Ebola: Symptoms, treatment, and causes

What Is A Normal Body Temperature?

Your body's temperature comes from your body doing the work that keeps you alive, with most of your body's heat coming from your heart, brain, liver, and muscles.. Most of the time, your temperature will stay around the same level – though body temperature can change, depending on your activity level and time of day, among other things. When your body puts out a lot more or a lot less heat than usual, it's trying to tell you there's a problem.

There's a range of normal body temperatures for adults and children. Things including activity level, time of day, weather, age, and more can also impact your body temperature. A normal temperature for adults is in the range of  97 F to 99 F, and for children it is 95.9 F to 99.5 F. (Photo Credit: E+ / Getty Images)

There are several ways to measure body temperature. The best way may depend on the situation and whose body temperature is being measured. 

Rectal temperature. This is the most accurate method for taking the temperature of babies and infants, especially those that are younger than 3 months old. Make sure to use a digital rectal thermometer with a short probe. 

Oral temperature. You can also use a thermometer in your mouth to measure temperature. Make sure to clamp your lips together tightly and breathe through your nose. 

Tympanic temperature. This is when you use a digital thermometer pointed into your ear. These thermometers are quick and easy to use, but they may not be as accurate as other methods. 

Forehead temperature. You can use an electronic digital thermometer on your forehead to measure your temperature. You can also use another type of thermometer, called a noncontact infrared thermometer. Don't use plastic strip thermometers that change color when you press them against your skin, because these are the least accurate method of measuring temperature. 

Armpit temperature. You can also use any digital thermometer to take the temperature in your armpit if you don't want a thermometer in your mouth, rectum, ear, or on your forehead. This is also called an axillary temperature. 

Not everyone's "normal" body temperature is the same. Yours could be a whole degree different from someone else's. Your temperature doesn't stay the same all day, and it will vary throughout your lifetime, too.

A German doctor in the 19th century set the standard at 98.6 F, but more recent studies say the baseline for most people may be decreasing. 

Normal range of body temperature based on age

For a typical adult, body temperature can be anywhere from 97 F to 99 F. Adults over the age of 60 tend to have a lower body temperature, compared to younger adults. Babies and children have a wider range: 95.9 F to 99.5 F (if measured with an oral thermometer) or 97.9 F to 100.4 F (if measured by a rectal thermometer). 

What is the normal forehead temperature for adults?

Your temperature reading may also change based on where on your body you measure it. Underarm readings can be a degree lower than what you'd find from your mouth. Rectal temperatures usually are up to a degree higher than mouth readings. If you are using a digital or noncontact infrared thermometer on your forehead, it can be slightly lower than mouth readings. But a normal temperature using a noncontact infrared thermometer will still be in the range of  97 F to 99 F for adults. 

A body temperature higher than your normal range is a fever. It's hypothermia when the body temperature dips too low. Both need to be watched.

How high is too high when it comes to your temperature? Anything above 100.4 F is considered a fever. You may feel terrible, but on the whole, a fever isn't bad for you. It's a sign your body is doing what it should when germs invade. It's fighting them off.

Fever in adults

There are different levels of severity of fevers in adults. These include:

Low-grade fevers: 99.1 to 100.4 F 

Moderate-grade fevers: 100.6 to 102.2 F

High-grade fevers: 102.4 to 105.8 F

If you're an adult with a fever of over 104 F, you should call your doctor. 

If you have a fever, you might have other symptoms besides just feeling warm. These can include:

Many fevers will go away within a few days. But you should call a doctor if you have any of these symptoms with a fever:

Seizure

Confusion or feeling sleepy or dull

Loss of consciousness 

Stiff neck

Trouble breathing

Painful or burning urination 

Severe pain anywhere on your body

A purple-spotted rash

Fever in children

Fevers in children can be tricky, and children may not be able to show that they feel uncomfortable. Signs of a fever in children can include:

Looking red or flushed

Feeling hot

Feeling sweaty

Losing their appetite

Acting sleepy or cranky

Complaining of a headache or body aches

Like in adults, in many cases a child's fever can be managed at home. But you should contact your child's pediatrician if your child is: 

Under 3 months old and has a rectal temperature of 100.4 F or higher

Between 3 months and 3 years old and has a rectal temperature over 102 F

Older than 3 years and has an oral temperature above 103 F

Between 3 and 6 months old and – along with a fever – is fussier or more uncomfortable than usual, or doesn't seem alert

Sick enough for you to be concerned, regardless of what the thermometer says, or has a fever for longer than 3 days

How can you bring down a fever?

If you have had a high fever for 3 days or more, it is time to contact your doctor for help. 

But if you have a moderate or low fever and are uncomfortable, there are some things you can try at home to bring down a fever. 

Take an anti-fever medicine, like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Do not give a child or teenager with a fever aspirin, because it has been linked to a rare swelling in the liver and brain called Reye's syndrome.  

Take a lukewarm bath or shower.

Apply damp washcloths to the forehead and wrists.

Drink fluids.

Get a lot of rest.

If your body loses too much heat, it can be very serious, even fatal. Hypothermia is when your body temperature goes below 95 F, and your body is losing heat faster than it can produce heat. You might think of hypothermia as something that only happens when you're exposed to extremely cold weather for a long time. But it happens indoors, too. A below-normal body temperature can also be a sign that you're sick.

Hypothermia in adults 

Hypothermia is a special concern for the elderly. Older adults can struggle to keep their body temperature in a normal range if they're somewhere with intense air conditioning or there's not enough heat.

Other things can also make you more likely to get hypothermia. They include:

Whether you are indoors or outdoors, the signs of hypothermia are similar. Hypothermia causes mental confusion, so someone who is hypothermic may not be aware that they need help. Symptoms of hypothermia can include: 

Shivering (this may stop at extremely low body temperature)

Exhaustion or feeling tired

Confusion

Slurred speech

Clumsiness or lack of coordination 

Pale and cold skin

Slowed breathing or heart rate

Memory loss 

Hypothermia in children

Hypothermia is also particularly concerning for children. Babies may not be good at controlling their temperature. They can lose heat quickly. It's important to keep them warm. A temperature below 97 F is considered too low for babies.

Symptoms of hypothermia in babies include:

low energy

cold skin that looks flushed or bright red

 

How to treat hypothermia at home

Hypothermia is a life-threatening condition. If you suspect that you or someone that you're with has hypothermia, you should call 911 right away or go to the emergency room.

While you're waiting for emergency services to arrive, there are some things that you can do at home to help someone start getting warm. These include: 

Gently move the person into a warm room if you're outside.

Remove any wet clothing the person is wearing, and replace it with dry clothing.

If you have an electric blanket, use it to warm their chest, neck, and groin.

You can also use skin-to-skin contact to warm someone with body heat while under loose blankets or sheets. 

If the person is alert, give them a warm beverage to drink. Do not give them any alcohol or caffeine. 

If the person is unconscious and not breathing, perform CPR until emergency services arrive. Keep trying to warm them while performing CPR.  

Is 96 F a normal temperature for a kid?

If you're measuring with an oral thermometer, the normal range for children's temperatures is  95.9 F to 99.5 F. So 96 F would be within the normal range for a child. But for an infant, 96 F is too low. If your baby is under a year old and has a temperature below 97 F, call your pediatrician. 

A lot of things can change your normal body temperature, making it higher or lower than 98.6 F. These include:

How active you are

What time of day it is

The weather 

Your age

Your sex

If you have any medical conditions

What you've eaten or had to drink

Where you are in your menstrual cycle

What body part or method you're using to measure the temperature (Underarm readings can be a degree lower than mouth readings, and rectal temperatures are usually up to a degree higher than ones taken in the mouth.)

Doctors used to think that the "normal" body temperature was 98.6 F, but we now know that there is a range of normal body temperatures for adults and children. Things including activity level, time of day, weather, age, and more can also impact your body temperature. A normal temperature for adults is in the range of 97 F to 99 F, and for children it is 95.9 F to 99.5 F. Higher temperatures than these are fevers and are caused by the body fighting off an infection. Lower temperatures can lead to hypothermia, a dangerous emergency condition.

What is the normal tympanic temperature range for adults? A normal tympanic (in the ear) temperature range for adults is between 95.7 F and 100 F. 

What is normal toddler temperature? The normal temperature for a toddler between the ages of 1 and 3 is 95.9 F to 99.5 F, if you're taking their temperature with an oral thermometer. 

What is the normal body temperature for a newborn? The normal body temperature for a newborn is above 97 F and below 100.4 F. If your newborn falls outside of that range, take them to see a doctor right away.

For COVID-19 Coronavirus, How Well Do Thermometer Guns Even Work?

A thermometer gun is used to check the temperature of a customer as he enters a supermarket in ... [+] Beijing, China. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Getty Images

Are you hot?

That's essentially what those thermometer guns and other similar infrared body temperature measuring devices are trying to determine. You may have noticed increased use of such devices at airports and other checkpoints with the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. The purpose of these devices is to measure your body temperature from a bit of a distance, when sticking a thermometer in everyone's mouths or rear ends would be impractical, inappropriate, and potentially a bit disgusting.

The trouble is these thermal detection devices can be a bit like online dating. You can't always believe what you are seeing or know what you are getting. It's not clear how well these devices have been tested for accuracy. Even if these devices have been tested in laboratories, the real world can be a lot more chaotic and variable. The accuracy of the devices may depend heavily on how they are used such as how far the device is from you, where exactly the device is pointed, and how long and steadily it is held until the reading registers. Heck, if Pop Tart boxes include instructions that have to say, "Remove pastry from pouch," (as comedian Brian Regan has pointed out), you can imagine how many people might not use a thermometer gun or other thermal reading devices correctly.

A sanitary and quarantine control official screens the temperatures of arriving passengers at ... [+] Vnukovo International Airport; temperature screening using thermal imaging devices is under way at Vnukovo Airport in connection with an outbreak of the 2019-nCoV coronavirus in Wuhan, China. (Photo by Mikhail Japaridze\TASS via Getty Images)

Mikhail Japaridze/TASS

Moreover, your body temperature is not always a great way to tell if you've been infected by the new coronavirus (2019-NCoV) or any virus for that matter. A fever may result if your body's immune system recognizes an invader and then starts releasing chemicals to crank up the heat. This heat can serve a purpose: making your body a little less hospitable for certain invaders. But what happens if you've taken some medications to bring your fever down? Or maybe your immune system hasn't yet realized that it's being invaded? Perhaps, your immune system is weakened and doesn't react so readily to an invasion? In all such cases, your body temperature may be normal but things could be far from cool.

That's not the only complication. Christoper Walken once said, "I got a fever and the only prescription is more cowbell." Well, there are certainly other things besides an infection and lack of cowbell that can cause a fever. Certain medications like amphetamines or withdrawal from alcohol can raise your body temperature. So can non-infectious diseases like silicosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Moreover, your body can be a bit like a Pop Tart, heating up if your surroundings become toaster-like such as the sun beating down on you. Finally, strenuous exercise can make you hot in more ways than one. It could make other people stop you, and some of those people could be doing screening at the airport.

So thermal screening can miss people who are infected. And it can falsely sound the alarm for people who aren't infected. Doesn't sound like a great test, right? So why are has demand for thermal scanners and other such devices gotten feverish since the 2019-NCoV outbreak began making news, as this report from CNA indicates:

Well, as the report explained, there aren't too many other great ways to screen large numbers of people in a short amount of time. While it could be more accurate to perform a history and physical on everyone, doing so would be impractical, probably impossible. Imagine the personnel that it would require, and the note on your ticket: "please arrive at the airport at least 10 hours before your flight, and make sure you wear clean underwear."

Therefore, thermal scanners, temperature guns, and the like are better than nothing. They might help identify some people who should receive further investigation like a history and physical. But don't put too much stock in such screening. Again, remember that thermal screening can be as inaccurate as a dating profile. Don't rule out people who don't catch your eye. But if used properly, it may possibly, potentially, perhaps help identify someone who is hot and merits a closer look.

Best Thermometers In 2024: Tested And Rated

No medicine cabinet is complete without one of the best thermostats. They are a must-have device in our homes and essential for young families, as babies and young children cannot always tell how they feel. However, whether you have children or not, thermostats are especially important for checking for bugs and viruses, as they will accurately measure whether your temperature is raised and if there is any need for medical intervention. 

One of the best thermostats will reach a reading quickly and consistently, which is especially important if you have young children who don't like their temperature taken. This is one reason why the iHealth No-Touch Forehead Thermometer PT3 came out on top. It delivered a reading quickly, was quiet to use (great if you're taking a child's temperature while sleeping) and came in at a good price. 

If you're looking for a smart thermometer, the Kinsa Quickcare pairs with the Kinsa mobile app, making recording temperatures and symptoms easy. It's especially handy if you need to share information with doctors. However, if you don't want this functionality, you may prefer a basic thermometer like the Vicks ComfortFlex. 

From personal experience, and as a mum of two, I've always relied on an in-ear thermometer, as the readings are quick, easy to take and reliable. We feature two within this review, including the iProven DMT-489 and Braun's ThermoScan 7. However, if you want extra features, you may decide on a smart thermometer, such as the Kinsa Quickcare, which connects to an app and offers additional bells and whistles. 

To help you decide which thermostat is right for your needs and budget, we've tested a range of thermostats that deliver across the board. Here, you'll find details about accuracy, speed and ease of use, consistency, design, display and memory features, plus any special functions. 

The best thermometers you can buy

(Image credit: Future)

1. IHealth No-Touch Forehead Thermometer PT3

Best thermometer overall

Specifications

Location: Forehead

Dimensions: 1.5 x 1.3 x 5.4 inches

Battery: 2 AAA

Water resistant: No

Lit display: LED display

Silent mode: Yes

Fever alert: No

Memory: Yes

Displays in Fahrenheit or Celsius: Both

Reasons to buy +

Results within one second

+

No-touch design

+

Displays in both Fahrenheit and Celsius

+

Intuitive to use

Reasons to avoid -

Bulkier than other thermometers

After extensive testing, the iHealth No-Touch Forehead Thermometer PT3 is our top choice for a no-touch thermometer — it delivers results within a second with an easy-to-read display. This thermometer uses infrared sensors to measure the temperature of the forehead, and it can be used on babies, children, and adults. Just scan the center of someone's forehead to get a temperature reading, cued by a vibration. 

This thermometer is intuitive to use — we didn't have to rely heavily on the instruction manual. It's the fastest by far, and it's the one we'd choose if we needed to quickly take a temperature and report it. This thermometer would be a great choice for restaurants, business owners, and anyone who needs to quickly scan multiple people (just use an alcohol swab to clean it between uses). Because of its sound-free design with no bright lights, it's also the best option if you want to take a child's temperature while they're sleeping. One con is that the thermometer only recalls the last reading, so you'd need to come up with your own system for tracking temperatures over time. Still, this is the best thermometer for its price point, ease of use, and no-touch design.

(Image credit: Future)

2. Femometer Digital Thermometer (DMT 2032)

Best value thermometer

Specifications

Location: Oral/axillary/rectal

Dimensions: 5.9 x 2.1 x 0.8 inches

Battery: CR1632

Water resistant: Yes

Lit display: LCD display

Silent mode: No

Fever alert: No

Memory: Recalls last reading

Displays in Fahrenheit or Celsius: Both

Reasons to buy +

Affordable price point

+

Small and compact

Reasons to avoid -

Slow readings

-

No backlight

The Femometer Digital Thermometer is easy enough to use, and it's hard to beat at this price point. Simply press the power switch, place it under your tongue, wait for a beep, and your temperature is ready. The thermometer will display "Lo" if the temperature is lower than 89.6° and "Hi" if the temperature is above 107.6°, which leaves a pretty large range for a healthy temperature. This thermometer also has a waterproof tip, making it easy to clean and reuse, and a plastic cover for storage. You can also easily convert from Fahrenheit to Celsius as needed.

The biggest con of the Femometer thermometer is how long it takes to get a reading, especially when compared to other contenders. Our average temperature reading took 57 seconds, which isn't ideal for use on someone who may not want to keep still. Its LCD screen display is clear enough to read, but there's no backlight, making it harder to take temperatures in low light.

Overall, this thermometer is great value for money, compact, and easy to use, making it our second pick for the best thermometers.

(Image credit: Future)

3. Kinsa QuickCare Smart Digital Thermometer

Best family thermometer

Specifications

Location: Oral/Axillary/Rectal

Dimensions: 5.7 x 3 x 1 inches

Battery: CR2032

Water resistance: Yes

Lit display: Yes

Silent Mode: No

Fever alert: Yes

Memory: Yes

Displays in Fahrenheit or Celsius: Both

Today's best Kinsa QuickCare Thermometer deals

Reasons to buy +

Smart connectivity with mobile app

+

Keeps track of multiple users

+

Animation to calm children

Reasons to avoid -

Probe cover sold separately

If you're looking for a thermometer that can track multiple patients at a time, this is the one for you. The Kinda Quickcare is a Smart digital thermometer takes an average of 8 seconds to take a reading as claimed, which is a little slower than the iHealth No-Touch Forehead Thermometer, and it can be used  in the rectum (rectal), mouth (oral) or armpit (axillary). It's pretty clever as well — if you take the thermometer out of your mouth too early, the app will tell you to try again.

The Kinsa Quickcare thermometer also pairs with the free Kinsa mobile app that's available in the App Store or Google Play, though the app is not required to use the thermometer. We found it very easy to set up on an iPhone, as well as take a temperature, and add any symptoms we may have been feeling. You can add multiple users on the app, and it will create a timeline of all your past temperature readings, and symptoms that can be shared with caregivers or doctors as needed.

And for children that don't like having their temperature taken, the app features an 'Ellie the Elephant' animation to keep them still, ensuring an accurate reading.

Overall, this thermometer is a great choice for anyone who needs to keep track of temperature over time. While some users admitted that they didn't feel comfortable sharing their health data with the company, Kinsa does state that the personally identifiable information of users is not used without their permission. This is a great digital thermometer for us because we appreciate the technology and ease of tracking, but not everyone needs those bells and whistles.

(Image credit: Future)

4. Vicks ComfortFlex

Best basic thermometer

Specifications

Location: Oral/Axillary/Rectal

Dimensions: 3.1 x 1.2 x 7.5 inches

Battery: CR1632

Water resistance: Yes

Lit display: Yes

Silent mode: No

Fever alert: Yes

Memory: Yes

Displays in Fahrenheit or Celsius: Both

Reasons to buy +

Light and compact

+

Large display with backlight

+

Rubber-coated probe for greater comfort

+

FeverInsight feature shows color-coded results 

Reasons to avoid -

Replacement batteries are reportedly hard to find 

When first using the Vicks Comfortflex, it opens with a self-assessment, similar to taring a scale, and afterwards displays the last temperature reading for two seconds — useful if you want a reference for your progress. The design is compact and reliable, and the probe's rubber coating makes it more comfortable to use than some of the others on our list. Although it claims to provide results in "as fast as 8 seconds," it took an average of 15 seconds when we tested it. Still, it was easy to follow the directions, and the vibration cue let us know that the temperature reading was available. 

The display is color-coded based on the results (green for no fever, yellow for elevated, and red for high fever), which makes it easy to interpret the results at a glance. You can also recall the last reading using the memory feature and switch from Farenheit to Celsius, which is easy enough once you read the manual. However, other users noted that it was hard to find a battery replacement for this thermometer, which requires a CR1632 3V lithium battery. It may be worth ordering a back-up battery in advance so you can change it out when needed.

Overall, this thermometer is easy to use and great for anyone on the go, which is why it's one of the best thermometers.

(Image credit: Future)

5. IProven DMT-489

Best forehead and in-ear thermometer

Specifications

Location: Forehead/Ear

Dimensions: 1.77 x 1.73 x 6.1 inches

Battery: 2 AAA

Water resistance: No

Lit display: Yes

Silent mode: No

Fever alert: Yes

Memory: Yes

Displays in Fahrenheit or Celsius: Both

Reasons to buy +

Color temperature indication

+

Saves 20 readings

+

Fever warning

Reasons to avoid -

Inconsistent performance in-ear

The iProven thermometer can scan the forehead from temple to temple, and it can also take your temperature via the ear using the ear probe with a removable cap. It uses infrared technology to measure radiation from the eardrum or forehead and provides a reading within two seconds. Although it's not completely contactless like the iHealth thermometer, it still takes readings quickly, which makes it a good choice for babies and children. 

The forehead temperature readings were consistent and displayed within a few seconds, however we struggled to get readings with the ear probe at times and had to keep moving it around until it worked. This isn't necessarily a bad thing since we only got a reading when it was placed properly, but we would have liked more guidance on how to orient it correctly for accurate readings. If the temperature is high, the iProven thermometer beeps three times and flashes a red warning light. Otherwise, it has a green display for a normal temperature. Overall, this is a simple-to-use ear and forehead thermometer that's worth its price, which is why it's one of the best thermometers. 

(Image credit: Future)

6. Braun ThermoScan 7

Best thermometer for young kids

Specifications

Location: Ear

Dimensions: 5.7 x 1.3 x 2.1 inches

Battery: 2 AA

Water resistance: Yes

Lit display: Yes

Silent mode: No

Fever alert: Yes

Memory: Yes

Displays in Fahrenheit or Celsius: Both

Reasons to buy +

Color-coded display with backlight 

+

Stores last 9 temperature readings 

+

Age-appropriate fever guidance 

Reasons to avoid -

Only takes temperature via ear 

-

Disposable Thermoscan lens filters can be expensive to replace 

The Braun ThermoScan 7 uses infrared technology to quickly take your temperature via the ear, measuring the heat generated by the eardrum and surrounding tissue. It comes with disposable lens filters which should be changed with every use; bear in mind this can quickly mount up the price. It also stores the last nine temperature readings (useful if you're tracking your temperature over a period of time), which can be accessed by pressing the "Mem" button. The Age Precision feature provides a color-coded reading based on different levels of fever by the selected age group (0-3 months, 3-36 months or 36 months+).

Overall, this thermometer is easy to use — all we had to do was add a lens filter, select the appropriate age range, and scan our ear. The lens filters make it easy to use the same thermometer on the whole family, but we would prefer to use alcohol to clean the probe between uses instead to lower costs and waste. The color display (green, yellow, or red) quickly gave us a sense of whether our temperature was normal or high.

Expect to pay more for this thermometer, both upfront and in terms of replacing the filters, however for that you will get one of the best thermometers, which offers specific guidance for young age ranges. 

How we tested the best thermometers 

To test each thermometer, we started off by reading through the manual to learn the ins and outs of the design, including how to take temperature, change the reading from Fahrenheit to Celsius, and details on how the readings will be displayed. From here, we took three temperature readings and compared the speed and consistency, assessing the memory recall feature if there was one.

We considered the display, checking for a backlight so the temperature could be easily seen at night or in a dimly lit room. We factored in visual cues as well, such as indicators for a low versus high temperature reading with a color display or warning sound. We timed how long it took to reach the temperature reading, keeping in mind that a fussy child may struggle to hold their breath for a significant period of time if someone took their temperature orally.

These thermometers vary in the location from which they can take temperature, from the ear or forehead (or both) to the mouth, armpit, or rectum. For the latter category, we considered the comfort of the probe. We considered the inclusion of additional nice-to-have features as well like a companion app, age-specific guidance, or the inclusion of lens filters. Lastly, we considered how many readings could be stored, which may be more beneficial if you're monitoring symptoms over time. However, only the Kinsa thermometer offered a timeline to track the temperatures of multiple people, which is ideal if you live in a large household.

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Specifications compared Row 0 - Cell 0 Location Dimensions (inches) Battery Water resistant Lit display Silent mode Fever alert Memory Displays in Fahrenheit/Celsius iHealth No-Touch Forehead Thermometer PT3 Forehead 1.5 x 1.3 x 5.4 2x AAA No LED Yes No Yes Yes/Yes Femometer Digital Thermometer (DMT 2032) Oral/axillary/rectal 5.9 x 2.1 x 0.8 CR1632 Yes LCD No No Recalls last reading Yes/Yes Kinsa QuickCare Oral/axillary/rectal 5.7 x 3 x 1 CR2032 Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes/Yes Vicks ComfortFlex Oral/axillary/rectal 3.1 x 1.2 x 7.5 CR1632 Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes/Yes iProven DMT-489 Forehead/ear 1.8 x 1.7 x 6.1 2x AAA No Yes No Yes Yes Yes/Yes Braun ThermoScan 7 Ear 5.7 x 1.3 x 2.1 2x AA Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes/Yes Digital vs infrared

There are two main categories of thermometer: digital-stick and infrared. (The old glass models containing poisonous mercury have been phased out, but you can still find a few containing dyed-red alcohol.)

A digital-stick thermometer is probably what's been stashed in the back of your medicine cabinet for the last decade. It makes physical contact with the body and can take temperatures from the mouth (oral), the armpit (axillary) or the bottom (rectal). 

Digital-stick thermometers are slower to give a temperature reading than their infrared counterparts and have fewer features, but they're accurate, affordable and work for all ages.

Infrared thermometers measure the heat your body emits, generally via the forehead or ear, by reading infrared light. These give results almost instantaneously and are more comfortable for young kids, though not recommended for newborns. (Readings from a rectal thermometer are more reliable, and with babies, reliable readings are key.) 

Infrared thermometers tend to have more features than digital-stick models, which means they're usually also pricier. Some are specifically designed to read forehead temperatures, others are designed for ear readings, and some can handle both.

How to choose the best thermometer for you

When you're looking for the best thermometer for your home, consider whose temperature you'll be taking, as well as which features — fever alerts and app integrations, for example — could make dealing with a sick kid or partner a little bit easier. 

Your first step to choosing the best thermometer is to determine which method you prefer for taking temperatures. If you have a newborn — or if you're looking for an inexpensive option for the adults in your home — a digital stick thermometer that can be used for oral, rectal or axillary readings should do the trick. 

If you have toddlers or children who are averse to holding their breath, a forehead, ear or dual-mode device is likely a better fit. 

The thermometers which feature in our list fall into three main categories:

Oral thermometer: This list includes a few digital thermometers, which can take temperature orally, rectally, or by armpit. Some thermometers also have a companion mobile app to track temperature over time.

Ear thermometer: Tympanic thermometers are inserted into the ear canal, making it easy to get fast and accurate readings. The one drawback is that they aren't recommended for use in infants under 6 months old and need to be positioned properly for accurate results.

Forehead thermometer: Forehead thermometers use infrared sensors to take the temperature from your forehead. We tested designs that were contactless as well as some which need to be swiped across the forehead.

Here are a few additional factors to weigh when determining which thermometer is right for your family.  

(Image credit: Future)

Display options: Look for thermometers that have large, easy-to-read digital displays. A backlight is helpful if you'll be taking temperatures at night in dark bedrooms.  

Fever alerts: Many of the devices we reviewed have color-coded (usually red, yellow or green) displays to indicate that you have a fever or your child does. This helps you quickly identify elevated temperatures.  

Silent mode: A few devices let you silence beeps and alerts, which is helpful if you're dealing with sick, cranky or sleeping kids who may be bothered by unnecessary noise.  

Memory storage: Most thermometers retain at least one recent reading — a helpful option if you want to track a fever over time.  

Age-specific settings or smart features: These are more nice-to-haves than necessities, but app syncing and custom fever alerts by age add some ease to your temperature-taking process. 

How much should you spend on a thermometer?

Entry-level thermometers start from just $6, but the price can range up to $60 or more for premium designs. Generally speaking, the more features you get, the more you will have to spend. The cheapest designs mostly consist of oral thermometers which offer an immediate reading and little else. Whereas premium offerings have greater functionality — some can take the temperature from the ear, or even from the forehead without touching the patient. These can come with all sorts of useful features, such as smart connectivity, so you can connect the thermometer to your phone to record and track your results. Others can save multiple readings, and warn you once a fever has been reached.

While all of these added features are useful, they're not always necessary. And, as our list shows, you don't need to spend top dollar to get one of the best thermometers. Consider your budget and what you want from your thermometer before you start shopping. That way, you wont overspend and will only get what you will likely use. 

Which thermometer is best for kids?

If you're shopping for a thermometer to suit kids, there are several factors to consider. First, you need a design which is responsive — if you're dealing with a young, unwell child, they're unlikely to hold still for long, so the readings need to be quick and accurate. You also want a thermometer which is comfortable for the child to use. Some may not like their temperature being taken via the ear or the mouth. To avoid contact completely, you could invest in a no-touch forehead thermometer, although these will likely cost you more. 

A thermometer which you can mute may also be ideal, particularly if the child is trying to sleep while you take their temperature. Lastly, the temperature level upon reaching a fever will vary by age, and some thermometers can actually be adjusted to take account of this. This is why the Braun ThemoScan 7 was ranked as the best thermometer for kids in our tests. It offers three age settings, from 0-3 months, 3-36 months and 36 months +, so it can warn you when a fever is reached at a younger age via its red, amber and green backlight. While it is an in-ear thermometer, we like that it comes with a pre-warmed tip to limit discomfort.      

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