We often take the indoor temperature of our houses for granted. Even though you don’t use air conditioning during the day, you’re still getting both ventilation and shade, which helps keep you cool, as well as natural insulation to help keep you warm during the colder seasons. Now imagine, what if you could tell what the temperature was like outside without having to brace the elements yourself or deal with any inaccurate online weather resources? That’s where outdoor thermometers come in. Great outdoor thermometers will give you an instant and accurate reading of the outside without forcing you to check it by going outside or messing around with regional weather reports that don’t tell the whole story. Outdoor thermometers are easy to install and very helpful in certain scenarios, so you’d do well to have one. Here are our top outdoor thermometer picks.
This outdoor thermometer is made primarily for outdoor use, but it can be used just as efficiently indoors as well. The device has two components, with an active thermometer and a display window. The thermometer connects to the display wirelessly, providing real-time updates. This lets you read a display indoors where the thermometer sits outdoors. With a weather-resistant construction and strong signal penetration, this device can sit anywhere comfortably. The only thing you’ll need to get started is a pair of AA batteries.
This thermometer and barometer set may not be the most efficient outdoor thermometer, but it definitely looks interesting and mysterious. The thermometer is heavily inspired by the instruments that famed scientist Galileo Galilei used. It involves an array of liquid-filled spheres which rise and fall based on changes in the atmosphere. There’s also a special barometer that features the world globe etched in the glass. If you want a touch of classical science in your home or workstation, this is the product for you.
This thermometer is also inspired by Galileo, making it a great combination of both science and art. The thermometer can easily fit onto a desk, shelf, or table thanks to its compact vertical design, and you can easily carry it around thanks to its sleek form. Be careful, though, as once the thermometer breaks open and leaks out the liquid, the device will pretty much become useless, and you won’t be able to see the rising and falling anymore.
This is another Galilieo-inspired glass outdoor thermometer with the exact same components as the previous two products. However, the main difference lies in its size – unlike the 11-inch thermometer, this thermometer stands at around 14 inches, a sizable increase. Larger thermometers are easier to see from a distance, and this particular model can serve you well as an educational resource for students learning about air pressure, buoyancy, and basic physics.
If you do gardening as a hobby, then there’s a good chance that you’ve dabbled in the art of composting. Composting is the process of turning organic waste into fertilizer to help reduce emissions and trash waste, a skill that takes practice to master. Many composting amateurs don’t know that the temperature is important to measure for the best results, and this useful product is the perfect option to do that. It’s not a digital thermometer, so you will need to get used to the somewhat old school gauge, but once you get the hang of it you’ll be able to get a reading in seconds.
Outdoor thermometers are the easiest way to get a feel for the outside temperature without actually going inside. This quick buyer’s guide will cover all the essentials surrounding outdoor thermometers.
An outdoor thermometer is a thermometer designed to be used outdoors. These thermometers are typically made with relatively sturdy materials to help them brave the elements while also having batteries or other supporting systems to keep them functioning for long periods of time.
There are a few reasons why outdoor thermometers can be helpful:
We went over a scenario at the beginning of this article where you’re greeted with a sudden change in temperature the moment you step outside. Since the temperature in your house is almost always different from the outside, it’s important to know what to wear and what to be ready for before walking outside. Many people use air conditioning to keep their homes habitable and comfortable, and you can easily get used to the temperature after experiencing it for a while. So, the moment you step outside, you’ll end up feeling either incredibly hot or incredibly cold, more than you might expect to. This will make it difficult to adjust immediately, and your body will react pretty negatively to help manage the internal and external temperature. You’ll get shivers or sweat profusely to keep your body temperature in check, which can soil clothes quickly if you’re not wearing something to help you regulate sweat. Having an outdoor thermometer will give you a heads up if you’re one of those people with strong bodily reactions to temperature. Pushing yourself too hard in hazardous temperatures is unsafe!
Not knowing the local temperature outside can definitely be an annoyance if you’re getting ready to go out, and having to go outside and feel it for yourself is even more of an inconvenience. Sure, you can download a regional weather app or check online, but this method usually doesn’t give you information about your specific area, only providing average statistics on your general region, city, or neighborhood. With a reliable outdoor thermometer, however, you’ll be able to get all the temperature information you need without leaving the comfortable air inside your home. Whether you’re sitting around and are curious about the outside temperature, dressed and ready to leave for a special event, worried about the heat before stepping out for yard work, or concerned with what to wear in cold rain and snow, an outdoor thermometer will give you a great way to stay prepared in all scenarios.
There are quite a few diseases, disorders, and other complications when you head outside in extreme temperatures. In very cold weather, going out underprepared can lead to you getting sick pretty easily, and catching a cold would be the least of your problems. In the worst of cases, you can end up with frostbite or hypothermia, depending on if where you live has exceptionally cold temperatures. Heat strokes are also very serious, as is dehydration due to heat exhaustion. Sunburns, muscle cramps, and other hazardous symptoms are also very common and very real concerns when you head out in the middle of the day with little to no shade. This can either be mildly irritating or life-threatening depending on the severity of the heat outside and also depends on whether or not there’s a shade for you to cool yourself in.
That’s why an outdoor thermometer that can notify you of the local temperature can be really helpful in keeping yourself healthy and in good condition. You’ll be able to tell whether or not you need that extra scarf or if you should put on just a little bit more sunscreen to defend against UV damage and sunburn.
Many outdoor thermometers run on batteries to check the temperature and provide accurate readings, and you’ll need to keep those batteries juiced up if you want to keep them functioning. The last thing you’d want is for your outdoor thermometer’s battery to go out when you need to check the temperature, say, during the middle of the day with no clouds in the sky.
Some thermometers have an indicator that shows the battery level, but if it doesn’t, then you may want to replace the batteries regularly just to be on the safe side. If you’re very sensitive to temperature and weather, consider changing batteries during times of the day with more mild weather, such as the morning, afternoon, or during cloudy or fair skies.
Outdoor thermometers get temperature readings from the outside, but they don’t always tell the whole story. You see, the readings are often based on the temperature of the area surrounding the thermometer, and that area may not be representative of the outdoors as a whole. As such, you’ll want to place the thermometer in an area that provides accurate readings and interacts with as much area as possible.
Ideally, this means that the thermometer should be placed out in the open, but it’s not as simple as that. Leaving it in the open exposes it to rain and extreme heat, and if the device can’t handle those conditions, you’ll just end up with a broken thermometer. The safest place to put a thermometer while still getting somewhat accurate readings would be under a small shade as close to an open area as possible. Putting it by a wall near your front yard would be a good place, for example.
If the thermometer does not have any indoor digital interface or wireless connection, it’s a good idea to place the thermometer somewhere that is readily and easily visible from inside your home. After all, a thermometer that you can’t see is not going to be much help for you as you look for the outside temperature.
Some thermometer designs have limitations based on how they are constructed or how they function. For example, some of our favorite outdoor thermometers of 2025 are made with a design inspired by Galileo’s original classical thermometer. These thermometers function through the basic physical properties of certain fluids and slightly changing water density due to temperature, but these are often less accurate than more modern digital versions.
If you are interested in a thermometer that does not function with standard, digital processes, then it’s a good idea to keep the limitations of your thermometer in mind. Give yourself a bit of allowance for error when looking at measurements from your thermometer, as it will not be perfect every time and could lose accuracy with age.
No. Outdoor thermometers are almost always designed to work both indoors and outdoors, though they are much better suited to outdoor use than cheaper indoor thermometers. They are usually larger than any indoor thermometer for easier reading from inside your home.
Not all the time. Outdoor thermometers can get a reading of the surrounding area, but this may not be representative of the actual average temperature outside.
Generally, yes. As you’re getting a digital representation of the data, you’re less likely to misinterpret the temperature and get a more accurate reading with more developed technology.