Auto & Tools · Etekcity Infrared

Etekcity Infrared Thermometer

Check surface temps from a safe distance — aim the laser, pull the trigger, read the backlit display.

Instant non-contact surface temperature readings.
Backlit LCD stays readable in bright sun or dark corners.
Reads surfaces only — not designed for people or air temperature.

$15.97

On Amazon when we checked (June 16, 2026) — live price may differ.

By Patrick Smith · Updated July 11, 2026 · How we review · We may earn a commission from Amazon links.

Price when checked: $15.97; on Amazon, June 16, 2026
Best for: It worked best for grilling, kitchen and home HVAC checks; worst for anyone needing…
Biggest complaint: Recurring complaints across the Lasergrip line are the lack of emissivity adjustment or measurement modes,…
Sources cited: 1; independent source

Reasons to buy

Buyers praise how fast and simple it is — instant readings, a bright readable display, and enough distance range to check things like vents and engine parts from arm's length or farther.

Reasons to skip

Recurring complaints across the Lasergrip line are the lack of emissivity adjustment or measurement modes, readings that skew low on shiny surfaces, and a battery door reviewers found flimsy on some models.

The Etekcity infrared thermometer is the tool you point at things you shouldn't touch: a griddle you're waiting on, a suspect engine component, an AC vent that doesn't feel cold enough. Pull the trigger and the backlit display shows the surface temperature instantly, with the laser dot marking roughly where you're measuring. Two limitations define who should buy it. First, it reads surfaces only — it is not a medical thermometer and can't take a person's temperature or measure air. Second, like other budget IR guns in Etekcity's Lasergrip line, it offers no emissivity adjustment, so shiny, reflective surfaces such as polished stainless read deceptively low; a strip of matte tape on the surface fixes that. Within those boundaries, reviewers rate the line highly for kitchen, grilling, HVAC and automotive troubleshooting at a price under $20.

What buyers say

Our summary of recurring themes in customer reviews on the Etekcity Infrared Thermometer Amazon listing (read July 2026) — not quotes or endorsements.

Most praised

Buyers praise how fast and simple it is — instant readings, a bright readable display, and enough distance range to check things like vents and engine parts from arm's length or farther.

Most common complaint

Recurring complaints across the Lasergrip line are the lack of emissivity adjustment or measurement modes, readings that skew low on shiny surfaces, and a battery door reviewers found flimsy on some models.

Worked best for

It worked best for grilling, kitchen and home HVAC checks; worst for anyone needing lab-grade precision or body-temperature readings.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use it to take a person's temperature?

No. It measures surface temperature only and isn't designed or calibrated for medical use — a forehead reading would reflect skin surface temperature, not body temperature. Use a medical thermometer for people.

Why does it read low on shiny pans and polished metal?

Reflective surfaces emit infrared differently than the fixed emissivity these guns assume, so readings skew low. The common workaround is to put a piece of matte tape or a drop of oil on the surface and measure that spot instead.

What is it actually useful for?

Checking griddle, pizza-stone and pan temps, spotting hot or cold spots at HVAC vents and windows, and quick automotive checks like brake or coolant-line surface temps — anywhere touching a probe is slow, messy or unsafe.