Thermometer, Digital Infra-Red

Quick Answer: The Thermometer, Digital Infra-Red is a handheld point-and-read instrument that measures a surface’s temperature from the infrared radiation it emits and shows the result on a digital display. A digital infrared thermometer gives quick readings on objects that are hot, moving, hard to reach or should not be touched.

Point, Pull, Read

Aim the thermometer at the surface, press the trigger and the reading appears within about a second. Behind the lens a detector collects infrared radiation from a circular spot and converts it to temperature. The instrument never touches the target, so there is no probe to contaminate food or samples, and hot or electrically live parts can be checked from a safe distance.

Three habits give dependable readings. Get close enough that the target fills the measured spot, since the spot widens with distance. Treat shiny metals with suspicion, because they reflect their surroundings and read low unless covered with matt tape or paint. And remember that only the surface is measured: the outside of a beaker, the skin of a fruit or the top of a liquid, never its core.

This general-purpose model sits between the home-use infrared thermometer, which is set up for forehead readings, and the wide range infrared thermometers, which reach hotter industrial surfaces. When the temperature below the surface matters, use a probe thermometer alongside it.

Applications

• Checking hot plate and heating-mantle surfaces before and during chemistry practicals
• Finding overheated motor housings, bearings and electrical connections during maintenance
• Scanning walls, windows and roof sheets in energy and heat-loss projects
• Spot-checking the surface temperature of stored food and deliveries in canteens

Specifications

Care & Handling

• Clean the lens with a soft brush or lens tissue and never scratch it.
• Do not point the aiming laser at eyes.
• Let the digital infrared thermometer adjust after moving between very different room temperatures.
• Keep it away from steam and from strong electromagnetic fields such as induction heaters, which can disturb readings.

Why Choose LabEquip

School labs, canteens, electricians and maintenance staff buy this model for fast surface checks across many tasks. LabEquip lists it in General Lab Products; ask about range and emissivity options through the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a digital infrared thermometer read the temperature of a liquid?

It reads only the surface of the liquid. Stir first so the surface matches the bulk, or use a probe thermometer when the temperature below the surface matters.

Why does a steel pan read cooler than the plastic handle beside it?

Bare or polished metal has low emissivity and reflects infrared from the room, so the thermometer underestimates it. Put a piece of matt tape on the metal and measure the tape instead.

How close should I stand?

Close enough that the target is larger than the measuring spot. For small items such as a single component or a test tube, that may mean a few centimetres; for a wall, a metre or more is fine.

Can it be used for body temperature?

Surface-measuring models are not set up to estimate body temperature from skin. For that purpose use a thermometer designed for people, such as a home-use or clinical thermometer.

Does steam or smoke affect the reading?

Yes. Steam, dust and smoke between the thermometer and the target absorb and emit infrared themselves, so readings become unreliable. Measure when the air path is clear.

Is it safe to measure electrical panels?

Non-contact measurement is useful for spotting hot connections without touching them, but keep a safe distance from live parts and follow electrical safety rules. Only qualified people should open live panels.

Last Updated: September 2026