The Best Thermometers (2024)

We’ve tested thermometers since 2016, diving annually into the newest research on the subject and speaking with experts about the benefits and drawbacks of each type of thermometer—including the latest studies examining infrared thermometers.

Over the years, our journalists have spoken to multiple physicians and other experts for their opinions on the best thermometers for at-home use, considering the needs and preferences of both adults and children.

We’ve also tested thermometers with a diverse group of people, noting when a model made sense in specific circumstances.

As Wirecutter’s senior staff writer for health and personal care, I’ve tested dozens of thermometers over the last four years. I also review other household health-oriented electronics like blood pressure monitors and bathroom scales.

Like all Wirecutter journalists, I review and test products with complete editorial independence. I’m never made aware of any business implications of my editorial recommendations. Read more about our editorial standards.

Our requirements for a thermometer are simple: It should be accurate, easy to read, fast (enough), and dependable over the long term (a few years or more).

Digital thermometers have made difficult-to-read mercury thermometers (also known as stick thermometers) obsolete. Digital models come in several formats—the key is to find a user-friendly thermometer that offers accurate and consistent readings with the least amount of discomfort.

Whereas traditional oral/rectal/axillary (armpit) digital stick thermometers have long been the most popular tools to take temperatures at home, forehead and in-ear infrared thermometers tend to be faster and easier to use, especially with children.

Most of the thermometers we tested covered a range from roughly 93 °F to 109 °F with an accuracy of ±0.4 degree, according to their manufacturers. Some report lower accuracy at higher ranges, but if your temperature is pushing 107 °F, you’re ideally in a hospital and not at home quibbling over a 0.4-degree difference.

Whatever type of thermometer you choose, it is important to remember that as with a bathroom scale, no device meant for home use can provide 100% accurate readings, 100% of the time. At-home fever thermometers are just not that precise, and temperature is not a static metric. Luckily, this isn’t the goal: Just like a bathroom scale is meant to track trends in weight gain and loss, a thermometer’s job is to help you track trends over time.

Since 2020, I’ve tested each thermometer dozens of times on myself, as well as on the three other members of my household (another adult and two kids).

In 2024, members of Wirecutter’s paid tester panel, who range in age from 29 to 80, tried each of the thermometers, too. We examined accessibility-related factors such as grip, button operability, screen readability, and beep volume.

Although all of the infrared ear and forehead thermometers gave results in less than 10 seconds, the operating time for the oral thermometers ranged from a low of eight seconds (our top pick) to an excruciating high of 40 seconds (with a few read failures from one especially odious model). A minute may not seem like a long time—until you’re sitting around with a rigid stick of plastic under your tongue or, worse, trying to hold it under the tongue of a kindergartner.

Every thermometer we tried bounced around within a small range from reading to reading. In the end, though, most of the thermometers we tested gave readings that were acceptably consistent.

Our picks stand out from the pack because they’re faster, easier to use, and more reliable than the competition.

Most stick thermometers are highly similar. The Vicks ComfortFlex Thermometer and the Vicks SpeedRead Thermometer stand out for speed and readability. These models are the same, but the SpeedRead has a rigid probe.

It’s faster and easier to read than the competition. The average reading time of eight seconds was the fastest among stick thermometers we tested.

During our tests the backlit, large display was by far the easiest of those on the stick thermometers to read and interpret, especially in a dark room: One Wirecutter colleague reported choosing the ComfortFlex without hesitation because, he said, “I can actually see the numbers.”

Plus, it has a useful, color-coded fever alarm: Its light shines green for a normal temperature, yellow to indicate a slightly elevated temperature (above 99 °F), and red to alert you to a temperature greater than 101 °F. (Note that a fever in children from newborn and up is defined as starting at 99 °F for oral temperature and 100.4 °F for rectal temperature, which are both in the alarm’s yellow zone.)

Many of the stick thermometers we’ve tested have small numbers in a display window roughly 0.75 by 0.2 inch. The ComfortFlex and SpeedRead feature digits twice the size of those on the next largest display.

The ComfortFlex and SpeedRead thermometers both store the most recent temperature reading.

You can choose from a flexible or rigid probe. The ComfortFlex has a bendy probe, ideal for taking oral and rectal temperatures. If you prefer a rigid probe, choose the SpeedRead. Otherwise, they’re the same thermometer.

It’s held up over years of testing. The Vicks stick thermometers we’ve tested have all outlasted their one-year warranties. The CR1225 3V battery is easy enough to replace for less than $2.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

It doesn’t come with probe covers. The manuals for the ComfortFlex and SpeedRead insist that you use a single-use probe cover every time a temperature is read, but none are included. Universal probe covers are widely available for pennies apiece, although a Vicks representative said that using the thermometer without probe covers won’t void the warranty.

It’s a little noisy. When a temperature is ready to be read, the ComfortFlex emits an annoying, repetitive alert that you can’t silence. Although this is the case with most oral thermometers we’ve tested, the beep of the Vicks model is particularly grating.

The Hetaida HTD8813C is a lightweight, reliable contactless infrared forehead thermometer that’s no less speedy or consistent than pricier noncontact thermometers we’ve tested.

It’s available from several brands, at several prices: We tested the Homedics Non-Contact Infrared Body Thermometer, the iProven NCT-978 Contactless Thermometer, and the Mobi Digital Non-Contact Thermometer. They’re all the same (save for the warranty coverage, where the Mobi model falls short unless you register it).

The thermometer can store up to 50 readings, many more than our other picks.

It’s fast and easy to read, at a good price. In our tests, consecutive temperatures were consistent, and when we took readings in the exact same position, they rarely varied.

You don’t have to press a power button to turn it on: Simply point, click, and get a reading in a few seconds.

The large and easy-to-read display remains backlit for a useful five seconds after you take a reading and can show readings in either Fahrenheit or Celsius.

This model also doubles as a surface thermometer.

You can turn the sound off and on. Hetaida HTD8813C thermometers allow for both audible and visible fever alarms that you can adjust: The default setting is to emit a sound and to display yellow if the detected temperature exceeds 99.2 °F, but you can toggle the sound on and off in the device settings.

You can mute the sound, too. When the sound is on, the beeps are loud and clear.

It should last for years—ours have. One of the three manuals claims this thermometer has a life expectancy of three years. All three of our test models have lasted at least that long.

This thermometer takes two AAA batteries. The Homedics and iProven versions have one-year warranties. The Mobi model is covered by a 90-day warranty (which, with registration, can be extended by a year).

If you prefer an in-ear thermometer, we recommend the Braun ThermoScan 7 Ear Thermometer. It performed well in our tests and its large, backlit screen is easy to read.

As on our other picks, the backlit display changes color from green to yellow to red depending on the temperature reading.

It’s easy to read and faster than most at-home, in-ear thermometers. The Thermoscan 7 stores nine temperature readings and can present readings in Fahrenheit or Celsius. Consecutive readings of the same ear remained within the acceptable range across more than a dozen tests.

The fever alarm adjusts according to a child’s age. Its color-coded fever alarm is uniquely adjusted to medical guidelines for specific ages, as the thermometer requires you to select either 0 to 3 months, 3 to 36 months, or 36 months and older prior to use.

It’s easy to maintain. The ThermoScan 7 is not waterproof, but you can clean it with a cloth dampened with 70% isopropyl alcohol followed by a dry cloth. It takes two AA batteries and comes with a three-year warranty.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

You can’t disable the beeps. The ThermoScan 7 does not have a silent mode. For that option you’d have to upgrade to the Braun ThermoScan 7+, which also has wireless connectivity.

The readings are fast enough, but getting started takes time. This thermometer does not offer a grab-and-read experience like our noncontact picks do.

While the reading itself only takes a couple of seconds to display, the mandatory setup required to use the ThermoScan 7 makes it take longer to read temperatures than any of our picks.

When you turn the thermometer on, it displays the last reading for a whopping five seconds (much longer than the actual temperature reading takes), with no way to bypass this screen. Then you use a different button to toggle through the three age options. Once you select an age option, the thermometer can be inserted into the ear, before you press yet another button to finally take the temperature.

A probe cover is required. The ThermoScan 7 must be used with a disposable, plastic protective lens filter—it does not work without one attached. It comes with 21 lens filters. Additional filters typically cost about 25¢ each, a cost that can quickly add up if you’re changing the filter after every use (per manufacturer recommendations).

Sometimes, a perfectly functional thermometer just needs a new battery.

If the original packaging is long gone, search for your model number—usually printed on the back or side of the thermometer—until you find an official listing to determine what type of battery your thermometer needs. Ideally, you can find a copy of the instruction manual to help ensure you don’t break your thermometer while trying to replace the battery.

Although some thermometers use batteries that are hard to find, many—including two of our four picks—now use AA or AAA batteries.

Coin batteries, which come in many digital stick thermometers, are sometimes difficult to find.

Note that many battery model numbers are interchangeable with other model numbers. For example, the 3V CR1225 battery that our stick thermometer pick uses is also known as BR1225, DL1225, E-CR1225, LM1225, KCR1225, 5020LC, 5620LC, and L30, among other names.

Consider having a spare battery or two on hand so that you aren’t without a working thermometer in case of emergency.

If our picks from Homedics, iProven, and Mobi are unavailable: The ThermoWorks Wand No Touch Forehead Thermometer is a suitable replacement that regularly costs a bit more than our noncontact picks.But it’s also slower. However, it features a big, easy-to-read display and can switch from Fahrenheit to Celsius, plus it can be used with the volume turned on or off.

If you’d like a speaking thermometer to read aloud temperatures: The Advocate Non-Contact Speaking Infrared Thermometer can be programmed in English and Spanish (or used in silent mode). Testers with low-vision needs in their household appreciated the clear, crisp voice of the thermometer. While it took longer than our noncontact picks to read temperatures, the readings were accurate.

If you’d prefer a compact, rechargeable noncontact thermometer for on the go: We recommend the nimble ADC Adtemp Mini 432, which resembles a mini flashlight and charges via micro-USB.

If you want a stick thermometer that automatically sends readings to an app: The Kinsa QuickCare Smart Thermometer is a good choice. It displays temperature readings directly on the device, which is handy if your phone is not nearby or you don’t wish to use the app after you’ve completed the setup process.

The Kinsa app (iOS, Android) can automatically log temperatures for multiple people, among other features.

Kinsa shares anonymized data in aggregate with multiple third parties (including advertisers). It also publishes anonymized data in aggregate. According to Kinsa’s privacy policy, the company says it “does not sell personal information (name, email) to third parties unless the user gives direct permission and consent.”

The first time you sync the thermometer to the Kinsa app, you have to enable location services. Kinsa notes you “may be able to opt out of sharing your phone’s location services by changing the settings on your phone.”

This is not a comprehensive list of all the thermometers we’ve considered. It includes models we’ve tested that are still available.

The iProven DTR-1221A digital stick thermometer is speedy, reliable, and, like the Vicks ComfortFlex Thermometer, has a flexible probe. But unlike the ComfortFlex, the DTR-1221A does not have a backlit display and is generally more difficult to read.

The ubiquitous, under-$5 digital stick thermometers sold as the ReliOn 60 Second Digital Thermometer (currently unavailable), among other names, took far too long to deliver results, with an average reading time of 40 seconds. (Its manual also cites an accuracy half that of our stick thermometer pick.)

In our testing, the Braun No Touch, iHealth PT3, iProven DMT-489, iHealth No-Touch, Packard Bell Non-Contact Infrared Thermometer, Frida 3-in-1 Infrared Thermometer, Vicks Non Contact Thermometer, and Withings Smart Temporal Thermometer provided inconsistent readings or were difficult to use when compared with our picks.

Equate’s Infrared In-Ear Digital Thermometer provided inconsistent readings in our 2024 testing.

We considered and quickly dismissed thermometer patches (such as the TempTraq), which are applied to skin to continuously and remotely monitor body temperature. Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continuous temperature monitoring is overkill for most people.

Shannon Palus and Caroline Weinberg contributed reporting. This article was edited by Tracy Vence, Kalee Thompson, and Ben Frumin.

1. Amanda McGrath, technical product manager, ThermoWorks, phone interview, September 1, 2020

2. Amesh Adalja, MD, senior scholar, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, phone interview, September 1, 2020

3. Shaun McClure, set medic and former EMT, The Set Medic, phone interview, October 20, 2024

4. Krupa Playforth, MD, pediatrician, The Pediatrician Mom, phone interview, October 20, 2024