Best digital thermometers for the home UK (2026): ear and underarm
A thermometer is the piece of first-aid kit most homes reach for several times a year, often at night with an unwell child. The NHS says a high temperature is 38C or more and advises a digital thermometer for checking a child. This page compares the ear and digital stick models sold in the UK on how they take the reading, how long the makers say it takes, what they remember and what they need to keep working, with every figure credited to the maker or an independent listing. We have not used or tested any of them ourselves.
By Tom Calder · Updated 21 October 2026 · 4 products, all price-tracked
Our picks by type
Photo: AmazonThermoScan 7
Families who want an ear thermometer that colour-codes the result for the age of the person being checked.
as of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Photo: AmazonEco Temp Basic
A low-cost backup thermometer for oral, underarm or rectal readings.
as of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.All 4 compared
| Thermometer | Type | Reading time (maker) | Memory | Suitable for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ear (infrared) · Age Precision settings, from 0-3 months Families who want an ear thermometer that colour-codes the result for the age of the person being checked. | Ear (infrared) | — | — | Age Precision settings, from 0-3 months | £45.25 at Amazon as of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.In stockCheck price → |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched Braun's top ear model uses an age setting so the colour of the result reflects whether you are checking a young baby, a toddler or an older child or adult. A light and a beep confirm the probe is held steady before the reading shows. It uses Braun's disposable lens filters, so keep a refill pack with it. Best for Families who want an ear thermometer that colour-codes the result for the age of the person being checked. Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: You would rather not buy lens filter refills, or you only want a basic reading with no age guidance. | |||||
 Ear (infrared) · 1 second (Omron) · 30 readings (Omron) · Babies, children, adults (Omron) An ear thermometer that avoids buying disposable probe covers. | Ear (infrared) | 1 second (Omron) | 30 readings (Omron) | Babies, children, adults (Omron) | £29.74 at Amazon as of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.In stockCheck price → |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched Omron describes a probe-cover-free ear thermometer that you wipe clean, with a one-second reading, a silent mode and a backlight for night checks. That removes the running cost of lens filters that the Braun ear models carry. Omron says it stores 30 readings, though one retailer lists 25. Best for An ear thermometer that avoids buying disposable probe covers. Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: You want age-based colour coding of the result. | |||||
 Ear (infrared) · 1 second (Braun) · Last reading · Whole family (Braun) A simple, quick ear thermometer for the household without age-based colour coding. | Ear (infrared) | 1 second (Braun) | Last reading | Whole family (Braun) | £22.20 at Amazon as of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.In stockCheck price → |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched A one-button ear thermometer that gives a result in about a second and signals the level by the number of beeps: one for normal, two for raised, four for high. It is a plainer step down from the ThermoScan 7, without age-based colour coding, and it uses Braun's disposable hygiene caps. Best for A simple, quick ear thermometer for the household without age-based colour coding. Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: You want age-adjusted colour guidance on the screen or a record of more than one reading. | |||||
Digital stick (oral, underarm, rectal) · About 60 seconds (Omron) · Last reading · All ages (LloydsPharmacy) A low-cost backup thermometer for oral, underarm or rectal readings. | Digital stick (oral, underarm, rectal) | About 60 seconds (Omron) | Last reading | All ages (LloydsPharmacy) | £5.49 at Amazon as of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.In stockCheck price → |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched A simple digital stick thermometer with a rounded tip, a water-resistant body and a replaceable battery. Omron puts the reading time at about 60 seconds, slower than infrared models, but there are no covers or filters to buy. A sensible spare to keep in a drawer or first-aid kit. Best for A low-cost backup thermometer for oral, underarm or rectal readings. Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: You need a fast, no-contact reading for a restless child. | |||||
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Before you buy
Start with who you are checking, because the NHS advice differs by age.
For babies and children under 5 it says to put a digital thermometer in the armpit, hold the arm gently but firmly against the body for as long as the instructions say, usually about 15 seconds, and follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully. Any digital stick does that; the Omron Eco Temp Basic is the stick model here, and Omron puts its reading time at about 60 seconds. For adults, the NHS describes a digital thermometer under the tongue or in the armpit.
Ear thermometers trade that certainty for speed.
Braun quotes about one second for the ThermoScan 3 and Omron the same for the Gentle Temp 533, which helps with a wriggling toddler. The NHS caveats matter here: an ear reading can mislead if the probe is not placed correctly, more likely with babies, and its adult page says to follow the instructions that come with a digital ear thermometer. Ear models read infrared from the eardrum; the separate NHS warning against infrared thermometers is why we list no no-touch forehead models. Braun's ThermoScan 7 uses a light and beep to confirm the probe is steady, and an age setting so the colour of the result suits the person's age. Both Braun ear models need disposable lens filters or hygiene caps.
Why there are no forehead models here.
No-touch forehead thermometers are popular because they can check a sleeping child, but the NHS adult page says not to use an infrared thermometer because some do not meet UK regulations, and it says forehead strips are not accurate. Rather than second-guess which forehead models meet the rules, we list only the two types the NHS describes: a digital stick, and a digital ear thermometer used as its instructions say. If you already own a forehead thermometer and a reading surprises you, check again in the armpit with a digital stick before acting.
Then think about upkeep, because a thermometer sits in a drawer for months and must work the night it is needed.
Braun's ear models use disposable lens filters or hygiene caps, which Braun says keep the lens accurate, so keep refills with the thermometer. Omron's Gentle Temp 533 is an ear model with a wipe-clean tip and no covers. Check batteries: Braun lists 2 AA for the ThermoScan 7. For tracking a temperature over days, Omron says the Gentle Temp 533 stores 30 readings; the ThermoScan 3 and Eco Temp Basic recall only the last.
The NHS says a high temperature is 38C or more.
Call 111 if a child is under 3 months old and has a temperature of 38C or higher, or you think they have a high temperature; is 3 to 6 months old with 39C or higher, or you think they have a high temperature; or has had a high temperature for 5 days or more. Call 999 if a child has a stiff neck, a rash that does not fade under a glass, a first fit, difficulty breathing or is drowsy and hard to wake, among other signs. Adults: urgent GP or 111 if home treatment is not working.
We verify every product's specifications against at least two independent sources, re-check its UK price and stock on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and cross-check safety-relevant claims against official guidance. Every review is labelled Researched or Used and reviewed by us: where we've bought a product, or been sent it free, and used it ourselves, its review says which; where we haven't, our verdict is a considered spec-and-evidence comparison, not a hands-on test — and commissions never change a ranking either way. Read our full methodology →
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Common questions
What counts as a high temperature?
The NHS says a high temperature is 38C or more in children, and usually 38C or above in adults. It adds two cautions. A child may feel hotter than usual on the back or chest, sweaty or unwell, and an adult who feels hot, cold or shivery may have a high temperature even if the thermometer says below 38C. A normal temperature in babies and children is about 36.4C, though it varies slightly from child to child.
What type of thermometer does the NHS recommend for a baby?
A digital thermometer in the armpit. The NHS says to hold the baby on your knee, put the thermometer in the armpit and hold the arm gently but firmly against the body for as long as the instructions say, usually about 15 seconds, and to always use the armpit with children under 5. It says ear thermometers are quick but can give misleading readings if not put in the ear correctly, which is more likely with babies, and that forehead strips are not an accurate way to take a temperature.
When should I call 111 or 999 about a child's temperature?
The NHS says call 111 if your child is under 3 months old and has a temperature of 38C or higher, or you think they have a high temperature; is 3 to 6 months old with 39C or higher, or you think they have a high temperature; has other signs of illness, such as a rash; has had a high temperature for 5 days or more; is dehydrated; or is not their usual self and you're worried. Call 999 for signs such as a stiff neck or non-fading rash.
Are ear thermometers accurate?
Braun calls the ThermoScan 3 suitable for the whole family, Omron says the Gentle Temp 533 is for babies, children and adults, and Braun says clinical studies show the ThermoScan 7 matches rectal readings in newborns. The NHS caveat is placement: an ear thermometer can mislead if not put in the ear correctly, more likely in a baby, and its adult page says to follow a digital ear thermometer's own instructions. If a reading does not match how the child seems, check the armpit too.
Why are no forehead thermometers listed?
The NHS adult page says not to use an infrared thermometer because some do not meet UK regulations, and that forehead strips are not accurate. It describes a digital thermometer under the arm, or a digital ear thermometer used as its instructions say. We list only those two types. If you already have a no-touch forehead thermometer, confirm any surprising reading with a digital stick in the armpit.
What can make a thermometer reading wrong?
The NHS lists things that can slightly alter a child's reading: being wrapped tightly in a blanket, a very warm room, being very active, cuddling a hot water bottle, wearing a lot of clothes or having just had a bath. Its advice is to let them cool for a few minutes without getting cold or shivery, then try again. Add the makers' own points: a dirty or missing lens filter on a Braun ear model, and a stick thermometer removed before it beeps.
