Buying Guide: How to Pick the Best Infrared Thermometer

By Carrie Tsai,  Last Updated: May 06, 2020NEW PROD

So far, infrared thermometers have become another type of useful tools which are widely used for measuring human body temperature. Indeed, since they emerged, there have been good reasons to use them and they have been becoming more and more prevalent.

Without touching the skin, the infrared thermometers are able to detect the body temperature instantly, accurately and hygienically. The non-contact feature makes them safe and hygienic for all users and the detected people, leading to the use to avoid infection or cross contamination especially during the outbreak of epidemic.

More recently, with the continued outbreak of the 2019-nCoV coronavirus pandemic, the demand for infrared thermometers has been growing increasingly. The current market is filled with a great number of different brands with different levels. Choosing the best infrared thermometer isn't an easy job. Then how to pick your best one? What kind of features should a good infrared thermometer have? Keep reading to find the answer as well as the recommended infrared thermometers.

Also Read:

What Is An Infrared Thermometer and How Does It Work
Full Guide & Tips: How to Use An Infrared Thermometer

Part 1. What Features Should You Look for on A Great Infrared Thermometer

Whenever having a purchasing intention to an infrared thermometer for body temperature, you must be confused about how to pick the best one among countless options. Indeed, most of the medical infrared thermometers are very similar in appearance as well as basic functions, which may make you apt to think that the majority of the choices available are somewhat similarly good.

However, there are good criteria for a good and qualified medical infrared thermometer. That being said, there are essential features and functionality a great infrared thermometer should own. The following are the essential factors to be taken into account when looking for a good one.

Accuracy

When picking the best infrared thermometer for body temperature, the first thing you need to focus on is the measuring accuracy. The reason why accuracy trumps any other features lies in the necessity of precisely detecting if a person is in health or has symptoms of fever.

Also, if you have a child, accuracy is the crucial factor you need to consider when you decide to opt for an infrared thermometer to monitor your child's health condition. Picking one with accurate reading will accurately alert you whenever your child gets fever. Hence, always choose an infrared thermometer following accurate temperature measurement.

Reading Time

Another important factor you need to take into consideration when selecting your best infrared thermometer is the reading time. A qualified medical infrared thermometer should be instant-read in no more than 2 seconds. The fast reading speed is more important for those thermometers which are applied to detect children who tend to be impatient or people in crowded places.

Reading Units

While opting for an infrared thermometer, check if it offers the reading units of both Celsius and Fahrenheit. One the one hand, offering two kinds of reading units can offer convenience for you when you have any need of measuring the temperature in different reading units.

On the other hand, whether an infrared thermometer can offer two reading units is a good indicator of its product quality. This is because if a thermometer offering both Celsius and Fahrenheit readings, it may be produced by the manufacturer to satisfy the customer to the slightest detail. In turn, the product quality should be secure as well.

Mode

When selecting your best infrared thermometer, you need to figure out your purpose. Do you just use it to detect the human body temperature? Or do you also want to utilize it for measuring the temperature of objects like food and water as well as surroundings like your rooms? If so, choosing one which is powered with multi-modes (Usually indicated as Body/Surface Mode).

Backlit Display

When picking your infrared thermometer, you should check if it supports backlight display. The best infrared thermometer should be one with backlit screen. This is because a thermometer with a backlit display is very useful when taking temperature readings in bad lighting conditions. This is more necessary when you have to detect the body temperature of your child at night without disturbing them.

Memory Capacity

For the best infrared thermometer, it should be capable of memory recall. It's of great importance to keep track of the previous temperature readings to make comparisons of the body temperatures and ensure that the physical condition is better off with time.

Generally, the majority of medical infrared thermometers with memory function can record 20 or more sets of memory values. Anyway, be sure to pick one with memory recall function.

Silent Mode

While opting for your best infrared thermometer, you should check if it supports silent measurement. It seems that this feature isn't quite necessary. Nevertheless, if you have a baby or a kid, this feature is indeed of necessity for that your thermometer supporting this can avoid waking your baby up.

Automatic Shut-down

This function is what the best infrared thermometer should have. Automatic shut-down can not only save battery life but also automatically turn off the thermometer when you forget to switch it off.

Price

Before deciding to buy an infrared thermometer, you need to take the price into account. Not only should you consider your budget, but also figure out whether the price of an infrared thermometer is in line with its value. It isn't always the more expensive, the better. The key is good value for the price.

Part 2. Top 3 Best Medical Infrared Thermometers

Based on the above how-to guide, we've parse through a range of the medical infrared thermometers available and find the top 3 best ones for your needs (Top-Selling & Top-Rating). Here are the results.

#1. VISATOR Touchless Infrared Forehead Thermometer

The VISATOR Infrared thermometer is the top 1 best seller with a full 5-star rating for good reasons. By using the latest infrared sensor technology, this thermometer has been clinically tested for greater accuracy and performance than many other devices. As a medical thermometer, it's suitable for all ages including infants, adults as well as elders. Hence, it's safe for babes and children to use.

In addition to humans, it's also applied to measure the surface temperature of objects and surroundings due to its multi-mode functionality. Additional features like sound alarm, silent mode, backlit display as well as impressive memory recall with 35 readings values also make it the best selling infrared thermometer currently available.

Key Features:

* 1S fast accurate reading

* Body/Surface mode

* Memory function: 32 sets of memory data

* A large LED backlit display

* Automatic 20S battery-saving shutdown

* Silent mode

* Sound alarm

* Switch between between ℉ to ℃

Price: $57.59

#2. AXAYINC Non Touch Infrared Forehead Thermometer

This model is a customer favorite mainly due to the slightly cheaper price. However, it still comes loaded with many powerful features. With this one, you're able to get instant readings with higher accuracy than a traditional mercury thermometer.

Also, it's designed for people in all ages as well as objects and surroundings. The three-color backlight LED screen also gives you alert if there's a fever and brings you great convenience when using in bad lighting conditions.

Key Features:

* 1S fast and ±0.1°C accurate reading

* Body/Surface mode

* Easy to read with clear screen

* Three colors backlight fever alarm

* Automatic power-saving shutdown for 15S

* Free convert between ℉ to ℃

Price: $51.99

#3. CareReal Non-Contact Infrared Thermometer

This device is a little pricier but is still a customer favorite for good reasons. With 土0.2 accuracy during 35.5C-42.0C and 0.5S ultra-fast measuring speed, it allows you to get fast reading with high precision.

Moreover, it's very versatile with powerful features of fever alarm, backlit screen, auto shut-down as well as memory recall. Due to the strong features and product quality, it's popular among customers regardless of slightly higher price.

Key Features:

* 0.5S lightning-fast reading

* 土0.2 accuracy during 35.5℃-42.0℃

* Body/surface mode

* Three-color LED backlight

* Fever Alarm

* Auto shut-down

* Memory function

* Adjustable ˚C / ˚F units

Price: $84.99

Part 3. Our Better Alternatives - TG8818H and KY-111 with Powerful Features but Super-cheap Prices

Although the above 3 top best infrared thermometers are powerful models, it seems that you don't want to spend more money on any of them if there are less expensive options which can also provide the same powerful features and design quality for you. Indeed, spending less to get more is more advisable.

The following are two of our better alternatives with powerful features and great performance in more affordable prices.

1. Model TG8818H

This model is a professional equipment at an affordable price. It has almost the same quality as the pricier top best infrared thermometers. With simple and intuitive buttons, it's very easy-to-use. With the latest dual-probe infrared sensor technology, it allows you to instantly get reading for 1S with high accuracy.

Besides, it has multi-mode functionality that enables you to measure not only the body temperatures of people in all ages but also the temperatures of food, water and rooms. Moreover, similar to the top best infrared thermometers at higher prices, it's powered with many impressive functions like memory recall, auto shut-down, backlight display and silent mode etc,.

Key Features:

* 1S ultra-fast reading

* ±0.2°C（0.2°F）accuracy within 35-42°C

* Body/Surface Mode

* Memory recall with 32 sets of memory values

* Support backlit display

* Silent mode

* Auto Shut-down for saving battery life

* Switchable between °C and °F

Price: $20.5 (2-100PCS)

Note:

The price will be lower as the quantity increases.

2. Model KY-111

With the same powerful features and functionality as the model TG8818H, this model is also available at an affordable price. Compared with the TG8818H, the difference is that the buttons of the model KY-111 are less intuitive, making the operation less simple. Nevertheless, the advantage of this model is that it has the option for adjusting backlight display which can be utilized in the dark environments without having to turn on the light.

Price: $20.5(2-100PCS)

Note:

The price will be lower as the quantity increases.

Conclusion

Now you must find it much easier to pick the best medical infrared thermometer for your needs after checking the above how-to guide. The top 3 best ones with a number of features are ideal selections that you can consider.

But if you want to spend less to get one which has the same high quality and powerful features as the top best infrared thermometers, our model TG8818H and KY-111 are the better options. Give them a try and you'll find that they are good value for money.