Do you know that yearly, over 400 Americans die from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning? This gas is especially dangerous as it’s odorless, colorless, and tasteless. That’s why the best carbon monoxide detector is a must-have in every home.
Our team of experts has reviewed over 30 models and selected the 8 top with the Nest Protect Smoke and CO Alarm as our favorite. The features we have considered include both safety and ease of use. The type of sensor is the first. We mostly included electrochemical sensors as they are the most reliable. They reduce the target gas at an electrode and then measure the current, which shows the gas level. The power source is the next thing. Battery-operated models are the best as they will continue to function during a power outage. Finally, a smoke detector is another feature that can be useful as it will alert you of a fire.
Extra features: features several pre-installed languages; connects to your phone for alerts and easier control; self-tests automatically; 10-year battery life
The editor’s choice on our list is this smart smoke and carbon monoxide detector by Nest. It has an exceptional number of features which can keep users safe and add to the ease of use for their CO detector.
Being a smart device means that this can send you alerts directly to your phone or tablet and let you know when battery is low or when there is an issue.
A very intelligent safety feature is that Nest Protect can let you know where the smoke or CO levels are high, to help you act upon it.
The lights on the Nest Protect automatically light up when you walk past to give some extra light.
The smart sensor within does a wonderful job of picking up smoke or CO and justifies the extra price you may pay for this as it is not a cheap product. All in all, this is probably the best CO detector you can find on the market today, and if you’re after a unit with plenty of advanced features, this model definitely won’t disappoint.
Extra features: digital display; 7-year warranty; comes with 2 AA batteries
The First Alert Dual-Power Carbon Monoxide Detector Alarm is the best plug in carbon monoxide detector on the list with a brilliant electrochemical detector.
Being plug in gives an extra safety advantage as you can have a set of batteries installed too, as a backup for if anything goes wrong with your power. This double protection means you won’t ever be without CO detection.
Though this doesn’t have an inbuilt smoke detector and it also isn’t compatible with phones or other devices, it has an old fashioned alarm which can let you know when the Carbon Monoxide level is too high. This alarm is 85-decibels and therefore certain to be noticed even in the middle of the night.
To save money, you can even purchase this in multi-packs should you need multiple detectors. This can save you some money on the overall cost, but they aren’t the most expensive detectors anyway, and they are very reliable.
Extra features: CO detection from 1 to 999 ppm; 3-year warranty
This is the best portable carbon monoxide detector on our list. While some people are looking for detectors which can sit in one space in their home ready to alert them of any high levels, others need a handheld CO detector which they can take out and about with them.
For instance, if you are in a factory and need to monitor the CO levels in different areas, rather than having models in every area, you can take the UEi Test Instruments CO71A Carbon Monoxide Detector around with you.
This model is very small and portable, allowing you to carry it with ease and keep it in a bag or even in your pocket. There is also a belt clip if this is something you would prefer. It has a reliable electrochemical sensor and can show specific levels if this is something you need to monitor.
It is very easy to operate with a simple interface to check the levels, and if portable is high on your priorities then this could be a good option.
Extra features: 7-year warranty; use with Nexia Home Intelligence, Ring Home Security, or other Z-Wave systems
We’ve named the First Alert 2-in-1 the best battery operated smoke and carbon monoxide detector. It is great for homes and creates a good balance between smoke and CO detection as well as compatibility with some smart home systems for that extra bonus of connectivity. All of this comes at a very reasonable price, too.
This is easy to use and can connect with other alarms in your home so that the alarms can go off together if required. It can also send you alerts to your mobile or even to an email account.
The detection comes via both a photoelectric and electrochemical sensors.
It is a good home carbon monoxide detector and installs very easily, the mounting ring attaches to the wall and the detector itself just clips in.
Extra features: 1-year warranty; comes with 2 li-ion batteries
Detecting CO levels is important in any enclosed space, and this includes those you may travel in such as buses, aircraft, and even cars. This is our best travel carbon monoxide detector. Of course, in a vehicle you have the extra risk that can be presented as carbon monoxide can be a product of the engine. This can cause drivers to fatigue, headaches and far worse.
The Forensics detector has an extremely accurate sensor and you can set the alarm levels to be different. You may wish for a 9ppm or a 25ppm alarm. Both are possible with this detector.
The battery life is also excellent which is something you’ll find very handy considering the fact you will be using this product on-the-go. It can last 12 months with the same batteries.
For use within a vehicle, or other portable uses, this carbon monoxide detector is worth considering.
Extra features: 10-year service with 10-year warranty; comes with the required (sealed) battery; microprocessor ensures no nuisance alarms
This is a very good value carbon monoxide detector which can be fitted either on a wall or on a table top.
We’ve named it the best battery operated carbon monoxide detector in its price range and it is brilliant for those who just want to install something to protect them and then not give it too much thought from there forward.
The alarm can provide 10 years of protection on the same incredible battery. This is also an Alkaline battery which can be disposed of far more easily than lithium.
The smart alarm is designed to wake you up if something occurs in the middle of the night. It is also designed not to have any nuisance alarms which can be very annoying.
Whether you want to put this on your desktop, tabletop or mount it on the wall it is equally simple.
Extra features: 7-year warranty; 85 dB alarm; UL Listed
If you are looking for an easy-to-use and reliable home carbon monoxide detector then the First Alert Plug-In Carbon Monoxide Detector CO600 could be a good option. It is very much a “no-frills” product and though this doesn’t come with any extra features such as smoke detector or the ability to connect to any smart home network, it is perfect for those on a budget who just want a reliable and long lasting product.
You can rest assured that the first alert will do a suitable job for some time as the company have been confident enough to provide a 7-year warranty.
The sensor is electrochemical and this is powered by plugging into your mains supply. Should it need to alert you, a standard 85 dB alarm is perfect for waking you up and making sure you hear clearly.
Extra features: 7-year warranty; comes with 2 AA batteries; tamper-resistant; UL listed
Our budget choice is also the best tamper-proof option for carbon monoxide detectors, designed so that if children get to it they can’t easily and inadvertently change the settings or create a false alarm, and that if anyone deliberately tries to tamper this is much harder. This is one of the cheapest home carbon monoxide detectors that you can buy, but we still think a lot of it.
Considering the price this is a top rated carbon monoxide detector. If you’re on a budget, you don’t need to worry about your safety as a result of buying a more affordable option.
This has an excellent 7-years of warranty, and it works with mains power but also with AA batteries, this means that if anything goes wrong with your power supply then your batteries will kick in so you still have carbon monoxide detection.
If you need to test the alarm you can hit the single button to check that it is working. This is very simple.
If you’ve looked through our list of the top carbon monoxide detectors on the market, you will see how many different types there are with different functionalities. It can be easy to assume they all do exactly the same job, but the truth is there is some variation on the market. Different products are designed with different consumers in mind, and we’ve created a buying guide to help you to establish which is going to be the best for you and your own needs (not to mention budget). The guide will help you to understand features as well as what you’re likely to have to spend.
Carbon monoxide, commonly abbreviated to CO, is an extremely dangerous toxic gas. It is made when combustion is incomplete. Without a detector, you won’t know that it is being released, as it doesn’t have a smell or anything that you will notice. If you inhale it then the gas can get into the bloodstream and causes lack of oxygen to the brain. Sometimes the main symptoms are confused with the flu or other signs of illness. CO poisoning can make you disorientated, too, so it is hard to know what to do if you are exposed.
In some cases, CO poisoning can be fatal. This means that being able to detect it, act, and get out of the area is absolutely vital. For the sake of the cost of a detector, it is not worth any sort of risk.
The effect on health is not guaranteed between 1 and 70 ppm. In most cases, this won’t cause any symptoms. The maximum exposure to CO for an 8-hour workday is 35ppm. If levels reach 70 ppm and increase you may experience a headache, fatigue or nausea. High levels of 800ppm and over will result in severe symptoms, and even death within 2-3 hours.
As you can see from the information above, there is no point taking any risks with your carbon monoxide detector. In this section, we’re looking at the best features to consider when choosing the best carbon monoxide detector for you.
Most of the best carbon monoxide detectors, including our editor’s choice model, use electrochemical sensors. These are gas detectors which reduce the target gas at an electrode and then measure the current, which shows the gas level. This is a very reliable form of sensor. The First Alert Dual-Power Carbon Monoxide Detector Alarm is an example of a product with this type of sensor.
Other types of sensors include metal oxide semiconductor and biomimetic types.
The sensors may need power, and alarms will definitely need some form of power. There are different ways that power can be provided. Some products have exceptionally long batteries, for instance, the Universal Security Instruments 10 Year Carbon Monoxide Alarm will last for an incredible 10 years without needing a new battery.
You can buy both battery and hardwired smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Some items plug straight into mains power, which is a good way to power your detector. If you do go for this option, try and get one with a backup battery system so it will even work if your power fails.
Some of the products have been designed to have both a smoke detector and a carbon monoxide detector within the same casing. This has its pros and cons, but is a good way to save money and ensures that you can test for both in the same product and improve the safety of your home. Products such as the First Alert 2-in-1 Z-Wave Wireless Smoke Detector & Carbon Monoxide Alarm include both at great value for money.
We truly live in the age of smart technology. It may be that your product can connect to Nest or Alexa. Our editor’s choice, the Nest Protect, is one such example of a product with this capability. It is not vital that your CO detector can do this but it is a good safety feature to get alerts on your phone and connect to other types of alarms and detectors, for example.
UL listing is an independent testing system which makes sure that your detector or alarm has been approved for its safety of use in the USA. This is a good way to ensure that the product you buy has been independently tested and approved.
Most of the products have petty good accuracy levels. All are accurate enough to tell you when your levels have risen to a point where you may find yourself in danger. Some needs, such as industrial uses of carbon monoxide detectors, mean that a measurement range and accuracy need to be specified. The PPM ratings on your carbon monoxide detector will be listed.
These products also have optimal temperatures at which they work. If you are using your device in a working environment for instance and the temperature is high, it might be worth checking this to see if your detector will still be performing at its premium level.
The dimensions of your chosen CO detector will determine the best place to install it. Larger CO detectors won’t be very good as a portable carbon monoxide detector.
Smaller, more compact models will be great for things like industrial uses like building sites.
Ideally, you should have CO detectors in each room of your home. This ensures that the safety has been thoroughly considered. The ideal place to install is five feet from the ground. The only maintenance which is required is regular testing to make sure the battery is still working. This usually only involves pressing one button and then the alarm will be set off as a test.
There are pros and cons to CO detectors with smoke detectors. It is a convenient way to do things, but the ideal installation for both is in different places, meaning some compromise will be made. A smoke alarm should ideally be installed on the ceiling, whereas a CO alarm should be installed about 5 feet from floor level.
Our highest rated CO monitor at 9.9/10 is the Nest Protect Smoke and CO Alarm. The way that this connects to your smart home and has smart features such as lights gives an added bonus to users.
The First Alert Dual-Power Carbon Monoxide Detector Alarm is our second choice at 9.8, it is very safety conscious as it has a backup battery system if the mains fails.
Third on our list is the UEi Test Instruments CO71A Carbon Monoxide Detector, which is the best portable option out there and very easily maneuverable, making it great for professional monitoring of CO levels.
