A hygrometer is a device that measures the humidity and temperature of the air in a given space. It can help you create a healthy and comfortable indoor environment or monitor the moisture levels of plants or other items.
Electric hygrometers are affordable and easy to use, with prices ranging from $10 to $25 for most models. Some may cost more if they have extra features. The This Old House Reviews team has researched the best hygrometers on the market and selected the ThermoPro TP49 Digital Hygrometer as our top pick. It has a long-lasting battery and shows both humidity and temperature readings. For more of our recommendations, check out our guide below.
Our Top Picks
| Image | Product | Feature | Price |
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Best Overall
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ThermoPro TP49 Digital Hygrometer
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Best Display
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ThermoPro TP55 Jumbo Touchscreen Hygrometer
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Best Smart
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Govee Bluetooth Digital Set
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Best Versatile
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AcuRite 00613 Digital
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Check Price |
1. ThermoPro TP49 Digital Hygrometer
This hygrometer has a humidity comfort indicator that shows you the comfort level of your home’s relative humidity. It also gives you the temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit and refreshes the readings every 10 seconds. The TP49 has a long-lasting battery that can last for 18 months.
We analyzed thousands of customer reviews for the ThermoPro TP49. Many customers were impressed by the device’s sturdy, sleek design and its large, clear LCD display.
However, we also encountered some negative feedback. The most frequent issue we noticed was that the TP49’s humidity sensor could be inaccurate by several points—one customer reported a discrepancy of up to 11%.
“I wanted to verify the temperature in my son’s room. His baby monitor had a thermometer that I doubted because it was near the heater. I moved the ThermoPro around the room and it matched the temperatures. The letters are big enough that I can see them from across the room. It is also small and light enough that I can bring it with me when I travel. So far the battery life has been good but I will have to wait and see. Overall I am happy with my purchase.” —Amazon Customer
“The humidity sensor shows 11% humidity right out of the box, and it only went up to 15% throughout the day. I have a professional temperature + humidity probe in a tank that has about 70% humidity and this device barely changed at all. The temperature sensor seems to be fairly accurate.” —Amazon Customer
2. ThermoPro TP55 Jumbo Touchscreen Hygrometer
With a 10-second refresh rate, the TP55 touchscreen hygrometer gives you the latest temperature and humidity data. It can measure temperatures from -58°F to 158°F and humidity levels from 10% to 99%. The backlight automatically shuts off after 15 seconds of no use, saving battery power.
The TP55 indoor thermometer has a touchscreen interface and large digital numbers that are easy to see from afar. Many verified buyers praised these features on Amazon. However, some customers also reported some issues with the product. One customer said the device became inaccurate after five years of use, while another said the batteries ran out after 10 months.
Here are some excerpts from the customer reviews:
“I love this indoor thermometer. It’s small and compact, and it can be hung on a wall or placed on a shelf or table. The temperature and humidity are very clear to read. It has a light touch blue backlight. It helps me adjust my portable space heaters. I don’t know how long the batteries will last, but I’m very happy with this product so far.” – P Merrill
“I got this in January 2018. It worked well for almost five years, but then it started to give wrong readings this past winter (2022-23). I bought the ThermoPro TP53 to replace it and check my doubts. I also have another hygrometer on my whole-house humidifier. The TP53 and the hygrometer agreed with each other, but the TP55 was way off. It showed 20% humidity when it was actually 45%. I used to think this device was perfect, but now I’m disappointed. You’ll have to make up your own mind if you want to buy it.” – A man a panama
3. Govee Bluetooth Digital Set
With these Swiss-engineered hygrometers, you can measure temperature and humidity in any environment. They are made of plastic that is both light and strong, and can handle a wide range of conditions. Plus, you get two years of free cloud storage for your data from Govee.
Our research revealed that customers appreciated the Govee hygrometers’ smart features, which let them distinguish different units in the app. They also praised Govee’s customer service for being responsive and helpful. On the other hand, some customers reported readout discrepancies between the devices, and others were unhappy with the battery life.
“Both thermometer-hygrometers are identical and easy to set up. You don’t have to use the iPhone app if you prefer not to. The app lets you track the readings over time, and even lets you adjust the temperature and humidity values, which is very cool!” — Old-and-Wise via Amazon
“I like this hygrometer a lot. It connects to the Govee app and has a display screen. It works well and does what it’s supposed to do. But I was surprised by how often I had to change the batteries. And the battery type is not common or cheap. So I stopped using these and switched to the Govee H5100, which has no screen, but uses a regular AAA battery and lasts much longer. This is the only drawback of an otherwise excellent product. (And I don’t think it’s because of bad batteries — I use new, quality batteries from reliable sellers)” —Y via Amazon
4. AcuRite 00613 Digital
This versatile hygrometer can be placed anywhere with its clip, kickstand, magnet, or hanger. It monitors your indoor humidity and shows you if it is too low, too high, or just right. You can also easily switch between Fahrenheit and Celsius with a simple button.
The AcuRite thermometer-hygrometer received thousands of positive reviews from verified buyers. Many users appreciated its user-friendly interface, long-lasting battery, and 24-hour data recording feature, which is especially useful for reptile owners. However, some of the most helpful negative reviews pointed out the poor quality of the back clip mount and the inaccuracy of the humidity readings, which often deviated by more than 5%.
“Clear and easy to read, even from a distance. It also looks great. Most importantly, it’s accurate! I love that it shows the highest and lowest values of temperature and humidity for the past 24 hours. That’s very helpful. Great value and fast delivery from Amazon. I bought more units and I’m very happy and pleased with my purchase. Highly recommend.” —Dave via Amazon
“This device monitors temperature and humidity well and also shows the high and low history of both. But the clip is its major flaw. It has multiple functions, but the first time I tried to use the clip as a squeeze attachment, it broke apart and the spring bar and other parts flew everywhere. I couldn’t fix it. It still works, but I have to prop it up against something and I can’t clip it to anything. For the price, I’m obviously disappointed.” —teejerman via Amazon