The Best Hygrometers Available Today

Surely, you’ve felt the difference between a humid environment and a more arid desert location. Typically, when it’s more humid, you stay sticky. For reptiles, it’s ideal. For many people, especially when they’re not used to it, it can be incredibly uncomfortable. One thing you may not have considered unless you now have a reptile at home that requires a hygrometer is measuring the humidity levels in your indoor space—particularly in their enclosure. Hygrometers can also be used to keep environments where you store food or wine moisture free, and they can be used outdoors to give you a solid reading. This information helps you keep your reptiles comfortable, keep your plants in the right environment, and even properly store some cigars.

To get the most accurate reading, you can pick up a digital hygrometer that has intelligent features so that you always know what action you need to take to keep your reptiles safe and comfy and keep any other items in your home in good condition. There are many different types of hygrometers with different features so to keep it simple for you, we selected the five best hygrometers available today that you can pick up online and have delivered straight to your front door. We highlight the best overall, provide you with a super budget-friendly option, and give you some tips on how to choose the right hygrometer for your needs.

A-Z Animals Top Picks for Hygrometers

#1 Best Overall: Ambient Weather Wireless Indoor/Outdoor 8-Channel Thermo-Hygrometer

The best overall Hydrometer is the Ambient Weather Wireless Indoor/Outdoor 8-Channel Thermo-Hygrometer that comes with three remote sensors.

This hygrometer measures 5“ x 1“ x 4.5“ and is battery-powered with an LCD display. It’s designed to be easy to read and simple to use while offering plenty of features at an affordable price. This WS–10 model includes an indoor thermo-hygrometer and three remote thermometer/hygrometer sensors. These can all be read at the same time. The display console also has the ability to remotely read and update up to eight remote thermo-hygrometer sensors all at the same time.

This design also features audible and visual alarms when the temperature and humidity exceed whatever minimum and maximum settings you’ve designated. You can also add five additional sensors for complete monitoring. You can manually reset it at any time, and look at the console to discover the temperature and humidity along with the minimum and maximum temperature and humidity settings for every location.

You can use this hygrometer indoors or outdoors. It has a transmission range of up to 300 feet line of sight and about 100 feet in most conditions. As far as the high and low alarm feature, it’s only available for indoor channel one, two, and three sensor locations.

Pros and Cons of the Ambient Weather Wireless Indoor/Outdoor 8-Channel Thermo-Hygrometer

Best Overall

Ambient Weather WS-10 Wireless Indoor/Outdoor 8-Channel Thermo-Hygrometer

•  Audible and visual alarms sound when temperature or humidity exceeds whatever minimum and maximum you’ve designated
• Can be used indoors or outdoors
• Easy to install and use
• Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon

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2. Best on a Budget: JEDEW 2-Pack Mini Hygrometer Thermometer 

Sometimes you need something simple that is easy on your wallet and when that’s the case, you can pick up the JEDEW 2-Pack Mini Hygrometer Thermometer.

These are hygrometers are black and have a simple, circular LCD monitor. They only measure about 1.7 inches long, so it fits in the palm of your hand.

This hygrometer is versatile, and you can use it anywhere from a laboratory to a factory to a home office and of course, your reptile room. The temperature accuracy is +/-1°C(+/-2°F) and the humidity accuracy is +/-5%RH. Set it up and leave it or take it with you when you are traveling. It’s portable and designed to measure indoor humidity and temperature so that you can adjust your humidifier, dehumidifier, or anything else you have in place, especially if you’re caring for a reptile.

Although tiny, it’s mighty. It measures every 10 seconds with 24 sensitive vents to provide you with the most updated and accurate readings. It also has a wide measuring range and works in temperatures from 32°F up to 158°F. It also measures humidity from 10% to 99% Rh. This is a great space saver because of how tiny it is and is ideal for those of you who need something that you can easily pop in to your bag and take with you wherever you travel.

The only drawback to this product is that the small screen is difficult to read.

Pros and Cons of the JEDEW 2-Pack Mini Hygrometer Thermometer 

Best on a Budget

JEDEW 2-Pack Mini Hygrometer Thermometer

• Small and lightweight; fits in the palm of your hand
• Can use it in a variety of settings aside from your reptile room
• Very accurate

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3. Best Wall-Mounted: Extech Instruments Big Digit Hygrometer

As the easiest option to mount on the wall we recommend the Extech Instruments Big Digit Hygrometer.

This hygrometer is easy to mount on your wall and has a large display that alerts you of the relative humidity, temperature, and dew point. You can program certain set points to have the alarm go off both visually and audibly when humidity levels exceed either your highest or your lowest limit. It comes with a bracket for wall mounting but it also has a built-in stand for sitting on a desk or table. It also recalls minimum and maximum readings.

With your purchase, you get the Extech 445815 humidity alert meter with a remote probe, a built-in stand, a wall bracket, and two AAA batteries. You also get a user manual so that you can learn the ins and outs of the product before you start using it. This was designed for monitoring environmental conditions in a variety of different areas that require expert control. With the included remote probe, you can use up to 18 inches of cable to take measurements behind walls or other areas that are difficult to access.

One of the most awesome features of this model is that it displays the dew point reading, which helps you stay abreast of when condensation will occur. You’ll have access to the humidity levels, temperature, and dew point all on the same screen at the same time.

Unfortunately, some customers have reported that this product is difficult to calibrate.

Pros and Cons of the Extech Instruments Big Digit Hygrometer

Best Wall-Mounted

Extech Instruments Big Digit Hygrometer

• Easy to mount on your wall
• Large display alerts you to relative humidity, temperature, and dew point
• Overall Amazon review of 4.2 out of five stars

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4. Best for Indoors: AcuRite Digital Hygrometer

As the best option for indoor use we recommend the AcuRite Digital Hygrometer.

This digital hygrometer is equipped with enhanced temperature and humidity accuracy. It offers responsive readings, with its sensors detecting changes in temperature and humidity every 10 seconds. You can calibrate the sensor to each room or environment so that you’re able to collect the most accurate, area-specific data. The display is simple and easy to read and includes a snapshot of current conditions. You can also mount this on your wall, mount it with a magnet, or use it on top of your table. This slim design is perfect for home use and helps you master your humidity levels at home. Whatever you need to protect, this is the perfect hygrometer.

The temperature you keep indoors along with the humidity can have a big impact on not just your comfort but also your health and safety. When humidity levels get too high, you’re also putting your valuables in a sticky situation. To protect yourself, your loved ones, and your reptiles, this hygrometer empowers you to make all those necessary environmental adjustments as needed.

Unfortunately, some customers reported that the battery terminals corroded after a few months of use.

Pros and Cons of the AcuRite Digital Hygrometer

Best for Indoors

AcuRite Digital Hygrometer

•  Display is simple and easy to read
• Can calibrate the sensor to each room or environment for area-specific data
• Rated 4.6 out of 5 on Amazon

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Choosing the Best: What to Look For

Even with the explanations above, you may still not be completely clear on your final decision. That’s okay! Below, we share some of the factors to consider based on what your needs are. Having these bits of information upfront can help you make the most beneficial purchase for your needs.

Reason/Location

Why do you need a hygrometer? Where do you plan to use it? These two questions alone can help you discover the best hygrometer. For example, if you’re just planning on having a hygrometer set up at home for indoor use, precision may not be that much of a high priority the way it would be if you were using it to keep your reptiles in the perfect condition. If you’re looking for a product that can handle both indoors and outdoors, then you need a system that is set up to handle both.

If you’re using the hygrometer for reptiles, then a super precise humidity meter is absolutely important. Be prepared to make a pricier purchase and make sure that the device itself is small enough to fit inside of your humidor. Also, consider purchasing a hygrometer that has remote access so you can keep tabs on your humidor even when you’re away from home.

If you’re picking up a hygrometer for a terrarium, determine if you would like your hygrometer to also serve as a thermometer. Also, consider the size. Does it fit comfortably in the terrarium to keep your reptiles happy and comfortable? Make sure you do your research as well to ensure that you are setting up the appropriate humidity levels for your reptile. Not all of them are the same. Remember, some animals require an area where they get to bask and another area where conditions must be cooler to keep them comfortable, so you may need to purchase more than one hygrometer or pick up a product that has two included already.

Another popular reason people pick up hygrometers is to monitor their greenhouses. Plants require a certain level of humidity to thrive. With a hygrometer in your greenhouse, you can help to control those levels, especially as the seasons change and those levels start getting thrown off. A hygrometer empowers you with the information you need to properly care for your greenhouse, your terrarium, your humidor, or just your home environment in general.

Accuracy

In some situations, accuracy could be a little bit off but when you’re dealing with animals, plants, and cigars, you absolutely need to be prepared to make a purchase that ensures you will have accurate readings. When shopping around, look for accuracy ratings from people who have already purchased the device you’re considering.

Features

Not every digital hygrometer is as fancy as the next. Some are very intelligent, offering remote monitoring that gets connected to your iPhone, so you’re always alerted if something changes in the atmosphere where you’ve placed the hygrometer. You can set up a limit and then get alerts when that limit is reached so that you can make necessary changes. This feature, especially if you are taking care of animals, gives you peace of mind and helps you better care for your reptiles. Also, look at the user interface. Some are very simple while others are wider and able to encapsulate more information.

Data Storage

Another important consideration is if you will need to have the hygrometer store any historical data. Some of these devices have unlimited capacity, which is ideal if you’re going to need a long report while others have a significantly smaller capacity that may just log the last 24 hours. Consider which feature is most important for your needs before making that final purchase.

Cost

We highlighted some of the best hygrometers available today at different price points. Remember that if accuracy is vital, you should consider that this is a great investment to keep your animals safe but if you’re looking for something that doesn’t require that much precision, you could get away with a budget-friendly hygrometer that handles the basics.

How to Manage Humidity Levels for Reptiles

There are several actions you can take to help you manage the humidity levels for your reptiles. For example, you can try a front view enclosure to better control the humidity for your reptile. It’s a delicate dance between ensuring that the enclosure can trap moisture but not so much that airflow stops. If there isn’t proper airflow, then you’ll be dealing with mold and fungus. For that, you might consider incorporating a small fan into the enclosure with the air blowing out. This small trick can help to keep the air flowing throughout.

Another way to raise humidity levels inside a reptile’s enclosure is to add a large water bowl. This water bowl doesn’t have to be super deep, rather, it’s really just about the surface area it covers. The larger the bowl, the more water vapor rises inside the enclosure. And to take this one step further, you can add a heating pad to the water bowl. This causes the water to evaporate more quickly, which of course leads to higher humidity levels inside the enclosure.

You already know that in these enclosures, the temperature and humidity levels range. Typically, there’s a warmer part of the cage and a cooler part of the cage. Your reptile decides which area is more comfortable at any given time. If you move the water bowl and keep it closer to the heat source, you’ll be able to create higher humidity. If you move the water bowl away from the heat source, then the humidity levels will drop.

One of the simplest ways that you can add humidity to your reptile’s enclosure is to mist the cage. How often and how much mist you use is dependent on what your reptile needs, so make sure that you have a thorough understanding to not over-mist. Typically, the goal is simply to keep the substrate dampened—not to soak it. If you live in a particularly dry climate, you will probably be doing more work to keep those humidity levels comfortable for your reptiles. If that’s the case, you may want to incorporate a humidifier into the room where you keep your enclosure. However, having high humidity can also damage household items like furniture. If you do have a specified only for your reptiles, then a humidifier may make a bit more sense.