fever. One caveat is that the battery is not replaceable, so when it runs out, you need to replace the entire thing. Fortunately, it comes at a low price, as it turns out.
In this update we removed several models that are no longer available, and also removed the Easy@Home 3-in-1 Non-Contact, which renders results that are inaccurate, according to many reports.
Make sure to reach your thermometer’s instructions carefully before you start using it on yourself or your child. In addition, you should check with your pediatrician for proper guidance on treating your child’s fever. For more models that are well suited for use on kids, check out our list of best thermometers for children.
Body Temperature: A Window Into Human Health
And there are few better ways to confirm a perceived symptomatic issue than by checking a person's temperature.
The human body has myriad ways of displaying the presence of affliction. From pallid skin to an elevated heart rate, from shortness of breath to confusion or exhaustion, or from sweating to nausea, just to name a few, the body exhibits various symptoms when it is in distress caused by a virus, bacteria, injury, poisoning, and so forth. A proper diagnosis of the underlying causes of these and other symptoms begins with identifying them as issues in the first place. And there are few better ways to confirm a perceived symptomatic issue than by checking a person's temperature.
The average human body temperature hovers at around 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, though this number is a broad generalization. A perfectly healthy individual's body standard resting temperature may be as much as a full degree higher or lower. It's important to know your own average temperature (or the temperature of your child or anyone in your care) so you can establish your personal baseline for health. Take your temperature every now and then when you are displaying no signs of illness, you have not recently been exercising or otherwise exerting yourself, and when you are in an environment that approximates room temperature. Be sure to record the results until you have clearly established your average personal temperature.
While more often than not we take a person's temperature to look for a fever, also be aware of the causes of and risks associated with low body temperature. While the most obvious causes of a reduced body temperature are exposure to cold weather or wet conditions, a low body temperature can also indicate anything from kidney failure and sepsis to the effects of protracted insomnia. Do not overlook the potential danger indicated by a lower than average body temperature.
On the other hand, a fever can merit extreme worry or it can indicate a healthy response to a mild illness. It's important to know when to worry about fever and when to simply tell a patient to rest and relax.
Better Know A Fever
A fever is one of the human body's best ways to combat a virus or bacteria. If an adult or older child is otherwise healthy and their fever stays in a moderate range, breaks within a few days, and is not accompanied by other worrying symptoms, there may be nothing more for the patient to do than relax, stay hydrated, and wait it out.
Elevated or protracted fevers, or a fever in a smaller child or elderly person, however, can present a host of issues.
When a child younger than three months has a fever over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, it's time to get a doctor involved.
Until a healthy adult's fever surpasses the 103 degree Fahrenheit mark or the three day time period, it is likely not a cause for major concern. A fever above 103 merits a visit to a medical facility or in home review by a trained professional. A fever lasting many days is also not to be ignored, even if it comes and goes throughout the day or night. Also pay close attention to other symptoms including swelling of the throat, neck stiffness, cognitive impairment, nausea, or muscular issues including weakness or seizure.
When a child younger than three months has a fever over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, it's time to get a doctor involved. Between three months and a year, that number creeps up a bit to a fever of 102 degrees. And of course an infant's fever accompanied by other issues, such as vomiting, diarrhea, or listlessness and/or unexplained irritability, merits more prompt medical attention.
Ironically, in young children older than infancy but still far from puberty, a slightly elevated fever is less of a concern than with adults. Kids will often experience a fever of 102 or 103 degrees without it being a cause for concern. (Still take the time to seek medical intervention if you are concerned, of course.)
The Best Thermometer For The Job
A temperature reading obtained rectally or vaginally is generally considered the most accurate rendition of a patient's core temperature. When viable, these are the ideal methods, and any quality thermometer that can be used as such is a fine choice.
This makes oral thermometers a poor choice for use with younger children or with patients suffering from cognitive issues or physical infirmities.
Oral temperature readings can also be quite accurate, but only when a patient can patiently wait with the thermometer placed deep under his or her tongue. This makes oral thermometers a poor choice for use with younger children or with patients suffering from cognitive issues or physical infirmities. (Oral thermometers should not be used for at least fifteen minutes after a person eats or drinks, for the record.)
In ear thermometers give relatively accurate readings and most models record the temperature quickly, making them a decent choice for use in schools or clinics. They might not fit the narrow ear canal of small children, though, and their accuracy can be impacted by a buildup of earwax.
Infrared thermometers are non contact tools that measure heat by scanning a person's forehead are a fine choice for use with babies, sleeping patients, or for any other person who for can't be physically touched or manipulated. They are not quite as accurate as other options though, and if this type of thermometer indicates a potentially dangerous fever or low temperature, a second reading using another device may be advisable.
And always make sure to sterilize a thermometer after its use, especially if it is used in an environment shared by many people.