Trying to Conceive The Best Basal Thermometers to Help You Kick-Start Your Family Planning Journey By Latifah Miles Latifah Miles Latifah Miles has spent her professional writing life chronicling her journey through parenthood by way of feature writing and product recommendations. She has written for and been featured on Romper, Cosmopolitan, Elite Daily, Redbook Magazine, Best Products. She is the commerce editor for Verywell Family. Learn about our editorial process Updated on June 29, 2022 Medically reviewed by Alyssa Dweck, MD Medically reviewed by Alyssa Dweck, MD LinkedIn Alyssa Dweck, MD, MS, is a board-certified gynecologist and an assistant clinical professor at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. She provides care to women of all ages, and she has delivered thousands of babies. Learn about our Medical Review Board Fact checked by Sabrina Rojas Weiss Fact checked by Sabrina Rojas Weiss Senior commerce editor Sabrina Rojas Weiss loves to disappear down a rabbit hole for the greater good, whether that means reading medical journals or shopping for rain boots. She’s written and edited for Parents, People, SheKnows, Yahoo, Refinery29, Cosmopolitan, MTV News, and more. Learn about our editorial process Print We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products. Healthcare professionals review articles for medical accuracy. Learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. Verywell Family / Sabrina Jiang When you’re ready to start your journey to conception, nailing down your ideal ovulation window can be a critical step. While there are a host of ways to demystify timing, like using ovulation strips, phone apps, and tracking your period, a basal thermometer is a tool that can help you get one step closer to conceiving. Reviewed & Approved The Easy@Home Smart Basal Thermometer is a beginner-friendly option that seamlessly syncs with an app to make results easier to interpret. The Ava Fertility Tracker consistently monitors your vitals to provide you with a real-time picture of your fertility. “In most women, the body's normal temperature will increase slightly during ovulation, 0.5 to 1 degree Fahrenheit, and remain high until the end of the menstrual cycle,” Nicole A. Sparks, MD, an Atlanta-based obstetrician-gynecologist, tells Verywell Family. The rise in basal body temperature (BBT)—the term simply refers to your body’s temperature at rest—will happen at the same time as ovulation, so tracking it every morning is a good method to use to help establish your window of fertility. (But be aware that you may be fertile just before ovulation as well.) The best time to get this accurate BBT reading is first thing in the morning, before any other activity. Basal thermometers are able to read 1/10 or 1/100 of a degree, picking up the slight rise and fall that regular thermometers can't show. When it comes to choosing a basal thermometer, you also want to find one that is easy to use, suits your needs, and fits your budget. We’ve rounded up the best basal thermometers to help you with your natural family planning journey. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Easy@Home Smart Basal Thermometer at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Beginners: Natural Cycles Plan a Pregnancy Kit at Amazon Jump to Review Best Wearable: Ava Fertility Tracker at Avawomen.com Jump to Review Best Smart Thermometer: femometer Smart Basal Thermometer at Femometer.com Jump to Review Best Budget: iProven Digital Basal Thermometer at Amazon Jump to Review Best Kit: Easy@Home Ovulation Test Kit at Amazon Jump to Review In This Article Expand Our Picks How We Selected What to Look For FAQ Why Trust Verywell Family Best Overall Easy@Home Smart Basal Thermometer 4.8 Easy@Home View On Amazon Pros Automatically syncs with the app Reads 1/100 of a degree Backlit screen Cons Long result time Loud beeping With Bluetooth capability that makes loading daily results into an organized chart unnecessary, the Easy@Home Smart Basal Thermometer is our best overall pick because it is beginner-friendly and works in conjunction with other fertility tracking products. The super-precise thermometer can read to 1/100 of a degree, picking up on the slight changes in your temperature. If you are new to charting, temping, and tracking your cycles, the Premom app will seamlessly sync, log, and organize your results, making interpretation clearer. You can store up to 30 results on the thermometer and unlimited results on the app, so you can skip writing down your temperature every day. However, if you do like to take notes instead of relying on the app, the backlit display includes your temperature, the date, and the time. It takes 90 to 120 seconds to get results, which can definitely be cumbersome in the morning. Price at time of publication: $40 Display: Digital | Response time: 90 to 120 seconds | Battery type: Lithium metal battery included Best for Beginners Natural Cycles Plan a Pregnancy Kit Natural Cycles View On Amazon Pros Includes ovulation strips and pregnancy tests App is FDA cleared Cons Must pay for app subscription after six months Have to add results to app manually If you are new to fertility tracking, understanding the results can be a stress-inducing experience. The Natural Cycles Plan a Pregnancy Kit comes with the basal thermometer, a six-month app subscription, 10 ovulation strip tests, and five pregnancy test strips—which is everything you need to get started learning about your cycle. The FDA-cleared app (actually the first FDA-cleared app for fertility and family planning) uses a complex algorithm to identify ovulation patterns so that you can plan effectively. The basal thermometer is easy to use and stores one previous reading in case you forget to write it down. The simple, straightforward approach is a non-intimidating way to ease into fertility tracking. Price at time of publication: $80 Display: Digital | Response time: Not listed | Battery type: Not listed Best Wearable Ava Fertility Tracker Ava View On Avawomen.com Pros Real-time tracking Bracelet is FDA cleared Convenient technology Cons Expensive Smart, wearable, and convenient, the Ava Fertility Tracker approaches conception planning from a unique perspective. The Ava tracker sets itself apart as a wearable device that continuously monitors the temperature on your wrist. This provides both real-time results and a more complete look at your body’s temperature changes, which could help you determine when you might be more likely to conceive. Additionally, the bracelet is the only FDA-cleared wearable basal thermometer. To use the Ava tracker, simply wear it at night, and when you wake up in the morning, sync it to the app, which will do all your calculations for you. While you are snoozing, the Ava technology is collecting data every 25 seconds to help you narrow down your fertility window. From your temperature and pulse rate to your heart rate variability and sleeping patterns, the bracelet is consistently checking various physiological parameters that impact your fertility (that would be a headache to track on your own). While the price point is higher than other options, it is FSA and HSA eligible. Price at time of publication: $279 Display: No display, only app | Response time: Not listed | Battery type: Rechargeable Best Smart Thermometer femometer Smart Basal Thermometer Courtesy of Amazon. View On Femometer.com Pros Button-free Fast response time Measures up to 1/100 of a degree Cons $10 monthly subscription The most important step in basal body temperature tracking is jotting down your results to help establish patterns in temperature changes. The Femometer digital thermometer makes that process easier thanks to its Bluetooth capability. Once you take your temperature, the results are automatically transmitted to the app, which translates the information into a clear line chart. The thermometer is free of buttons and switches, so all you have to do is pop it in your mouth, and within 30 seconds, you’ll have a precise result. Made to be discreet, the Femometer’s beeping sound can be adjusted to suit your needs. We think the app makes interpreting results much easier, but it does require a $10 monthly subscription. Price at time of publication: $50 Display: No display, only app | Response time: 30 seconds | Battery type: CR123A battery included The 6 Best Pregnancy Tests of 2023 Best Budget iProven Digital Basal Thermometer iProven View On Amazon Pros Free subscription Budget-friendly Cons Not backlit Sometimes basic is best, and the iProven Digital Basal Thermometer is an uncomplicated option that gets the job done. Operating like a regular thermometer, the iProven sits under your tongue and delivers a result within 60 seconds. With the ability to detect a temperature to 1/100 of a degree, the iProven thermometer will pick up the important slight changes. We appreciate that the app doesn’t require a paid subscription, and while it doesn’t automatically sync, it gives you a safe place to jot down your results and read them throughout the month. Price at time of publication: $12 Display: Digital | Response time: 60 seconds | Battery type: LR41 battery The 8 Best Ovulation Tests of 2023 Best Kit Easy@Home Ovulation Test Kit Easy@Home View On Amazon Pros Includes ovulation strips Free subscription to app Cons Manual entry of results For seasoned fertility trackers, this Easy@Home Ovulation Kit is a dream. Deciphering the best time to try to conceive can be a multifaceted journey, and this kit has you covered from all angles. Along with the thermometer, you can use the 50 ovulation strips tests to capture your luteinizing hormone (LH) surge. Then you’ve got 20 pregnancy tests to see the results of your efforts. The sensitive basal thermometer can detect 1/100 of a degree to offer a precise and accurate measurement. We love that you can add all of your results to the free app, which then can translate them into charts and graphs for easier interpretation. Price at time of publication: $40 Display: Digital | Response time: Not listed | Battery type: Not listed The 8 Best Ovulation Tests of 2023 Final Verdict The Easy@Home Smart Basal Thermometer is a seamless option that is great for people new to tracking as well as those who are more experienced. We also recommend the Ava Fertility Bracelet for a full picture view of fertility that goes beyond your basal temperature. How We Selected We researched several basal thermometers, considering their accuracy, precision, price point, and ease of use to determine the best options on the market. We also consulted with OB-GYN Nicole A. Sparks, MD, to better understand what to look for when buying a basal thermometer. What to Look for in a Basal Thermometer Ease of Use To track your basal body temperature accurately, you must use the thermometer every morning as soon as you wake up. For a product that requires that much use, you’ll want it to be as easy as possible to figure out. Some thermometers are more straightforward than others, and depending on your lifestyle, you may fare better with a set-it-and-forget-it style wearable tracker. Budget It is no secret that fertility and reproductive health management can be an expensive undertaking. Thankfully, quality basal thermometers are available at various price points. You can choose the features that fit within your budget and lifestyle without compromising on effectiveness. Basal vs. Traditional Thermometers “A basal thermometer and regular thermometer are very similar, but the biggest difference between a basal thermometer and a regular digital thermometer is that a basal thermometer will measure in very small increments sometimes to 1/100 of a degree,” Dr. Sparks says. Since the rise and fall of your temperature is so slight, a regular digital thermometer simply won’t be able to capture it. Frequently Asked Questions What is a basal body temperature? A basal body temperature is your body’s temperature at rest. “Your body temperature changes slightly during your menstrual cycle. Your body temperature is slightly lower at the beginning of the cycle and rises when you ovulate,” explains Dr. Sparks. The best way to capture this temperature is while you are still lying in your bed after a full night of uninterrupted sleep. “Basal thermometers are not 100 percent accurate, so you don't want this as the primary way you track ovulation,” she adds. “Many factors such as fever, sickness, stress, alcohol, or even interrupted sleep and travel zone time differences can affect the accuracy.” What should my basal body temperature be? While there isn’t a hard and fast rule when it comes to nailing down an exact number for your BBT, there are a range of changes that you can keep an eye out for. “In a normal menstrual cycle, the basal body temperature begins to rise one or two days after the luteinizing hormone surge,” Dr. Sparks explains. That’s the hormonal signal for the body to release an egg from the ovary. Where do I put a basal thermometer? Unless it is a wearable device, a basal thermometer should be used orally and placed under your tongue. While the sensitivity of a basal thermometer differs from a traditional oral thermometer, you use it the same way. Why Trust Verywell Family Latifah Miles is a commerce editor at Verywell Family and has several years of experience shopping for the best products for parents, caregivers, and their families. She thoroughly researches and analyzes products to find the best options on the market. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit