Best Infrared Thermometers in the UK

Review & Comparison, Last Update January 10, 2024
Do you need to measure the temperature of electrical or mechanical equipment? Use a cutting-edge infrared thermometer! This small ...Read more
PROS
This laser temperature gun is IP54 rated, which means it is dust- and water-resistant. The casing withstands the fall from 3 m height.
CONS
The manual isn't informative enough.
OUR VERDICT

The Fluke 62Max infrared thermometer will be useful at construction sites as well as at industrial facilities. It will also find its use in any household. The tool is pro-grade and boasts extended functionality, making it a must-have for any handyman.

detailed parameters
Temperature range

-30°C... 500°C

Distance-to-spot ratio
10:1
Accuracy
±1.5 °C or ±1.5% of reading, whichever is greater -10 °C to 0 °C: ±2.0 -30 °C to -10 °C: ±3.0
Convenience
Rubber-coated casing, IP54 protection rate, Sound alarm, Max reading, Laser pointer
Warranty
Lifetime (limited)
PROS
The Black & Decker infrared thermometer has three colour indicators that let you detect hot or cold airflows.
CONS
The battery discharges fairly quickly.
OUR VERDICT

The Black & Decker TLD100 can be used for many household tasks but where it shines best is at detecting heat leaks and defects in isolation. The tool quickly registers minor temperature changes and shows cold and hot spots by changing the light.

detailed parameters
Temperature range

-30... 150°C

Distance-to-spot ratio
6:1
Accuracy
±2.8 °C at 0 °C ±1.3 °C at 23 °C ±2.2 °C at 100 °C at a distance of 150 mm
Convenience
Multi-colour light indicator
Warranty
2 years
PROS

The device is fitted with a data hold function, which will come in handy when you need to write the measurement down. 

CONS

Some users report that the device might produce inaccurate results when applied to stainless steel surfaces.

OUR VERDICT

The Etekcity Lasergrip 1080 Non-contact thermometer offers the best value for the money. It is extremely durable and flexible and can provide precise results when used on pretty much any surface.

detailed parameters
Temperature range

-50°C to 550°C

Distance-to-spot ratio

12:1

Accuracy

±2% or 2ºC

Convenience

Ergonomic rubber handle, backlight, data hold function, battery charge indicator, auto shut-off

Warranty

2 years

PROS

The unit allows for switching between three emission levels - high, moderate, and low. This makes measuring the temperature of various surfaces much more accurate. 

CONS

The black glossy mirror frame around the display creates annoying reflections. 

OUR VERDICT

The Bosch Infrared Thermometer UniversalTemp is a reliable unit that will come in handy for cooking, construction and repair works and since it's able to make both single and continuous measurements, it will ensure the highest accuracy of the results. 

detailed parameters
Temperature range

-30°C to 500°C

Distance-to-spot ratio

12:1

Accuracy

±1.8°C ~ ±2.8°C

Convenience

Easy-to-read backlit display, Ergonomic handle, Three measuring modes, Individual and continuous measurements modes

Warranty

2 years

PROS

The body of the device is covered with UV paint coating, which protects it from premature wear.

CONS

It's a little slow to register and display the temperature.

OUR VERDICT

The Etekcity Lasergrip 800 is an easy-to-use and informative non-contact thermometer. The device is distinguished by a high ratio of distance to the size of the measured area, a wide range of measured temperatures, and the presence of a °F / °C converter.

detailed parameters
Temperature range

-50°C to 750°C

Distance-to-spot ratio

16:1

Accuracy

±2% or 2ºC

Convenience

Body with UV paint coating, Backlit LCD display, Ergonomic handle, Auto-off function, Low battery indicator, Automatic data hold function

Warranty

2 years

Infrared Thermometers Moisture Meters Stud Finders

Uncompromised Durability

If you're on the lookout for a pro-grade IR thermometer that would have everything you'd expect from a measuring tool, the Fluke 62 MAX can be your destination. This tool is quite small in size, highly accurate, and what's no less important, has a durable housing, making it a reliable assistant for use at construction sites and industrial facilities. In fact, it's such a tough boy it could easily take a drop from 3 m height. Besides that, it has an IP54 rating, which makes it safe to keep it in the dustiest of environments with no risk of damaging its internal components.

Coming back to the measurements, the Fluke 62 MAX delivers accurate and immediate readings for many things, starting from cooking, central heating, floors, walls to human temperature. You can use it to check the temperature of electronic components, auto parts, HVAC systems, aquariums, pizza stones, and many other things, both cold and warm. The unit uses one laser and can detect the target at a 10:1 distance to spot ratio, allowing you to pinpoint objects even in some awkward and hard-to-reach areas. What we especially like is that it is possible to set the emissivity for different surfaces, thus, increasing the accuracy of the results.

Besides that, the Fluke 62 MAX is very convenient to use. Featuring an ergonomic design with a loop, it can be clipped to your belt or clothing when you don't need to use it. You also can hang it on a hook with the rest of the tools. Also featured on the unit is a large backlit screen that provides for easy readings in bright and poor lighting conditions.

All in all, though not the cheapest, the Fluke 62 MAX's a worthy buy. If you need a robust measuring tool for non-contact measurements of all kinds of things, it won't let you down.

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price £114.00
Stock In stock
ASIN B008EW837S

Draught Will Be Detected!

The Black & Decker TLD100 is a versatile thing. You can use it for a whole variety of tasks around the house, including checking the temperature of hot and hazardous surfaces that can't be touched, diagnosing engines, automotive components and HVAC systems and checking food. But where it works best, as is claimed by Black & Decker, is at detecting energy leaks. So, if you suspect that your home leaks the heat out around tricky places that you can't spot, the TLD100 Thermal Leak Detector will come to help.

The beauty of the TLD100 is its simplicity. You get one single on-off button and a switch for selecting the temperature limits. Simply pinpoint it at the surface and let the beam of light hit it and then move it around to detect cold spots. The moment the tool detects the temperature change (which you can adjust by using the switch), the indicator light on the tool will flash red or blue, depending on the nature of the spot.

Admittedly, the TLD100's not a substitution for an infrared thermometer and deviations from the readings might occur, but it's a useful device nevertheless. For those occasions when you need to quickly detect colder areas in a room and register rapid changes of 0.1-0.2 degrees, you won't find a better tool than the Black & Decker TLD100, especially at this price point.

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price £39.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B0044R87BE

Best Bang for the Buck

The Etekcity Lasergrip 1080 doesn't have dust and water protection and more likely than not, it will not survive a drop even from a small height, but despite that, it's still a very cool product. Why? Because in all other respects, it delivers just as wonderfully as professional tools.

The tool perfectly measures targets at great distances (12:1 spot ratio) and can detect temperature changes in a range from -50°C to 550°C, which is what you'd get from the experts of measuring tools. The response time at ≤500M is very quick too. You can use it when barbequing, cooking, doing some repairs, diagnosing auto components, performing checkouts of heating systems and a whole lot of other tasks - the unit will come up with accurate readings in no time.

On top of that, it's not devoid of added functions. You get a large LCD screen with backlight for reading measurements in dark areas and an auto shut-off feature that will turn the device off to save its battery life. There's also a handy indicator that will light up when the battery charge drops low so you will know when the battery needs replacement. In general, though, one 9V battery can last for 1-2 years, depending on use.

Some users note that the device might occasionally produce inaccurate results when applied to metal surfaces, however, there's an easy way to avoid this. Just make sure that the distance between this surface and thermometer is not bigger than 30-36 cm.

It's also worth noting that Etekcity Lasergrip 1080 is designed only for inanimate objects and will not be suitable for use on humans and animals.

As you can see, there's very little the Etekcity Lasergrip 1080 won't be suitable for. It's accurate, has a very long measuring range, and can detect temperatures in a wide range. If you've no problems with it being made of plastic and not shock-proof, it won't disappoint you.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price £22.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B00DMI632G

VIDEO

Best for Everyday Use

The Bosch UniversalTemp Infrared Thermometer is one of the best models for everyday use. Accurate, reliable and durable, it can measure the temperature of just about any surface, including heating, heated floors, windows, refrigerators, flat kitchenware and many other things that can get to a boiling hot or freezing cold temperature.

The model works in a wide temperature range of -30°C to +500°C and allows you to select one of the three measuring modes depending on the type of material the measured surface is made of.

On top of that, it offers two ways of measuring. This contributes towards its functionality, allowing you to quickly take a single reading when you need to find out the temperature of a pizza stone, for example, or use it in a continuous mode for checking walls and detecting hidden leaks.

Using the Bosch UniversalTemp Infrared Thermometer is very easy. The device has a simple design with an inverted backlight display that shows taken readings as well as the current battery life, the selected emission mode, and the readings that have been taken previously. You also get a leaflet with instructions that will help you figure out how to use all those modes.

In all, the Bosch UniversalTemp Infrared Thermometer lives up to its name and offers versatile functionality. You can use it for measuring the temperature of just about any household object and for many other DIY things.

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price £42.00
Stock In stock
ASIN B07T85G8BZ

LARGE RANGE AND DISTANCE

One of the biggest factors often plaguing IR thermometers is the range. If you have similar concerns and need a device that will be able to measure temperatures accurately from a greater distance, the Etekcity Lasergrip 800 Digital Infrared Thermometer will fit you to a tee.

This model sports several capabilities that put it above many of the other devices on the market. For one, it has the 16:1 distance to spot ratio, which is among the highest we've seen. And for two, it has a wide temperature range, with it able to accurately measure temperatures within the range of -58ºC to 1382ºC. The measurement accuracy is also quite good, with measurements varying no more than 2 degrees F from the actual temperature. With all of these, the Etekcity Lasergrip 800 Digital Infrared Thermometer will be suitable for just about use case.

Where the Etekcity Lasergrip 800 Digital Infrared Thermometer is also very useful is in its automatic data hold feature. This feature stores previous readings and allows you to easily find and analyse any variations in the temperatures, so the problem if you have any, can be quickly fixed.

The device itself is also quite easy to use. It has an ergonomically designed handle that is very easy to hold and is highly accurate with wherever you point it. The controls on the device are easy to recognise - each button on the screen sports a small image that gives you a clear indicator of what it is used for. Temperature readings are all displayed on the large backlit LCD display which is easy to read in any light conditions.

The only gripe we have with this IR thermometer is that there is a slight delay between the time the measurement is taken and the reading appears on the screen, although this really isn't a big deal and shouldn't impact the usefulness of the device.

All things considered, if you're looking for a robust IR thermometer with a great measuring range at a budget price point, the Etekcity Lasergrip 800 will suit you.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price £23.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B01I4TB2IM

What Is an Infrared Thermometer?

How to measure the temperature of a moving object? Is there a way to know if your frying pan is hot enough for roasting steaks? How to detect duct leakage? All these tasks are easy to accomplish using an infrared thermometer! Laser thermometers, as they are also called, are designed to measure the temperature of objects without actually touching them and are applicable in a variety of spheres starting from household use to auto maintenance, repairs and even medicine. You can use these thermometers for a whole lot of purposes, including such simple things as measuring the temperature of a room or for example, checking the temperature of some metal surface after you have polished it. The scope of application is really huge. To make your choice easier, we've gathered the most popular models of infrared thermometers available for sale so you can compare their specs and choose the model that will be right for you.

Anyone engaged in construction works may also be interested in acquiring a moisture meter. Check our selection and pick your tool.

What Features to Compare

Temperature Range

There are several important features to consider when choosing an infrared thermometer. And the temperature range is among the most important ones since it determines the scope of application of the thermometer. The IR thermometers with a relatively narrow range are suitable for household use; you can use them to detect a draft or check how well the doors and windows are insulated. These temperature guns are also widely used in cooking. The laser thermometers with a wide temperature range are suitable for use by professionals; they are common at construction and industrial sites.

Distance-to-spot Ratio & Accuracy

The next important tech spec to consider is a distance-to-spot ratio. This ratio means the size of the spot on the object compared to the distance to it. If you mostly measure the temperature from small distances, you can opt for a device with a small ratio. And vice versa, the farther the object is, the higher the ratio a gun should have. As far as accuracy is concerned, if you need an infrared thermometer to use at worksites, opt for accurate non-contact thermometers.

Build Quality

Since infrared thermometers can be used in a wide variety of different work areas, having a model that is built for such use cases can be very important. Most people tend to not look too deeply into this, but if you're going to use the device in areas where there is always the risk of dropping the device or damaging it in some other way, then you will want to be sure that the device is made sturdy and durable enough to easily handle such uses cases. Some models are actually built to meet certain certification standards, so you might want to check whichever model you are looking at to see if this is the case with it.

Conveniences

Finally, consider whether the chosen thermometer is convenient to use. Some of the features just cannot go underestimated. Most IR thermometers, for example, can retain the maximum reading taken during measurements, so you can compare several readings further in use, knowing the highest temperature detected. Other thermometers feature a memory option, allowing you to check several readings taken during a different period of time. Also, we'd recommend you to consider what type of material the case of the gun is made of. This can be really important, especially if you work in quite dusty and humid environments. Opt for a dust-proof and water-resistant infrared thermometer with a rubberized grip.

Sources:

1. Choosing a Thermometer, ChefSteps.

2. Infrared thermometer, Wikipedia. December 8, 2016.

3. Choosing the Right Thermometer for You, ThermoWorks.

4. Infrared Thermometer, OMEGA Engineering.

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