Top 10 Best Fever Thermometers of 2022

Braun’s updated Thermoscan 7+ has fixed the flaws of its predecessor. The new version has a backlit display for use in the dark and an optional Age Precision® feature that takes the age of the sick person into account.

It’s no secret that the Braun ear thermometer has long been a market best-seller. The new 7+ version has fixed many of the flaws noted by our test panel in the previous version, and actually manages to score top marks. The thermometer also uses two AA batteries, making it more likely that you’ll have spares at home if the battery runs out when you need the thermometer the most.

Age selection with colour coding – which you can now turn off

The Braun Thermoscan is suitable for adults and children, and measures the temperature in your ear with a quick click. It comes with disposable covers that you place on the probe before inserting it into the ear canal. The measurement takes one second (it beeps when it’s ready) and is virtually free from discomfort, meaning you could take a child’s temperature while they’re asleep. The display shows the result in green, orange or red depending on the reading, where green indicates normal temperature, orange elevated and red high fever. The colour coding is adapted to the age of the person whose temperature you’re taking: 0–6 months, 6–36 months or over 36 months. For example, if you measure an elevated temperature in an infant, the display turns red immediately, as fever can be serious in very young children.

The greatest problem with previous versions of the Thermoscan 7 has been that you had to select age ranges in order to be able to take a reading at all, which felt like an unnecessary step that slowed down the entire temperature-taking process – especially once your household no longer contains anyone under the age of 36 months. This has been fixed in the new version and you can now make a permanent age selection on which the thermometer will automatically start. At last!

Fewer memory entries – but new night mode

Where we previously found the nine most-recent temperature readings (a feature we hardly used), there is now a night-mode button. Night mode turns off all sounds and turns on a soft orange nightlight that points forward, making it easy for you to find your way into the ear canal when you’re taking your baby’s temperature in a dark room. Now you can find the last temperature reading in the top corner of the display – which our panel feels is quite sufficient.

The readings also seem to be more accurate now. While previously they could fluctuate 0.3–0.4 degrees between two readings, it’s now extremely rare for two consecutive readings to differ more than 0.1 degree.

The only negative thing we have to say about Thermoscan 7+ is that you’ll still have to purchase new hygiene caps if you replace them after each reading as recommended. That said, the test panel freely admits that they don’t always bother to do this...

The top rated Braun Thermoscan 7 IRT 6520 is a well-designed fever thermometer perfect for families with children. We think it’s the best thermometer for kids right now. The thermometer can be set to three different age ranges: infants (0-6 months), small children (6-36 months) and for larger children and adults. When measuring temperature, the thermometer shows the result with both figures and a colour indicator. Green represents a normal temperature, yellow slightly elevated and red a significantly elevated temperature. The age range you set determines the temperature limit; for example, it turns red at a lower temperature for younger children.

A significant advantage is that the display is on the back of the thermometer, so you can see the result without having to turn it over. The fact that the screen is illuminated means you don’t have to switch on a light when you're checking your child’s temperature at night, but we’d have liked it to be possible to turn off the sound. The thermometer includes 20 hygiene covers (you can buy more) and a stand for the thermometer and covers. If you're going to take the temperature of children of different ages, you have to spend a little longer changing the age settings, but it’s worth it given that the Braun Thermoscan 7 IRT 6520 is otherwise a worthy recipient of its position as the best choice.

The Braun NTF3000 is known as a no touch thermometer or a contactless thermometer, which measures the temperature via a lens aimed at the forehead. Only some of the Braun thermometers offer this feature. We get it. The method sounds questionable, but the measurements taken with this model were just as reliable as other types of thermometers. The Braun NTF3000 feels solid and has easy to find buttons even in a dark room. The measurement button is rubber covered – which gives a good grip but feels slightly less hygienic than a plastic button. However, it has a very clear response to pressure. The accompanying instructions for measuring on the forehead are easy to understand.

The Braun NTF3000 has a light display, which makes measurement at night time possible, and a colour indicator denoting increased temperature and fever. You can turn off the sound, which is practical if you take a sleeping child's temperature. The disadvantage with a forehead thermometer is that it's difficult to measure a moving child, but the advantages outweigh this. The Braun NTF3000 no touch thermometer is easy to use and is one of the best fever thermometers of 2021. The truth is, if you choose one of the many Braun thermometers out there, you can’t go far wrong.

Neno Medic T05 is an infrared thermometer that allows you to take the temperature of your family as well as objects or liquids, such as bath water or milk – ideal if you want to avoid scalding your baby with too hot baby formula.

Colour-coded display and many memory entries

Neno has a colour coded display that quickly shows the temperature, and colour coding in green/yellow/red when measured a few centimetres from the forehead. It is therefore easy to make a quick assessment of e.g. your children before you send them to school. The last 34 measurements remain in the memory – a bit over the top if you ask us, but good if you really want to study the fever curve in detail. When the measurement is complete (which only takes a few seconds), you will hear a clear beep. The sound can also be turned off if you want to take the temperature of a sleeping baby, but also makes it easier when you try to hold it against your own forehead and press it.

Measures the temperature as a bit too low

There are a number of different buttons, but it is relatively easy to operate. The “body” and “surface” modes are toggled just below the display, where “surface” allows lower and higher temperatures and does not judge any measured temperature as fever. The thermometer switches off quickly when not in use to save battery power, and switches on just as quickly with the same “trigger” that you use to measure the temperature – really conveniently.

When we compare it to an ear thermometer, the temperature is consistently 0.3-0.4 degrees lower, but the result is still so consistent that we judge it just as accurately if you increase the temperature by 0.3 degrees. The Neno T05 is therefore a really good choice if you want to be able to measure the temperature without contact, and perhaps more than just on family members.

The Omron Gentle Temp 521 is a straightforward baby ear thermometer with an illuminated display, allowing you to easily see the value displayed at all times of the day and night. This function is often beneficial for parents of small children, as they may need to take the temperature of their child at night and don't want to wake them up by turning on the lamp. Another equally useful function is that you can completely switch off the sound. The measurement is calculated fast and the result is perceived as reliable. As well as measuring the temperature inside the ear, the Omron Gentle Temp 521 can measure the temperature of a surface as a contactless thermometer. For example, it can give you a quick answer to whether a jar of food or a bottle is sufficiently cool – and it can be used for adults as well without hygiene concerns.

The thermometer includes 21 probe covers, and these are close to the measurement sensor, which makes it easier to obtain the correct value. A small plastic ring is used to put the probe covers on, and we suspect that it’s easy to lose this – particularly as the thermometer doesn't include a storage station. The thermometer's measuring probe feels a bit blocky inside the ear, so it's perhaps not the most comfortable thermometer for small ears. The thermometer's primary negative is that Omron has chosen to power it using a small watch battery. If the battery runs out during a period of illness, it's not likely that you'll have another one lying around in a kitchen drawer. In general, the Omron Gentle Temp 521 is a practical thermometer that does its job well. It’s one of the best thermometers for kids that money can buy.

The idea of a forehead thermometer is good, as there are many uses for this type of temperature measurement. As well as measuring body temperature, you can also use the Omrom Gentle Temp 720 to measure the temperature of various surfaces, which can give a good indication of whether baby food or formula is ready to serve. The Gentle Temp 720 gives an excellent first impression. It's easy to use, with two clear buttons - one to turn the thermometer on and to see saved values, and another to start the temperature reading. The thermometer shuts off automatically. It can be set on silent and has a large display, making it easy to read. The thermometer sits nicely in the hand and has a substantial probe cover that's easy to remove.

The Omron Gentle Temp 720 should be held 3-5 cm from the forehead. Measurement is quick - it only takes a second. The difficulty with the procedure is making sure the actual reading has been done correctly. Omron recommends that you take three temperature measurements one after each other, and if you've held the Gentle Temp 720 for too long, there's also a risk of false lower values. This is because the thermometer measures a higher surrounding temperature. A forehead thermometer can work very well on adults and sleeping children, and it's a major plus that it's contactless, which reduces the risk of transferring bacteria. But for parents of small, restless children, it's worth knowing that you need to have the right conditions to get the correct measurement values. So whether or not you like the Omron Gentle Temp 720 as a fever thermometer entirely depends on how you plan to use it.

Whilst ear thermometers are pretty much standard in most homes nowadays, there are plenty of children that don’t enjoy having the temperature taken in their ears. Many adults find aiming an ear thermometer near impossible. The solution? Forehead thermometers.

The Withings Thermo is a no touch thermometer, which means there needs to be no contact between the device and the skin on the forehead – just hover with the thermometer 1-2 centimetres above the forehead and swipe towards the temple. You will get a reliable read within just a second or two.

The biggest downside with the Withings Thermo, aside from the price being rather steep, is that you are forced to use the accompanying app. If the app was optional, all would be fine and dandy. However, to measure the temperature, the app must be installed. In all honesty, this is a little more hassle than what we care for. A device like this really should be ready to use straight out of the box. Being forced into downloading an app to get it started is nothing but annoying. Once downloaded and synced, the app is not mandatory to use.

The app itself is rather sleek. If you assign measurements to the right profile – you can track the fever over time, which proves to be quite handy when there are two kids sick at the same time. Or maybe even, god forbid, the entire family.

Withings Thermo is expensive, and if you are wondering whether it’s worth the price tag, the answer is: not quite. There are plenty of reliable forehead thermometers out there. Unless you really thrive on data, many other thermometers will do the job just as well as the Withings Thermo but at a much lower price.

The Tommee Tippee thermometer has a small, narrow measuring probe which makes it optimal to use in the ear of your toddler. The thermometer comes with a hygiene cover and a ring to attach the protection to the thermometer. Unfortunately, there is no storage for these protective devices, which increases the risk that they will disappear among everything else in the bathroom cabinet. It's good that there is a hygiene cover, and you can buy them separately. However, they are rather fiddly to remove after use. The Tommee Tippee child ear thermometer is of a comfortable size. It's clear when you have pressed the button as you can feel and hear it. However, the button is rubber covered, which is a negative point if you want to use a disinfectant spray on it after use in gastroenteritis cases. The thermometer provides precise results, and when the temperature indicates a fever, it makes an audible signal. However, you can't set it to silent mode. The Tommee Tippee Digital Fever Thermometer feels like a classic ear thermometer that lives up to all of our expectations.

Braun has several different thermometers in their range, which can be found in many family medical cabinets. The Thermoscan IRT 6020 is a budget class child ear thermometer – if you like the brand but want more functions, we recommend model 6520 instead. This model has a clear display with large figures. A hygiene cover is included, and additional covers can be purchased separately if ever needed. They are easy to attach and it's just as easy to remove one when it's time to replace it. However, the measurement time is relatively long, and the thermometer beeps when it measures which could disturb a sleeping child. It isn't possible to switch off the sound. The actual thermometer is relatively large – bordering on cumbersome – but it's easy to find the button without looking. However, the actual button is relatively shallow. The Braun Thermoscan IRT 6020 doesn't disappoint, but we felt it lacked more intelligent functions.

The Neno Medic T02 is a fever thermometer that uses infrared light to measure the temperature from up to 5 cm distance. In other words, this is a thermometer that you can aim at the forehead and don’t need to touch the skin with at all.

Quick reading on larger children

A forehead thermometer will never give as certain a result as a rectal thermometer. So it’s perhaps not ideal for the smallest children. But if you’re looking for a digital thermometer that can give a quick indication of whether or not your child has a fever before they go to preschool or a party, the Neno Medic T02 is an easy-to-use alternative.

This thermometer requires two clicks before it presents a result. One click to switch it on, after which shows the latest measurement in the digital display. And then one more click and aim the thermometer at the forehead to take the child’s temperature. You get the result in just a few seconds.

Clear and simple display

When we compared the temperature shown by the Neno Medic T02 with those of other thermometers, the results were very similar. One negative point is that you can’t switch off the beeping noise, which risks waking or disturbing a sick patient who’s finally dropped off.

The Neno Medic T02 is black and slim. It’s perhaps not the most ergonomic design, but on the other hand you don’t hold it in your hand very long. The batteries last for a long time and the thermometer doesn’t get scratched even with careless handling. The display is easy to read and faces up, so you can see the results immediately.

This is an easy-to-use thermometer that is most suitable for using on larger children who won’t accept either aural or rectal measurements.