The 4 Best Carbon Monoxide Detectors

My Top Carbon Monoxide Detectors for 2026

Carbon monoxide is no joke. It’s called the “silent killer” for a reason, and after our old furnace started acting up a few years ago, I got serious about having good detectors around the house. It’s one of those things you hope you never need, but you’ll be incredibly glad you have it if you do.

I’ve tried a bunch of different models over the years, from basic battery ones to plug-ins with all the bells and whistles. You don’t need to spend a fortune, but you do need something reliable. These are the four carbon monoxide detectors I’d feel comfortable putting in my own home to protect my family.

The 4 Best Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Kidde Nighthawk Carbon Monoxide Detector

This Kidde Nighthawk detector costs about $39.68. I have this one in our main living area, right by the kitchen, because it also detects explosive gas, which gives me peace of mind with our gas stove.

The digital display is fantastic. I can just glance over and see that the reading is zero. It plugs into the wall, but it has a battery backup, so it still works if the power goes out. And the cord is actually long enough to let you place it on a shelf instead of right at floor level.

The Downside: It’s pretty big and bulky. It’s not the prettiest thing to have plugged into your wall, but I’ll take function over form for something this important.

First Alert CO600 Plug-In Carbon Monoxide Detector

For just $25, the First Alert CO600 is about as simple as it gets. You just take it out of the box and plug it into an outlet. Done. I use this one in the upstairs hallway.

It’s nice and compact, so it doesn’t block the second outlet, which is a huge pet peeve of mine. The alarm is piercingly loud, which is exactly what you want. There’s a simple test button to make sure it’s working, and that’s about it. No fuss.

The Downside: There’s no battery backup. If we have a power outage, this thing is completely useless. For that reason, I only use it in areas where I have another battery-powered detector nearby.

Kidde Battery-Operated Carbon Monoxide Detector

At around $20, this little Kidde detector is my pick for affordability. Because they’re so inexpensive, I was able to buy a few and stick them in places I might otherwise forget, like the basement near the furnace and water heater.

It runs on AA batteries, so you can mount it on any wall or just set it on a shelf. It doesn’t do much besides scream at you when it detects CO, but honestly, that’s its only job. It has a little light that blinks to let you know it’s working and it’ll chirp when the batteries get low.

The Downside: It’s as basic as they come. There’s no digital display, so you can’t check CO levels. You just have to trust that it will go off when it’s supposed to.

X-Sense Carbon Monoxide Detector

The X-Sense detector runs about $25 and it feels a lot more modern than the others. I put this one in our master bedroom. It’s slim, battery-powered, and has a big, clear LCD screen that shows you the real-time carbon monoxide reading in Parts Per Million (PPM).

Seeing that “0” on the screen is just reassuring. According to the box, the sensor has a 10-year life, which is longer than a lot of the cheaper models. It’s a solid little unit that looks good on the wall and gives you more info than a basic alarm.

The Downside: It doesn’t have a peak level recall button. That means if there was a small CO spike while you were at work, you wouldn’t be able to check the history. You’d only know if the level got high enough to trigger the full alarm.

What To Look For in a CO Detector

Deciding between plug-in and battery-operated is your first big choice. I like using a mix of both. Plug-in models are great because you don’t have to worry about batteries, but a battery backup is a must-have for power outages.

A digital display is another feature I really like. It costs a little more, but being able to see the CO level for yourself provides a lot of comfort. For areas like a basement or a little-used guest room, a basic, no-screen model is probably just fine.

The most important thing is just to have them. The National Fire Protection Association recommends one on every level of the home and outside each sleeping area. For the low cost, there’s really no excuse not to have these protecting your house.