By clicking a retailer link you consent to third-party cookies that track your onward journey. This enables W? to receive an affiliate commission if you make a purchase, which supports our mission to be the UK's consumer champion.
Best oven thermometers: tested and reviewed by experts
As the Which? cooking appliance expert, Jamie works with scientists and market analysts to give ovens, fryers, microwaves and more a good grilling. She helps shoppers get the most for their money with trustworthy, science-backed advice.
The best oven thermometers are accurate to within 1°C, reach temperature in less than 10 minutes and are easy to read through a closed oven door.
We tested popular models from brands including KitchenAid, OXO, ProCook and Salter, costing from £6. Using a calibrated test probe as a reference, our lab test compared how accurate the thermometers are at set temperatures, how quickly they heat up and how easy they are to read.
Four oven thermometers were worthy of our Best Buy recommendations, and we have one cheaper Great Value pick.
How our tests find you the best
We’ve tested 11 oven thermometers
We assess how accurate each thermometer is, how quickly it responds and how easy it is to read, to help your turkey triumph this Christmas.
Accuracy
To discover how accurate the oven thermometers' temperatures are, we compare their readings to the pin-point accurate readings of a lab-calibrated temperature probe.
Speed to settle
Tins of sponge cake batter don't like to wait around, so we time how long it takes each thermometer to get up to 150°C, 180°C, and 200°C – some take nearly a quarter of an hour.
Ease of use
Accuracy is great, but it's no use if you can’t see the dial in the oven. High-scoring thermometers have big clear gauges, are stable when hanging or sitting, and mark Celsius rather than Fahrenheit.
The oven thermometers we tested
The biggest brands and the most popular 11 oven thermometers are listed here.
Only logged-in Which? members can view our oven thermometers test results.
Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations.
| Oven thermometer | Price | Score | Accuracy | Speed to respond | Easy to read |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sign up to reveal Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations Unlock tableGet Digital access at £5 per month for your first 3 months, cancel at any time. Already a member? | 87% | ||||
| 86% | |||||
| 85% | |||||
| 83% | |||||
| 82% | |||||
| 81% | |||||
| 80% | |||||
| 80% | n/a | ||||
| 79% | |||||
| 69% | n/a | ||||
| 61% |
Sign up to reveal
Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations
Unlock tableGet Digital access at £5 per month for your first 3 months, cancel at any time.
Already a member?
Log in
Date tested: July 2026. We're not able to show every retailer, and cheaper prices may be available. n/a Two models could not be placed into a hot oven for testing, and therefore returned no result for their speed to register.
Selected oven thermometers from our tests are listed in alphabetical order below.
Only logged-in Which? members can view the oven thermometers from our tests.
Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations below.
Chef Aid 10E00056
Available from Amazon (£2.99)
Type Analogue
Main scaling Fahrenheit
Size (HxWxD) 7 x 6 x 4cm
Temperature range 40-300°C (100-600°F)
KitchenAid KQ903G
Available at Amazon (£13.89), Tesco (£14.69)
Type Analogue
Main scaling Fahrenheit
Size (HxWxD) 8.1 x 7.2 x 6.9cm
Temperature range 40-320°C (100-600°F)
KitchenCraft KCOVENTH
Available from Amazon (£6.49)
Type Analogue
Main scaling Celsius
Size (HxWxD) 7.6 x 6.6 x 4.4cm
Temperature range 40-310°C (100-600°F)
Kuhn Rikon 2280
Available from Amazon (£10.70)
Type Analogue
Main scaling Celsius only
Size (HxWxD) 7.5 x 6.2 x 3.8cm
Temperature range 25-300°C
Linkhood 02FBA
Available from Amazon (£6.99)
Type Analogue
Main scaling Fahrenheit
Size (HxWxD) 7 x 6 x 3.8cm
Temperature range 40-310°C (100-600°F)
Ensure your oven is spick and span with one of the best oven cleaners from our tough tests
OXO Good Grips
Available from Amazon (£20.36)
Type Analogue
Main scaling Fahrenheit
Size (HxWxD) 11.2 x 6.7 x 4.6cm
Temperature range 40-310°C (100-600°F)
ProCook 5979
Available from ProCook (£7.00)
Type Analogue
Main scaling Celsius
Size (HxWxD) 9.5 x 7 x 4.6cm
Temperature range 0-300°C (10-570°F)
Salter Analogue
Available from Sainsbury's (£10), Amazon (£11.99), John Lewis (£12)
Type Analogue
Main scaling Celsius only
Size (HxWxD) 9.2 x 7.2 x 2cm
Temperature range 50-300°C
Tala 10A04104
Available from Amazon (£7.00)
Type Analogue
Main scaling Fahrenheit
Size (HxWxD) 8.2 x 7.1 x 4.1cm
Temperature range 40-310°C (100-600°F)
Taylor Pro 27210
Available from Lakeland (£8.99), Tesco (£12.99)
Type Analogue
Main scaling Celsius
Size (HxWxD) 10.2 x 8.1 x 4cm
Temperature range 40-310°C (100-600°F)
ThermoPro AOT200-1
Available from Amazon (£7.18)
Type Analogue
Main scaling Celsius
Size (HxWxD) 7.5 x 6 x 3.6cm
Temperature range 50-310°C (100-600°F)
How we test oven thermometers
Many free-to-access websites review oven thermometers using just one tester, basing scores on their preferences. These sites may also receive oven thermometers free of charge, directly from manufacturers.
Which? tests are different. Our test scores are based on measurements and ratings, and brands can't buy their way into our testing. We select the most searched-for products, and we pay for every single one we test.
We also regularly revisit the oven thermometers on sale to see if there are any more popular models that need testing.
How we choose oven thermometers
Jamie Darlow, Which? senior researcher and writer, says:
'We make sure to include oven thermometers from the most popular and well-known kitchen brands, including KitchenAid, ProCook and Salter – the products our members are most likely to buy.
'A good spread of prices, sizes and features is also important, so our recommendations provide something useful for different homes and budgets.'
We’re not influenced by third parties, and we don't accept freebies from product manufacturers or retailers. As a not-for-profit organisation, we have no owners, shareholders or government departments to answer to, so we work entirely on behalf of you, the consumer – nobody else.
Read our full statement of editorial independence.
Accuracy: does it show the correct temperature?
We tested each oven thermometer in the same oven, and measured the readings at 150°C, 180°C and 200°C. We didn't rely on the oven's gauge; instead, we benchmarked it with a lab-calibrated temperature probe to ensure all the readings were 100% accurate.
Speed to settle: how quickly does it show a reading?
Most of the oven thermometers we tested went into a hot oven (150°C, 180°C, and 200°C), where we recorded the time it took the gauge to reach and settle on a temperature. The instructions for several models warned against placing them in a hot oven, so we couldn't give them a score for this part of the test, making them ineligible for our Great Value and Best Buy recommendations.
Ease of use: how easy is it to set up and read the temperature?
The best oven thermometer in the world isn't much good if you have to open the oven door to read it – and see your Yorkshire puddings deflate. Oven thermometers with a large dial and precise needle do well here, as do those with Celsius-only scaling.
How we choose oven thermometers
To make sure our reviews are 100% independent, we never accept free product samples from manufacturers or brands. We buy all our oven thermometers from major retailers, just like a regular shopper would.
We cater to a range of budgets, from just £3 to around £20, so we can showcase premium Best Buy oven thermometers alongside Great Value picks that punch above their price.
Our oven thermometer experts
Running our test projects is a group effort, with several team members contributing to each one.
We thoroughly re-evaluate our testing processes every year to ensure it's useful to you, and we ask the Which? community to tell us what matters the most when choosing a new oven thermometer.
Here's the team that makes it happen:
- Senior researcher & writer, Jamie Darlow Jamie's been writing about consumer products for two decades, and led our cooking research team for 12 months before moving to test our tech. He's passionate about Yorkshire puddings, and will stop at nothing to sort the thermometer flops from those that rise above the rest.
- Scientific advisor, Ruby Gordon: Ruby designed the test programme for oven thermometers, instructing the Which? lab technicians on how to ensure we received repeatable, verifiable results. This isn't her first rodeo, though; she's advised across more than 35 projects, from air pollution to tech.
- Senior market analyst, Sarah Hiscock: Sarah scours the oven thermometer market to ensure we test the products you care about most. From household names to up-and-comers, she cuts through the hype to choose a representative range you can rely on
- Home content editor, Jackie Gallego: Jackie's been shaping the Which? cooking content for the past six years, making sure what you read is what actually matters to you.
Why you can trust us: at Which? we're free from manufacturer and retailer influence. Find out more about our impartiality and how your support helps us to stay editorially independent
What to look for in an oven thermometer
We put together our list of oven thermometers from the most appropriate models available in the UK, but there's a big world of cooking out there.
Here's what you should look for in alternative products:
- Digital thermometers use a physical cable to tether to the gauge, or a wireless connection that adds cost. Neither is ideal, so we recommend sticking with analogue.
- It's best practice to place the thermometer as close as possible to the food you're cooking to avoid temperature differences throughout your oven. Pick one that can both hang and stand.
- Choose an oven thermometer with a big dial and, ideally, Celsius-only scaling.
Can I leave my oven thermometer in the oven?
Yes, the models we tested are fine to leave in the oven every time you cook. They will become tarnished over time, but you can expect our Best Buy models to remain easy to read and accurate.
How do you use an oven thermometer?
Hang or place the thermometer near where you're cooking to get the most accurate temperature reading. Preheat your oven as usual, wait around 10 minutes for the needle to stabilise, and read the dial through the glass door to verify the actual temperature.
Keep your hands safe when using your oven and your thermometer with a pair of our best oven gloves