Best Pulse Oximeters Of 2024, According To Research (2024)

To identify the best pulse oximeters, the Forbes Health editorial team analyzed data on over 75 products from leading brands, evaluating them based on the following criteria:

• Price
• How quickly they provide readings
• Battery life
• Whether batteries are included (if needed)
• Ability to measure heart rate
• Ability to display perfusion index
• Inclusion of an auto shutoff feature
• Inclusion of alarm features
• Smartphone compatibility via Bluetooth
• Display type

Prices are sourced from manufacturer websites first and Amazon second and accurate as of the publication date but subject to change.

A pulse oximeter is a device that measures your pulse rate (or heart rate) and the percentage of oxygen in your blood, showing digital readings for both in a matter of seconds. Pulse oximetry is a quick and painless indicator as to how well your body is working to move the oxygen from your heart to your extremities.

Oxygen is attached to hemoglobin, an iron-rich protein in red blood cells. Pulse oximetry measures the percent of hemoglobin saturated by oxygen, which is called oxygen saturation and is expressed as a percentage. If all the binding sites on the hemoglobin molecule have oxygen, the hemoglobin is 100% saturated.

How Does a Pulse Oximeter Work?

When you insert your fingertip into a pulse oximeter, it uses two non-invasive LED lights—one red to measure deoxygenated blood and the other infrared to measure oxygenated blood. To calculate the oxygen saturation percentage, a photodetector reads the light absorption from these two beams of differing wavelengths.

Typically, an oxygen saturation level is considered normal between 95% and 100%. If it’s lower than 90%, one should seek immediate medical attention.

The FDA notes that these readings should be considered estimates of blood saturation and more accurate measurements can be provided by a blood test.

There are two types of pulse oximeters:

• Transmission probes are used to measure blood oxygen through your fingers, toes and earlobes.
• Reflectance probes measure blood oxygen levels with an emitter and sensor that are placed side by side on a flat body surface with underlying bone (such as the forehead).

Pulse oximeters commonly used at home are finger monitors that are small and painlessly clipped onto your fingertip. They range in price and size and are sold by both brick-and-mortar and online retailers. Some can connect to a smartphone app for easy recording, data storage and sharing with your healthcare team, which can be helpful for people with chronic conditions or who use home oxygen therapy.

Pulse oximeters are available as a prescription or over the counter (OTC). Prescription oximeters must pass FDA inspection for quality and accuracy and are typically used in a clinical setting—you need to have a prescription from your doctor for home use. Meanwhile, OTC pulse oximeters are not FDA regulated and are sold directly to the consumer online and at pharmacies.

While pulse oximeters are commonly used during an annual physical, health care providers may recommend people with lung or heart conditions keep one at home in order to track their oxygen levels regularly. Additional use cases for a pulse oximeter include:

• Surgery recovery
• Using certain medications that may cause reduced lung function and respiration
• Conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, pneumonia, anemia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, lung cancer and others that can cause a decrease in blood oxygen levels
• Sleep apnea and other sleep disorders

“Pulse oximeters are most useful for persons who have lung and heart problems, which can cause abnormal oxygen levels,” says Dianne L. Atkins, M.D., chair of the American Heart Association’s Emergency Cardiovascular Care Committee based in Iowa City, Iowa.

People on home oxygen should have one, she says, as well as infants with certain types of congenital heart disease, infants and children with tracheostomies or those on home ventilation.

“The use of pulse oximeters has been very useful during the COVID-19 pandemic once someone has tested positive,” adds Dr. Atkins. “In this situation, regular measurement can detect worsening lung function, which could indicate the need for more advanced care and possible hospitalization.”

Follow your doctor’s recommendations about when and how often to check oxygen levels.

Pulse oximetry uses technology that measures oxygen saturation by illuminating the skin with two wavelengths of light—one red and one infrared. Deoxygenated blood absorbs red light, and oxygenated blood absorbs infrared light. The monitor uses an algorithm to determine oxygen saturation by differences in light absorption. Clips can be attached to certain sites of the body—commonly the fingertip, toes, earlobe and forehead—to get readings.

For home use, the most common type is the fingertip pulse oximeter. Follow manufacturer guidelines for proper use because not all models are the same, but typically, you sit still, clip the small device to your fingertip and wait for your reading to appear in less than a minute. Some models are meant for adult use only while others can be used on children.

Since pulse oximetry relies on light absorption through a tissue bed with pulsating blood, some factors can interfere with those parameters, leading to a false reading, such as:

• Nail polish
• Movement
• Poor circulation
• Dark skin tone
• Cold hands
• A history of smoking

All monitors have an electronic result display. There are at least two readings on a pulse oximeter—oxygen saturation percentage, abbreviated as SpO2, and pulse rate. The resting heart rate for a typical adult ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute (often lower for athletes)—although a healthy resting heart rate is typically well below 90 beats per minute.

Some pulse oximeters also include perfusion index (PI) information or a plethysmograph, which indicates pulse strength. PI presents as an additional percentage while a plethysmograph is a visual that resembles a wave.

What’s a Normal Pulse Oximeter Reading?

The average oxygen saturation level for healthy individuals is between 95% and 100%, although people with chronic lung conditions may have a reading below 95%. A reading below 90% is considered a medical emergency and requires immediate treatment by a medical professional.

Don’t rely solely on a piece of medical equipment to tell you when something is wrong. Pay attention to other signs of low blood oxygen levels, such as:

• A dusky blue appearance of the face, lips or nails
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• A cough that gets worse
• Restlessness
• Chest pain or tightness
• A racing heart rate

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There are many brand choices and cost considerations for pulse oximeters. Here are some questions to ask when choosing a pulse oximeter for you and your family:

• Who will be using the device?
• Is the display easy to read?
• Will it be worn during sleep? Some models are more sleek and comfortable for continuous monitoring.
• Do you need it to alarm when levels are low? This feature is vital if worn while sleeping.
• Is the device bluetooth-enabled? If you have a chronic illness and need frequent monitoring, consider this option for storing and tracking results on your smartphone, making it easier to share them with your doctor.