The 8 Best Home Weather Stations of 2024

Best Overall

Ambient Weather WS-2000 Smart Weather Station

$300 At Amazon $300 At Wayfair $300 At Walmart

The Ambient Weather WS-2000 comes with a thoughtfully designed array of highly accurate sensors, one of the best display consoles around, Wi-Fi connectivity, and the option to connect additional sensors later if the need arises. The integrated sensor suite that contains all of the weather instruments is easy to set up, even for those who have never had a home weather station before, and the display is well-organized and easy to read. The system is also highly customizable and accurate enough to satisfy the needs of even the most seasoned weather enthusiasts, which is why we recommend it as the best overall home weather station.

This weather station is built around Ambient’s highly rated osprey sensor array, which combines all of the most essential weather instruments into a single assembly. That simplifies setup and installation, although it does mean you can’t place the individual instruments in different locations. The array includes sensors for temperature and humidity, wind speed and direction, UV and solar radiation, and rainfall. The sensor array runs on a built-in solar panel that charges a super-capacitor to keep it going at night, but you also have the option to install backup batteries just in case.

In addition to the display console, this weather station also lets you check your weather data online. The console has Wi-Fi connectivity, and the option to send data to Weather Underground, Weather Bug, and Weather Cloud, along with the Ambient Weather Network. Sending your information to the Ambient Weather Network allows you to check in on both real-time and historic weather data via a website and phone app, even when you aren’t home. It also supports both Amazon Alexa and Google Home, and IFTTT for smart home integration.

The only real downside to the WS-2000 is that it uses the same sensor array as the less expensive Ambient Weather WS-2902C, which is our pick for best value. You can save some money by going with that unit instead, but then you miss out on the fantastic high-definition display that comes with the WS-2000. It’s one of the best-looking home weather station consoles available, and it vastly simplifies the setup process since everything is handled right on the display instead of going through the app.

_{Display Type: High-definition TFT LCD | Sensors: Temperature, humidity, wind speed, wind direction, rainfall, UV and solar radiation | Transmission Interval: 16 seconds | Transmission Range: 300 feet | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT, numerous weather services}

Best Value

AcuRite Iris 5-in-1 01544M Weather Station

$170 At Amazon $189 At Walmart

Weather enthusiasts looking for good value will appreciate the AcuRite Iris 5-in-1 weather station, because it includes all of the most important sensors, and Wi-Fi connectivity. It’s built around the Iris 5-in-1 integrated sensor suite, which includes temperature, humidity, wind, and rain sensors. That data is sent to a well-organized display unit with Wi-Fi connectivity, which allows you to send your data to AcuRite and Weather Underground for access via an app on your phone.

The sensors in the AcuRite Iris update slowly and lack the precision of higher end systems, but they’re accurate enough for home use. That makes the Iris a decent choice for newcomers to the weather hobby as well, since it offers an inexpensive entry without leaving out any of the important instruments. It doesn’t have any smart home integration despite the Wi-Fi connectivity. If you do want smart home integration, and don’t mind spending a little more money, the Ambient Weather WS-2902C is a great option.

Display Type: LCD | Sensors: Temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction (16 points), rain | Transmission Interval: 18-60 seconds | Transmission Range: 330 feet | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Weather Underground

Best Splurge

Ambient Weather WS-5000 Professional Smart Weather Station

$450 At Amazon $450 At Wayfair $450 At Walmart

The Ambient Weather WS-5000 is a serious weather station. This system comes with a full suite of sensors out of the box, including an ultrasonic wind sensor that's faster and more accurate than traditional instruments. It’s also compatible with a huge variety of add-on sensors, with the option to add up to eight thermo-hygrometers to measure temperature and humidity, soil moisture sensors, lightning detectors, and even air quality monitors if you’re worried about the quality of the air in your home beyond just making your house smell good.

Unlike other Ambient Weather stations that accept add-on sensors, like the WS-2902 that’s our recommendation for best value, the WS-5000 comes with a display that actually shows all the additional sensor readings. It can even show data from a lightning sensor if you add one to the system, though that functionality is unfortunately absent from the base unit. Most of the sensors that come with the WS-5000 are separate units, allowing you to place each in its own ideal location.

The wind and temperature sensors aren't separate, which isn't ideal, but this is an expandable system. That means you can mount the wind sensor up high where it needs to be, then add an additional thermo-hygrometer sensor closer to the ground for more relevant temperature and humidity readings. If you’re still in the mood to splurge even further, adding multiple thermo-hygrometers in different places, like in your yard or garden, can provide even better results.

_{Display Type: Full-color TFT LCD | Sensors: Temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, rain, wind direction and speed, UV and solar radiation | Transmission Interval: 4.9 seconds | Transmission Range: 1,000 feet | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, IFTTT, Alexa, Google Assistant, Weather Underground, other weather services}

Best Ultrasonic

WeatherFlow Tempest Weather System

$339 At Amazon View On Weatherflow.com

The Tempest Weather System doesn’t just look different from the competition, it is different. It’s based on a suite of advanced haptic and ultrasonic sensors that replace older instruments like wind vanes and rain buckets, so there aren’t any moving parts to break over time. Data from the advanced sensors is available in real time, with a lightning-fast three second transmission interval, and you can also access historic information through the app or website.

In addition to the advanced sensors, the Tempest also gives you access to WeatherFlow’s Nearcast system. Nearcast takes data from your Tempest, other nearby units, and other sources like NOAA, and leverages machine learning to generate remarkably accurate, hyper-local weather forecasts.

Because the Tempest sensors are all housed in a compact package, it’s really easy to install and get going. You don’t get the option to install your wind, rain, and temperature sensors in different locations, but the tradeoff is that beginners can get up and running with this station without any trouble. It includes hardware for pole-mounting and for mounting on a post or fence. It doesn’t come with a display, but WeatherFlow does provide a phone app and website that you can check from anywhere you have internet access. You can even share the website address with friends and family in the area so they can benefit without needing to invest in their own weather station.

_{Display Type: None | Sensors: Temperature, barometer, wind speed and direction, UV, light, solar radiation, rain, lightning (up to 25 miles) | Transmission Interval: 3 seconds | Transmission Range: 1,000 feet | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Tempest app, Weather Underground, Alexa, Google Assistant}

Best Display

AcuRite Atlas 01001M Weather Station

$250 At Amazon $250 At Walmart $250 At Lowe's

The AcuRite Atlas 01001M stands out in a crowded field thanks to a beautiful high-definition LCD display and impressively accurate sensor unit. Most so-called color weather station displays rely on static color backgrounds with monochrome clock-radio-style LCD numbers and graphics. Instead, the Atlas features a stunning high-definition display with bright colors, automatic dimming, and great viewing angles. It’s even a significant upgrade over other full color displays, like the standard definition 800 x 480 pixel screen that’s included with our best overall pick, the Ambient Weather WS-2000.

Beyond the first-rate display, the Atlas features a number of improvements over other AcuRite units. The sensors are more accurate than other AcuRite models, and the integrated sensor suite is also vastly improved. Where the Iris 5-in-1 transmits data every 18 to 60 seconds, the Atlas slashes that to every 10 to 30 seconds. It also includes a lightning sensor that’s capable of detecting strikes up to 25 miles away.

The unique design of the sensor suite places all of the instruments in a single assembly like other AcuRite models, but you can raise the wind sensor an additional 30 feet in the air with the addition of an optional wind extension kit. That allows for more accurate wind readings, while providing ground-level temperature and humidity readings that are more relevant and useful.

_{Display Type: High-definition LCD | Sensors: Temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, UV, light intensity, barometric pressure, rain, lightning (up to 25 miles away) | Transmission interval: 10-30 seconds | Transmission Range: 330 feet | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Weather Underground}

Best for Basic Indoor/Outdoor

La Crosse Technology Weather Station

$52 At Amazon $78 At Walmart

The La Crosse Technology C85845 is a basic indoor/outdoor weather station that’s perfect for beginners, and anyone who just wants access to local weather conditions at a glance. It includes indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity sensors and a barometer, which are the three most essential instruments for a home weather station. In addition to simply displaying data, the sensors allow it to offer a rough preview of your upcoming weather. It doesn’t go into the same kind of detail as the predictions offered by a more expensive device like the Davis Vantage Vue, but it is enough to warn you that you might want to dress in layers or grab an umbrella on the way out the door.

This weather station doesn’t have any advanced sensors, but that makes it easier to install than other stations. If you’re new to the weather hobby, or you don’t need all those other readings, you’ll appreciate the simplicity here. Setup requires mounting the outdoor sensor with a nail or screw, and plugging the display into an outlet or supplying batteries, without the need for any complicated calibration.

The outdoor sensor unit has a range of up to 330 feet from the indoor display, but the actual range will depend on the construction and layout of your home. The display is big, bright, colorful, and easy to read when viewed straight on, with all the most important information front and center. It doesn’t have any wireless or smart connectivity, but that’s to be expected from such an affordable option.

_{Display Type: LCD | Sensors: Temperature, humidity | Transmission Interval: Not listed | Transmission Range: 330 feet | Connectivity: None}

Best Under $100

AcuRite Iris 0112M

$100 At Amazon $85 At Home Depot $100 At Walmart

The AcuRite Iris 01122M is an excellent find for anyone who is looking for a weather station that doesn’t break the $100 barrier. It’s built around the same Iris sensor suite as more expensive units, like the AcuRite Iris 5-in-1 01544M Weather Station, which means it measures temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, rain, and barometric pressure. Transmission intervals are on the slow side, and the weather vane measures wind direction in 16 points instead of 360 degrees, but it’s really an excellent sensor suite for such an inexpensive weather station.

The reason this weather station is so inexpensive is that the display console is extremely basic. It’s on the smaller side, and it’s a bare bones digital display without any advanced features. It displays information in a clear and concise manner, including a local forecast, but there isn’t any Wi-Fi connectivity so you can’t access your weather data via a phone app or upload historic data to check later.

_{Display Type: LCD | Sensors: Temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, rain, wind direction and speed (16 point wind direction) | Transmission Interval: 18-36 seconds | Transmission Range: 330 feet | Connectivity: None}

Best Small

INO Weather Pro Handheld Weather Station

$347 At Amazon

If you hike, backpack, or spend any amount of time outdoors and far away from civilization, the Ino Weather Pro is exactly what you need to alert you to rapidly changing weather conditions. It’s small enough to fit in your pocket, rugged enough to stand up to vigorous outdoor activities, and includes an impressive array of sensors. It monitors temperature, barometric pressure, relative humidity, heat index, dew point, and lightning. Weather data appears on a big, colorful, backlit screen, and you can offload recorded data to your PC via a USB cable when you get home.

The best feature in the Ino Weather Pro is the lightning detector, which usually requires a separate handheld unit. It’s capable of detecting lightning strikes up to 40 miles away, giving you much-needed time to find shelter. It doesn’t include an anemometer though, which means it isn’t capable of detecting wind speed or direction. The display is also a weak point, because it isn’t impact resistant like the rest of the device, so a screen protector is a must-have.

_{Display Type: LCD | Sensors: Temperature, humidity, barometric, lightning (up to 40 miles away) | Transmission Interval: N/A | Transmission Range: N/A | Connectivity: USB}