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4 min read
Reviewed ByAlina BradfordFor over 11 years, SafeWise experts have conducted independent research and testing to write unbiased, human reviews (not robots). Learn more.
Kasey is a trained Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) member, an expert writer in emergency preparedness and security, and the mother of four kids.
If you have an older home or gas appliances, it’s only natural to be worried about leaks. (See what I did there?) But unless you’re part bloodhound, most natural gas leaks are notoriously difficult for the average homeowner to detect and pinpoint.
Fortunately, there are a variety of gas leak detectors that are both affordable and simple enough for anyone to use. Here are our top picks for the best gas leak detector.
Detector | Best for | Price | Minimum PPM sensitivity | Probe length | Learn more |
| Best budget pick | $22.99 | 50 | NA | View on Amazon | |
| Best for measuring gas levels | $309.99 | 35 | 17.6 in. | View on Amazon | |
| Best home gas alarm | $62.59 | 50 | N/A | View on Amazon | |
| Most durable | $220.20 | 40 | 16 in. | View on Amazon |
*Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.
When comparing gas leak detectors, each model offers unique features suited to different needs. The TopTes PT199 is the best budget pick, offering solid basic functionality with a minimum gas sensitivity of 50 PPM, making it an affordable home-use option. For those who want precise gas level readings, the Amprobe Gas Leak Detector stands out with the lowest minimum PPM sensitivity (35) and a long 17.6-inch probe, ideal for those who need accurate measurements in hard-to-reach areas.
The Kidde Nighthawk Plug-in CO and Gas Alarm is the best choice for everyday home use, combining carbon monoxide and gas detection in a plug-in format with a 50 PPM sensitivity. It's a practical solution for continuous indoor monitoring.
On the other hand, the Ridgid Combustible Gas Detector is known for being the most durable, with a slightly better sensitivity at 40 PPM and a 16-inch probe, making it reliable for both residential and rugged work environments.
If it's natural gas, there may be a rotten egg smell. Other gases may be harder to detect. Getting a gas leak detector that tests for a wide range of gases is your best bet.
If you're particularly worried about CO levels in your home, see our guide: The Best Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detectors
The TopTes PT199 Gas Leak Detector is a good pick for those who are on a budget. Even though this handheld gas sniffer is small and affordable, it still has a lot of great features. It has adjustable sensitivity and can detect a leak in around 5 seconds.
Easy-to-store pen design
Adjustable sensitivity
LCD display
Affordable
No earphone jack While this budget gas leak detector doesn't have a gooseneck sensor like others on our list, it's about the size of a marker, so it can fit into small spaces. It also automatically turns itself off after 5 minutes to save the battery.
If you have limited funds and limited room to store extra tools, the TopTes PT199 Gas Leak Detector is a solid choice.
A lot of consumer gas leak detectors increase the speed of audible warnings when gas is present, but the Amprobe Gas Leak Detector will also give you a light show. It has five distinct LED lights with PPM (parts per million) ratings to let you know approximately how much gas is in the air. This feature makes it much easier to hone in on leaks, because the amount of gas will increase the closer you get.
Automatic calibration
18 in. gooseneck
Gas level LED lights
Automatic shutoff
Earphone jack
Detects fewer gases
Has to be restarted after 10 min.Along with the cool light show, the Amprobe will also do some of the work for you: it automatically calibrates at startup (which takes about a minute), and it will turn itself off after 10 minutes to conserve battery life. These are useful features unless you’re planning to use your meter for longer than 10 minutes—then it can get frustrating to turn it back on and wait for another minute while it calibrates. The Amprobe also has an extra-long 18-inch gooseneck like the UEi, but it tests for the presence of only methane and propane gases.
If you want to make sure the air in your home is safe but you’d rather leave the gas sleuthing up to the experts, the Kidde Nighthawk monitors 24/7 for gas and sneaky carbon monoxide. The Nighthawk gives readouts of gas levels every 15 seconds, and it will sound an 85 dB alarm if gas levels are too high.
24/7 monitoring
Plug-in with backup battery
Sits on table or wall
Sensitive to household products
Very loud Because it has both an AC adapter and a 9-volt battery, you can place it on a tabletop or mount it on your wall. We recommend keeping it plugged in, since the battery doesn’t last long and is more of a backup in case the power goes out. We also don’t recommend it for small spaces like campers if you value your eardrums and your sanity. The alarm is loud and it’s highly sensitive to fumes from everyday things like nail polish, paint, and even cooking with wine.
The Kidde Nighthawk senses carbon monoxide, natural gas, propane.
The Ridgid Gas Detector has a durable design and lifetime warranty. You can choose between visual, audible, or vibrating alerts, and the sensitivity is adjustable. The Ridgid automatically calibrates when you turn it on, but it takes a full 90 seconds before it’s ready to go. It also has a slight lag in its gas detection that can make it difficult to pinpoint a leak, and it takes a while to get back to neutral after detecting a leak. On the plus side, it’s a little quieter than most gas leak detectors—it will beep and light up, but you won’t be startled out of your socks by this one.
The Ridgid Combustible Gas Detector senses ammonia, acetaldehyde, benzene, ethane, ethanol, ethylene, hydrogen, hydrogen sulfide, hexane, isobutane, methane, p-Xylene, propane, and toluene.
Audio, visual, or vibrating alerts
Quiet
Lifetime warranty
Slight lag
Takes 90 seconds to warm up For both carbon monoxide and combustible gas leaks, gather your family members and pets and get outside in a safe location with fresh air. Use a phone outside of the home to call your local fire department for assistance. They will come to your home in protective gear and check out the leak. They can help you find professionals to remedy the problem, and they can let you know when it’s safe to enter your home again.
The soap bubble technique is when you use a solution of soap and water (kids’ bubble solution works great) and spray it onto potential gas leak locations, like joints and valves. Any leaking air will cause the solution to bubble up, making it easy to see where gas is escaping.
If you try to use this method on its own, you might find yourself spraying soap all over the place without much luck, so it’s a smart idea to use this technique along with a gas leak detector. Once the detector has helped you narrow down your search area, a quick bubble test will let you pinpoint exactly where the problem is coming from.
The only time soap bubbles don’t work well is if the leak is in a hard-to-reach location. In that case, a gas leak detector with a long, flexible probe is your best bet.
Gas detectors might seem like intimidating gadgets, but they’re really just a grownup game of hot and cold. Just turn it on outside or in another neutral location away from anything that might set it off. It should start ticking, beeping, or flashing rhythmically. As you get closer to a leak, the ticking, beeping, or flashing lights will get faster. As you get farther away, they slow down again. They might be alerting you to lethal hazards, but they’re also kind of fun.
Natural gas is a type of fuel burned to heat furnaces, stoves, and water heaters. It’s highly combustible and can be dangerous if it builds up. But it has a special additive in it to give it a distinct odor like rotten eggs, so it’s easier to detect a leak.
Carbon monoxide, on the other hand, is typically odorless, and is a byproduct of burning fuel, like gasoline in cars, or natural gas in household furnaces. Without good ventilation it can build up and be poisonous to humans and animals.
No. Most handheld gas leak detectors are primarily designed to detect combustible gases, like natural gas. Be sure to check the specifications on your gas leak detector to make sure you’ll be alerted to the gas leaks you’re looking for.
For this review, we used thorough research of available gas detectors on the market. We compared features side-by-side and considered how each device would help someone in their own home detect leaks. We also considered user reviews and budget needs.
For more on how SafeWise reviews products, please see our methodology page.
Gas leak detectors are a smart investment for protecting your home and family from potentially dangerous situations. Our top picks cover a range of needs and preferences—from the TopTes PT199, our best budget pick, to the Amprobe Gas Leak Detector, which excels at measuring gas levels with precision. For everyday home use, the Kidde Nighthawk Plug-in Alarm is a standout for its convenience and reliability, while the Ridgid Combustible Gas Detector is our most durable choice, built to handle tougher environments. No matter your budget or setup, these trusted devices offer peace of mind by helping you catch gas leaks before they become emergencies.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.
Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.
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