Best Smoke Detectors of 2024

It’s easy to forget your smoke alarm’s there until it starts beeping or chirping. But while we take them for granted, they’re always keeping tabs on fire safety.

Our top pick Google Nest Protect is expensive, but all its extras, like its carbon monoxide alarm, make it worth the price. It offers remote notifications, a light, voice notifications, and more.

In 2022, the U.S. Fire Administration estimated there were about 374,300 fires.  If you have smoke detectors in your home, you’ll have a better chance of getting everyone out safely. While any smoke detector is better than none, here are a few things to look for when buying a new smoke alarm.

The best smoke alarms can detect smoke particles, flames, and carbon monoxide. A multifunctional alarm can save you battery life or energy from your house for hard-wired smoke detectors. Combination smoke, fire, and carbon monoxide detectors are easier than ever to find.

While classic ionization and photoelectric smoke detectors are helpful, smart smoke detectors are the cutting edge in fire safety. They communicate through apps and deliver alerts to your phone or other mobile devices if an alarm sounds.

Smart alarms can talk to each other too, so you’ll know exactly where the fire is when an alarm is triggered. The only downside is that smart devices are more expensive.

If your home's power goes out, you still need to know if there's a fire or smoke emergency. Hard-wired smoke detectors need to have a battery backup or some other backup power source to keep them running.

If the power goes out, it takes your smoke detector with it. Battery powered smoke detectors should have a test button or chirp when the battery starts to drain.

This Google smoke detector can connect with other Nest Protect alarms in your home to create a network of safety. This means voice alerts could tell you where smoke or fire was detected. This can keep you safe as you exit your home because you'll know which rooms to avoid.

The drawback is it's expensive for a fire alarm. Still, the benefits are worth the price, especially if you have a smaller home that doesn't need too many smoke detectors. If you're on a budget, it's better to opt for the next pick.

On the front of the alarm, there are lights to let you know if there is a fire or CO emergency. Like the Nest Protect, the SCO7CN talks to you when there's an alarm.

Our favorite part is that the easy-access battery compartment makes it easy to change the batteries without removing it from the wall or ceiling. 

Our guide can help you can learn more about CO detectors and the dangers of carbon monoxide gas.

This lithium battery smoke detector has an expected lifespan of 10 years and you never need to swap the battery out until it's time to replace the detector anyway. The display changes color to tell you if there's something wrong too. Red means the alarm is going off, yellow means there's something wrong with the alarm, and green means everything is a-okay.

Another helpful feature is that this carbon monoxide and smoke detector combo helps prevent false alarms. It takes three air samples before sounding the alarm.

The 85-decibel siren could be louder, but we think it should do just fine if you place multiple alarms throughout your home. It can detect both fire and smoldering using its dual sensors, and it has a testing button that can also be used to mute the alarm.

It's not the flashiest, but we think it's a great pick if you need a budget-friendly, no-fuss smoke detector.

This Kidde smoke alarm is also easy to install and can be interconnected with other alarms to create a full-house smoke detection system.

The First Alert BRK 3120B (about $34) is dual-sensor smoke alarm that detects multiple kinds of fires and decreases false alarms. It’s also hardwired with a battery backup so you don’t have to worry about power failure.

Say goodbye to shrieking beeps while you’re cooking or after a hot shower. The First Alert's photoelectric smoke detector sensor is sensitive enough to tell the difference between everyday activities and real threats like a smoldering fire.

While we like this one, it has some shortcomings. Even with two smoke sensors, it doesn’t come with carbon monoxide detection.

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Smoke alarms typically have three types of sensors: ionization, photoelectric, and dual. Here are the main differences between the three.

Photoelectric smoke alarm sensors use light to detect smoke. When smoke particles are suspended in the air (as with a smoldering fire) the particles scatter the beam of light in the sensory chamber, which sets off the alarm.

Ionization smoke detectors use radiation and an ionization chamber to detect smoke. The ionizing radiation helps detect small amounts of smoke in the air, as with a flaming fire. When smoke enters the sensor chamber, the current of the ionizing radiation is disrupted, which triggers the alarm.

Dual sensors include both photoelectric and ionization sensors. These are considered the safest smoke and fire detection devices. Because they detect both flaming fires and smaller, smoldering fires, it’s unlikely that any fire-related danger will get past these double-duty sensors.

Smoke alarms can save a life, but they have to be properly installed and maintained. Don’t risk your family’s safety—use these tips to keep your smoke detector alarm in tip-top shape.

Check batteries: According to a 2021 report from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), dead batteries are a major factor in smoke alarm failures. In fact, the reported death rate from a home fire is 51% lower in homes with working smoke alarms.

A smoke detector won’t do you any good if it isn’t working, so make sure to check your batteries every month and use the “test“ button intermittently to ensure proper function.

Arm every level: The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends putting a smoke detector on every level of your home: in every bedroom, outside every sleeping area, and in your basement. On floors without bedrooms, install alarms in the living area or near stairways.

If you have a large home, consider adding even more to cover the whole footprint.

Mount high: Smoke rises. It’s important to put your smoke detectors within a foot of your ceilings and 10 feet from cooking areas.

For vaulted ceilings, avoid putting smoke detectors in the “pitch” of the roofline. Instead, mount fire alarms 3 feet below the ceiling so they can accurately read smoke.

Never run out of batteries: Set up recurring delivery for smoke alarm batteries on Amazon. That way, you’ll always be ready to replace a dead battery in your smoke alarm. Time the delivery schedule to match regular smoke alarm maintenance so you’ll never overlook changing out old batteries.

Keep it clean: Dirt and debris interfere with the sensors on your smoke alarm. Dusty buildup can lead to false alarms or delayed detection during an emergency. Whether you have a photoelectric alarm or an ionization detector, regular cleaning will keep your smoke alarm in working order.

Dodge drafts: Keep smoke alarms away from windows, doors, and air ducts. Drafts can disrupt the operation of smoke detectors and increase the occurrence of nuisance alarms.

Get connected: Wired and wireless interconnected smoke alarms help ensure everyone in your home knows about the emergency. You can install the connection easily and it will sound the siren throughout the house using each of your fire alarms. It takes a few extra steps to set up and test, but it means family members in every room will get the warning.

Even though it's on the expensive side, we picked the Google Nest Protect as the best smoke detector because it's just so darn helpful. Beyond being able to detect carbon monoxide and different types of fires, the app removes the frustration that comes with typical fire alarms.

To determine the best smoke alarms, we scoured industry research and evaluated product features, performance, and specs. We also consulted the National Fire Protection Association and US Consumer Product Safety Commission for guidance and pored over expert ratings and real customer reviews.

Our 5 best smoke alarms were selected from 12 top devices that were compared for reliability, effectiveness, price, and customer satisfaction. Learn more about how we conduct reviews like this one from our methodology page.

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