The Best Home Thermostats for Efficient Heating and Cooling, Tested
Home thermostats have come a long way from those early models with manual temperature dials that may or may not accurately reflect a room’s actual temperature. Today’s home thermostats are highly efficient. Many are programmable. Some even connect with smart-home systems for remote control via a smartphone app.
We decided to test a variety of home thermostats to see which ones were a step above the rest. Keep reading to discover why these models are among the best home thermostats on the market today and to learn which factors to consider when shopping for a new home thermostat.
- BEST OVERALL: Google Nest Learning Thermostat
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Honeywell Home 5-2 Day Programmable Thermostat
- BEST BASIC: Emerson Non-Programmable Single-Stage Thermostat
- BEST AFFORDABLE SMART: Amazon Smart Thermostat
- BEST PREMIUM SMART: Honeywell Home T9 Smart Thermostat With Sensor
- BEST TOUCH SCREEN: Emerson ST75W Sensi Touch Smart Thermostat
- BEST LARGE DISPLAY: Honeywell Home WiFi 9000 Color Touchscreen Thermostat
- ALSO CONSIDER: Wyze Smart Thermostat
Before You Buy a Home Thermostat
Most shoppers want a home thermostat to have features that help save on utility costs without the device being too complicated. However, the criteria that determine the best home thermostats available today depend on shoppers’ varied wants and needs, according to Michael Morey, senior product manager of thermostats at HVAC manufacturer Trane Technologies based in Davidson, North Carolina. He notes, “The most popular thermostat features include Wi-Fi–enabled remote temperature and humidity control, custom programmable schedules, responsive touch screen with color display, fresh air ventilation control, HVAC system maintenance reminders/alerts, energy savings mode, and over-the-air upgradable software.”
How much a new home thermostat costs typically depends on whether it’s a manual, a programmable, or a smart thermostat. Manual thermostats are the most basic and least expensive models—as low as $20. They usually have an LED screen, a few room temperature buttons, a fan setting, and an AC switch that allows you to set the unit to cool in the summer and heat in the winter.
Choosing a programmable thermostat lets users set heating and cooling schedules based on activity, like having the heat automatically turn on at 6 a.m. on winter weekdays before everyone wakes up.
Smart thermostats allow you to adjust a home’s temperature via an app and include a wide range of features and functions, like occupancy sensing, geofencing, and smart-home integration. These thermostats can cost around $300 or more.
“Programmable thermostats often provide a very basic scheduling functionality, where a smart thermostat provides wider flexibility in scheduling, as well as the ability to make changes on the go,” explains Morey. “Some use geofencing to adjust the temperature when it senses that all a home’s occupants have left and readjust when the occupants are heading back home.”
How We Tested the Best Home Thermostats
We looked at 30 different home thermostats to narrow our choices down to the top models on our list. Our selections come from some of the best-known brands in thermostats and cover a broad range of price points, from basic digital models to premium smart thermostats.
We assessed each home thermostat by installing and using each one for about a week. During that testing period, we assessed how well they performed their basic function of controlling a home’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and maintaining set temperatures. We also used and evaluated any additional features, including schedule programming and, if applicable, smart features like geofencing, auto-scheduling, smartphone apps, and any smart sensors included with the thermostat.
Best Overall
Google Nest Learning Thermostat
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Product Specs
- Type: Smart
- Price: $$$
- C-wire: Required with some systems
What We Like
- Memorizes repeated temperature adjustments to automatically adjust temperature settings
- Includes geofencing to reduce energy waste by turning the thermostat down when the user is away
- Easy-to-read screen with large font and full-color, brightly lit display
What We Don’t Like
- Room sensors for certain additional features must be purchased separately
The Google Nest learning thermostat notes repetitive tasks—like when the room temperature is usually turned up or down—and adjusts the temperature automatically. It also includes geofencing to ensure the temperature is just right when occupants arrive home without wasting energy when the house is empty. A dial display shows the temperature in large digital numerals that are clearly visible from across a room. A blue backlight indicates the house is cooling; a red light shows it’s warming up. The Google Nest is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant so users can activate the thermostat with voice commands.
We thought this model felt like a high-quality thermostat, thanks to its metal housing, full-color display, and impressive graphics. The Google Nest allows you to do more than most smart models via the dial interface of the thermostat, including setting schedules, changing display options, and reviewing detailed energy usage reports. We had no problem setting schedules directly from the thermostat or through the app.
The learning functions are one of the main draws, and they worked well during our week-long testing. The thermostat quickly picked up on our temperature habits and the times we were home and away, creating a schedule accordingly.
Our only real complaint was with the mounting base plate as the thermostat seemed to pop too easily off this plate.
Get the Google Nest Learning home thermostat at Amazon, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, or Best Buy.
Best Bang for the Buck
Honeywell Home 5-2 Day Programmable Thermostat
Product Specs
- Type: Programmable
- Price: $
- C-wire: Not required
What We Like
- 4 program periods per day with separate weekday and weekend schedules
- Precise temperature controls with easy-to-operate up and down arrows
- Retains memory of previously set temperatures in case of power outage
What We Don’t Like
- No Wi-Fi or smart-home capabilities
- Operates entirely off a battery
No need to spend a lot of money to update an old thermostat to a new programmable model. The Honeywell Home 5-2 Day programmable thermostat offers weekday and weekend programming with up to four program changes per day, all at an affordable price. With a programmed daily schedule, this thermostat will save energy and money by running only when someone is home. Users further adjust the temperature with the press of a button on the thermostat.
While this thermostat is simple and lacks the bells and whistles of a smart thermostat, it kept accurate room temperatures throughout our week of testing. Installation does not require a C-wire, but it does require two AAA batteries (not included) to provide the additional power necessary to run the digital display.
The controls were among the easiest to operate of the models we tested, with up and down arrows for making adjustments to the thermostat and a hold button for locking in temperatures—a good choice if you don’t want the complexity that comes with a smart thermostat.
Setting schedules was also a fairly easy process, though it did require us to do a fair amount of repetitive button mashing to cycle through days and times. We did appreciate the backlit display, which made middle-of-the-night adjustments easier.
Shoppers looking for a budget-priced thermostat that still offers the ability to program schedules—or one that doesn’t require a C-wire—will find the Honeywell thermostat is a great option.
Get the Honeywell Home 5-2 Day home thermostat at Amazon, Lowe’s, Ace Hardware, or The Home Depot.
Best Basic
Emerson Non-Programmable Single-Stage Thermostat
Product Specs
- Type: Non-programmable
- Price: $
- C-wire: Not required
What We Like
- Basic controls with clear labels make it simple to use
- Large backlit LED screen is easy to read, even in total darkness
- Display shows current temperature, set temperature, and mode
What We Don’t Like
- Offers only basic control functions with no ability to program a schedule
If you’re searching for a basic thermostat, look no further than the Emerson Non-Programmable single-stage thermostat. One button raises the temperature and the other lowers it—from heating to cooling with a simple press of the finger.
This no-frills thermostat is well suited to users who want to set and change the temperature by themselves without the need for programs or a Wi-Fi connection. An easy-to-read LED screen shows the desired room temperature and the current temperature. It doesn’t require a C-wire: Just follow the installation instructions for a relatively simple DIY chore.
During our testing, this thermostat performed its basic job effectively: maintaining the room temperature at a consistent level. The controls are bare bones, but the thermostat does have a backlit display for making nighttime temperature adjustments.
For shoppers looking for a thermostat that does the absolute basics and nothing more, this is an ideal pick.
Get the Emerson home thermostat at Amazon or Lowe’s.
Best Affordable Smart
Amazon Smart Thermostat
Product Specs
- Type: Smart
- Price: $$
- C-wire: Optional
What We Like
- Able to program a 7-day heating and cooling schedule
- Monitor energy usage for HVAC systems via the Amazon Alexa app
- Compact size and minimalist style give it an attractive modern look
- Automatically changes thermostat settings by sensing when the home is empty
What We Don’t Like
- Display shows a limited amount of information
The Amazon smart thermostat doesn’t take up much room, but it still offers high-end smart features. Users can set this programmable thermostat through the touch screen. It offers voice control through select smart-home devices and the Amazon Alexa app and adjusts the temperature based on user preferences to reduce energy usage.
We loved how easy this thermostat was to use. By simply clicking on Climate and the thermostat you want to control in the app, you’re presented with full-screen, color-coded controls that include a slider for adjusting the temperature or heat and cool settings if you have the thermostat set to Auto.
During our testing, we used voice commands to change the temperature or set a schedule via our Echo Show device and found it easy to create and manage a 7-day temperature schedule. A key feature allows Amazon Alexa to automatically change the thermostat settings based on the “hunches” it has about whether the user is home, away, or asleep based on the location of their phone and how they interact with the home’s Alexa devices.
For eco-conscious users, the Amazon thermostat offers energy-tracking features that estimate how much energy the HVAC system is consuming each day. However, while we liked this feature, we wondered about the accuracy of the measurements.
This thermostat features a sleek minimalist appearance that mimics the look of the Amazon Echo Dot. Yet, it still has a large digital display to allow users to easily see the temperature, even from across the room.
Get the Amazon home thermostat at Amazon.
Best Premium Smart
Honeywell Home T9 Smart Thermostat With Sensor
Product Specs
- Type: Smart
- Price: $$$
- C-wire: Required
What We Like
- Preset heating and cooling schedule with geofencing and motion-sensing features
- Works with digital assistants Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Samsung SmartThings
- Streamlined look and compact size make it less conspicuous than other smart thermostats
What We Don’t Like
- Requires a C-wire and a home Wi-Fi network
Like the Amazon smart thermostat, the Honeywell Home T9 smart thermostat also won’t take up much room while delivering high-end smart features. Geofencing and motion-sensing capabilities adjust the temperature when no one is home, saving energy and money. The individual sensor helps further adapt heating and cooling to the user’s needs throughout the whole home.
This thermostat follows a preset heating and cooling schedule and learns your routine. It integrates with several digital assistants, including Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Samsung SmartThings, to offer remote or voice control of the HVAC system. A C-wire and a home Wi-Fi network are required for installation.
This thermostat proved to be both accurate and intuitive during our testing. The large full-color display shows the set temperature, the humidity, and the current temperature. We loved the touch screen, which made it easy to change both cool and hot target temperatures via the thermostat itself.
We also liked the design of Honeywell’s smart room sensors, a feature that can be a mystery to use on other smart thermostats we tested. There’s no wondering what the thermostat is using to set the temperature with the Honeywell. It allows you to select which sensor you want the thermostat to prioritize, which proved to be a great feature to boost the temperature in our cold bonus room.