Best Glass Thermometers of 2025

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Glass thermometers are a common household item used to measure temperature. They consist of a glass tube filled with a liquid, typically mercury or colored alcohol, that expands or contracts as the temperature changes. The temperature is then read by observing the level of the liquid in the tube against a calibrated scale. Glass thermometers can be used in a variety of settings, including for cooking, medical purposes, and environmental monitoring. They are easy to use and provide accurate readings, making them a reliable tool for temperature measurement. However, care must be taken when handling and disposing of them due to the potential toxicity of the liquid inside.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 10 Glass Thermometers
SP Bel-Art DURAC General Purpose Liquid-In-Glass Thermometer
The SP Bel-Art DURAC General Purpose Liquid-In-Glass Thermometer is an economical and durable product that can be used in various industries including chemical laboratories, universities, scientific institutions, food and beverage processing, petrochemical laboratories, pharmaceutical, medical, manufacturers, dairies, breweries, and distilleries. This thermometer provides high accuracy and has a temperature range of -20 to 150°C, with a red spirit liquid fill and total immersion style. It features accuracy equivalent to the accuracy requirements of ANSI/SAMA Z236.1-1983, where ranges are specified, and calibrated for total immersion that indicates accurate temperature when immersed to the liquid level in the capillary. The thermometer is individually packaged in recyclable Safety-Pak packaging with a non-roll fitting.
United Scientific Red Spirit Thermometer
The United Scientific Thermometer is a versatile tool designed for measuring temperatures in various settings. Its partial immersion feature allows you to accurately gauge the temperature of liquids in shallow containers, making it ideal for tasks like checking the heat of a hot water bath. This thermometer covers a wide temperature range from -20 to 150°C, providing flexibility for different applications. Additionally, the dual scale display offers easy readability, ensuring you can quickly interpret your results. Whether you're in a lab or at home, this thermometer is a reliable choice for precise temperature measurements.
SP Bel-Art DURAC Plus Glass Thermometer, 20-500°F
The SP Bel-Art DURAC Plus Glass Thermometer is an accurate and reliable thermometer that is traceable to NIST and ideal for use in various industries such as chemical laboratories, scientific institutions, and food and beverage processing. This thermometer features a temperature range of 20 to 500°F, blue organic liquid fill, and white back glass. It is individually serialized, tested, and calibrated in a triple accredited ISO/IEC 17025:2005, A2LA accredited laboratory. Additionally, the thermometer comes with a multi-language Statement of Accuracy and Traceability, which is useful for users worldwide.
SP Scienceware H-B Easy-Read Thermometer
The SP Scienceware Thermometer is designed with a black liquid that stands out against lead-free yellow back glass, making it easy for you to read and minimizing mistakes. It's perfect for a variety of settings, including chemical labs, universities, and food processing industries. The thermometer is manufactured and tested in the USA, ensuring high quality and reliability. Plus, it's traceable to NIST standards, giving you confidence in its accuracy. With a multi-language Statement of Accuracy and a non-roll fitting, using this thermometer is convenient and user-friendly.
Brewing America Glass Floating Thermometer
The Brewing America Thermometer is a high-quality glass thermometer designed for various applications, from brewing beer to food processing. Made in the USA by skilled glass blowers, it is traceable to NIST, ensuring accuracy in your measurements. This thermometer is crafted from durable borosilicate glass, making it resistant to breakage, which is a great benefit for everyday use. Additionally, it is individually packaged for convenient storage, allowing you to keep it safe when not in use. With its safe mineral spirits and red dye mix, you can use this thermometer with peace of mind in any setting, although it is not suitable for boiling liquids.
SP Scienceware H-B Enviro-Safe Thermometer
The SP Scienceware Thermometer is designed for precise temperature measurements in both internal and external environments. With a calibration point of -20˚C, it ensures accuracy in colder settings. Its temperature range spans from -50˚C to 70˚C for external readings and -10˚C to 50˚C for internal readings, making it versatile for various applications. The max/min feature allows you to track the highest and lowest temperatures, which is essential for monitoring conditions over time. Additionally, the alarm function alerts you to significant temperature changes, helping you maintain optimal conditions in your lab or workspace.
SP Bel-Art DURAC Plus Pocket Liquid-In-Glass Thermometer
The SP Bel-Art DURAC Plus Pocket Liquid-In-Glass Thermometer is the perfect tool for professionals who need to take temperature readings on-the-go. With a range of -35 to 50°C, this thermometer is accurate and safe, providing a high level of precision. Its organic fill type and white back glass type are ideal for field studies and waste water treatment. The closed metal case ensures durability and protection during travel. Measuring at 160mm in length, this thermometer is individually packaged and comes with a Statement of Accuracy indicating its traceability to NIST.
SP Bel-Art DURAC Plus General Purpose Liquid-In-Glass Laboratory Thermometer
The SP Bel-Art DURAC Plus General Purpose Liquid-In-Glass Laboratory Thermometer is an ideal tool for professionals in chemical laboratories, universities, scientific institutions, food and beverage processing, petrochemical laboratories, pharmaceutical/medical industry, dairies, breweries, and distilleries. It features blue organic liquid fill against lead-free white back glass that is mercury-free, making it environmentally friendly. Additionally, it is traceable to NIST, individually serialized, and has a multi-language Statement of Accuracy and Traceability. It is inspected by the USA quality team and ideal for research, industrial, and healthcare professionals.
SP Bel-Art H-B DURAC Plus Thermometer
The SP Bel-Art H-B DURAC Plus Thermometer is a compact and reliable laboratory thermometer. It comes with a closed plastic case and white back glass for added durability and convenience. With a temperature range of 20 to 110°F and an accuracy of 2°F, this thermometer is perfect for a variety of applications. Whether you're conducting field studies, working in wastewater treatment, or need a thermometer for on-the-go use, the DURAC Plus Thermometer is designed to provide accurate and safe temperature readings. It has been tested and calibrated in an accredited laboratory, ensuring its accuracy. Please note that this thermometer is not intended for human use.
United Scientific THTCF1 Red Thermometer
The United Scientific Thermometer is designed for accurate temperature measurement in various applications. It is a full immersion thermometer, which means you need to submerge it deep enough to get a precise reading at the meniscus. This is especially useful when you're measuring the temperature of liquids, like ensuring your hot water bath reaches 100°C. If you're working with shallower containers, you may prefer a partial immersion thermometer, but this model is ideal for deeper measurements, giving you reliable results every time. Enjoy the convenience of dual scale readings, making it easy to work in both Celsius and Fahrenheit.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Are glass thermometers accurate?
Glass thermometers, specifically organic-liquid-filled ones, are generally accurate within ±1 scale division. They contain a nonhazardous liquid in a graduated scale tube, providing reliable temperature readings.
2. What are 3 disadvantages of using a glass thermometer?
Glass thermometers have a few disadvantages. They are fragile and easily breakable, can only be used where the liquid column is visible, and are unsuitable for high temperature measurements or surface temperature readings. Additionally, they cannot be read from a distance.
3. Why are glass mercury thermometers no longer used?
Glass mercury thermometers are no longer commonly used due to the toxicity of mercury. Many countries have banned them for medical use. Instead, alternatives like galinstan, a liquid alloy of gallium, indium, and tin, are used as a replacement for mercury in some thermometers.
4. Are glass thermometers better than digital?
There is no significant difference in the average accuracy between glass and digital thermometers based on laboratory and clinical studies. However, electronic thermometers may have a greater fluctuation of temperature readings compared to glass thermometers.
5. What are the pros and cons of glass thermometer?
The advantages of glass thermometers include their affordability, ease of reading, ability to be submerged in liquids, low maintenance requirements, and reliability. However, their fragility and risk of mercury poisoning if the glass tube breaks are significant disadvantages to consider.
6. Is it illegal to have a mercury thermometer?
In some states and municipalities, there are restrictions on the manufacture, sale, and distribution of mercury fever thermometers. These restrictions aim to reduce the risk of mercury vapor release indoors in the event of thermometer breakage.
During our glass thermometer research, we found 24 glass thermometer products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 9,778 customer reviews through our big data system to write the glass thermometers list. We found that most customers choose glass thermometers with an average price of $17.67.
The glass thermometers are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of glass thermometers, including SP Scienceware, United Scientific, Brewing America. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 385 consumers with an average rating of 4.7.

Brian Howie is a content writer and senior industrial designer. After graduation from Westminster College, he has been engaged in product design and manufacturing for 18 years. Brian Howie has always found great pleasure in designing industrial products and sharing his ideas and experience online.