Best Indoor-Outdoor Thermometers
Knowing what the temperature is indoors and outdoors enables you to control your HVAC with greater accuracy by monitoring the ambient temperature. It also tells you where the hot and cold spots are in your home.
Indoor-outdoor thermometers are invaluable tools, which is why in this article we look at three of the best models available. While we crown the La Crosse WS-916OU our HowToHome pick for sheer reliability and simplicity, read on to learn about several great options to consider.
- 330 ft range
- Supports up to three sensors
- Records daily highs and lows
- Reads in Fahrenheit and Celsius
- Built-in clock
- 200 ft range
- Built-in clock
- Large display digits
- Temperature in Fahrenheit and Celsius
- Records daily highs and lows
- 300 ft range
- Reports indoor humidity
- 48-hour weather forecast
- Radio-controlled clock
- Supports up to three sensors
With a 330 feet range (easily the most extended range of the three indoor-outdoor thermometers featured) and a large display measuring 3.31 inches by 5.87 inches that can be read across a wide distance, this La Crosse model is popular on Amazon. It is affordable and is super-reliable, which is why we chose this thermometer as our favorite pick. It would be an excellent choice for those with sight problems, especially given the size of the digits and the easy to read clock, which can be set in 12 or 24-hour mode.
Also, the La Crosse records daily high and low temperatures to give you an accurate record, reports temperatures in Fahrenheit or Celsius, and it can support up to three sensors for multi-space temperature checking capability.
On the downside, the range significantly decreases if there are any blockages to impede the signal, like walls and trees, so make sure that you mount the sensor somewhere open and within scope. That said, when you place the sensor correctly, the signal is strong.
Pros
- Affordable
- Easy to read display
- Has a built-in clock
Cons
- Build quality issues with the sensor
- Range is easily interrupted
This budget model by Taylor Precision has a shorter range of 200 feet and the addition of a 12 or 24-hour clock for convenience. Like the La Crosse WS-916OU, it can also read the temperature in Fahrenheit or Celsius.
The unit measures 2.4 inches by 3.5 inches, so it is smaller than the La Crosse, but that doesn’t mean the temperature display is any less clear to read. It also has the facility to record daily high and low temperatures. On the back of the unit is a flip-out stand enabling you to use it as a freestanding unit, which means that when you are in the yard, you can position it for the best communication signal from the sensor.
Unfortunately, the manufacturer has designed the thermometer with the outside temperature display being larger than the internal temperature display, and the clock is so small that you might as well be reading a digital watch. Moreover, some have reported that the sensor can lose signal and can take several hours to reconnect. On the subject of sensors, this model will only support one, and not three as the others do.
For the price, though, and considering that this model works accurately and reliably, this thermometer is not to be overlooked.
Pros
- Very cheap to buy
- Has a clock
- Clear digital display
- Freestanding
Cons
- The outside display dwarfs the internal display
- Shorter range
- Sensor sometimes loses signal
Compared to the other two thermometers, this Ambient Weather model is super-advanced. It has a color display, tells you the air pressure, what the humidity is outside and inside, and even has a weather predicting feature to forecast the coming 48 hours weather.
It also has time and sensor alarms and has a maximum range of 300 feet. This unit is also equipped with a clock that automatically syncs with the U.S atomic clock for utmost accuracy, and it will even report on the moon phases. The sensors have an LCD, which enables you to get accurate readings from both the thermometer or the sensor, and the unit will support up to two additional sensors.
If you place the display at an off-angle, however, the numbers and letters are less clear to read, and the overall presentation can look a little busy, especially if you are less familiar with this type of thermometer.
Despite these flaws, the ability to predict the coming 48 hours of weather, coupled with the humidity monitor make this a great purchase if you are in the market for something a little more complex than just a thermometer.
Pros
- Pressure and humidity monitor
- Atomic clock for accuracy
- Color display
- LCD on each sensor
Cons
- Display can be hard to read at an off-angle
- Busy display
Comparison Chart
| La Crosse WS-916OU | Taylor Precision Thermometer | Ambient Weather WS-2801A | |
| Range | 330 ft | 200 ft | 300 ft |
| High/Low temp | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Readability | ＊＊＊＊＊ | ＊＊＊＊ | ＊＊ |
| Forecast | X | X | ✓ |
| Clock | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Humidity | X | X | ✓ |
| Barometric pressure | X | X | ✓ |
| Cost | $$ | $ | $$$ |
| Sensors | 3 | 1 | 3 |
Buyer’s Guide:
Indoor-Outdoor Thermometers
Final Thoughts
Although there are only three indoor-outdoor thermometers on this list, we still covered the spectrum from the most advanced, like the Ambient Weather WS-2801A with its weather-predicting capabilities and humidity and air pressure sensors, to the one we crowned our HowToHome pick, the La Crosse WS-916OU. This thermometer, despite being a no-frills device, gets rave reviews for accuracy, reliability, and affordability.
If you are looking for the most basic type of indoor-outdoor thermometer, then look no further than the Taylor Precision Thermometer. At such a low price, it would be hard to find a better value for money thermometer that is accurate and has a legible and clear display.
Whichever model you decide on, hopefully, we’ve made the choices and their key features more prominent for you with the ultimate aim of helping you to choose accurately.
