Cold and Flu Season Are Here—These Top Thermometers Will Help You Stay on Top of Your Health (2024)

While fluctuations in body temperature throughout the day are normal, a sudden temperature change could signal a fever. Checking your temperature with a quality thermometer when it’s elevated can tell you when to see a healthcare provider. And though you have a fever when your temperature is 100.4°F and over, a fever is typically a sign of the body fighting against infection and may not require an immediate visit to a healthcare provider, says Maryellen Flaherty-Hewitt, MD, FAAP, a pediatric specialist. That said, identifying a fever and having an accurate body temperature reading helps a physician properly assess your health.

When shopping for a thermometer, think about who will be using it and how they can comfortably do so. Additional thermometer features like connected apps can also be beneficial in tracking your health. To make shopping easier, we tested 50 thermometers and reviewed each to find the top eight based on these qualities: 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.

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

There are different types of thermometers, such as oral, tympanic, temporal, and rectal. These thermometers target different areas of the body to get your temperature readings. Here’s a closer look at the different types of thermometers:

  • Oral: Reads temperature from the mouth and is best for use from ages four and up
  • Tympanic: Reads temperature from the ear and is best for six months and up
  • Temporal: Reads temperature from the forehead and is best for three months and up
  • Rectal: Reads temperature from the anus or anal canal and is best for use from birth to three years old
  • Axillary: Reads temperature from the armpit

What Healthcare Providers Want You to Know

  • Accuracy: According to Katz, digital rectal thermometers are the most accurate at measuring core temperature. However, rectal thermometers are predominantly used to measure the temperatures of infants and toddlers up to three years old. For adults, oral thermometers can give accurate and dependable results—just make sure you use them properly. To do so, watch what you eat or drink before taking your temperature. Taking a reading shortly after you've eaten something hot or cold can throw off the reading.
  • Forehead thermometers: These thermometers are popular because they don’t require physical contact to read the temperature. But, research studies have found that they are less accurate than ear or armpit thermometers, especially if not positioned correctly, says Katz. To ensure accuracy, Katz suggests holding them perpendicularly and from the manufacturer's recommended distance to the forehead for the best accuracy.
  • Sunlight and heat: Temperatures should also be taken away from direct sunlight and a heat source and without a hat or headband to minimize factors that can influence the reading.

When to See a Healthcare Provider

In most cases, having a fever is just a sign that your body is doing its job and fighting an infection. But there are times when a fever warrants a trip to a healthcare provider, particularly if it’s a baby who experiencing the fever. Here are some guidelines for when to see a healthcare provider for an elevated temperature:

Fever in Babies and Children

Here are some guidelines for babies and children with fevers:

  • Is three months or younger and has a rectal temperature of 100.4°F or higher
  • Is three to 12 months old and has a fever of 102.2°F or higher
  • Is two years or younger and has a fever that lasts longer than 24 to 48 hours
  • Has a fever of 105°F or higher unless it comes down with treatment
  • Has had fevers come and go for up to a week or more
  • Has recently traveled to another country

Fever in Adults

Here are some guidelines for adults with fevers:

  • Has a fever of 105°F or higher unless it comes down with treatment
  • Has a fever that stays at or keeps rising above 103°F
  • Has a fever for longer than 48 to 72 hours
  • Has had fevers come and go for up to a week or more, even if they are not very high
  • Has a new rash or bruises
  • Has recently traveled to another country

Pros

  • Durable design that withstands drops

  • User-friendly design

  • Rapid, accurate temperature readings

Cons

  • No protective case

  • Needs frequent sanitization

Key Specs

Weight: 3.2 ounces | Bluetooth/App Connectivity: No | Dimensions: 2 x 5.5 x 1.25 inches | Power Source: Battery (included)

Why We Recommend It

The Mobi Air Non-Contact Digital Forehead Thermometer provides rapid and accurate temperature readings as well as a robust, user-friendly design that withstands frequent use and accidental drops.

We were particularly impressed with the thermometer's large, easy-to-read LCD screen that offers a backlight to help you see readings in the dark. And the fever indicators of red or green help seamlessly distinguish between a normal temperature and a high temperature. This thermometer even has a unique distance sensor that helps ensure accurate readings as well as proper positioning from the forehead.

We love that it has a memory recall of up to 20 readings, which allows you to keep track of fluctuating temperatures. For added convenience, it has an auto shut-off, which helps preserve your batteries—a plus when you are monitoring an illness and using the thermometer frequently. It can even display temperatures in either Fahrenheit or Celsius.

Keep In Mind

This thermometer doesn’t have a protective case. You will need to find a way to keep it free from dust and debris and clean it before use.

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Key Specs

Weight: Not listed | Bluetooth/App Connectivity: Yes | Dimensions: 5.86 x 1.39 x 2.19 inches | Power Source: Batteries (included)

Why We Recommend It

When it comes to families with multiple children, you need a thermometer that accurately measures each person's temperature. We love the Braun ThermoScan 7 Connect Ear Thermometer for families because it allows for age-specific temperature calibration, is quick and consistent in providing accurate readings, and is exceptionally reliable for monitoring the health of multiple children.

We also appreciated its user-friendly features like Age Precision Technology and a supportive app. Plus, its ergonomic design, quick setup, and detailed fever guidance system make it exceptionally suitable for families with children. It is reliable, easy to use, and has a very quick setup process. As an added bonus, this thermometer is capable of pairing with a mobile app via Bluetooth, which also is easy to download and set up. The app includes fever tracking and timeline logging, treatment reminders, a cold and flu map, and a family health journal.

We found the display was large, clear, and easy to read with a backlit feature. And, unlike other ear thermometers, this device features a pre-warmed tip that ensures accurate temperature readings and is more comfortable for kids.

Keep In Mind

This thermometer is on the higher end when it comes to the price of other thermometers on our list, so it may not be ideal for a home without kids when your need for taking temperatures is not as frequent. But in families with multiple children, we felt the convenience, accompanying app, and adjustability made it worth it.

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Pros

  • Almost instantaneous readings

  • Can also be used to measure room temperature

  • Stores up to 32 temperature readings

Cons

  • Does not indicate fever ranges

Key Specs

Weight: 2.36 ounces | Bluetooth/App Connectivity: No | Dimensions: 5.11 x 1.77 x 2.16 inches (LxWxH) | Power Source: Batteries (included)

Why We Recommend It

Sometimes, when you or a family member is extremely ill, you need a temperature reading quickly, and the Berrcom Non-Contact Infrared Thermometer does not disappoint. We loved that this device can deliver almost instantaneous temperature readings and that it’s a non-contact device, meaningyou don’t have to disturb someone when taking their temperature. It’s also extremely versatile, offering modes for measuring the temperature of people, objects, and rooms—a real plus if you have kids and need to keep their room temperature consistent.

We also really appreciated the ease of setup and the thermometer's capability to store up to 32 temperature readings. And, the large, easy-to-read display also caught our attention in more ways than one. As an added bonus, the thermometer is equipped with a fever indicator with orange for a mild fever and red for a high fever. It even has the ability to automatically turn off to save power when it hasn’t been used for 30 seconds.

Keep In Mind

While this thermometer does provide temperature readings quickly, it does not provide fever ranges. This could potentially be a disadvantage for people without medical knowledge of when a baby, child, or adult needs to see a healthcare provider.

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Pros

  • Allows temperature reading without disturbing person

  • Simple, one-button operation

  • Intuitive design

Cons

  • Need to remember to mute the beepin

Key Specs

Weight: 4.8 ounces | Bluetooth/App Connectivity: No | Dimensions: 6.7 x 1.9 x 1.9 inches | Power Source: Batteries (included)

Why We Recommend It

If you’re looking for a thermometer that allows for non-contact use, we like the GoodBaby No Touch Thermometer for Kids and Adults. Not only is a non-contact device hygienic, but it’s also easy to use without disturbing the person. We also like that it features a simple, one-button operation and includes a color-coded backlight for easy reading of results.

More importantly, it takes a temperature reading within about one second—a plus when you want to be in and out of your child’s room without waking them. The backlit screen displays different colors based on temperature, making it easy to determine if your child’s fever has spiked. We also appreciate that the device iseasy to holdand has enough weight to make it feel sturdy in your hand without being heavy. It can even take the room’s temperature and toggles easily between Fahrenheit and Celsius.

Keep In Mind

This is a great non-contact thermometer, but if you’re planning to use it with sleeping kids and you don’t want to disturb them, you will need to remember to use the mute button. The thermometer beeps a pattern when it is done with the temperature reading, which can be disruptive. To mute the thermometer, you will need to hold the mute button for five seconds. If you’re in a hurry, though, it’s easy to forget this step.

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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.

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Pros

  • Screen lights up

  • Temperature ranges provided

  • Water resistant, flexible tip

Cons

  • Can be time-consuming to set up

  • May require extra care in cleaning

Key Specs

Weight: 2.4 ounces | Bluetooth/App Connectivity: No | Dimensions: 4.60 x 1.40 x 0.60 inches | Power Source: Battery

Why We Recommend It

Whether you have multiple kids or different preferences for temperature readings, it can be helpful to have a multi-use thermometer that gives you options for temperature taking and the Vicks RapidRead Thermometer fits the bill. Not only can it be used to take oral, underarm, or even rectal measurements, but it also can be adapted to the person’s needs.

We also liked the fact that the screen lights up with the temperature. It even provides temperature ranges—or green for no fever, yellow for a slightly elevated temperature, and red for fever—which can be useful reminders when feeling exhausted or overwhelmed. This thermometer also has memory recall and will remind you of the last reading as well as a water-resistant flexible tip.

Keep In Mind

Our editor found the process for turning on the thermometer and selecting the measurement site a bit time-consuming. So, this could be a pitfall for busy parents who need a thermometer that does not require a lot of extra steps. But we felt this issue was minor when compared to the fact that this thermometer provides so much versatility.

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Pros

  • Temperature syncs with app

  • Quick temperature readings

  • Can provide Fahrenheit or Celsius readings

Cons

  • Heavier than some thermometers

  • May drain batteries quickly

Key Specs

Weight: 7.2 ounces | Bluetooth/App Connectivity: Yes | Dimensions: 2.00 x 3.00 x 6.00 inches | Power Source: Batteries (included)

Why We Recommend It

If you’re someone who is looking for a smart thermometer, look no further than the Kinsa Smart Ear Thermometer. This unique device offers connectivity with a smartphone app. We especially appreciated the quick and synchronized temperature readings between the thermometer and the connected app.

This thermometer is used in the ear with a simple button press after inserting the included batteries and offers enhanced functionality when paired with the app—although this was not essential. We also like that it offers personalized guidance based on age, fever and symptoms and can track your family's health, including everything from temperatures, symptoms, medications, and diagnoses to medication dosages and reminders. Plus, it has a large backlit display and emoticons that indicate normal temperature, mild fever, or high fever.

Keep In Mind

Although this thermometer allows you to track your family’s health, it is a little on the heavier side which could be cumbersome for traveling or for people with hand and wrist pain. It also is a high-powered device that can drain batteries quickly if used quite a bit.

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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.

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How We Tested the Thermometers

We spent hours in the Verywell Testing Lab testing 50 thermometers to find the most accurate, reliable, and user-friendly options. We picked our thermometers based on the following criteria:

  • Ease of Setup: If the thermometer required batteries or had an accompanying app, we evaluated how easy it was to follow these steps. We also noted whether there were any special considerations, like being in a certain temperature room or in a specific position.
  • Responsiveness: When testing the thermometer we considered how long it took to get a temperature reading and if this time matched the product claims. We also considered whether the reading was quick and seamless as well as how the device let you know the temperature reading was ready.
  • Consistency: We also looked at the consistency of the temperature reading, including whether it matched how we were feeling and whether it was able to produce the same temperature with multiple readings.
  • Ease of Use: We considered how easy it was to turn the device on and off, take a person’s temperature, and access any additional features. We also noted whether the device had any buttons or other options that could be confusing.
  • Data Readability: We paid close attention to the quality of the display and whether it was easy to read in different lighting conditions.
  • Overall Value: While value wasn't the main consideration in our selection, we did consider the cost of each device and its overall performance to determine whether it was worth the price.

Our Experts

We spoke with two healthcare providers when researching and testing these thermometers. They provided insight into what to look for as well as important considerations on how to use a thermometer appropriately.

  • 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
  • Grace Mars, RN, a registered nurse and our on-site medical professional during testing

Why Trust Verywell Health

Sherri Gordon, CLC, has been covering health and social issues for over a decade and has written countless articles with a health focus. She is well versed and knowledgeable about a number of health conditions that can impact our everyday lives. When making product recommendations, Sherri adds a layer of detail that ensures readers can choose what is right for them and still understand the medical significance behind it.

Cold and Flu Season Are Here—These Top Thermometers Will Help You Stay on Top of Your Health (2024)
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