Your thermostat is up, but you still feel cold. Now you’re thinking, “What Real room temperature? Is my thermostat accurate?” Thankfully, there are several tools you can use to measure room temperature (and you may have one of them in your pocket right now!) In this article, we’ll show you how to measure your room temperature. How to measure room temperature with a smartphone (using internal thermometer or external sensor) plus the best way to use 3 types of good old fashioned thermometer Now let’s see what the temperature actually is!

[Edit]things you should know

• Accurately check room temperature from smartphone by connecting to an external sensor or weather station.
• Use a digital, glass, or bimetallic thermometer by placing it in the center of the room (at least high) and reading them after about 5 minutes.
• The recommended room temperature for healthy adults is between 64–75º F (18–24º C).

[Edit]step

[Edit]Using Smartphone Sensors and Apps

1. Be careful with the results of the Thermometer app for iPhone or Android. Few smartphones have the right equipment to accurately read room temperature – their sensors only monitor battery temperature and are affected by heat from the phone. This means that thermometer apps can only give a rough, often inaccurate estimate of room temperature unless they are designed with a specific ambient temperature sensor.^[1]
   
   • Some popular thermometer apps include Room Temperature Thermometer, HD Thermometer, and Real Thermometer.
   • Some of the phones with external temperature sensor are Samsung Galaxy S4, Samsung Galaxy Note 3, Motorola Moto X, Huawei Ascend P6 and Xiaomi Mi3.
   • The number of phones with accurate sensors has decreased because it is not a popular or easy feature to manufacture.
2. Get an outdoor temperature sensor or weather station for your phone. For an accurate reading, connect your phone to an external thermometer. Check out devices that connect to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth—many can read humidity, air quality, and more. Then, download the accompanying app to your phone so you can read results and adjust settings from the palm of your hand.^[2]
   
   • Wi-Fi models tend to be more expensive than Bluetooth ones, which can only work if your phone is within a certain distance of the sensor device.
   • External sensors and weather stations can also be connected if you have an Amazon Alexa or Google Home system.
3. Open the companion app for your sensor or weather station. Wait for the app to download, then tap on it to open it. Depending on the product, you may need to create an account to sync the device with the app. Make sure you are connected to the same WiFi network that your external device uses WiFi. If it uses Bluetooth, connect your devices to enable use.^[3]
   
4. Go to the home screen of the app or select the room temperature reading. The app’s display will look different depending on which device you’re using, but the temperature will be easy to read. Make sure you are looking at the room or ambient temperature and not the weather forecast.^[4]
   
   • Adjust your settings to your preferred temperature system (Fahrenheit or Celsius), or convert the reading yourself if you want to do some math!

[Edit]using a conventional thermometer

1. Try a digital thermometer for the most accurate temperature reading. Electronic and digital thermometers are more expensive than other types of thermometers, but they provide the fastest and most accurate temperature readings. They react very quickly to changes in air temperature, so you will always be sure of the current temperature.^[5]
   
   • Some digital models store temperature data over a period of time so you can evaluate room temperature changes.
2. Use a classic glass thermometer for approximate temperature readings. Choose an option that does not contain mercury, as it is highly toxic and dangerous if the thermometer ever breaks.^[6] These thermometers use a glass tube (a capillary) with a liquid inside. As the temperature rises, the fluid expands and moves further up the tube.^[7]
   
   • These thermometers are slower to adjust to temperature changes than digital ones and can only provide an approximation of the ambient temperature.
   • Glass thermometers are also called bulb or liquid-in-glass thermometers.
3. Try a bimetallic thermometer for a decorative or easy-to-read option. These thermometers have a display dial with a pointer (similar to a clockface) that moves to show you the temperature. They have a metal bar that expands and bends as the room temperature rises, which moves the pointer on the dial.^[8]
   
   • The large pointer on the dial makes it easy to see the temperature from a distance. However, bimetallic thermometers are not as accurate as digital ones.
   • Bimetallic thermometers may appear relatively plain or may be made to look like compasses, clocks, sundials, or other designs.
4. Place the thermometer in the center of the room, at least as high. This is the ideal spot for accurate reading as it is sitting height for most people and away from the heat or cold of the floor and walls. Make sure there are no drafts or heat sources near the thermometer, as these will spoil the reading.^[9]
   
   • Try setting the thermometer on a table or stool to keep it off the (usually cold) floor.
   • Keep the thermometer away from direct sunlight, which will give a hotter reading.
5. Wait 5 minutes for the thermometer to adjust to room temperature. Step back from the thermometer so that your body heat doesn’t affect the reading. Most thermometers, especially glass or bimetallic ones, will take at least several minutes to adjust to the changing temperature.^[10]
   
   • Digital thermometers work faster and can show results in about 1-2 minutes.
6. Read the thermometer without holding or touching it. Leave the thermometer on the table so the heat from your hands doesn’t alter the reading.^[11] For most people, a comfortable room temperature is between 18–24º C (64–75º F).^[12]
   
   • digital thermometer: Read the numbers on the digital display to see the temperature. This reading is the most accurate.
   • Glass Thermometer: Read the number or tick mark closest to the top of the liquid in the tube. For accuracy keep your eyes at the level of the top of the liquid.
   • Bimetallic Thermometer: Look at the number or tick mark the pointer is pointing at, just as you would read an analog clock.

[Edit]ideal room temperature

1. Keep the temperature in most rooms in your home between 64–75º F (18–24º C). The World Health Organization (WHO) and other health groups recommend a minimum room temperature of around 64º F (18º C) for healthy adults who dress appropriately for the weather. This range is ideal for rooms such as the living room, where people tend to sit for a long time while sitting or watching TV.^[13]
   
   • For the elderly, the very young, or the sick, raise the minimum temperature to about 68º F (20º C).
2. Set the bedroom temperature between 60–67° F (15–19° C). Cool temperatures are best for sleeping because the drop in temperature makes your body feel tired. Sleep psychologists suggest thinking of your bedroom as a “cave”—keep it cool, dark, and quiet—to get a good night’s sleep.^[14]
   
3. Keep your bathroom slightly warmer, around 71°F (22°C). This temperature keeps you comfortable when you step out of the shower or bath (stepping out in extremely cold temperatures can have negative effects on your health). It’s just a pleasant temperature whether you’re using the bathroom in the middle of the night or any time during the day.^[15]
   
4. Save money in the summer by keeping your house closer. The US Department of Energy suggests keeping your thermostat as high as possible in hot weather during waking hours. Lower the temperature in your home when you go to sleep at night for comfort, and set your thermostat a little higher when you’re out for longer hours to save energy.^[16]
   
   • The smaller the difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your air conditioning bill.
5. Maintain the temperature of about a day in winter. Save energy and money by keeping your home a little cooler during the colder months. When you’re sleeping or away for long periods of time, lower your thermostat a few degrees.^[17]
   
   • If you’re going to be outside for several days or weeks at a time in the winter, keep your thermostat at a minimum to keep your pipes from freezing and bursting.

[Edit]Advice

• If the temperature in the room feels “just right,” it is probably between 72–76° F (22–24° C). This is the range where most people can radiate their body heat and keep their internal temperature at .^[18]

[Edit]Reference