Ratings provided by Consumer Reports
Three out of five fire deaths happen in homes without smoke detectors or without working detectors, but Consumer Reports has revealed their top choices for keeping your family and belongings safe.
Many home fires today are burning faster, hotter and deadlier than ever. That’s because many newer homes have open floor plans with fewer walls and doors, which allow fire to spread faster and more freely.
Another factor is that many homes have furniture made of synthetic materials, such as plastic or chipboard, which burn much faster than solid wood, so it is more important than ever to get a fire warning early and then get outside.
The ability to detect carbon monoxide (CO) with a smoke and CO detector can also mean the difference between life and death.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and PreventionMore than 400 Americans die every year from accidental CO poisoning and more than 100,000 people require emergency care. And while most detectors look the same and are certified by a testing organization such as Underwriters Laboratory (UL) or Intertek Electrical Testing Labs (ETL), not all respond with the same speed and efficiency.
That’s why Consumer Reports put dozens of models to the test. In their laboratory, they expose the devices to low levels of CO (100 parts per million) and high levels of CO (400 ppm) to see how quickly and accurately they detect the colorless, odorless gas. For models that display or announce specific CO levels, we check the accuracy of those measurements.
It’s similar to the way they test smoke detectors, by exposing them to flaming flames and smoldering, smoky fires to see how well they handle both.
Most detectors must be hardwired, battery powered, or plugged into an electrical outlet. To determine which type you need, remove the detector from its holder in your home.
- Wired detectors require special wiring typically only found in newer or renovated homes. This runs from the detector to a wall or ceiling.
- Battery powered detectors are wireless, meaning they can be installed anywhere. They typically use replaceable batteries (usually 9 volt or AA) or lithium batteries that are sealed inside and last ten years.
- Plug-in detectors get power from a wall socket. However, like wired detectors, they have a backup battery that takes over in the event of a power outage and those batteries need to be replaced annually.
Newer models offer other useful features, such as smart home alerts via a mobile app or the ability to work with other detectors, so if one goes off, they all do.
Visit them to see which model Consumer Reports tested smoke and carbon monoxide detectors (available free to everyone). For more help selecting the model that’s best for you, check out CRs buying guideat. Below you will find the best smoke and carbon monoxide detectors depending on the needs of your home.
CR is committed to safety. Reviews of life-saving products such as smoke and CO detectors, car seatsAnd bicycle helmets are available to everyone.
Best Wired Smoke Detectors
Price: $38.47Store
Flaming fires
Smoldering fires
– Interconnectable: Yes
View all smoke detector reviews
Total score
97
The Kidde PI2010 has dual sensors – an ionization sensor for detecting flames and a photoelectric sensor for detecting smoky fire – and gets the highest possible scores in our flaming and smoldering fire tests. The wired alarm features battery backup, a silence button and the ability to connect to other detectors. Please contact Kidde to determine which models are compatible.
Price: $33.98 – $40.45 Shop
Flaming fires
Smoldering fires
– Interconnectable: Yes
View all smoke detector reviews
Total score
96
The double sensor First warning 3120B achieves top scores in our flaming and smoldering fire tests. It is wired with a battery backup, making it a good candidate for newer or renovated homes. Other features include a silence button to silence false alarms and the ability to work with other detectors to alert you to danger in another room or on another floor.
Best battery powered smoke detectors
Price: $40.97 Retail
Flaming fires
Smoldering fires
– Interconnectable: Yes
View all smoke detector reviews
Total score
99
This Kidde RF-SM-DC smoke detector performs excellently in CR’s burning and smoldering fire tests. It is wireless and runs on AA batteries. It works with compatible Kidde detectors. And if the alarm goes off while cooking, the model has a handy silence button.
Price: $44.99Store
Flaming fires
Smoldering fires
– Interconnectable: Yes
View all smoke detector reviews
Total score
93
The wireless SimpliSafe SSSD3 The smoke detector has passed CR’s flaming and smoldering fire tests with high ratings. It is powered by a CR123A battery and can be connected to other detectors for added security. Like other high-quality models, it also has a silence button, so you can quickly suppress false alarms.
Price: $32.00Store
Flaming fires
Smoldering fires
– Interconnectable: No
View all smoke detector reviews
Total score
93
The winner Kidde i9080 works on a 9-volt battery, has a silent button and scores highly in our flaming and smoldering fire tests. When activated, it sounds an 85-decibel alarm and turns on a safety light for increased visibility in smoky conditions. One drawback: it cannot be connected to other detectors.
Best Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Price: $70
High CO levels
Display/voice
– Interconnectable: Yes
View all carbon monoxide detector reviews
Total score
93
If you need a battery powered CO detector, you can use the First warning OneLink SCO501CN excels in our tests for detecting high and low CO levels and for the accuracy of CO measurements. When the detector detects carbon monoxide, an 85 decibel siren and voice alarm indicate what is happening and where, using 11 programmable locations. The model can connect wirelessly to other First Alert alarms and has a peak memory function, which records the highest CO reading so you can see if there was a problem while you were away from home.
Price: $34.99Store
High CO levels
Display/voice
– Interconnectable: No
View all carbon monoxide detector reviews
Total score
91
One of the few plug-in CO detectors in our ratings, the First warning CO615 beats its wired brethren, with strong scores for quickly detecting high and low CO levels, as well as a respectable score for CO level display accuracy. It features battery backup and peak memory, so you can check if CO levels spiked when you were away from home for an extended period of time. However, it is a standalone device, meaning it cannot be connected to other CO detectors.
Best combination smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
Price: $65
Flaming fires
High CO levels
– Interconnectable: No
View all reviews of combined smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
Total score
97
This Kidde i12010SCO combined smoke and carbon monoxide detector receives excellent ratings across the board. It performs well in our flaming and smoldering fire tests, successfully identifying high and low CO levels. It is a hardwired model, so it may not fit well in older homes. It is also unable to connect to other detectors in your home or send smart home alerts to your mobile phone.
Price: $68.99 – $79.97 Shop
Flaming fires
High CO levels
– Interconnectable: Yes
View all reviews of combined smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
Total score
93
The Kidde Smart P4010DCSCO-W combined smoke and CO detector achieved high scores in CR’s burning and smoldering fire tests. It is based on a photoelectric sensor, which is usually better at detecting smoldering fires, and runs on a lithium battery with a lifespan of 10 years. It offers voice alarm and can connect to detectors throughout your home, two useful features if you’re not near the source of the CO leak.
Price: $78.95Store
Flaming fires
High CO levels
– Interconnectable: Yes
View all reviews of combined smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
Total score
92
If you’re looking for a wired option, the Kidde KN-COSM-IBA also performs well. It gets top marks in our smoldering and flaming fire tests, high and low CO level tests and for CO level display accuracy. The model has the ability to record the highest CO levels it detects, which is useful if you have been away from home. It also has AA battery backup and the ability to connect to compatible alarms.
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