- 9.40/10 1. Premium pick: Google Nest Protect
- 7.80/10 2. Editors choice: Onelink Safe & Sound by First Alert
- 8.20/10 3. Best value: X-Sense Wi-Fi Smoke Detector
- 9.20/10 4. First Alert Z-Wave Smoke Detector & Carbon Monoxide Alarm
- 8.40/10 5. Kidde Smoke Detector
- 9.20/10 6. First Alert BRK 3120B
- 8.00/10 7. PetUlove Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector
It's hard to overstate how important a smoke detector is for your home.
While it's something you'll hope never to use, it can help let you know of smoke and fire in a home before it's too late.
There are a wide variety of different smoke detectors on the market with different features including smart home technology and carbon monoxide detection.
Here are the best smoke detectors to help protect your home and family.
The Google Nest Protect helped create the smart smoke detector category and is one of the best options on the market. A combination smoke and carbon monoxide detector, it’s available in both a battery or wired version. The detector looks for both fast-burning and smoldering fires for extra protection.
In case of a problem, the detector’s voice will tell you what the issue is and where to find it. If the problem is just a little bit of smoke, you can hush the alarm with the companion smartphone app. The detector connects to Wi-Fi so you can see any problems with the app when you’re away from home.
You can also use the app to test all of your Nest Protects with a single tap and then see the results. While you’ll pay a bit more, the smart features on the Google Nest Protect can’t be beaten and make it a top-notch choice.
- Smoke detector looks for both fast-burning and smoldering fire
- Built-in path light when you walk underneath it
- Smartphone app will inform you if there’s an issue when away from home
- Batteries: Yes
- Brand: Google Nest
- Battery and wired version available
- Carbon monoxide detector built-in
- Voice will tell you where the smoke or other issue is located
- Limited smart home integration
The Onelink Safe & Sound by First Alert is much more than just a standard smoke and carbon monoxide detector. It features an omnidirectional speaker with Amazon Alexa built-in. So just think of it as an Echo with some added superpowers. Thanks to Alexa support, you can interact with other smart home devices, play music, and much more. The hardwired detector is also compatible with Apple’s HomeKit protocol so iPhone and iPad fans can add it to their smart home setup.
Apple users should also be happy to hear that with AirPlay 2 compatibility, you can stream music from your device to the detector’s speaker and even use it as part of a whole-home sound system. With the companion app, you can receive alerts when something is wrong, check the status of the backup battery, customize the built-in nightlight, and more.
Another big plus is that the alarm can interconnect with existing hardwired detectors. So when one alarm sounds in a home, all the others will sound. Even though it’s not perfect for every situation and budget, if you’re looking to dive into the world of Alexa and smart home technology, the Onelink Safe & Sound by First Alert is a suitable consideration.
- A combination smoke and carbon monoxide detector
- Apple HomeKit and Alexa compatible
- Voice alerts will let you know where a problem is in the home
- Batteries: Yes (backup only)
- Brand: First Alert
- Can be used as an Alexa-enabled speaker or with Apple’s AirPlay 2
- 10-year battery backup
- Interconnectivity with any other hardwired alarms in a home
- Not for anyone needing just a battery-powered detector
For a budget option that offers app interaction, take a look at the X-Sense Wi-Fi Smoke Detector. The battery-powered detector can be installed almost anywhere in your home, a big advantage compared to hardwired options that already have a pre-determined spot in a house. With built-in Wi-Fi, you’ll be able to interact with the detector using a companion app.
Easily the best app feature is the ability to temporarily silence an alarm caused by nuisances like something burning on the stove. You can also receive notifications on a smartphone if the alarm is ever triggered. The alarm, which sounds at 85dB, continuously checks the battery and Wi-Fi connection and will send a notification if there are ever any issues.
Thanks to the lower price, the X-Sense Wi-Fi Smoke Detector makes it a great choice to add multiple, app-enabled smoke detectors to a home.
- Battery-powered smoke detector
- Built-in Wi-Fi provides additional functions with app
- Loud 85-decibel alarm
- Batteries: Yes
- Brand: X-Sense
- Can be installed wherever you need it
- Temporarily silence alarm with the app
- Continuously checks the battery status and Wi-Fi connection
- No carbon monoxide detection
The First Alert Z-Wave Smoke Detector & Carbon Monoxide Alarm brings smart home compatibility for less. The detector, powered by two AA batteries, is certified to work with the Ring Alarm with no extra equipment required. You can receive real-time notifications in the Ring app, no matter where you are when smoke or carbon monoxide is detected.
The alarm also works with Samsung SmartThings and Nexia Home Intelligence when connected to a Z-Wave Plus gateway hub. Using a photoelectric smoke sensor, the detector reduces false alarms from cooking or steam from a shower. The alarm features an 85dB horn to inform everyone in the home of a problem.
Especially if you already have a Ring Alarm installed in your home, the First Alert Z-Wave Smoke Detector & Carbon Monoxide Alarm is a great choice to add to a smart home.
- Battery-powered with 2 AA batteries
- Smoke and cabin monoxide detector
- Works with Ring Alarm
- Batteries: Yes
- Brand: First Alert
- Receive real-time notifications in the Ring app
- Also compatible with Samsung SmartThings and Nexia Home Intelligence
- 85dB alarm
- Some smart home compatibility requires purchase of an additional hub
The Kidde Smoke Detector offers the advantages of a battery-powered option without needing to worry about constant battery changes. It uses a sealed, lithium battery that can provide up to 10 years of use. It can interconnect with other compatible devices so when one alarm sounds, all of the others will also alert you to an issue.
A hush button for the alarm allows you to quickly silence nuisance alarms. The built-in LED will flash to indicate its current mode. When smoke is detected, the alarm will also alert you with a voice saying “Fire!” along with three long chirps. If you ever want to add some smarts to the detector, it’s compatible with the additional Kidde RemoteLync Monitor that will send an alert to your smartphone, no matter where you are, if an alarm is ever detected.
You’ll never need to worry about battery changes with the Kidde Smoke Detector. And it offers flexibility to install if your house isn’t compatible with hardwired options.
- Battery-powered smoke detector
- Hush button can quiet nuisance alarm
- Voice alert will state “Fire!”
- Batteries: Yes
- Brand: Kidde
- Sealed battery provides up to 10 years of use
- Compatible with additional Kidde RemoteLync Monitor for smartphone alerts
- 85dB alarm
- No carbon monoxide detection
Even though the First Alert BRK 3120B is a hardwired smoke detector, you won’t have to worry about losing protection during a power outage. The two included AA batteries provide a backup power option. The detector uses both a photoelectric and ionization smoke sensor to quickly detect both fast-burning and smoldering fires.
A single button on the alarm allows you to quickly silence a nuisance alarm or test its operation. If the backup batteries are ever low, you can silence the low battery chirp for up to eight hours.
The battery drawer is easy to access to make the change. If you’re not interested in smart home technology, but still want a top-notch detector, the First Alert BRK 3120B is a great choice for homes with hardwiring.
- Hardwired smoke detector
- Battery backup keeps detector operating during power outages
- Photoelectric and ionization smoke sensing
- Batteries: Yes (backup only)
- Brand: First Alert
- Button on detector to silence nuisance alarms
- Locking features to prevent theft of unit or batteries
- 85dB alarm
- No carbon monoxide detection
The PetUlove Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector is a reasonably priced way to protect your home. A battery-powered detector features an LCD screen and indicator light. That will show the real-time concentration of carbon monoxide in the air along with the remaining battery life. The indicator light will change for different issues including flashing green when the batteries need replacement or red when the alarm is activated.
Using the 360-degree air inlet ring, the detector will take three separate smoke samples from the surrounding air to ensure that the alarm will trigger. The detector uses three AA batteries that can easily be replaced. A test button will allow you to check if the detector is working and reset the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. It’s backed by a three-year free replacement guarantee.
Thanks to a very reasonable price and small footprint, the PetUlove Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector is a great choice to add complete protection to a home.
- Battery powered smoke and carbon monoxide detector
- LCD screen show the real-time carbon monoxide concentration and battery life
- 360-degree air inlet ring provides complete protection without blind spots
- Batteries: Yes
- Brand: PetUlove
- Reasonably priced to install multiple units in a home
- Three-year free repair warranty
- Mounting equipment provided
- Batteries not included
FAQ
Q: How Many Smoke Detectors Do I Need in My Home?
The laws regarding smoke detectors in a home vary widely by where you're located. The best advice is to have at least one smoke detector on every floor of a home, one detector outside a bathroom, and one in each bedroom as well. Smoke alarms should be installed at least 10 feet away from a cooking device like a stove to minimize false alarms. Most importantly, since smoke rises, make sure to mount a detector high on a wall to help detect smoke faster.
Q: What Are the Different Types of Smoke Detectors?
There are two major types of smoke detectors—wired and battery-powered. Wired detectors use wiring already present in a home. That means you don't have to worry about changing batteries. But the big downside is that during a power outage, the smoke detector won't be working unless it has some type of battery backup.
Battery-powered smoke detectors can be placed anywhere in a home and are perfect for homes without pre-existing wiring. The disadvantage of these models is that you'll need to worry about changing the batteries when depleted so you will always be protected in case of a fire.
Q: Are Smart Smoke Detectors Worth the Extra Cost?
Just like other devices around your home, smoke detectors have also taken a big leap into the modern age with smart technology. Adding Wi-Fi to a smoke detector offers a number of big advantages. The smoke detectors can be tied into a smart home system and interact with other smart home devices. For example, if the smoke alarm is tripped, you can automatically turn on your lights so you can better see what's happening or leave the home. Another big plus is that you can interact with the smoke detector using a companion smartphone app and even receive a notification when the smoke alarm sounds when you're away from home. So while smart smoke detectors might cost more, they are a great tool to add to any modern home.
