We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Shopping Gardening Reviews The 8 Best Home Weather Stations of 2024 for a More Personalized Weather Forecast Never get caught without an umbrella again. By Alida Nugent Alida Nugent Alida Nugent is a commerce writer with over 10 years of media experience, with six of those spent creating unique shopping content. She has also written 2 books. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on February 16, 2024 In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Our top picks Reviews The Bottom Line What to Know Before Shopping Your Questions, Answered Who We Are Better Homes & Gardens / Kristin Kempa A home weather station can be surprisingly useful. It’s a great tool for people who live in tumultuous climates, as it can help you receive instant and constantly updated information around rain levels, humidity, and wind speed. These tools provide hyperlocal, instant weather reads that help you make informed decisions about driving conditions, upcoming snowfall, the needs of your garden, and whether or not to take that 5- mile hike. They can even measure factors inside your home, like humidity levels. “A more recent need for hyperlocal weather data also derives from increased interest in rooftop solar panels, as solar radiation is one piece of data more advanced weather stations can measure," says Jase Bernhardt, Ph.D., an associate professor and director of Sustainability Studies at Hofstra University, Whether you're looking for day-to-day updates or more detailed weather tracking, we picked the best home weather stations for personalized forecasting. What We Researched Data: We looked at the data collected by home weather stations; at the base level, most of the top models show current temperature, wind speed and pressure, and humidity. More complex home weather stations have more detailed data, such as historical weather trends.Power Source: Display screens for home weather stations tend to be battery powered or corded electric, while the sensors can be battery or solar powered. Range: Weather stations can have a range of anywhere from 50 to 1,000 feet. Our Top Picks Best Overall: AcuRite Iris 5-in-1 Indoor/Outdoor Wireless Weather Station 01512M at Amazon ($125) Jump to Review Best Budget: BALDR Wireless Indoor-Outdoor Weather Station at Amazon ($40) Jump to Review Best App-Enabled: WeatherFlow Tempest Weather System at Amazon ($339) Jump to Review Best Simple: Eve Weather at Amazon ($70) Jump to Review Best Splurge: Ambient Weather WS-5000 Professional Smart Weather Station at Amazon ($450) Jump to Review Best for Kids: AcuRite What-To-Wear Weather Station at Amazon ($35) Jump to Review Best for Tracking Storms: AcuRite Weather Station at Amazon ($106) Jump to Review Best LCD Screen: AcuRite Weather Station at Amazon ($59) Jump to Review Best Overall AcuRite Iris 5-in-1 Indoor/Outdoor Wireless Weather Station 01512M Amazon View On Amazon $125 View On Acurite.com Why You Should Get It The AcuRite Iris has a sensor that detects a number of advanced data points but translates it to a clear and organized LCD color screen. Keep in Mind If you’re looking for simple, bare bones information, this might be too in depth of a machine. The AcuRite Iris 01512M is a comprehensive weather station with over 55 different data points to keep consumers up-to-date on a number of environmental metrics throughout the day. The information is advanced, but it’s presented in a digestible, easy-to-understand format. The wireless sensor can be attached to a post or a pole with the included mounting bracket, and it contains an anemometer, a wind vane, a hygrometer, a rain gauge, and a thermometer, which help to measure things like temperature, humidity, rainfall levels, and barometric pressure. The LCD color screen displays indoor and outdoor temperatures, wind speeds, historical weather data, and a weather forecast up to 12 hours ahead of the current climate. The station reads and analyzes most data every 18 to 36 seconds (humidity is updated every minute), and works in temperatures as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit. After 14 days of use, it self-calibrates to give more accurate numbers based on the determined altitude. The outdoor sensor features a solar-powered aspirating fan, a self-emptying rain gauge, and sensors inside the vane to track the most current wind direction. The weather barometer takes a whopping 4,000 readings at 12-minute intervals to produce the most accurate barometric pressure numbers, too. The indoor LCD screen also displays the current date and time and the screen can be dimmed. There’s additional information available like trend indicators and visual depictions of upcoming weather. While the outdoor sensor is pulling sophisticated data, it appears in an easy, readable format for those who aren’t seasoned meteorologists. That said, it may be too in-depth for those who want bare bones information. Product Details: Display Type: LCD Color Screen | Power Source for Sensor: Battery| Range: 330 Feet | Sensor: Temperature, Humidity, Wind Speed, Wind Direction, Rainfall, Barometric Pressure, Dew Point Best Budget BALDR Wireless Indoor-Outdoor Weather Station Amazon View On Amazon $40 Why You Should Get It This affordable option is the best weather station for more basic data, but it still has the ability to connect to up to three sensors and produce a 12-hour weather forecast. Keep in Mind It doesn’t give historical weather data or rainfall levels. The BALDR Wireless Indoor-Outdoor Weather Station is an affordable option that produces a 12-hour weather forecast. Place the battery-powered sensor up to 262 feet away from the home, and it’ll produce accurate outdoor temperature and relative humidity data. Bear in mind that it doesn’t track historical or rainfall data. The indoor LCD screen displays that data plus time, barometric pressure (based on humidity and temperature), date, and phase of the moon. The forecast is a visual depiction of one of five options: sunny, half-cloudy, cloudy, rainy, and stormy. While it’s fairly simplistic, it’s a nice way to determine how to dress for the day. The display can be toggled from Celsius to Fahrenheit and mounted or kept upright with its included stand. It has additional features like an alarm clock and a dimmer. While the included sensor has an impressive range, the BALDR can accommodate up to two more sensors for even more accurate temperature and humidity data. The additional sensors are affordable (around $12 each). Note that they can’t be left out in the rain, and must be kept under some kind of weatherproof covering like a patio. You can put them indoors as well, like in the basement or the living room, to get indoor temperature readings. While the station provides basic weather data, it’s impressive that it can transmit a number of different sensors. Also, for the price, the LCD screen is colorful and has extra functions like turning the backlight on and off. It’s a great pick for someone who wants to try out a weather station for an affordable price. Product Details: Display Type: LCD Color Screen | Power Source for Sensor: Battery| Range: 262 Feet | Sensor: Outdoor Temperature, Humidity Best App-Enabled WeatherFlow Tempest Weather System Amazon View On Amazon $339 View On Weatherflow.com Why You Should Get It This handy device is incredibly simple to set up and requires basically no maintenance. Keep in Mind It doesn’t have a display station, so you have to use the app to learn what’s happening. This one of the best home weather stations for its impressive stats: it records data every three seconds up to 1,000 feet away, has a solar-powered outdoor sensor, and is capable of measuring rainfall as well as lightning strikes. In addition, it records temperature, humidity, solar radiation, UV index, barometric pressure, wind speed, wind direction, heat index, sea-level pressure, and dew point. The app is compatible with Siri, Alexa, Google Home and more. Another convenient feature is its ability to pair with an Apple watch. The app also includes some nice features like a 10-day personalized weather forecast and weather alerts. Rainfall is recorded along with the intensity and duration of the rain, and lightning is detected up to 25 miles away. Another positive feature of the Tempest is the “set it and forget it” application. Unlike other home weather stations, there’s little to no set-up or maintenance: Simply drive the solar-powered stake into the ground—you won’t need to calibrate or clean it (no need to empty the rain gauge, either). Product Details: Display Type: LCD | Power Source for Sensor: Solar-Powered| Range: 1,000+ feet | Sensors: Temperature, Humidity, Barometric Pressure, Rainfall, Lightning, UV Best Simple Eve Weather Amazon View On Amazon $70 View On Best Buy $75 Why You Should Get It This is an easy-to-use product that connects right to an app on your phone. Keep in Mind It can only be used with Apple phones and tablets. The Eve weather station is a part of the brand’s line of smart products (like floodlight cameras and motion sensors). There’s no cloud or data tracking, so it’s great if you’re concerned about security breaches. The device is only compatible with Apple phones and tablets. To get it to work, place the lithium battery-powered wireless device outside (it’s water-resistant, so you can mount it on your patio or the side of your house). It displays the basics: temperature, humidity, and a visual depiction of a weather forecast based on barometric air pressure. Connect the device via Bluetooth to access an additional wealth of data like temperature and humidity trends, historical data, and detailed tracking of your home’s climate like the coldest weeks of the year or when humidity tends to fluctuate. It can also connect to Siri so you can get weather data via the voice app. It’s a great option for those who want hyperlocal data without overly detailed information. It's great if you live somewhere with frequent temperature fluctuations or unexpected rain. It only has a range of 50 feet, but because it’s water-resistant and can be placed right on the house, that shouldn’t be too much of a deterrent. Product Details: Display Type: Digital | Power Source for Sensor: Battery| Range: 50 feet | Sensor: Temperature, Humidity, Barometric Pressure Best Splurge Ambient Weather WS-5000 Professional Smart Weather Station Amazon View On Amazon $450 View On Wayfair $450 View On Walmart $450 Why You Should Get It This easy-to-customize pick tracks historical data, which you can upload to a computer for deeper analysis. Keep in Mind The more unique data-collecting sensors, including the lighting sensor, need to be purchased separately. This customizable smart home and WiFi-enabled device by Ambient Weather is a dream for anyone who loves to record, analyze, and understand incredibly comprehensive weather data. You’ll also see historical data on the display screen and can pull it from the device with an SD card to upload to your home computer. Plus, there are a number of additions you can add-on to truly make it work for your needs. Two other appealing features are the solar panel on the sensor and the anemometer that detects subtle shifts in wind chill and direction. While most weather stations use a wind vane to detect speed and direction changes, this one is ultrasonic and therefore more sensitive to small changes (and won’t wear out over time because there are no moving or spinning parts). In addition to the basic data measurements, there are a number of recordings that aren’t seen on other models including sunrise, sunset, moon phase, and wind gust (the maximum wind speed in a recorded time of 16 seconds). You do need to purchase the lightning detector separately, and you can also purchase some additional intriguing add-ons, like the soil moisture sensor that’s perfect for gardeners or the leak detector that can notify you if your house is flooding. The rain gauge measures rainfall in its extra-large cup. As for its smart home and WiFi capabilities, you can connect the device to your phone, Google Home, or Alexa to set up weather alerts and access the data from anywhere, while the WiFi enables you to upload your data (optionally) to Ambient Weather’s network. Product Details: Display Type: LCD | Power Source for Sensor: Solar-Powered | Range: Up to 1,000 feet in open air | Sensors: Temperature, Humidity, Light, Barometric Pressure, Rain Best for Kids AcuRite What-To-Wear Weather Station Amazon View On Amazon $35 View On Acurite.com Why You Should Get It This device will help your kids get dressed in the morning thanks to helpful visual aids. Keep in Mind This model is best used for teaching kids about the weather, so it isn’t very sophisticated. Although this AcuRite model only records outdoor temperature, it’s the best home weather station for young children who want to learn more about the weather, what certain temperatures mean, if there’s precipitation expected, how the weather compares to yesterday, and how to dress when considering all of those factors. Place the sensor outside and it will create a personalized 12-hour future forecast (complete with a picture of the sun or a rain cloud, for instance). This fun image also coincides with 40 images of The Weather Kid to help your kid decide whether they need a heavy coat or could get away with a light jacket and a hat. If your child picks an appropriate outfit, you can reward them with a virtual star. Additionally, it lets your child know if the weather is colder or warmer than the day before and has fun and engaging extras, like an indicator if the weather is considered freezing. The AcuRite What-To-Wear Weather Station also includes an alarm clock (with a 10-minute snooze button, too) that updates for Daylight Savings Time, and the screen can be backlit by pressing a button. Since this device is made for kids, don’t expect it to have the most in-depth data. Product Details: Display Type: LCD | Power Source for Sensor: Battery | Range: 165 Feet | Sensors: Outdoor Temperature Best for Tracking Storms AcuRite Weather Station Amazon View On Amazon $106 View On Home Depot $99 Why You Should Get It While many options under $100 don’t have the option to measure rainfall and lightning strikes, this mid-priced pick has that capability. Keep in Mind This model doesn’t record temperatures indoors. The more affordable models don’t often measure rainfall and lightning strikes, which would be essential pieces of information if you live in an area that gets a lot of tumultuous weather like thunderstorms or hurricanes. The AcuRite 0121M Weather Station is significantly cheaper than our best overall. While it doesn’t record as much data or measure indoor temps, it'll do for monitoring storms and other inclement weather. The auto-dimming LCD display can be mounted or set on a tabletop. It shows the date, time, temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, a personalized weather forecast, rainfall, and lightning data. The rain gauge is wireless and self-emptying, and records precipitation amounts as well as stores historical data for the last year, month, week, or 48 hours. As for lightning, it records the number of strikes and begins to record data when it’s up to 25 miles away. Product Details: Display Type: LCD | Power Source for Sensor: Battery | Range: 100 Feet for Rain, 330 Feet for Lightning | Sensors: Outdoor Temperature, Humidity, Barometric Pressure, Lightning, Rainfall Best LCD Screen AcuRite Weather Station Amazon View On Amazon $59 View On Walmart $76 View On Home Depot $59 Why You Should Get It This weather station calibrates to your exact altitude for more accurate results. Keep in Mind A curved back makes this device nearly impossible to mount on a wall. This AcuRite model is the best weather station for those most interested in clear, understandable, and basic data because its strongest asset is its colorful and engaging LCD screen. That could mean it’s a great pick for families, or for people who want a quick and curated overview of the weather before they leave the house. The screen displays outdoor humidity, outdoor temperature, and barometric pressure. In addition, the auto-dimming backlit display screen showcases indoor temperature and humidity levels, daily indoor and outdoor high and low temperatures, the forecast for the next 12 and 24 hours, and the current phase of the moon. It displays the date and the time, and the colorful screen is organized into engaging sections and features images. Another perk: It self-calibrates after the first 14 days to determine the altitude of the area in order to deliver more accurate results. Unfortunately, it can't be mounted due to the curved shape of the monitor. Product Details: Display Type: LCD | Power Source for Sensor: Battery | Range: 330 Feet | Sensors: Outdoor and Indoor Temperature, Outdoor and Indoor Humidity, Barometric Pressure The Bottom Line If you’re looking for a comprehensive and hyperlocal analysis of the weather, the AcuRite Iris 01512M Weather Station delivers a number of data points (like rainfall levels and barometric pressure) without overcomplicating things. If you’re interested in more of the bells and whistles like smart home features or an app, consider the Tempest Weather System. What to Know About Home Weather Stations Before Shopping Display Type Most display types are LCD screens, but the sophistication of the screen depends on the model. Some are in color, have pictures and images, or dim automatically, while others are simpler and to-the-point. All of the ones on the list are battery-powered or use batteries as a back-up in case of power outages, and are backlit so you can view them clearly. The Tempest Weather System forgoes a screen for an app you can connect to your phone or smart device. Power Source Display screens are either battery-powered or corded electric, while sensors are battery-powered or solar-powered. Solar-powered options tend to be more expensive because the newer technology often comes with higher-tech models, like the Ambient Weather WS-5000 Ultrasonic Smart Weather Station. There’s no better or worse option when it comes to the power source, although you should be aware of battery life and the maintenance required when making a decision. Range The weather stations on our list have ranges from 50 feet to 1,000 feet. For the best results, you want to put it close enough to your house to keep within the suggested range, but should try to avoid elements that might skew results. “It is important to site your weather station properly to acquire more accurate measurements, while also realizing that depending on your location, extremely accurate measurements of certain variables just might not be possible," Bernhardt says. :For example, measuring precipitation accurately is often a challenge, as trees, houses, and other obstacles can get in the way of the rain gauge.” Sensors The basic sensors that should be included in most weather stations are thermometer, a barometric pressure measure, an anemometer to measure wind speeds and pressure, and a hygrometer to measure relative humidity. There are some add-ons that have become standard in many models. Most sensors will have a thermometer and a hygrometer at the very least, and some use that data to make other predictions about pressure and short-term weather forecasts. The most common are rain gauges to measure rain accumulation, and detectors to alert users when lightning is within close range, or to record how many times it strikes during a given storm. Some models allow you to connect multiple sensors (to be purchased separately) if you have a large property or want to monitor conditions around a garden, for instance. The Ambient Weather option, our splurge pick, has additional add-on sensors to measure factors like soil moisture. The sensors are usually external and lithium-battery powered. They can be mounted or placed on a patio or deck (some of them are weather-resistant and others require protection from the elements) and transmit data to the separate display. The Eve Weather functions as both a sensor and a display. Your Questions, Answered What can a home weather station do? The right weather station for you depends on your needs, your interests, and your climate. “For most individuals, a basic, affordable weather station measuring key variables such as temperature, atmospheric moisture, and wind is perfectly sufficient," says Bernhardt. "More advanced users might find it worthwhile to spend more money on a weather station capable of more accurate measurements of far more weather variables, including solar radiation, precipitation, and barometric pressure," he adds. Most people will do just fine with a simpler model that has the ability to measure rain. If you live in an arid climate, a budget option like the AcuRite 75077A3M Self-Learning Forecast Wireless Weather Station will be a better pick. Tech enthusiasts will appreciate models that come with apps or connect to their smart homes. And, of course, there are the weather fanatics that will benefit the most from a fancy option that allows you to upload your data online, or can be pulled into a spreadsheet and analyzed. Do weather stations need WiFi? No, they don’t. It can be a nice addition if you’re interested in uploading data or receiving data from outside weather centers to help create more accurate results. Without WiFi, the sensors will still collect data and report it to a receiver that is powered by batteries or a cord. How much are home weather stations? The best weather stations range in price from around $30 up to about $450. After researching a number of models, we’ve found that most fall between $75 and $150. Price climbs when you add in features like rain gauges, lightning detectors, solar power, and app-enabled technology. Do you really need a home weather station? Sure, your phone can give you a basic overview of the weather in your city for the day, but hyperlocal weather updates can be useful for a variety of reasons. Those who garden, work outside, or live in climates that change temperature quickly are likely to appreciate more detailed weather data. “A consumer looking for a more basic weather station can base their decision on price and ease of use, as long as they do not need data to be highly accurate,” Bernhardt says. “The key variables for any weather enthusiast to monitor include temperature, precipitation, wind, relative humidity, and barometric pressure.” “For more advanced weather stations, users should consider if certain weather variables are of high importance to them and make purchases with those in mind. For example, a homeowner considering installing solar panels on their roof might want to closely track solar radiation (sunlight) to determine if they will be a worthwhile investment,” Bernhardt adds. Who We Are Alida Nugent is a commerce writer with over 10 years of media experience. She researched weather stations for this piece, including speaking to Dr. Bernhardt of Hofstra University. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit