Best Radon Detectors for Home: Continuous Monitors Compared
The best home radon detectors: Airthings Corentium Home 2, Airthings Wave Radon, Ecosense EcoQube and the View Plus, and how they fit the EPA's testing advice.
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The best radon detector for most homes is the Airthings Corentium Home 2. It is a battery-powered continuous monitor with a screen that shows short- and long-term radon averages, needs no app or Wi-Fi to work, and adds Bluetooth for history. If you want readings within minutes of setup and alerts on your phone, the Ecosense EcoQube gives its first reading in 10 minutes, according to Ecosense, and runs a 72-hour test in its app.
Radon is an odorless radioactive gas from soil and rock that enters homes through the foundation. The EPA estimates it causes about 21,000 lung cancer deaths a year in the US, recommends testing every home, and recommends fixing homes at or above 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L), with fixing considered between 2 and 4. Because radon levels swing from day to day and season to season, a continuous monitor that tracks a long-term average is the most useful tool for a homeowner. For a home sale, follow your state's rules on certified testing.
Our top picks at a glance
1. Best radon detector
Airthings Corentium Home 2Type: Continuous digital radon monitor · Display: Short- and long-term averages, GOOD/FAIR/POOR · Connectivity: Bluetooth; remote with an Airthings hub or View monitor · Power: Batteries
2. Fastest results
Ecosense EcoQube (EQ100)Type: Continuous digital radon monitor · Display: App only · Connectivity: Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz) required · Power: Plug-in
3. Best budget smart radon monitor
Airthings Wave RadonType: Continuous digital radon monitor · Display: Wave-to-check color light; numbers in app · Connectivity: Bluetooth · Power: Batteries
4. Best radon plus full air quality
Airthings View PlusType: Radon and air quality monitor · Display: E-ink, customizable · Connectivity: Wi-Fi via hub function; app · Power: 6 AA up to 2 years, or USB-C
| Pick | Type | Display | Connectivity | Power | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airthings Corentium Home 2Best radon detector | Continuous digital radon monitor | Short- and long-term averages, GOOD/FAIR/POOR | Bluetooth; remote with an Airthings hub or View monitor | Batteries | Amazon |
| Ecosense EcoQube (EQ100)Fastest results | Continuous digital radon monitor | App only | Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz) required | Plug-in | Amazon |
| Airthings Wave RadonBest budget smart radon monitor | Continuous digital radon monitor | Wave-to-check color light; numbers in app | Bluetooth | Batteries | Amazon |
| Airthings View PlusBest radon plus full air quality | Radon and air quality monitor | E-ink, customizable | Wi-Fi via hub function; app | 6 AA up to 2 years, or USB-C | Amazon |
Best radon detector
Airthings Corentium Home 2
A standalone continuous monitor with short- and long-term averages on its screen and no app required.
- Type
- Continuous digital radon monitor
- Display
- Short- and long-term averages, GOOD/FAIR/POOR
- Connectivity
- Bluetooth; remote with an Airthings hub or View monitor
- Power
- Batteries
Pros
- Readable without a phone
- Portable; move it between floors
- Adds temperature and humidity
Cons
- No PM2.5 or CO2
- Remote alerts need extra hardware
The Corentium Home 2 updates Airthings' original Corentium Home with Bluetooth, temperature and humidity, and a redesigned display that shows short- and long-term averages side by side, according to Airthings' listing. The long-term average is the figure to act on. Place it on the lowest lived-in level, as the EPA advises, and leave it for at least three months for a solid picture.
Fastest results
Ecosense EcoQube (EQ100)
Wi-Fi radon monitor with a first reading in 10 minutes and a built-in 72-hour test in the app.
- Type
- Continuous digital radon monitor
- Display
- App only
- Connectivity
- Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz) required
- Power
- Plug-in
Pros
- First reading in 10 minutes (Ecosense)
- Phone alerts
- IFTTT smart home links
Cons
- Needs 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and the app
- No on-device display
Ecosense says its counting sensitivity is far above the minimum required for professional testing and offers a do-it-yourself 72-hour test in the app. Ecosense also sells the EF100 (battery, display) and EB100 (plug-in, display) if you prefer a screen. A quick first reading is useful, but act on a multi-week or longer average, as radon varies.
Best budget smart radon monitor
Airthings Wave Radon
Airthings' radon sensor with humidity and temperature in a battery-powered wall or shelf unit.
- Type
- Continuous digital radon monitor
- Display
- Wave-to-check color light; numbers in app
- Connectivity
- Bluetooth
- Power
- Batteries
Pros
- Lower price than the Wave Plus
- Wall-mountable
- Long-term trends in the app
Cons
- No screen numbers
- Bluetooth only without a hub
If you only want radon, the Wave Radon is the cheaper Airthings route to continuous monitoring. Its readings live in the app; the device itself shows a color when you wave a hand in front of it.
Best radon plus full air quality
Airthings View Plus
Radon with PM2.5, NDIR CO2 and VOCs, for one device that covers the whole home's air.
- Type
- Radon and air quality monitor
- Display
- E-ink, customizable
- Connectivity
- Wi-Fi via hub function; app
- Power
- 6 AA up to 2 years, or USB-C
Pros
- Radon accuracy about ±10% (7-day) and ±5% (2-month) at 5.4 pCi/L per Airthings
- Also tracks particles and CO2
- Five-year warranty with registration
Cons
- Expensive for radon alone
- Best placed in a lived-in room, which may not be the lowest level
Airthings' product sheet rates the View Plus radon sensor at about 10% on a 7-day average and 5% on a 2-month average at 200 Bq/m3 (5.4 pCi/L). Choose it if you also want particle and CO2 readings in the room where you put it. See our View Plus review.
How we chose radon detectors
We chose continuous digital monitors from makers that describe their sensing method and, where available, their accuracy, and favored models that show the long-term average, the number the EPA's action level applies to. We did not include single-use charcoal kits as picks, although they remain a cheap way to start; see our radon testing guide for how the two compare.
Radon detector buying guide
Continuous monitor or test kit?
| Option | How it works | Good for | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short-term kit | Exposed for a few days, mailed to a lab | A first check | One snapshot; lab fee |
| Long-term kit | Exposed for months, mailed to a lab | Year-round average | One result; long wait |
| Continuous digital monitor | Measures continuously, shows averages | Ongoing tracking, checking a mitigation system | Consumer units are not a substitute for certified testing in a home sale |
What the EPA advises
The EPA's Citizen's Guide to Radon recommends testing every home, starting with a short-term test on the lowest lived-in level; if the result is 4 pCi/L or higher, following up with a long-term test or a second short-term test; and fixing the home if the average is 4 pCi/L or more. It suggests considering a fix between 2 and 4 pCi/L, and notes there is no known safe level of radon. A continuous monitor makes the follow-up easy, because it shows both a short-term and a long-term average.
Placement
- Lowest level you use regularly, such as a finished basement or the ground floor.
- Away from drafts, windows, vents, sump pits and exterior walls.
- About table height, not on the floor.
- Not in kitchens, bathrooms or laundry rooms, where humidity and air movement skew readings.
Give it time
Radon varies with weather, season and how the house is used. A monitor's first day says little. Watch the 7-day average, and make decisions on a multi-month average. After mitigation, keep the monitor running to confirm the system works.
Units
US results are in picocuries per liter (pCi/L); many monitors can switch to becquerels per cubic meter (Bq/m3). 1 pCi/L is 37 Bq/m3, so the EPA's 4 pCi/L action level is about 148 Bq/m3.
What to skip
- Air purifiers as a radon fix. They do not reduce radon; a mitigation system does.
- Deciding on one day's reading.
- Relying on a consumer monitor for a home sale where your state or contract requires certified testing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best radon detector for home use?
The Airthings Corentium Home 2, a continuous battery-powered monitor that shows short- and long-term radon averages on its screen without needing an app. The Ecosense EcoQube gives faster first readings over Wi-Fi.
What radon level is dangerous?
The EPA recommends fixing your home at 4 pCi/L or more, considering a fix between 2 and 4 pCi/L, and notes there is no known safe level. It estimates radon causes about 21,000 lung cancer deaths a year in the US.
Are digital radon detectors accurate?
Good ones track long-term averages well; Airthings rates the View Plus at about 10% on a 7-day and 5% on a 2-month average at 5.4 pCi/L. Short readings vary naturally, so decide on long-term averages.
Where should I put a radon detector?
On the lowest lived-in level of the home, at about table height, away from drafts, windows, vents, sump pits and exterior walls, as the EPA advises for test placement.
How long should I test for radon?
At least a few days for a first look, but act on a long-term average; the EPA describes long-term tests as giving a better picture of the year-round level. A continuous monitor left running for months does this.
Can I use a home radon monitor when selling a house?
Check your state's rules and your contract; many require testing by a certified radon professional. A consumer monitor is useful for your own tracking.
Sources
- A Citizen's Guide to Radon, US Environmental Protection Agency
- What is EPA's Action Level for Radon and What Does it Mean?, US Environmental Protection Agency
- View Plus product sheet, Airthings
- Airthings Corentium Home 2 product listing, Airthings
- Ecosense EcoQube EQ100, Ecosense
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