When it comes to starting a family, timing is everything, and knowing your optimal ovulation window can make a huge difference. One of the simplest and most effective ways to track your fertility is by using a basal thermometer. By measuring your basal body temperature every morning before getting out of bed, you can identify patterns in your menstrual cycle and determine when you’re most fertile.
To help you find the best one for your needs, we’ve carefully compared all of the most popular BBT thermometers on the market. We evaluated these products based on their accuracy in measuring temperature, user-friendliness, availability of monitoring tools like apps or charts, and battery life.
With our selection of the best basal thermometers, we hope you’ll be one step closer to achieving your family planning goals.
Our Top Picks
- Best Digital Basal Thermometer: iProven Digital Basal Body Thermometer
- Best Wearable Basal Thermometer: Tempdrop Wearable Basal Body Temperature
- Best Smart Basal Thermometer: Easy@Home Smart Basal Thermometer
- Best Body Basal Thermometer: iFertracker – Smart Fertility Tracker
- Quickest Basal Thermometer: Boncare Basal Thermometer
- Easiest To Use Basal Thermometer: MABIS Digital Basal Body Thermometer
- Best Complete Kit: Natural Cycles Plan a Pregnancy Kit
In This Article
HappyBabyHub’s Best Basal Thermometers Picks
iProven Digital Basal Body Thermometer – Best Digital Basal Thermometer
- Simple to use, simply push the button
- Accurate enough
- It is very affordable
- Memory in case you forget your last temp (only last recall)
- Slightly hard to read and you’ll need to hold it at an angle to reduce the glare
This thermometer features a tiny tip that quickly warms up and provides an accurate reading of your body temperature in just 60 seconds. Even though this thermometer doesn’t sync with an app, you can manually enter your data into any ovulation app or keep a paper record of your cycle using the printable chart.
If you see the empty battery symbol, don’t worry! Changing the battery is simple. Just open the cap, hold the battery case between your fingers, and remove the battery with a needle. Then replace the battery with the “-” symbol facing up and put the cap back on. This thermometer even has a unique chip for 1/100th degree accuracy in readings, making it the perfect tool for tracking your ovulation with precision.
Tempdrop Wearable Basal Body Temperature – Best Wearable Basal Thermometer
- Your temperatures adjust in the Tempdrop app every time a new temp is added
- Extremely convenient
- No guessing if your 2 am pee break or nursing session is throwing off your temps
- The armband can be tightened or loosened
- For the first 1-2 months utilizing Tempdrop, the device is calibrating to your body, so the first cycle will not be accurate, but keep it going
The Tempdrop sensor continuously monitors your temperature while you sleep, so you can sleep in without any fuss or alarm clocks. When you’re ready to sync, simply place the sensor on your upper arm and wear it while you sleep. Plus, you don’t need to worry about daily charging as it comes with a long-lasting disposable battery.
Tempdrop’s wearable sensor and charting software provide a comprehensive fertility charting solution right on your smartphone. You have the option to enter your data into other fertility apps or use their companion app to examine and track your fertility indicators. Plus, their built-in charting functions make it easy to keep track of various fertility indicators and determine your cycle stages.
Easy@Home Smart Basal Thermometer – Best Smart Basal Thermometer
- It’s way easier than having to track your BBT manually
- The thermometer is easy to use
- Automatically syncs with the app
- Easy to read since it’s back-lit with big digits
- The thermometer is a bit noisy – it beeps when you turn it on, when it starts to get a read, when it’s done, and when you turn it off
This thermometer has a snazzy backlit display that shows your temperature and syncs with a mobile app for your convenience. With a clinically accurate precision of 0.09/0.05, you can trust the results. Reading the results takes only 1.5 to 2 minutes, so you won’t be waiting long.
The thermometer’s cloud storage allows you to keep an unlimited number of records, and you can recall up to 30 temperature records from memory. The pre-installed button battery lasts around three months, so you won’t have to worry about replacing it often. Plus, you can choose between Celsius and Fahrenheit!
The Prenom app takes into account all of your fertility signals, including BBT, ovulation test results, PdG test results, and period information, so you can trust that you’ll receive reliable predictions of your reproductive window.
iFertracker – Smart Fertility Tracker – Best Body Basal Thermometer
- Sticks well without falling off
- The app helps you pinpoint your cycle with amazing precision
- Small and lightweight
- The app clearly displays the bbt from the previous night
- The refills of the adhesives are a bit expensive
iFertracker tracks your core body temperature as you sleep, it collects an impressive 20,000 temperature data points tucked snugly beneath your arm. With its easy-to-use software and hardware, you can easily monitor your fertile window and ovulation day with minimal effort.
Plus, the app’s color-coded interface makes it easy-peasy to review past cycles and track changes over time. You’ll always be in the know and ready for whatever’s coming up next, whether it’s your period or your most fertile window!
Boncare Basal Thermometer – Quickest Basal Thermometer
- Reading in about 10 seconds
- Comes with a protective case
- Accurate
- The flexible tip is comfortable
- No backlight
This digital basal thermometer takes only around 10 seconds to read. Plus it’s scientifically validated, so you can trust it to give you accurate readings thanks to the most recent advancements in sensory technology.
The clear display, beeper alert, memory display, auto shut off, and adjustable units between °F and °C make this oral thermometer simple to use. Plus, you can easily clean it in a hygienic manner thanks to its waterproof tip. Just wipe it with water and clean it with medicinal alcohol before or after each use. It is lightweight and comes with a free storage case.
MABIS Digital Basal Body Thermometer – Easiest To Use Basal Thermometer
- Quick start-up and temperature reading
- Beeps when it’s done reading the temperature
- Automatically turns off when not in use
- One button operation
- The unit does have memory, but it’s a bit misleading. You can’t access it. Instead, when you turn the unit on, it flashes the last temperature reading, then calibrates to 97.70, then flashes “Lo” to signal it’s ready to read
Detecting and tracking ovulation has never been easier with the convenient base humidity testing of this basal thermometer. With a simple memory function, you can easily track your daily temperature fluctuations to monitor your fertility. Plus, the large, easy-to-read LCD and friendly notification tone make it easy to detect your peak temperature when it arrives.
Produced in an ISO-recognized facility, this clinically accurate digital BBT thermometer comes with a 12-month supply of ovulation charts, a transparent plastic storage container for the probe covers, and a replacement LR41 long-life battery.
To use, simply place the thermometer in your mouth under your tongue and close your lips for about a minute. When the temperature stabilizes, four beep tones will play, indicating that monitoring is complete.
Natural Cycles Plan a Pregnancy Kit – Best Complete Kit
- FDA cleared
- Includes ovulation strips and pregnancy tests
- Easy to use
- Stores 1 previous reading
- You only get 6 months free of use
Natural Cycles is the first app to receive CE certification in Europe and FDA clearance in the US. With NC° Plan Pregnancy, you’ll have access to advanced science that analyzes your individual cycle to pinpoint your most fertile days.
To help you track your temperature accurately, your NC° Plan Prenatal membership comes with a basal body thermometer that’s more sensitive than a standard fever thermometer, measuring body temperature to two decimal places and detecting temperature changes related to your menstrual cycle.
Each morning, take your temperature and enter it into the app to find out your fertility status for the day. And if you want to further narrow down your viable window, the app comes with LH tests that measure an increase in luteinizing hormone 24-28 hours before ovulation.
With ten ovulation tests and five pregnancy tests included in the NC° Plan Pregnancy Starting Set, you’ll be well-equipped to plan your family with confidence.
How To Choose A Basal Thermometer?
- Digital/Analog: You can choose between a digital or an analog basal thermometer. Digital thermometers are more accurate and easy to read, while analog thermometers are less expensive and do not require batteries.
- Memory: Some basal thermometers have a memory function that automatically saves your previous temperature readings. This can be helpful in tracking your ovulation over time and identifying any patterns.
- User-Friendliness: A user-friendly basal thermometer is important, especially if you are new to ovulation tracking. Look for a thermometer with a clear and easy-to-read display, a beeping alert to indicate when the temperature has stabilized, and easy-to-use buttons.
- App connectivity: Some basal thermometers are designed to work with smartphone apps, which can make ovulation tracking easier and more convenient. These apps can help you track your cycle, predict your fertile days, and monitor your progress over time.
What Is A Basal Body Temperature?
Basal body temperature (BBT) is the body’s temperature at rest, typically taken first thing in the morning before getting out of bed, and after several hours of uninterrupted sleep (1). BBT is often used as a method of tracking ovulation and fertility, as a woman’s BBT tends to rise slightly after ovulation due to increased levels of the hormone progesterone.
By tracking changes in BBT over time, women can identify their fertile days and better predict when ovulation is likely to occur. BBT can be measured using a basal thermometer, which is more sensitive and accurate than a regular thermometer.
What Should My Basal Body Temperature Be?
Basal body temperature (BBT) varies from person to person and can fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle. However, in general, a typical basal body temperature range is between 97°F (36.1°C) to 99°F (37.2°C), with the lowest temperatures occurring during the first half of the menstrual cycle and the highest temperatures occurring after ovulation (2).
A rise in basal body temperature of at least 0.5°F (0.3°C) indicates that ovulation has occurred. It is essential to track your basal body temperature over time to get a better understanding of your own patterns and to identify any changes or irregularities that may need medical attention.
Are Basal Body Thermometers More Accurate?
Basal body thermometers (BBTs) are designed specifically to measure subtle changes in basal body temperature, whereas regular thermometers may not be sensitive enough to detect these changes accurately. BBTs typically measure temperature to two decimal points, which is more precise than many regular thermometers. Therefore, BBTs can be more accurate for tracking changes in basal body temperature, which can help in determining ovulation and fertility (3).
Can You Still Be Pregnant If Your BBT Drops?
A drop in basal body temperature (BBT) could indicate that ovulation has occurred and the fertile window has ended. If conception has not occurred, the hormone levels that maintain the uterine lining start to decrease, causing a drop in BBT. However, if the BBT drops below the cover line and stays low for an extended period of time, it could indicate that menstruation is imminent, and pregnancy is unlikely.
Can You Get Pregnant That Night If You Ovulate In The Morning?
It is possible to get pregnant if you ovulate in the morning and have intercourse that same night. Sperm can survive in the female reproductive tract for up to five days, so if you have intercourse in the days leading up to ovulation or on the day of ovulation itself, there is a chance that the sperm may fertilize an egg. It’s important to note that the exact timing of ovulation can vary from cycle to cycle and may not always occur in the morning, so it’s important to track your fertility signs to help predict your fertile window.
How To Track Ovulation Using A Basal Thermometer?
- Start tracking on day one of your cycle: On the first day of your menstrual cycle, start tracking your basal temperature every morning. It’s important to take your temperature at the same time every day, preferably first thing in the morning before getting out of bed.
- Record your temperature: Use a chart or a fertility tracking app to record your basal temperature each day. You can also note any other fertility signs, such as cervical mucus or changes in libido.
- Look for a temperature shift: As you approach ovulation, you’ll notice a slight increase in your basal temperature (4). This increase is caused by the hormone progesterone, which is released after ovulation. Your basal temperature will remain elevated until the end of your cycle.
- Identify your fertile window: By tracking your basal temperature over several cycles, you can identify your fertile window. This is the period of time when you are most likely to conceive. Your fertile window is typically the five days leading up to ovulation, as well as the day of ovulation itself (5).
