Best Smoke Detectors of 2021

It’s easy to forget your smoke alarm’s there until it starts beeping or chirping. But while we take them for granted, they’re always looking out for us.

First Alert Onelink is expensive, but all its extras make it worth the price. On top of smart home connectivity, it offers remote notifications, Alexa capabilities, an Omni directional speaker, and it's Apple HomeKit compatible.

It connects to your Wi-Fi and sends alerts to you through an app. If something goes wrong while you aren’t home, you’ll know. It still has some old-school features too. On top of voice alerts, it has a powerful 85 dB alarm that goes off when it detects smoke, fire, or CO gas.

We like how customizable and connected the Onelink smoke detector is. The drawback is it's expensive for a fire alarm. We recommend the Onelink if you already enjoy smart home devices or have a steady home automation system in place.

The 85-decibel siren could be louder, but we think it should do just fine if you place multiple alarms throughout your home. It can detect both fire and smoldering using its dual sensors, and it has a testing button that can also be used to mute the alarm.

It's not the flashiest, but we think it's a great pick if you need a budget-friendly, no-fuss smoke detector.

On the front of the alarm, there are lights to let you know if there is a fire or CO emergency. Our favorite part is that the easy-access battery compartment makes it easy to change the batteries without removing it from the wall or ceiling. 

Our guide can help you can learn more about CO detectors and the dangers of carbon monoxide gas.

Say goodbye to shrieking beeps while you’re cooking or after a hot shower. The First Alert BRK 3120B comes with a photoelectric sensor that’s sensitive enough to tell the difference between everyday activities and real threats like a smoldering fire.

Although this smoke detector has two smoke sensors, it doesn’t come with carbon monoxide detection.

Changing batteries has never been easier. It’s simple to keep this smoke detector ready for action with the slide-load battery door on the front.

The Firex has only an ionization sensor. While this provides early detection for fire particles, which is useful in a flaming blaze, it doesn’t provide accurate detection for smoldering fires.

In 2019 there were an estimated residental 354,400 fires. ¹  If you have smoke detectors in your home, you’ll have a better chance of getting everyone out safely. While any smoke detector is better than none, there are a few things to look for when buying a new smoke alarm:

The best smoke alarms can detect smoke particles, flames, and carbon monoxide. A multifunctional alarm can save you battery life or energy from your house for hard-wired smoke detectors. Combination smoke, fire, and carbon monoxide detectors are easier than ever to find.

While classic ionization and photoelectric smoke detectors are helpful, smart smoke detectors are the cutting edge in fire safety. They communicate through apps and deliver alerts to your phone or other mobile devices if an alarm sounds.

Smart alarms can talk to each other too, so you’ll know exactly where the fire is when an alarm is triggered. The only downside is that smart devices are more expensive.

If your home's power goes out, you still need to know if there's a fire or smoke emergency. Hard-wired smoke detectors need to have a battery backup or some other backup power source to keep them running.

If the power goes out, it takes your smoke detector with it. Battery powered smoke detectors should have a test button or chirp when the battery starts to drain.

Subscribe to our Youtube channel for more videos like this one! Learn how to protect your home, your loved ones, yourself, and your belongings.

Smoke alarms typically have three types of sensors: ionization, photoelectric, and dual. Here are the main differences between the three.

Photoelectric smoke alarm sensors use light to detect smoke. When smoke particles are suspended in the air (as with a smoldering fire) the particles scatter the beam of light in the sensory chamber, which sets off the alarm.

Ionization smoke detectors use radiation and an ionization chamber to detect smoke. The ionizing radiation helps detect small amounts of smoke in the air, as with a flaming fire. When smoke enters the sensor chamber, the current of the ionizing radiation is disrupted, which triggers the alarm.

Dual sensors include both photoelectric and ionization sensors. These are considered the safest smoke and fire detection devices. Because they detect both flaming fires and smaller, smoldering fires, it’s unlikely that any fire-related danger will get past these double-duty sensors.

Smoke alarms can save a life, but they have to be properly installed and maintained. Don’t risk your family’s safety—use these tips to keep your smoke detectors in tip-top shape.

To determine the best smoke alarms, we scoured industry research and evaluated product features, performance, and specs. We consulted the National Fire Protection Association and US Consumer Product Safety Commission for guidance and pored over expert ratings and real customer reviews.

Our five best smoke alarms were selected from 12 top devices that were compared for reliability, effectiveness, price, and customer satisfaction. Learn more about how we conduct reviews like this one from our methodology page.

Related pages on SafeWise

• What Should I Do In The Event Of A House Fire?
• How Can I Prevent A House Fire?
• Where Should I Install Smoke Detectors And Fire Alarms?
• How Do Home Security Systems Protect Against Fire and Floods?
• The Best Fire Safety Emergency Kits

1. US Fire Administration, "US Fire Statistics." Accessed July 22, 2021.
2. National Fire Protection Association, “Smoke Alarms in U.S. Fires” Published February 2021. Accessed July 22, 2021.