9 Best Wireless Meat Thermometers for Grills and BBQs in 2024

“The successor to my previous top pick, this highly advanced thermometer is versatile, expandable, connected, very well built, and may induce envy among your friends.”

When I reviewed the predecessor to the FireBoard 2 – the FireBoard FBX11 – to say I was impressed is an understatement. I had virtually zero complaints and certainly none about its performance. Naturally, my expectations for the FireBoard 2 were very high.

I was not disappointed.

I chose the FireBoard 2 Drive from the three models available (the others are the basic FireBoard 2 and the Pro versions) because the basic model does not natively support the Drive Blower fan, and I knew I wanted it.

The FireBoard 2 Drive supports up to six temperature probes, either RTD or thermistor, and ships with two thermistor food probes and one thermistor ambient probe. (I opted to top up and purchased three additional probes.)

It’s a bit of an investment, being among the most expensive multi-channel digital probe thermometers out there. But, if you’re serious about smoking and roasting to perfection, the FireBoard 2 should at least be on your short-list.

Time for the data! Here are the need-to-know specifications:

Manufacturer’s Specs

• Number of Probes: Supports up to 6; includes 2 food probes, 1 ambient probe
• Accuracy: ±0.7°F (±0.4°C)
• Temperature Range: -94°F to 752°F (-70° to 400°C)
• Max Temperature Use: 572°F (300°C) with included probes; up to 716°F (380°C) with optional RTD probes
• Food Probe Length: 5”
• Ambient Probe Length: 25”
• Cable Length: 6 feet
• Power: 4000 mAH Li-Ion battery with USB-C PD Charger
• Battery Life and Charge Time: 30 hours; 4–6 hours
• Bluetooth Range: 100 feet
• Display Size: 256 x 128 pixels; 3.3” x 1.75”
• Warranty: 1 year

Not everyone needs six probes running at the same time. Most of the time, even grill nuts like me don’t need them either. But, I love having that expandability as an option. I can monitor several cuts of meat simultaneously, even in different cookers.

And monitor them you will, from the large LCD screen on the base and from the excellent app on your smartphone, tablet, or even your computer. The screen alone justifies the upgrade from the earlier FBX11 model, with the option to display single or multiple channel data and real-time graphs of temperature and time.

Another nice upgrade is the weather-resistant housing. For the previous model, this required the purchase of an optional case. While it may not survive a dunk in the sink or pool, it’s nice to know a little rain or a splash of beer isn’t going to turn your thermometer into an expensive paperweight.

The robust FireBoard app allows for complete customization of channel names and multiple alarms for each. Opt for notifications sent via email, text, or through the app with tailored parameters, like how long a target temperature must be exceeded before you get a message. In addition, it’s easy to set multiple alarms for each channel, giving you a god-like overview of your cooking session.

Whenever someone decides to tinker with a favorite (like New Coke or the 2012 Total Recall remake), I get nervous. Fortunately, the FireBoard 2 preserves everything great about the original FBX11 while simultaneously upgrading the experience.

If you absolutely love to smoke, roast, and bake a LOT of food outdoors and want to up your game, the FireBoard 2 is a must-have. And if charcoal is your fuel of choice, absolutely pick up the Drive version and a Drive Blower fan for total control. This awesome device sets the bar for digital barbecue and smoker thermometers.

Take a deeper look in our write up of our hands-on testing and assessment after months of use in our Fireboard 2 Review.

If you’ve shopped around for a digital thermometer, odds are you’ve come across the Thermapen. This excellent instant-read thermometer is an industry leader, and that’s what I’ve come to expect from ThermoWorks — reliable, professional-grade equipment that’s also suited to the amateur with lofty ambitions.

The Signals builds upon ThermoWorks earlier entry into leave-in BBQ alarm thermometers, the Smoke. In a nutshell, it does everything the Smoke does and more, and does all those things better.

ThermoWorks says this about the Signals: “BBQ professionals look to Signals as the operational hub of their BBQ.” So, is a thermometer built for competition chefs and commercial smokehouses overkill in your backyard?

Not necessarily.

I won’t lie; it’s a bit pricey, and it’s probably more than the typical weekend warrior requires for the average cookout.

But, if you like to take on bigger projects in your smoker, like smoking multiple cuts simultaneously, it might be just what you need.

Let’s review the specs — I’ll catch you on the other side for a quick review and a few thoughts on the ThermoWorks Signals.

Manufacturer’s Specs

• Number of Probes: 4, including 3 food probes and 1 pit probe
• Accuracy:
  • ±1.8 °F (±1.0 °C) from -4 to 248 °F (-20 to 120 °C)
  • ±3.6 °F (±2.0 °C) from -58 to -4 °F / 248 to 392 °F (-50 to -20 °C / 120 to 200 °C)
  • ±5.4 °F (±3.0 °C) from 392 to 572 °F (200 to 300 °C)
• Temperature Range: -58F – 572 °F (-50 °C – 300 °C)
• Max Temperature Use: 700 °F (370 °C)
• Food Probe length: 6 inches
• Cable Length: 47 inches
• Power: built-in rechargeable battery (USB to USB-C cord and 12V AC adaptor plug included)
• Battery Life and Charge Time: about 16 hours; fully charged from depleted in about 12 hours
• Bluetooth range: 95 feet line-of-sight
• Display size:88” x 3.97”
• Warranty: 2 years

Aside from the jump from two to four probes (which I fully appreciate), the big difference between the Signals and the Smoke is the onboard wireless connectivity. Right out of the box, you can connect to your home Wi-Fi network or directly to your smartphone via BlueTooth.

Having the freedom to tend to other things while the Signals keeps track of your smoker is a major plus. I love that I can go to the kitchen to prep more food, check in on the game, or get back to my guests and family worry-free. ThermoWorks has hugely improved its proprietary app in recent years, so you should have no difficulty running the whole show from your phone.

The base station has a large LCD screen displaying readings from all four probes simultaneously, plus individual high and low temperature alarms for each. You can even custom name each channel, so you’re never confused about which info goes with which meat.

Ruggedly built, the base is robust and solid, built in a wedge shape for enhanced stability. It has a waterproof rating of IP66, too, so it’s more than ready for an accidental splash or an unexpected fall of rain.

A competition-grade digital thermometer may not be for everyone. But, if you want to step up your smoking game, you can’t afford to allow your accessories to let you down.

Anyone looking to go beyond the usual and explore the larger world of smoking meat will get their money’s worth out of this investment.

Learn more in our detailed review after months of use and testing in our Thermoworks Signals review.

This entry from ThermoPro (who always make quality stuff) is not so different from the TP20 and the TP08. Like its cousins, it supports up to two probes, each capable of taking ambient or food temperatures. And, it features an easy-to-read black-on-orange LCD on the receiver, large buttons, and rugged construction.

From there, though, things start to deviate.

For example, the TP826’s transmitter has a black-on-orange LCD on the transmitter, too; the other models use standard black-on-grey and are less easy to see. The improved LCD is also larger and shows the temperature from both probes simultaneously, rather than automatically switching back and forth.

The receiver screen is also larger, displaying three distinct zones: Probe 1, Probe 2, and a timer. Each probe zone shows the target temperature or range, the actual temperature, and an icon showing what kind of meat it’s set for (and doneness level, where applicable). It’s a lot of data at a glance, and we love it.

Timers are not the right way to determine if food is ready to eat; however, they do have their place. Having a dedicated timer zone is a great addition, and you can set either a countdown or a count-up timer.

Preset alarms include FDA-guided temperature settings for chicken, fish, pork, and lamb, plus rare, medium, and rare beef. Additionally, you can set HI and LO temperature alarms using either the default setting (225 to 250˚F) or customized parameters from a low of 32˚F to a high of 572˚F. All alarms are both audible and visible.

The TP826 comes with a pair of ThermoPro’s standard NTC sensor probes, each one 8 inches long with a 49-inch wire ending in a 3.5mm plug. The probes are tapered to help them slide in more easily and feature a two-inch-long section of grooved stainless steel at the wire connection for a better grip.

Speaking of grip, the receiver and transmitter each have grip-enhancing edges molded into the grey band that connects the back to the front. Each is powered by two AAA batteries, and they both come with folding stands and hanging holes, and are rated IPX4 (splash proof) for waterproofing.

The ThermoPro TP826 is fast, giving readings within 5 seconds and refreshing every 4 seconds thereafter, and accurate. The manufacturer claims accuracy of ±1.8˚F (±1.0˚C), and our tests showed that it’s at least that good if not better in most cases.

The ThermoPro TP826 hits a sweet spot of ease-of-use, functionality, extra features, and an easy-to-swallow price tag. Beginners and experienced cooks, especially those interested in smoking and roasting, will appreciate the value of this excellent thermometer.

For more info, read our detailed hands on review of the TP826.

The Meater probe was originally quite limited in range to approx. 30 feet on open grills or ceramics, and just 10 feet if in a metal grill with the lid closed. However, with the introduction of the Meater+, that range has been extended to up to 165 feet!

I own both an original Meater and a + version. I started by buying two originals a year back, but upgraded one to the Meater+ a few months ago as I really wanted the added range.

I use them often and am a huge fan.

Functionality

The Meater+ is the only genuinely wireless probe I know of. And I do mean not a wire in sight!

The probe has two thermometers, one at each end, so a single probe is used to monitor both the internal temperature of your meat and the temperature of your grill or smoker.

It is a wireless probe that transmits via Bluetooth to an app on your smartphone, with no wires to be seen.

The biggest benefit of this is it makes it possible to use a leave-in, remote monitoring thermometer during your rotisserie cooking now! How cool is that?

Of course, it also means no trail of wires to catch and snag on tools while you’re cooking, no cables to bend, fray, break and eventually fail. True wireless is win-win.

How it works, is the Meater probe connects to the Meater+ probe charging block, which is also a Bluetooth repeater extending up to 50M. So the probe connects to the block, and the block can connect to your phone 50 m away. There’s also the ability to connect to the cloud, so you monitor and view your cooks anywhere in the world you have an internet connection.

The accompanying app is highly intuitive and feature-packed. It has settings for you to choose the type of meat (pork, beef, lamb, etc.) and then the exact cut (steak, rib, roast, etc.), and then to set your desired internal temp / doneness level.

The app takes into account ‘carryover cooking’ and will alert you to remove the meat in time for carryover cooking to take the meat the final few degrees up to target temp.

There’s more functionality besides, and for all the details, you can check out my Meater+ review.

Overall, it’s a highly functional, good-looking, intuitive bit of kit that works well. Highly recommended.

The GrillEye Max is like no other digital probe thermometer on the market, both in appearance and its volume of probes.

Looking like a small bomb and with enough probe ports to keep Dr. Octopus happy in the backyard, this is one unique thermometer.

GrillEye is still making a name for itself in North America, but it’s a better-known brand in Europe, from whence it hails. (HQ is in Greece, and trust me, they know how to barbecue over there.)

Right now, they have just three products, and the Max is their most advanced. Let’s see how it specs out.

Manufacturer’s Specs

• Number of Probes: 2 included, supports up to 8; interchangeable for meat or ambient temperature readings
• Accuracy: ±0.18 °F (±0.1 °C)
• Temperature Range: -40 to 572 °F (-40 to 300 °C)
• Max Temperature Use: 572 °F
• Food Probe Length:7”
• Cable Length:24”
• Power: 2500 mAh Li-Ion (USB to USB-C cord and 12V AC adaptor plug included)
• Battery Life: Up to 48 hours (with screen-saving mode engaged)
• Wireless Connectivity: Wi-Fi enabled (802.11b/g/n — 2.4GHz)
• Display size: 2.44″ × 31.3″
• Warranty: 1-year

Functionally, what sets the GrillEye Max apart from the competition is the ability to connect up to 8 probes, all of which can be used for food or ambient monitoring.

What does that mean for you? Well, imagine you’re smoking ribs, chicken, and brisket simultaneously. They all cook to different internal temperatures, and the timing will be wildly varied. With the GrillEye Max by your side, you can set separate target temps, alarms, and timers for each item.

Or, and let’s think big here, what if you had THREE cookers going at once?? No problem — designate three ports for ambient temperature, and you still have up to five remaining for your food.

Now, you only get two probes in the box, so you’ll want to order a handful of extras right away to get the full benefit of the GrillEye Max. You may even want to pick up some wire extenders to add 39.67 inches to be sure you can reach everywhere you want to probe from a central location.

The other standout feature is the 360-degree rotating body. Stick the GrillEye Max to any magnetic surface (away from the heat!), and you can rotate the screen until it’s positioned where you can see it. That’s a great convenience feature which, for many, will be far preferable to the usual kickstand apparatus found on the back of most thermometer base units.

There are two important things to bear in mind before you pick one up:

The first is the base unit displays temperature information but is not interactive — you MUST use the free app on your smart device to program the GrillEye Max. (Don’t worry; it’s a good one!)

Secondly, the housing is drop-resistant, but there is no waterproofing; do not leave it out in the rain if the weather takes a turn during a smoking session.

Despite the cons noted above, I firmly believe this is an excellent piece of grilling gear. Is it for everyone? Nope, it sure isn’t. But that’s ok; rather than try to be all things to everyone (any Slade fans in the house?), the GrillEye Max carves out a unique niche for itself in the digital probe thermometer market.

For competition pitmasters or meat-lovers who cannot decide what to cook and end up making everything at once, the GrillEye Max can make your life a lot easier.

Check out our more in-depth, hands-on analysis where we dig deep into this thermometer’s functionality and how it performs during use in our Grilleye Max review.

The Thermopro TP20 is an extremely popular thermometer, and you usually can’t go too far wrong by following the crowd.

It’s a very rugged, sturdy feeling thermometer. The look and feel inspire confidence that this is a serious bit of kit built with longevity and reliability in mind.

It’s dual probe, allowing you to monitor both the temp of your cooker, and the internal temp of the meat you are cooking.

It has presets for up to 9 types of meat and all their doneness levels pre-programmed, so you only need to select what you’re cooking and how well done you would like it, then receive alerts as your cook finishes.

With this particular thermometer, the probes are rated for 716 °F, higher than most other thermometers.

Design

It’s orange and black, which is quite striking and a nice look in my opinion. The modules themselves are made of a decently rugged black plastic, and they are encased in an orange rubberized shell, much like the cases you may get for a smartphone. You instantly get the feeling that this thermometer can take a fall in its stride and come out unscathed.

It has a light gray screen, with black writing, and a backlight button to illuminate the display for reading in the dark that makes it incredibly easy-to-read.

In the box comes a transmitter, a receiver, 2x thermometer probes, 4x AAA batteries and a manual. Everything you need to get going right away is included.

Functionality

The ThermoPro TP20 has 2 ports. You can use either port and probe to measure the temperature of your pit or some food.

This means you can monitor either two pit temps, or 2 bits of meat, or more usually one used as a pit probe to monitor the ambient temp of your grill, and one for monitoring the internal temp of a single piece of meat.

You set the desired temperature of your grill, and the desired internal temperature of your meat, insert a probe into your meat and use the provided clip to fix the second probe onto your grill to measure ambient temperature, and then you’re done.

The manufacturer claims 300 feet working distance. I can’t say I have tested this distance, but I personally use this thermometer and can say that it reaches from my grill area to my living room, which is perhaps 50 foot and through 3 walls which is impressive!

There’s no syncing required, the transmitter and receiver automatically find each other, and this makes use one step simpler than most.

Please see our Thermopro TP20 review for more details and hands on testing.

When I started my search for grill thermometers, I knew I wanted something easy-to-use. Many thermometers come with a lot of bells and whistles. However, I wanted something streamlined.

I appreciate the fact that the iGrill 2 has an app that connects to your smartphone. You don’t have to keep track of multiple parts when you’re using the device.

Just store the temperature display and the probes somewhere. When you’re ready to grill, pull them out and plug them into the meat.

You probably keep your phone close to you most of the time anyway. That’s all you need to read thermometer from a distance.

The Weber iGrill 2 is easy-to-use and doesn’t have complicated features. Two probes give you an accurate reading of your meat temperature, plus one for your ambient grill temperature, so you know what temp your meat is cooking at.

This model has four ports, so you can purchase extra probes separately, and attach them to read the temperature of four cuts of meat at once.

Then, you can walk away. The temperature syncs with an app on your smartphone or tablet.

The manufacturer claims you can read it from a distance of 150 feet. Many have found the Bluetooth range to be much shorter than that. If there are a few walls between the grill and your smartphone, you can only move perhaps 10s of feet away from the grill.

Luckily, an alarm will alert you when the meat reaches the desired temperature. This makes it possible for you to get more distance without worrying about going out of range, so long as you are within hearing distance of your phone.

When you’re cooking for a crowd, you can buy two iGrill thermometers and read them on the app at the same time. If you are walking by the grill, there is an illuminated, easy-to-read display on the transmitter unit.

This thermometer can be used in a grill, smoker or oven. It’s streamlined and easy-to-use in a wide variety of settings.

For further details, please check our full hands on review of the Weber iGrill 2.

5 years old, transmitter once dropped into a charcoal fire, still working!

Sometimes I want a little more freedom when I’m grilling. I’ll head across the street to the neighbor’s garage for a game of darts, or I’ll mow the lawn while I’m lighting up the grill. The Maverick ET733 has one of the longest ranges of any thermometers on the market.

It’s not as streamlined as a Bluetooth-enabled thermometer. You do have to clip a bulky, red monitor to your belt, but you can walk approximately 300 feet away from the grill. And the bulk makes it feel more robust and durable anyway, important for what is essentially an outdoor bit of kit.

The monitor alerts you if you’ve gone out of range, so you know exactly where you can wander. When you go indoors, the range does become more limited than if you’re in a direct line of sight from the grill, which is of course to be expected. But in my house, it works through a total of 3 walls from my BBQ area to my living room!

If you’re not sure of the ideal temperature for a particular cut of meat, use the predetermined options. The thermometer includes preset USDA temperatures for the following types of meat: Beef, chicken, turkey, fish, pork, veal, duck, lamb, deer, elk, moose, buffalo, rabbit, boar, game birds.

You can also customize your settings for your own preferences.

Knowing the temperature of the grill is important, especially when you’re following a recipe. If you’re slow-cooking a piece of meat in a smoker, it’s easy to overcook it if the temperature is too high. The hybrid probes can measure the ambient temperature of the grill or be inserted into the meat.

I would say it could use more contrast for reading the display during the day in bright sunlight, but this is a small gripe, and it’s still perfectly readable. It also has a built-in backlight that turns off after five seconds for easy viewing at night.

This long-range thermometer is great for setting and forgetting your food. And with its ‘meat type pre-settings,’ It’s also excellent as a reference resource when you’re not sure what the perfect internal temperature is for different meats.

For a more in depth look, please see my hands-on Maverick ET733 review.

One of the problems with thermometers I’ve already reviewed is that the probes can start to malfunction. The area where the probe connects to the cable isn’t waterproof. I’ve gotten a little too careless while washing the probes before, making them stop working.

The ThermoPro TP08 comes with a lifetime warranty on the probes. The manufacturer will replace the probes for free even if they’ve been damaged from improper use. That makes me confident that I’ll get a little more life out of this thermometer.

The transmitter has a hook that lets you connect it to the door of your oven. If you’re using it on a grill, I would recommend setting the transmitter on a shelf or table next to the grill though, so it doesn’t melt. Fortunately, it has an incorporated stand if you’re setting it next to the barbecue.

One thing that makes this unit inconvenient is that the buttons and inputs aren’t intuitive. One button can have multiple functions, and I had to refer back to the owner’s manual to remember how to use it. This shouldn’t be a problem after a couple uses, once you get used to the settings.

The inputs for the different probes aren’t labeled, either. I had to check the product image every time I used thermometer before I decided to label them myself.

This thermometer is durable in sunny weather. It’s not waterproof, but it is wrapped in a rubber case to protect it from falls and bumps.

For many more details you can check out our full Thermopro TP08 review.