The 5 Best Forehead Thermometers

The 21st century has endowed us with highly-accurate thermometers that can monitor a person's body temperature to a hundredth of a degree. And considering the "invasive" feeling of rectal and oral thermometers, forehead thermometers are almost universally preferred. These handy devices are quick and painless to use so they're vastly popular. The market is flooded with different options, so we decided to whittle down the list to the best of the best. Read on to discover our top five favorites, from the inexpensive option to the premium pick.

New 2020 Model iProven Thermometer for Fever, Forehead and Ear Thermometer with Fever Alarm, Pouch and Batteries Included

iProven is proven to work

This accurate and reliable option from iProven sports the latest-and-greatest in Infrared Lens Technology for a great price.

Best Overall

Find on Amazon

The iProven forehead thermometer is an aptly-named product. Clinically-tested and approved by doctors, it’s a reliable tool with some unexpected features. For example, this pick can be used both as a forehead thermometer or an in-ear thermometer. It’s a great way to double-check that the readings are consistent. Better yet, this pick delivers readings in about one second, so you don’t have to wait around to get results. And unlike the many outdated, inaccurate options out there, the iProven forehead thermometer uses the latest-and-greatest in Infrared Lens Technology for supreme accuracy and precision. Best of all, this pick is super convenient. It’s easy to keep clean and comes with all the batteries, pouch, and simple instructions you need to get started.

Pros

Easy to use
Clinically-tested
Supremely accurate

Cons

Kind of pricey

iHealth No-Touch Forehead Thermometer, Digital Infrared Adult Thermometer for Adults and Kids

Great accuracy for a great price

This pick from iHealth has everything we look for in a forehead thermometer while sporting a price tag that's hard to beat.

Best On A Budget

Find on Amazon

Especially since the health of our loved ones are on the line, we’re quite skeptical of cheap medical devices. However, this pick from iHealth defies expectations. Although it’s not the absolute cheapest thermometer that money can buy, it is an affordable option with fantastic specs. For instance, this pick sports three ultra-sensitive sensors that read the range, room temperature, and body temperature at the same time. In other words, if the temperature of the room fluctuates or your hand moves while taking a reading, the iHealth adapts within a fraction of a second. Better yet, the design is easy to use and sports a single button control. Simply press the button to turn on the bright LED screen and the sensors will do the rest.

Pros

Affordable price
Sleek-and-simple design
Bright LED screen

Cons

Automatically switches to Fahrenheit

Jumper Infrared Thermometer, Non-Contact Forehead Thermometer for Adults and Kids

A premium temp-checker for a premium price

Those with a little extra cash to spend may want to consider this premium non-contact thermometer which offers the best in accuracy, durability, and customizability.

Best Premium

Find on Amazon

As soon as you grab hold of its sturdy handle and power up the Jumper Infrared Thermometer, you’ll understand why this pick costs a pretty penny. This is a professional-grade piece of equipment that’s guaranteed to deliver accurate readings. And unlike the lower-tier options, the Jumper conforms to CE, FDA, and ROHS standards, making it popular among the pros. Plus, it’s customizable. With the push of a button you can switch between Celsius and Fahrenheit or mute the sound for a silent reading. We find it’s especially useful for taking the reading of a sleeping baby or child without disturbing them. Best of all, the Jumper Thermometer can recall up to 20 temperature readings, making monitoring the progress of a fever easy as pie.

Pros

Durable construction
Recall up to 20 readings
Super accurate and fast

Cons

Expensive
Non-discrete

Baby Thermometer for Fever, Ear and Forehead, Kid and Adult Thermometer

This baby works wonders

Although it can be used on adults too, the GoodBaby Baby Thermometer is a must-have for new parents in need of an easy-to-use non-contact thermometer.

Best for Babies

Find on Amazon

Parenthood is simultaneously the most rewarding and most stress-inducing experience on the face of the planet. That’s why we’re quick to advocate anything that can relieve some of the stress of taking care of a tot. To those with a baby on board, we recommend this simple and effective thermometer from GoodBaby. Effective on adults as well, this option boasts some advantages for baby-care. For one, it can store up to 35 readings at a time and can be used as both a forehead and ear thermometer. Plus, the silent mode means you can take your babe’s temp without waking them up. Even better, it’s effective for taking the temperature readings of liquids, food, and rooms. Clinically-tested and thoughtfully-designed, the GoodBaby Baby Thermometer takes temperature control to a whole new level.

Pros

Easy to use
Discrete design
Includes sanitary carrying bag

Cons

Non-contact mode has questionable accuracy

2020 Upgraded New Digital Medical Forehead and Ear Thermometer 8-in-1 Professional, 1s Instant Accurate Reading

Every second counts

Sporting updated tech and a hyper-sensitive sensor, this option from Chooseen delivers the fastest readings possible for an affordable price.

Fastest Reading

Find on Amazon

For those in a hurry, this infrared thermometer from Chooseen delivers readings in an instant. Seriously, this thing is fast. Using an upgraded processor, an adaptable smart chip, and hyper-sensitive sensors, the Chooseen Infrared Thermometer sports a 1-second-or-less turnaround. Compared to the other options, it’s a hair of a difference in terms of speed. Nonetheless, the rapid responsiveness of this device speaks volumes about the quality of its hardware. Of course, we wouldn’t recommend a thermometer based on a slight speed advantage alone. This pick is another great all-around option that can be used on all ages, from infants to elders. And just like the last one, it can retain up to 35 readings and functions as both a forehead and ear thermometer.

Pros

Hyper-fast readings
Bright back-lit screen
Great value for the price

Cons

Beep is very faint
Light weight not ideal for shaky hands

Frequently Asked Questions

Are infrared thermometers safe to use?

To those questioning the safety of an “infrared” thermometer, fear not. These thermometers simply read the infrared light waves that our body emits naturally and do not produce any infrared light of their own. They are safe to use on all ages.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of infrared thermometers?

Compared to oral or rectal thermometers, infrared thermometers are non-invasive. In fact, many options are even non-contact and can take a temperature reading from a small distance away. Consequently, they’re a popular choice for parents that want to be able to take their child’s temperature without waking or disturbing them. Also, infrared thermometers are the preferred device for taking the temperature of elderly folks that might not be able to read a small digital screen or hold an oral thermometer in their mouth. Also, unlike many oral thermometers, infrared thermometers are mercury-free.

There are of course some disadvantages to infrared thermometers. For one, they’re electronic devices so they require batteries to function. However, most options take standard AA-batteries, so it’s easy to find replacements. Also, these thermometers oftentimes have a higher margin of error in their readings when compared to oral or rectal thermometers. However, this accuracy difference varies product-to-product, so you’re best bet is to take a couple readings with your new thermometer to see if it returns consistent results.