The 10 Best Carbon Monoxide Detectors Reviewed

Battery operation makes this carbon monoxide detector completely portable and a breeze to install. Just plop it down on a mantle, table, or shelf. Or use the holes in the plastic backing to hang it on the wall if you wish.

The sealed-in lithium battery will last ten years. Once it has run down, the unit itself has to be replaced anyway.

And Mid-Level Functionality

This mid-range detector includes an end-of-life alert that notifies you when the alarm needs to be replaced. Since all electronics break down over time, this notification is an important safety feature.

It also features a peak level monitor. This, according to Kidde temselves, is most useful for telling you if carbon monoxide accumulates when you are away from home.

The display will tell you the current carbon monoxide level, or the maximum level when the button is pressed.

Are you a fan of the First Alert brand but don’t need anything special like smoke/CO detection, LCD screens, or a 10-year lithium battery?

This very basic model does one simple job – detecting carbon monoxide. It won’t even tell you if your house is on fire.

One important thing that puts it ahead of similar products is that it warns you when its useful life is coming to an end. This earns it a place on our website, along with generally positive customer reviews – many comparable models didn’t make the cut.

If you’re the kind of person who prefers to keep things simple, this product might appeal to you.

Equipped to work with iOS and Android, this smart carbon monoxide detector will connect to your phone via a special Nest app which allows you to see all important information at the touch of a button, from anywhere in the world. All you need to do is set the detector up on your home Wi-Fi system and notifications will automatically be sent to your phone.

Some people assume that this Wi-Fi system means that the device won’t work if the power goes out. It’s true that it won’t be able to send notifications to your phone while the router is down, but its batteries will keep it running during outages to sound an alarm.

Impressive Extra Functions

The Nest Protect doesn’t monitor only carbon monoxide levels – it also functions as a smoke detector. Combining these two jobs in one device makes a lot of sense, especially if sticking a whole bunch of hardware to your ceiling isn’t your idea of decorating.

It also allows you to deal with minor crises, like a small amount of smoke (“Heads up. There is smoke in the kitchen.”) as well as respond appropriately to serious problems (“Emergency. There is carbon monoxide in the living room. Move to fresh air.”).

Moreover, it indicates where in the building it has detected the problem and, if linked to other Nest devices, can do things like use intelligent lightbulbs to warn deaf people.

The app also allows you to hush minor alarms. If, for example, cooking bacon has triggered an alert but there isn’t really an issue, all you have to do is press a button. There is no need to rush around looking for step stools or swat the alarm off the ceiling with a broom.

This ceiling-mount detector measures both carbon monoxide and smoke, which makes it a good choice for replacing outdated smoke alarms. It’s made to be wired directly into your home’s electrical system and includes a silence button to deal with false alarms.

Since it is hooked in directly to your electrical system, there’s no need to sacrifice an outlet and no reliance on battery power, which is only a backup. Still, you do need to change batteries from time to time. The convenient side-load battery pop-out allows you to easily and safely replace the battery.

Seperate Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Warnings

The unit’s face contains two different lights – one to warn of smoke and one for carbon monoxide. Both lights are clearly labeled so when the alarm goes off, you can see what triggered it at a glance.

This keeps you from ignoring the alarm under the assumption that it’s merely a false smoke alarm – after burning something in the kitchen, for example.

This two-in-one system will detect carbon monoxide and also fire. Like most detectors it uses an ionization sensor for fire detection, as opposed to photoelectric – here is what Kidde has to say about the difference.

For many people it will be a welcome surprise that this basic, budget-friendly model can talk to you.

Though the voice alerts aren’t quite as specific as those built into the Nest Protect, they do reduce panic by telling you exactly which type of alarm you are hearing.

In between the alarm noises, a voice will let you know whether the system has detected fire or carbon monoxide, or that the battery is dying. It will also tell you, when you press a button, if a high CO level was detected.

There’s a Hardwired Option

Since this unit is completely battery operated, you can install it very easily and move it at need. However, if you prefer the hardwired option, check out the KN-COSM-IBA. It hooks up directly to your electrical system.

Although the backlit LCD display is not as restrained as the Kidde Nighthawk KN-COPP-3, it won’t be distracting at night. It’s just bright enough to allow you to read the carbon monoxide concentration and the battery level.

Another good thing is the end-of-life alert. This monitor detects its own “death”. A built-in timer estimates how long the internal workings of the detector can be counted on and lets you know when it’s time to get yourself a new alarm.

Multiple Power Options

Powered by both mains and battery, this detector will work whether you have power or not. We also like that the battery level is clearly displayed on the readout panel. Thanks to this feature, you can save a little money while helping the environment.

If you’d like to mount it high up on a wall and don’t have a plug nearby, the power cord allows you to do so. If, however, you have an outlet right where you want to put it, you can also plug it directly into the outlet.

Tracks Your CO Levels

The peak level function will show you the highest level of carbon monoxide detected by the machine since the last time it was reset. It allows you to track the carbon monoxide concentration over time and lets you see if anything you’ve done in your home has affected the level of carbon monoxide detected in your air.

If you only want a basic monitor but don’t want to skimp on its quality, this might be the one you want.

It’s easy to check the level of carbon monoxide in the room by glancing at the red light-up numbers on this CO monitor. This small amount of light isn’t as intrusive in dark bedrooms as the display on the First Alert CO615, but still allows you to read it in dim light.

The display shows a number representing the parts per million (PPM) of carbon monoxide detected in the air. When the battery is low, however, it will display “Lb”, warning you to replace it. This little bit of information will be helpful when it starts chirping and you aren’t sure why.

With Three Mounting Options

If you have an accessible electrical outlet on your wall, you can plug the unit in directly and be done with installation. If, however, your outlet is in an awkward position, you have the option of using the 6-foot power cord to install it elsewhere.

Although this carbon monoxide alarm plugs directly into your wall, it can also run on batteries when mains electricity is not available.

Let’s be honest: people who work in dangerous industrial environments have different needs than people who just want CO meters for their homes. If the former describes you, you know how important environmental monitoring can be.

Portable Carbon Monoxide Detection

The handy pocket/belt clip on this small portable detector allows you to take it everywhere you go. The clip is pretty tough and clamps onto your pocket or belt with ease. If you really want to ensure that you won’t lose the thing while working, you can feed a belt, suspenders, or some other fastener through the loop on the top to hold it in place.

The tough plastic casing is drop-resistant and provides some shock absorption for the interior working parts. It has ribbing along the sides for a secure grip even when your hands are slippery. It is also fully waterproof so that you don’t have to worry about wearing it in the rain.

Want to test the CO levels emitted from particular machines or openings? Just hold the device near the spot suspected of emitting carbon monoxide. Wear proper protective equipment, turn the tool or appliance on, and hold the detector up to it.

The package also includes a nifty hand pump and extension wand that allows you to test in hard-to-reach places: simply point the wand at the area you want to test and squeeze the pump to suck air into the unit.

Unlike most carbon monoxide alarms meant for domestic use, this detector can measure levels of up to 2,000PPM using its “extended range”, although the manufacturer warns that using this mode for long periods will reduce its lifespan.

The First Alert CO710 will not only measure the current CO level, it also displays the current temperature.

If everything is okay in terms of carbon monoxide, you’ll see only the temperature. If minor levels of carbon monoxide are detected, bars will start lighting up on the left side of the screen.

If the concentration becomes dangerously elevated, the alarm will beep repeatedly and “CO” will appear on the screen. Should the level become so high you need to leave the vicinity immediately, the word “evacuate” will also appear.

The large button on the top of the unit allows you to see the most recent peak level, silence the alarm, or test it. The CO level is the highest reading since you last reset the detector, meaning you can become aware of unexpected carbon monoxide influxes.

When it has reached the end of its battery life, the word “end” will appear on the display screen. This means it is time to throw it away and purchase a new one.

Thick Enough to Stand On Its Own

While a few other carbon monoxide detectors can sit on a shelf or table, this is the only one on our list that will be as stable as an old clock radio.

Depending on your home’s setup and where you live, the ability to detect things other than carbon monoxides, such as propane and methane gas, may be important to you.

Though this doesn’t matter to everyone, if you live close to a waste disposal site or if your home is heated by propane, this type of detector may one day save your life.

Other Basic and Advanced Qualities

In addition to detecting carbon monoxide and explosive gases, it also has a CO level memory function which will tell you the maximum carbon monoxide and gas measurements since the last time you checked it.

A digital display with light-up numbers shows your current carbon monoxide and gas levels, the latest peak CO level (when you press the button), and any error messages. This is sufficiently bright to be seen in the dark, but not overwhelmingly so.

An end-of-life alert lets you know when the detector has reached its limit and has to be replaced.

Three-Way Mounting

Thanks to the convenient optional 6-foot cord, you can mount this detector on the wall at a distance from the electrical outlet you intend to use for it. You can also plug it directly into the outlet and not use the optional cord at all.

If you like, you can also use the cord to take the unit away from the wall and place it on a tabletop or shelf.

The X-Sense carbon monoxide monitor is a basic model without fancy smart technology, but it covers almost all the features of a CO alarm.

The electrochemical sensor and chipset detect CO accurately and issues warnings responsively, via both a loud 85 dB alarm and LED indicators. Together with a small backlit LCD display, this gives you all the information you may need in a blink.

Understand the Alarm’s Manners

While the LCD display allows for easy viewing of carbon monoxide levels (in PPM – parts per million), the 3 colored LEDs indicate different conditions. This way it’s easy to see the alarm’s working status.

The working status of the alarm will be displayed on the LCD, too, taking any guesswork out of status check. For example, together with beep sounds and flashing LED indicators, when the alarm has reached the end of its 10-year life, the LCD will display the word “END”. This means it’s time to replace the whole unit.

It’s battery-operated, but a low-battery warning and twist-lock mounting system make replacing batteries fairly hassle-free. The test/silence button both silences a non-threatening alarm or low battery warning and allows you to test the unit’s functionality.