The 13 Best Thermometers for Kids and Adults of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Braun No Touch 3-in-1 Thermometer

4.9

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  5 /5
• Responsiveness
  4.8 /5
• Consistency
  5 /5
• Ease of Use
  5 /5
• Data Readability
  4 /5

The Braun No Touch 3-in-1 Thermometer is our top pick for the whole family because it’s so easy to use. When you take a reading, the display glows red, yellow, or green to let you know if a fever is detected. We also love that you can select different age groups so the thermometer can adjust its readings, since feverish babies and adults will run at different temperatures.

It’s also simple to take readings of squirmy babies because this is a no-touch thermometer. Just aim the thermometer at the baby’s forehead—the display will tell you when you’re the proper distance away—and it takes the reading in about five seconds, if not less, we found. It also works well for all ages, and the big text and bright screen clearly display the temperature. During our test, readings were consistent with how we felt and barely changed when we took our temperature several times over a few minutes, indicating that the thermometer’s readings were accurate.

Setup is straightforward: The thermometer comes with batteries and helpful instructions with pictures. You can toggle between Fahrenheit and Celsius. While we like the useful beeping noise that tells you the reading is complete, we also appreciate the thermometer’s silent mode, which comes in handy if you’re taking the temperature of a sleeping kiddo. And the Braun No Touch 3-in-1 Thermometer isn’t just for taking people’s temperatures: It can assess the temperature of bath water or food, like oatmeal, to ensure it’s safe for your little one. We do wish there was a compatible app, but for $33, you’re getting an accurate, intuitive thermometer that can help monitor the health of the whole family.

Price at time of publication: $33

^{Key Specs:
Type:Non-touch |Reading Time:5 seconds |Battery:2 AA batteries (included)}

Best for Kids

Vicks Non-Contact Infrared Thermometer

4.8

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  5 /5
• Responsiveness
  5 /5
• Consistency
  5 /5
• Ease of Use
  5 /5
• Data Readability
  5 /5

作为父母很清楚,孩子生病,whether they’re bringing home a cold from daycare or a runny nose from the playground. It helps to have an accurate, straightforward thermometer when you have a little one under the weather, and we found that the Vicks Non-Contact Infrared Thermometer performs well in a house full of sick kids. Readings take under five seconds—one of our editors was able to get her kids’ temperatures in just one second—and the screen lights up green or red, depending on if it detects a fever.

To set it up, simply insert the included batteries and turn it on. The only slightly tricky part is that the batteries are wrapped tightly in plastic, so you’ll need scissors to unpackage them. Reading the results is simple, thanks to the large font, color-coded screen, and the happy or sad face that pops up. (One editor’s 4-year-old was even able to read his mom’s temperature himself since he saw the green display and smiley face.) The thermometer, which can provide readings in Fahrenheit or Celsius, beeps when a reading is ready, though you can put it on silent mode if you’d prefer. In our lab test, we found that it provides consistent readings when used on the same person in a short period of time.

One of our favorite features is the thermometer’s memory: It stores the last 50 readings it’s taken, which comes in handy when you need to call the pediatrician and forget exactly what your kid’s temperature was. You can also change the temperature at which it detects a fever, since the temperatures that constitute a fever change with age. While this is a nice feature, our top pick, the Braun No-Touch 3-in-1 Thermometer, is pre-programmed with different age settings, so it’s even easier to customize the reading by age.

A price tag of $55 is more than worth it for busy parents with squirmy kiddos—particularly if they’re prone to getting sick—although a compatible app would be appreciated for the price. This thermometer provides accurate readings in seconds, and the bright blue color and novel shape even made it fun for our editors’ kids to use.

Price at time of publication: $55

^{Key Specs:
Type:Non-touch |Reading Time:1-5 seconds | Battery:2 AAA batteries (included)}

Best Easy-to-Use

Tommee Tippee Digital No Touch Forehead Thermometer

4.8

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  5 /5
• Responsiveness
  5 /5
• Consistency
  5 /5
• Ease of Use
  5 /5
• Data Readability
  4.1 /5

The Tommee Tippee Digital Forehead Thermometer is a quick and helpful tool, which comes in handy if you need to screen your little one’s temperature before sending them to daycare. The thermometer delivers results in just two seconds, and all you have to do is press a button. We were also impressed that our editors got the same readings when they held the thermometer right up against their forehead and a few centimeters away.

Uniquely, when it detects a fever, the thermometer beeps quickly three times followed by one long beep, while it only beeps twice when a reading is in the normal range. This helps you take readings in the dark, even though we could not get the backlight to turn on, either in our lab or in our editors’ homes. While this is not ideal, the numbers are still pretty visible, and the display helpfully shows the battery life. We like that this thermometer stores 25 past readings so you can track your (or your kid’s) temperature over time, though they are a little hard to scroll through.

Setup is as straightforward as popping in the included batteries and pushing the power button—you can easily get it from the box to your kid’s forehead in under two minutes. In addition to taking your family’s temperatures, this thermometer can be used to make sure bath water or formula is safe for the baby, and at $21, it’s one of the more budget-friendly picks on our list.

Price at time of publication: $21

^{Key Specs:
Type:Non-touch |Reading Time:2 seconds |Battery:2 AAA batteries (included)}

Best for Quick Results

Berrcom Non Contact Infrared Forehead Thermometer

4.8

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  3.8 /5
• Responsiveness
  5 /5
• Consistency
  5 /5
• Ease of Use
  5 /5
• Data Readability
  5 /5

If you’re searching for a no-frills thermometer that delivers quick results, we recommend the Berrcom Non Contact Infrared Thermometer. Simply point and click the trigger button on the handle, and the temperature pops up almost immediately, along with a beep. And the ergonomic handle is comfortable to grip, so this is an excellent pick for kids and older adults.

It’s also easy to read your results, thanks to a bright display that contrasts with large numbers and turns green, orange, or red if the temperature is normal, a low fever, or a high fever, respectively. Plus, the thermometer stores up to 32 readings and can be set to Fahrenheit or Celsius, though switching between the two isn’t intuitive.

We also found that this Berrman thermometer delivers consistent results, and at $14, it’s a great budget buy—just note that you’ll need to purchase AA batteries separately.

Price at time of publication: $14

^{Key Specs:
Type:Non-touch |Reading Time:Immediately |Battery:2 AA batteries (not included)}

Best Display

Dreambaby Non-Contact Fever Alert Infrared Forehead Thermometer

4.9

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  4.5 /5
• Responsiveness
  4 /5
• Consistency
  5 /5
• Ease of Use
  4.5 /5
• Data Readability
  4.6 /5

当照顾一个生病的家庭成员,thermometer display that’s clear to read and provides lots of information is quite helpful. The display on this Dreambaby thermometer shows you the time and date. When you take a reading, the results are displayed within seconds on a color-coded background, depending on the temperature it detects. Plus, it stores 10 past readings with the times and dates they were taken, which comes in handy when tracking the course of an illness.

The thermometer comes with the required batteries and has an automatic shut-off feature to preserve its battery life. We like that the thermometer can be set to Fahrenheit or Celsius, though it’s a little tricky to figure out how to switch between modes—we needed to refer to the manual each time. Similarly, setting and updating the date and time is not intuitive and requires a glance at the instructions, so we suggest keeping the manual around. And while we appreciate the audible beeps when it takes a reading and turns on or off, we could not mute the sound, so it’s not the best option for taking a sleeping baby’s temperature.

The thermometer works well on adults, providing consistent no-contact readings. In addition to people’s temperatures, you can use it to test the temperature of a room, baby formula, and more, and it’s priced competitively at $30.

Price at time of publication: $30

^{Key Specs:
Type:Non-touch |Reading Time:1秒|Battery:2 AAA batteries (included)}

Best Easy-to-Read

Disen No-Touch Forehead Thermometer

4.8

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  4.5 /5
• Responsiveness
  5 /5
• Consistency
  4.8 /5
• Ease of Use
  5 /5
• Data Readability
  4 /5

When you have a sick kiddo at home, you want to be able to take their temperature quickly and easily. That’s where the Disen No-Touch Forehead Thermometer comes in: Its display is incredibly simple to read and understand, so you’re not left guessing if your child has a fever or not. The display turns green, yellow, or red, depending on the temperature it detects, and it also shows a happy face when it reads a normal temperature or a sad face when a fever is detected. Plus, the temperature is displayed in a large, easy-to-read font, so there’s no need to grab your reading glasses.

We also appreciate this thermometer’s precision: It accurately detected a fever in one of our editors’ kids, and its readings were consistent when we took our temperature frequently during a short period of time. And if the temperature is too low or too high, it will display “Lo” or “Hi” on the screen. We only experienced this when pointing the thermometer at our surrounding environment, but it’s a useful tool.

The Disen is simple to use, too—keeping it 1-3 centimeters (0.4-1.1 inches) away from the face, simply point the thermometer at the forehead and press a button. You’ll have a temperature reading in about a second. Additionally, the long handle is comfortable to grip, and you have the option to mute the thermometer if you’re taking the temperature of a sleeping kiddo.

Our one complaint about this thermometer is that the memory function can get confusing. We found that it stores up to 32 temperature readings—as opposed to 35, which the instructions promised—and numbers them, rather than recording the date and time of each reading as theDreambaby Non-Contact Fever Alert Infrared Forehead Thermometerdoes. Though we appreciate that it does have a memory function, we found that the numbering system makes it confusing for busy caregivers to track when the readings were taken.

This Disen thermometer is competitively priced at $30, and it comes with a storage bag, making it convenient for travel or toting up the stairs. It can also switch between Celsius and Fahrenheit with the help of a button that’s cleverly hidden inside the battery compartment so little fingers can’t accidentally change the temperature scale. (Bonus: The two required AAA batteries are included.)

Price at time of publication: $30

^{Key Specs:
Type:Non-touch |Reading Time:1秒|Battery:2 AAA batteries (included)}

Best Forehead

GE Truvitals Digital Forehead Thermometer

4.7

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  4 /5
• Responsiveness
  5 /5
• Consistency
  5 /5
• Ease of Use
  4.2 /5
• Data Readability
  5 /5

A forehead thermometer is an easy and hygienic way to take temperatures, especially if you're using it on several family members. Whether pointed at a kid's or an adult's forehead, the GE No-Touch Digital Forehead Thermometer uses infrared technology to take their temperature with no contact required, which is great for reducing the spread of germs.

You can tell if you or your child has a fever immediately: If a high fever is detected, the thermometer will beep six times and the display will flash red. For a low-grade fever, there are four beeps and a yellow display, and for a normal temperature, it beeps once and the display turns green. Additionally, it can measure surfaces like bath water or formula to make sure they're the right temperature for little ones, and the temperature is displayed in a large font so it's readable.

You can switch between Fahrenheit and Celsius with the push of just one button, though we found some of the other features frustrating, as they required a button to be held down for a certain number of seconds. For instance, to power it off, you need to hold down the Measure button for exactly 5 seconds or it won't turn off. During our test, we also found that we had to regularly refer back to the instructions to figure out how to mute it or switch it to surface mode. However, we appreciate that it has an auto-shutoff feature after 15 seconds and that the memory function stores up to 32 readings, though it doesn't store the dates and times, which is not ideal for tracking a sick kid's temperature over time.

Price at time of publication: $35

^{Key Specs:
Type:Temporal |Reading Time:1-2 seconds |Battery:2 AAA batteries (included)}

Best Accuracy

HoMedics Non-Contact Infrared Body Thermometer

4.8

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  4.2 /5
• Responsiveness
  5 /5
• Consistency
  5 /5
• Ease of Use
  5 /5
• Data Readability
  4 /5

The HoMedics Non-Contact Infrared Body Thermometer provides consistent, accurate readings, according to our test results. One editor noticed that it picked up her elevated temperature after wearing a winter hat for a while, then reported a normal temperature once she’d taken the hat off and cooled down. When we took our temperature several times over a short time, the readings only varied by a few tenths of a degree, if at all, and both body and surface temperatures stayed consistent. The only thing you’ll want to consider is the brand’s recommended distance: When taking a temperature, hold the thermometer 1 to 5 centimeters (0.4-2 inches) from the forehead to ensure accurate results.

We also appreciate that this thermometer is lightweight and relatively compact. This, combined with the color-coded results display, makes it a great thermometer that younger family members can use. Depending on the detected temperature range, the display turns green, yellow, or red, and the thermometer can measure body or surface temperatures in Fahrenheit or Celsius. Helpfully, you use the same button to turn the thermometer on and to scan, so taking a temperature is just one step. And when you take a temperature, the thermometer beeps to let you know the results are ready, but there’s an option to mute the sound.

当我们欣赏这HoMedics温度计stores up to 50 readings of body or surface temperature with the dates the readings were taken, it doesn’t distinguish between user or temperature type. At $40, this thermometer is just a little pricier than most other options on our list, but we think it’s worth it for its accuracy and ease of use.

Price at time of publication: $40

^{Key Specs:
Type: Non-touch |Reading Time:1-2 seconds |Battery: 2 AAA batteries (included)}

Best Ear

Equate Infrared 1-Second In-Ear Digital Thermometer

4.3

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  5 /5
• Responsiveness
  5 /5
• Consistency
  3.9 /5
• Ease of Use
  4 /5
• Data Readability
  5 /5

If you prefer an ear thermometer, we recommend this one from Equate. It comes with disposable probe covers, though we found it delivered the most consistently accurate results when we did not use the caps (and made sure to sanitize it after, of course). To get a reading, pull the ear up and insert the probe, and you’ll have a reading in 3-5 seconds if used correctly. During our test, we found that there was a learning curve to find the correct position, but once we did, we got pretty consistent results. We also like how easy it is to pop the probe caps off to dispose of them.

背光显示是可读的,低的棉絮ery indicator, and the thermometer can provide its results in Fahrenheit or Celsius. It comes nearly ready to use in a handy storage case—just add the included batteries and you’re good to go. It stores up to 10 past readings, which is fewer than many of our other picks, like theVicks Non-Contact Infrared Thermometer, and you can’t distinguish between users when looking at the results history.

When considering your purchase, keep in mind that some kids may find ear thermometers uncomfortable. However, if you’d still like to try one out or your kids have been fine using them in the past, this is the one we recommend.

Price at time of publication: $30

^{Key Specs:
Type:Tympanic |Reading Time:3-5 seconds |Battery:2 AA batteries (included)}

Best With App

Kinsa Smart Thermometer

4.7

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  5 /5
• Responsiveness
  5 /5
• Consistency
  4.5 /5
• Ease of Use
  5 /5
• Data Readability
  5 /5

The Kinsa QuickCare Smart Thermometer allows you to take temperatures orally, rectally, or under the armpit, so you can choose the method that works best for you and your family. The flexible tip helps with insertion, and you get a reading in under six seconds, according to our editors. Plus, since it's compact and lightweight, it fits well into most medicine cabinets.

We particularly like the design of the free Kinsa app (compatible with Apple and Android devices), which syncs up to the thermometer. Not only is the app intuitive and attractive, but it also allows you to set up multiple user profiles to log different people's temperatures, so it’s great for the whole family. With these profiles, the app will adjust its readings based on the user’s age, log the date and time, and give appropriate advice about the next steps. (Of course, this should never replace guidance from your kid's pediatrician or your doctor.) And if you don't want to use the app or have a poor cellular connection, it's no problem: The thermometer also works without the app.

The display is clear thanks to a large font and backlit screen, and it lights up and beeps when a temperature is taken. However, since this thermometer is used orally and rectally, we wish it came with a case or tip cover for hygiene purposes. But at $30, it's well worth it for such a versatile thermometer. Plus, the app helps keep track of the date and time each reading was taken, which comes in handy when you have a feverish kiddo at home.

Price at time of publication: $30

^{Key Specs:
Type:Oral, rectal, or axillary |Reading Time:5-6 seconds |Battery:1 button cell battery (included)}

Best Design

Omron No-Touch Digital Infrared Forehead Thermometer

4.2

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  3 /5
• Responsiveness
  4.5 /5
• Consistency
  3.8 /5
• Ease of Use
  3.8 /5
• Data Readability
  4.5 /5

The uniquely designed Omron No-Touch Digital Infrared Forehead Thermometer is shaped rectangularly with a slight curve in the middle, kind of like a remote. This avoids the risk of a caregiver’s hand skewing the temperature reading for their sick kiddo, as our on-site nurse pointed out during the lab portion of our test. With just one click, you can turn it on and take a temperature. During our test, the results were consistent with how we were feeling, provided we didn’t hold the thermometer for too long, per the instructions.

This thermometer can remember up to 25 readings, though you can’t sort them by patient. And while the screen is helpfully backlit, the display as a whole isn’t very bright, which could pose a challenge if you have eyesight difficulties or are in a dark room. However, we were still able to read the results in the daylight. The thermometer has handy features—it can read the temperature of a surface or a room, and it provides results in both Fahrenheit and Celsius—but we found that they aren’t intuitive for the user. We had to consult the manual quite frequently, though luckily, the instructions were clear and well-written.

Priced at $45, this Omron thermometer is more costly than most options on our list, but it stands out for its singular design and consistent readings. If budget is a primary consideration, we recommend theBerrcom Non Contact Infrared Thermometer.

Price at time of publication: $45

^{Key Specs:
Type:Non-touch |Reading Time:1秒|Battery:1 button cell battery (included)}

Best With Case

Yuwell Infrared Thermometer

4.3

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  5 /5
• Responsiveness
  5 /5
• Consistency
  5 /5
• Ease of Use
  4.7 /5
• Data Readability
  4 /5

Thermometers are most often used when someone is sick, so it’s important to use proper hygiene when storing one in between uses. That’s why we appreciate that the Yuwell Infrared Thermometer comes with a storage case—not only does it hopefully help prevent sick germs from spreading through the family, but it also makes the thermometer more portable, particularly when you’re toting it between floors to different bathrooms and kids’ bedrooms.

The bright display and large font allow you to read the screen clearly (even in the dark), and it takes a temperature with a single click. If a fever is detected, it turns orange to alert you immediately. When the mute setting is enabled, all you’ll feel when a temperature is read is a vibration, and when the sound is on, the thermometer will vibrate and make a beep at the same time. (We like that the sound button is clearly labeled and can toggle on and off.)

设置是小事一桩,温度计the required batteries, but we struggled to figure out how to switch between Celsius and Fahrenheit. To do so, you’ll need to turn off the thermometer and hold the main button for 10 seconds to put it in setup mode; then, press the button once, and the temperature scale will change. We also wish that the Youwell Infrared Thermometer had a memory function for tracking temperatures over time, but it is priced a little less than the rest of our picks—it costs $25—and you’re getting a carrying case included in that price.

Price at time of publication: $25

^{Key Specs:
Type:Non-touch |Reading Time:2-3 seconds |Battery:2 AAA batteries (included)}