Pulse oximeters are electronic medical devices that can be attached to a patient's finger to assess their heart rate and blood oxygen saturation levels. They are useful in monitoring patients with lung disease, to ensure that their blood is sufficiently oxygenated, as well as other respiratory conditions including asthma and COVID-19.
If you are looking to buy an at-home pulse oximeter to monitor you and your family's oxygen levels, our buying guide will help you to find the most accurate, reliable, and user-friendly choice. We'll also rank 10 of the best pulse oximeters in the UK, from Amazon and Boots.
For those after a quick look, here is our Top 5:
For a more in-depth look at the comprehensive top 10 selection, make sure to read on to learn more about the different types of pulse oximeters available and understand how our ranking was determined.
This article's chosen EC site price listings are reflective of its publishing date.
Image | 1 ![]() Anapulse | 2 ![]() C.G.C Health Care | 3 ![]() aCurio | 4 ![]() TRAN™ | 5 ![]() Kinetic Wellbeing | 6 ![]() Med Linket | 7 ![]() Braun | 8 ![]() PRCMISEMED Store | 9 ![]() Metene | 10 ![]() Boots |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | ANP100 Finger Pulse Oximeter | Hospital Grade Pulse Oximeter | Finger Pulse Oximeter | Oxygen Guide Pulse Oximeter | Pulse Oximeter Finger | 5 in 1 Oxygen Saturation Monitor | Fingertip Pulse Oximeter | Finger Oxygen Monitor | Pulse Oximeter Fingertip | Finger Pulse Oximeter |
Features | Highly Rated, Reliable and Lightweight | NHS Approved Oximeter Used by Health Professionals All Over the UK | Reliable Oximeter for the Whole Family | Developed by NHS Doctors, Comes With a Free Guide and 72 Hours Battery Life | Industry Award Winning Oximeter Used by NHS Health Professionals in Scotland | Provides 5 Vital Readings in One Device, With Anti-shake for Trembling Hands | Near-Instantaneous Readings on a Rotating LED Display | Simple and Straightforward With a Sleek, Black Design | Minimise Reading Errors With Finger Sensor and Auditory Alerts | Dependable Pulse Oximeter From a Trusted Brand |
Price | £14.95 | £12.99 | £16.99 | £17.99 | £20.00 | £37.99 | £20.99 | £13.99 | £15.99 | £20.00 |
Age Group | Children 5 years and above | Adult to children (weight ≥20kg) | Children 4 years old and above | - | Children 4 years old and above | Children 12 years and older | Adults 18 years and above | - | Adult to children (weight ≥20kg). | - |
Accuracy | ± 2%, ± 2 bpm | ± 1% precision | 1% | - | ±2bpm or ±2% | ±3%, ±3bpm | ±3%, ±3bpm | - | - | - |
Quality and Safety | CE certified and conforms to UK and EC Medical Safety requirements | CE approved | CE, FDA, and ISO certified | CE and ISO certified | Compliant with European medical device regulations and is a Class IIa Medical Device | Clinically verified by the American Clinical Laboratory | CE certification | - | - | - |
Weight | 50 g | 40 g | 50 g | 50 g | 50 g | 60 g | 50 g | 0.11 pounds or 50 g | - | - |
Accessories | Travel pouch, lanyard | Lanyard, travel pouch | Lanyard | Lanyard | Lanyard | Temperature probe, lanyard | Wrist strap | Lanyard | Lanyard, small bag | - |
Batteries Required | 2 AAA batteries (included) | 2 AAA batteries required. (included) | 2 AAA batteries (not included) | 2AAA batteries (not included) | 2 x AAA Batteries (included) | 2 AAA batteries required (not included) | 2 AAA batteries required. (included) | 2 AAA batteries required (not included) | 1 AAA batteries required. (2 included) | - |
Continuous Working Hours | 30 | - | 32 | 72 | 24 | - | - | 20 | - | - |
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A pulse oximeter is a device that you clip onto the tip of your middle or index finger to measure blood oxygen levels. It's quick, painless and non-invasive as all it does is shine a light through your finger so that the beam can measure light absorption in the oxygenated blood - you won't feel a thing. Simply clip it on, and wait for the pulse oximeter readings to be presented on the LED screen.
It can be used to monitor how fast your heart is beating by measuring your pulse rate, which is calculated in beats per minute or bpm. It can also be used to assess how well your body is breathing by measuring oxygen saturation in your blood, which is displayed in percentages. Some pricier devices go a step further and include measurements such as body temperature, perfusion index, and plethysmograph.
Pulse oximeters are light, portable and may even have an LED screen with adjustable brightness. You may need one on hand if you are suffering from illnesses such as lung disease, asthma, COVID-19, or other respiratory diseases. Sports enthusiasts also often use them to monitor their vitals while working out or doing outdoor activities.
To get an accurate pulse oximeter reading, the sensor should be able to fit snugly onto your finger. If you are buying a pulse oximeter for young children at home, make to check whether the device is suitable for their age range.
Most manufacturers will provide an age recommendation, such as 'children aged 5 years and above' to give you a better idea of the smallest size it will fit. This is also useful for adults with small hands. To help you out, we've included this information for each product in our ranking.
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For the most accurate measurement, look for a pulse oximeter that has a precision of ± 3% or ± 3 bpm. This is because the closer it is to 0, the more precise the reading you will get.
Healthy people have an oxygen level of between 95% to 99%, with anything lower being a cause for concern. Meanwhile, a heart rate of between 50 to 90 bpm is normal, but anything out of this range can be a sign to alert your doctor.
To avoid purchasing a faulty or unreliable pulse oximeter, check that it has relevant certifications such as CE, ISO, or FDA if the product originates from the United States. Being accredited by an authoritative body means that both the product and company have been vetted by a reliable third party to affirm quality and safety.
CE certification is essential because it ensures that the product meets the high standards and expectations of EU regulations. For items manufactured in the US, FDA approval demonstrates that the product has been thoroughly examined and found to be safe and effective for its intended use, with compliance to federal quality standards
ISO is a non-governmental organisation that sets standards for quality and efficiency in products, services and systems. ISO certificates are evidence that a company is adhering to the high quality standards established by the organisation which guarantees safe and effective use for consumers. Aside from this, you should be on the lookout for clinical validation from relevant medical bodies.
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If you're constantly on the go or need to keep tabs on your vitals while doing sports, be sure to check the weight of the device before making your final decision. Thankfully, oximeters have come a long way since their bulky and clumsy design in the 1970s.
These days, you can find oximeters that weigh as little as 40 g, which are generally more compact and easier to carry. A lot of brands also provide lanyards for those who wish to carry their devices around their necks for easy or regular readings.
Need to know if someone at home has a fever? Browse the best thermometers for adults here!
This ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used.
£14.95
Age Group | Children 5 years and above |
---|---|
Accuracy | ± 2%, ± 2 bpm |
Quality and Safety | CE certified and conforms to UK and EC Medical Safety requirements |
Weight | 50 g |
Accessories | Travel pouch, lanyard |
Batteries Required | 2 AAA batteries (included) |
Continuous Working Hours | 30 |
£12.99
Age Group | Adult to children (weight ≥20kg) |
---|---|
Accuracy | ± 1% precision |
Quality and Safety | CE approved |
Weight | 40 g |
Accessories | Lanyard, travel pouch |
Batteries Required | 2 AAA batteries required. (included) |
Continuous Working Hours | - |
£16.99
Age Group | Children 4 years old and above |
---|---|
Accuracy | 1% |
Quality and Safety | CE, FDA, and ISO certified |
Weight | 50 g |
Accessories | Lanyard |
Batteries Required | 2 AAA batteries (not included) |
Continuous Working Hours | 32 |
£17.99
Age Group | - |
---|---|
Accuracy | - |
Quality and Safety | CE and ISO certified |
Weight | 50 g |
Accessories | Lanyard |
Batteries Required | 2AAA batteries (not included) |
Continuous Working Hours | 72 |
£20.00
Age Group | Children 4 years old and above |
---|---|
Accuracy | ±2bpm or ±2% |
Quality and Safety | Compliant with European medical device regulations and is a Class IIa Medical Device |
Weight | 50 g |
Accessories | Lanyard |
Batteries Required | 2 x AAA Batteries (included) |
Continuous Working Hours | 24 |
£37.99
Age Group | Children 12 years and older |
---|---|
Accuracy | ±3%, ±3bpm |
Quality and Safety | Clinically verified by the American Clinical Laboratory |
Weight | 60 g |
Accessories | Temperature probe, lanyard |
Batteries Required | 2 AAA batteries required (not included) |
Continuous Working Hours | - |
£20.99
Age Group | Adults 18 years and above |
---|---|
Accuracy | ±3%, ±3bpm |
Quality and Safety | CE certification |
Weight | 50 g |
Accessories | Wrist strap |
Batteries Required | 2 AAA batteries required. (included) |
Continuous Working Hours | - |
£13.99
Age Group | - |
---|---|
Accuracy | - |
Quality and Safety | - |
Weight | 0.11 pounds or 50 g |
Accessories | Lanyard |
Batteries Required | 2 AAA batteries required (not included) |
Continuous Working Hours | 20 |
£15.99
Age Group | Adult to children (weight ≥20kg). |
---|---|
Accuracy | - |
Quality and Safety | - |
Weight | - |
Accessories | Lanyard, small bag |
Batteries Required | 1 AAA batteries required. (2 included) |
Continuous Working Hours | - |
£20.00
Age Group | - |
---|---|
Accuracy | - |
Quality and Safety | - |
Weight | - |
Accessories | - |
Batteries Required | - |
Continuous Working Hours | - |
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