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Note: As the nation responds to the coronavirus outbreak, people are buying essentials in bulk. You may find the goods here are priced higher than normal or temporarily out of stock at your usual go-to retailer.
An infrared — or laser — thermometer is a no-contact digital thermometer. It noninvasively measures temperature and is safe for every household member to use.
They’re a bit on the pricey side, so we’ve rounded up a list of online retailers that stock infrared thermometers for you to compare prices and save cash.
Our top picks
Non-Contact Infrared Thermometer for Baby Kids and Adults
Amazon: Decked out with infrared thermometers to the nth degree.
As expected, Amazon offers the most popular infrared thermometers online. Search from a wide range of products and prices. Prime members enjoy free two-day shipping on most orders.
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On Amazon.com you can either rent textbooks for college or buy cheap new and used textbooks. You can also trade your old textbooks for an Amazon gift card.
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AliExpress: A large selection of items ship directly from the US.
This global marketplace is a hot spot to find essentials like thermometers — many of which ship fast from the USA.
Home Depot: Don't sweat it — you'll find a large selection of infrared thermometers here.
So much more than home improvements, you can choose from a range of prices to suit your budget. Get free delivery to your home or closest store for pickup.
Newegg: Achieve a higher degree of success with hundreds of options.
Newegg offers a huge selection of major brands of electronics and technology, including infrared and laser thermometers. Most purchases are shipped to your home for free.
Walmart: Thousands of infrared thermometers are found here.
As expected, Walmart offers a huge selection of major brands and price options to keep on top of your family's health. Get free next-day delivery on qualifying orders. Some items are eligible for pickup, too.
Get an accurate read of your temperature in four steps:
Turn on the thermometer.
Adjust the settings on the device so that it reads in Fahrenheit or Celsius, whichever is your preference.
Point the thermometer at the object you want to get the temperature of.
Pull the trigger and wait for the reading to show up on the screen.
Are infrared thermometers accurate?
Yes. But they may not be as accurate as oral thermometers. A forehead scanner temperature is typically 0.5 to 1.0 degree Fahrenheit lower than an oral temperature, according to a report by Kaiser Permanente.
Models designed for medical use are generally more accurate than lower-quality devices for other purposes, such as those intended for cooking food.
Medical vs. nonmedical infrared thermometers
Medical contactless forehead thermometers are designed for taking human body temperatures, while nonmedical infrared thermometers are not. Hardware stores such as Home Depot and Lowe’s typically sell nonmedical IR thermometers that are used for a variety of purposes, such as detecting a rise in temperature of equipment and in electrical settings. Nonmedical thermometers are not intended to take a person’s body temperature.
Are infrared thermometers safe?
Yes, infrared thermometers are generally safe. They don’t emit infrared rays, and don’t contain mercury like the older thermometers. Infrared thermometers work by measuring infrared rays emitting from the person or object they’re pointed at. But take care not to point a laser in someones eye — it could cause eye damage.
What are alternatives to infrared thermometers?
Infrared thermometers include forehead and ear thermometers that can be easy to use on small children who can’t sit still. But these can be pricey. Alternatives to infrared thermometers are:
Digital thermometer: Measure your body temperature under your tongue, armpit or rectum for small children.
Plastic strips: These don’t have the most accurate readings, but these strips are applied to your forehead to detect a fever. These are good for if you’re on the road or for an emergency first-aid kit.
Pacifier thermometers. For babies up to 6 months that help gauge a temperature while babies are sleeping. These can take up to five minutes, and aren’t as accurate at the digital thermometer.
Melanie Huddart joined Finder’s editorial team in 2017, helping to polish up content across niches that include home loans, share trading, shopping and travel. Melanie earned a BA in Specialized Honors English and a BEd from York University in Toronto, Canada. When she isn’t focused on making articles shine, you can find her hanging with her son and her dog, practicing yoga or searching for the next greatest beach.
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