Are you feeling a little out of sorts? If so, you might need to pull out the thermometer. As one of the four main vital signs, your body temperature can measure the severity of illness and the efficacy of any treatment you might be taking. So there really is no wondering why thermometers are an essential for any household.
Many manufacturers have taken different spins on the thermometer design, coming up with a variety of options that all offer something unique. As a buyer, this can make the supposedly simple task of choosing a thermometer something of a challenge.
Hoping to get your hands on the best thermometer for adults so you can stay prepared for those down days? Find out which ones our experts recommend with this complete buying guide and review.
Top 10 Thermometers for Adults Ultimate Table
| Picture | Name | Reading Site | Price | Rating (1-5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. Gland Medical Digital Forehead and Ear Thermometer | Forehead and inner ear | $$$$ | 4.9 |
 | 2. SANPU Ear and Forehead Thermometer Accurate Measurement Temperature | Forehead and inner ear | $ | 4.8 |
 | 3. Metene Medical Forehead and Ear Thermometer | Forehead and inner ear | $$ | 4.5 |
 | 4. Forehead Thermometer, Non-contact Infrared Digital thermometer | Forehead | $ | 4.4 |
 | 5. Kinsa Digital Smart Ear Thermometer for Baby | Inner ear | $$ | 4.3 |
 | 6. Medical Ear Thermometer with Forehead Function | Forehead and inner ear | $$$ | 4.2 |
 | 7. Best Digital Medical Thermometer | Oral and rectal | $ | 4.2 |
 | 8. Easy@Home 3 in 1 Non-contact Infrared Forehead Thermometer | Forehead | $$ | 4.0 |
 | 9. Clinical Digital Thermometer Best to Read & Monitor Fever Temperature | Oral, rectal, and axillary | $ | 3.8 |
 | 10. Clinical Digital Thermometer Best to Read & Monitor Fever Temperature | Forehead | $$$ | 3.4 |
The Different Sites for Taking Temperature
There are several different parts of your body which are viable sites for temperature taking. These areas conduct heat the best, so they’re ideal for acquiring accurate temperature readings.
With that, companies offer a wide array of thermometers that can be used in different parts of the body for your comfort and for reading accuracy.
- Inner Ear – Considered the middle ground when it comes to accuracy, inner ear thermometers are designed to capture a temperature measurement in just a few seconds. They’re fast, convenient, and easy, but sanitation can be a problem for shared thermometers.
- Behind the Ear – As the newest piece of temperature measuring technology, behind the ear thermometers can be just as accurate as inner ear options. They’re less invasive and much easier to clean, but they aren’t as common in the market just yet.
- Forehead – Forehead thermometers commonly use infrared technology to capture a reading. Readings taken from this site are often 0.5 to 1°C less accurate than oral, rectal, and inner ear readings.
- Axilla – The underarm is one of the least invasive sites for temperature taking. It’s also often the most time consuming as temperature might not be as pronounced in the area.
- Oral and Rectal – Oral and rectal temperature readings are often the most accurate of all. The issue with these types of thermometers is that they present a greater risk of spreading germs and bacteria.
Features for Monitoring Temperature Trends
When you’re sick, your doctor will recommend that you monitor your temperature at home to find out how your body is taking to treatment. To simplify process, some thermometers incorporate features that help monitor trends.
One of the most common features is reading recall, which allows you to record previous readings so you can see how your temperature has changed over the past few measurements. The number of readings that a thermometer can store can vary, but there are some that can retain up to the last 40 readings for your convenience.
Another feature that helps with monitoring temperature trends is mobile app compatibility. By pairing your thermometer with your mobile phone through a dedicated app, you can store your readings and gain more insight regarding your measurements depending on what the specific app offers.
Ease of Use
Temperature taking shouldn’t have to eat up too much of your time. So you may want to look into the different features of a thermometer to find out whether or not it will be easy and convenient for you to use.
The main considerations you should make include sanitation, operation, and storage. Thermometers that don’t require too much cleaning, too many steps to use, and elaborate storage specifics will ultimately be much simpler and more convenient in the long run.
3 Best Thermometer for Adults Reviews
1. Gland Medical Digital Forehead and Ear Thermometer
After extensive research, we’ve found the best thermometer for adults to be the Gland Medical Digital Forehead and Ear Thermometer. This device was designed for both children and adults, making it a suitable choice if you want a reliable thermometer for use in a family home.
The Gland Medical Thermometer can be used on the forehead or via the inner ear, which gives you the ability to cross check readings to verify accuracy. The thermometer is also particularly fast, giving you instant readings just seconds after you press the button. Storage can keep up to 20 previous readings which is more than enough to keep track of the progress of a single episode of sickness.
While it does come at a steeper price than other choices, the Gland Medical Digital Forehead and Ear Thermometer is a durable, accurate, and convenient device that simplifies the temperature taking process to give you reliable readings with each use.
2. Sanpu Ear and Forehead Thermometer
The Sanpu Ear and Forehead Thermometer is another favorite among adults who want a convenient thermometer for use at home. The device features both forehead and inner ear reading capabilities, giving you the ability to check between reading sites to guarantee accuracy.
Some other features that make this device worth the purchase include a clock display, a high fever indicator, and the 20-reading recall, which is more than enough for temperature monitoring. Much like the previous device, the Sanpu is also capable of providing instant readings at the push of a button.
The only reason why it didn’t rank higher on the list is that the user interface is slightly confusing. That said, it might take you some time to figure out how to work the device even with the help of its user manual.
3. Metene Medical Forehead and Ear Thermometer
The last product on our list of the best thermometer for adults comes from Metene. This device is equipped with an infrared sensor that promises to capture accurate temperature readings without making contact with your skin. For that reason, it’s a big hit among buyers who don’t want to spend time sanitizing a used thermometer.
Capable of storing up to 20 previous readings, the Metene Thermometer competes closely with higher ranking devices on our list. It also boasts the same, instant reading capabilities, so you don’t have to wait for measurements with each use.
The only problem? The Metene Medical Forehead and Ear Thermometer isn’t quite as durable as other choices, so it may need extra care during use and storage. Plus, the device has also been noted to produce slightly cooler temperatures which may be a concern for some.