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The First Alert Combination Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm is our top pick
We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. The Spruce / Chloe Jeong Simply put, a smoke detector can save your life. We researched and tested some of the top smoke detectors available online, evaluating safety features, battery life, and ease of installation. Home inspector Dave Mitchell, who has seen many incorrectly installed detectors, recommends having a professional take care of even simple installs if you are unsure. Our top pick, the First Alert Combination Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm, detects smoke and carbon monoxide (CO), uses a voice alert system, and is easy to set up. Here are the best smoke detectors.  Amazon What We Like
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The First Alert Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector can pick up trace amounts of smoke and carbon monoxide, and given its utility, it has a surprisingly low price point. If you are looking to upgrade or replace multiple detectors in your home, this is our top recommendation. This dual-use detector features a voice alarm that tells you whether it detects smoke or carbon monoxide. This is important because it helps emergency responders know how to respond to the call and can also help you and your family egress safely. The detector is battery-powered, which makes it a breeze to install, although you will need to change out the batteries every six months. You can do this using the easy access point on the front. In addition to having both audible and visual alarms, the test/silence button is also helpful and is clearly labeled on the front of the unit. If you experience a false alarm that you know you can silence, just press the button. Hold it down to test the alarm, which should be done at least once every time you switch out the batteries. You can also use this button to silence the annoying low-battery chirp alarm for up to eight hours. Just make sure to go back and actually switch out the batteries. Power Source: 2 AA batteries︱Sensor Type: Photoelectric︱Pack Size: 1 Home Depot What We Like
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For the most affordable alarm, the Kidde Worry-Free 10-Year Smoke Detector is the clear winner. It is a fraction of the cost of many other alarms but still offers 10 years of reliable performance. Powered by a 10-year lithium battery, this alarm brings all of the convenience of easy installation without adding the requirement to change the batteries every six months. You also don’t need to deal with low-battery chirps. You will get an alert when the battery is near the end of its 10-year life, and the whole unit will need replacing. Depending on how well you monitor this, it may catch you off guard. Also, keep in mind that
it does not detect carbon monoxide, but for the budget-friendly price, you can add a separate CO detection unit at the most appropriate place. Power Source: Lithium
battery︱Sensor Type: Ionization︱Pack Size: 1 Amazon What We Like
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Who else recommends it? Bob Vila also picked the Kidde Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detector with Voice Warning. What do buyers say? 93% of 25,600+ Amazon reviewers rated this product 4 stars or above. This top-performing smoke detector includes a carbon monoxide alarm. It alerts you to the threat using a voice alert so that you can respond appropriately and notify emergency responders about the problem. The hush button allows you to silence false alarms, although you do need to be able to reach it to use it. This is a battery-operated unit, which has pros and cons. It is easy to install—if you are replacing another Kidde alarm, you might even be able to use the same base and simply click the new unit on. However, as with all battery-powered units, it does mean that the
batteries need to be changed every six months. Power Source: 2 AA batteries︱Sensor Type: Ionization, CO︱Pack Size: 1 The Spruce / Katie Begley What Our Testers Say "The battery compartment will only shut if the batteries have been installed properly. We like this extra safeguard as it ensures our alarm is always functioning correctly."—Katie Begley, Product Tester Courtesy of Home Depot What We Like
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Having a hardwired smoke detector helps it integrate with other sensors to create a comprehensive home safety system. The Kidde FireX hardwired detector can sniff out both smoke and carbon monoxide, adding to the protection power. It does have a 9V battery backup in case the power goes out, a necessary safety precaution. When one alarm in the system detects smoke or carbon monoxide, they all sound. This helps alert you to dangers even if you are in a different room or floor of your home. It uses a voice alarm to tell you if it detects smoke or CO. Installation of hardwired detectors can be a bit more
complicated, but Kidde systems use compatible bases. If you are replacing another Kidde product, you can likely use the same location to hardwire this detector and eliminate the need to touch up walls or paint. If you are installing a hardwired system for the first time, you will likely need to get the help of an electrician to run wires safely. This adds to the already high cost of these detectors. Buying in packs of two or more can save some money. Power Source: Hardwired with 9V battery backup︱Sensor Type: Photoelectric︱Pack Size: 1 or 2 Home Depot What We Like
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All you need to operate this convenient smoke detector is one 9V battery—rather than worrying about multiple batteries, just open the door to pop in one battery and attach it to the wall. This smoke detector is very simple, without any extra bells and whistles, such as voice alerts or CO detection. But it does a great job at its only job: detecting smoke and alerting you to get to safety. Installation is very easy, especially if you are replacing another Kidde unit, and it comes with one 9V battery to get you started. You will need to change it out periodically—most emergency response units recommend every six months. There is a corresponding CO detector that uses a similar setup and also uses a 9V battery for power. Fortunately, this unit is so affordable that you can purchase both this detector and the Kidde Code One CO detector for less than a pricier combo unit. Power
Source: 9V battery (included)︱Sensor Type: Ionization︱Pack Size: 1 Amazon What We Like
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This smart alarm detects both smoke and carbon monoxide for thorough home protection. You can check on the status of the alarm and the battery life, silence false alarms, and even test the alarm from an app on your phone. The voice alert is friendlier than most, which can be pleasant but may not impart the same urgency as a loud beeping alarm. It does tell you whether it detects smoke or carbon monoxide, which is helpful to determine the right response. The Google Nest Protect is an expensive alarm, which isn’t surprising given its interconnectivity and extra convenience features. You can monitor the alarm while away from home via the app. It includes a night-light that activates if you walk under the light at night. You can purchase it in packs of one or three, and it is available in battery-powered and hardwired options. Power Source: Battery-powered or hardwired︱Sensor Type: Photoelectric︱Pack Size: 1 or 3 What Our Testers Say "Given that our new house is three stories, we opted to create a network of Nest Protects, with one on the ground level and another on the second floor. The volume of the voice messages is clear without being too loud, and communication is broadcast from both devices as well as through the app."—Nathan Borchelt, Product Tester The Spruce / Nathan Borchelt Amazon What We Like
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Smoke alarms use either photoelectric sensors to detect fast-burning fires or ionization sensors to detect smoldering fires. While most prioritize one method over the other, the First Alert BRK 3120B detector uses both to provide comprehensive safety detection. It is hardwired but has a 9V battery backup to provide power if there is an outage. Unless you are already using a hardwired smoke detector in your home, you will likely need to get professional installation for this unit. This detector is a bit more expensive than other
smoke-only detectors. But given its reliable detection of every type of fire that could threaten you or your home, it is well worth the cost. However, it does not detect carbon monoxide, so you will need to purchase a separate detection unit if needed. Power Source: Hardwired, with 9V battery backup︱Sensor Type: Photoelectric, ionization︱Pack Size: 1 or 6 Home Depot What We Like
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This smart detector uses a loud 85-decibel alarm and a voice alert that shouts “fire” or “carbon monoxide,” depending on what it detects. Better yet, the alarm goes to your phone via an app and the phones of other family and friends you’ve set up. It is also compatible with Google and Alexa and can alert you via those smart home devices as well. All of these alerts ensure that you will always know if you have a fire or CO in your home, even while you are away. This is an expensive smoke detector but well worth it for its convenience and many alerts. It is more affordable than some other smart detectors, although it doesn’t come with as many testing and monitoring features. It is hardwired, which requires professional installation, but does have an installed 10-year lithium battery. Power Source: Hardwired with installed 10-year lithium battery backup︱Sensor Type: Photoelectric︱Pack Size: 1 Final Verdict Affordable and easy to install, our top pick is the First Alert SCO7CN Combination Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm. It detects both smoke and carbon monoxide, alerting you using an audio voice alert and visual alarm. The Kidde Worry-Free 10-Year Smoke Detector is another great choice that offers worry-free performance at a fantastic price. It includes a lithium battery with a 10-year life, meaning no battery changes for you. The Spruce / Katie Begley.The Spruce / Katie Begley PowerSmoke detectors can be hardwired or battery-operated. Many hardwired smoke detectors have a battery backup to ensure that you will never lose power or the protection of your alarms. Batteries can be standard AA or 9V batteries. Some models also have lithium batteries that come installed in the unit itself and last for 10 years without needing to be changed. Most battery-operated models are easier to install but do require changing batteries periodically. “You should always have a professional check the installation of a new unit or system,” says home inspector Dave Mitchell. In his role, he has seen many smoke detectors that were installed in the wrong place or not connected to a power source. Not only is this dangerous for you and your home, but it can also cause problems with your insurance company or home sale. “It can raise red flags for me as a home inspector,” says Mitchell. “It’s not worth risking your safety.” Sensor typeSmoke detectors use one to two sensor mechanisms to monitor for smoke in the air: photoelectric or ionization. Both types of sensors detect any kind of smoke, but photoelectric sensors are faster at detecting smoldering, slow-burning fires than ionization sensors, which are better at detecting fast-burning fires. The most comprehensive smoke detectors have both sensors inside as well as additional safety monitoring, such as carbon monoxide detection. LifespanWhether you have a hardwired or battery-operated model, you will eventually need to replace the unit itself. Most have a special alarm that sounds when the detector is at the end of its lifespan. Your user manual can tell you specific lifespan expectations, but most are between five and 10 years. FAQ
This article was researched and written by Katie Begley, a freelance writer specializing in home and family products. Katie has been writing for The Spruce since 2019. When researching top smoke detectors, she considered superior performance, multiple sensors, and installation. Katie also consulted with home inspector Dave Mitchell to see what he recommends for installation and required placement. Do all hardwired smoke alarms have battery backup?Wait, Don't All Smoke Detectors Have Batteries? Some smoke detectors rely exclusively on batteries for power, but hardwired smoke detectors have a battery that provides power only in the event of an electricity outage, such as could happen during a power outage or other event that interrupts the electrical circuit.
Do hard wired carbon monoxide detectors have batteries?Plug-in detectors receive a constant flow of power from an outlet. Both hardwired and plug-in detectors use a backup battery that will take over in the event of a power outage.
Which smoke detector is better hardwired or battery?Once installed, though, hardwired smoke detectors are better than their battery-powered counterparts in every major aspect—safety, efficiency, maintenance and compliance with local codes.
How do you stop a hardwired carbon monoxide detector from beeping?The way to get a carbon monoxide alarm to stop chirping is to replace the battery.
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Hardwired smoke and carbon monoxide alarm with battery backup
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