Best smoke alarms 2024

As annoying as the loud beeping can be when your latest baking project hasn’t quite gone to plan, that alarm can save your life when it matters most. A couple of hours and not much money is all you need to get an appropriate fire detection system in place. It's well worth spending the time, as an early warning really can save your life. That's why we've made it our mission to find the best smoke alarms available.

Replacing batteries or setting up an alarm can seem like a hassle, but it’s not as complicated as you might think. New smoke alarms are really quick to install, with Easi-fit bases and even delivered to you with batteries included.

Choosing your new smoke alarm need not be difficult, following these top tips and our great round-up of the best smoke alarms, your home will be equipped and safe in no time. Whether you're looking for handy packs to get your entire home fitted or a smart alarm you can monitor from your phone, there's a perfect smoke alarm for every home.

The best smoke alarms for your home 2024

This Fireangel smoke alarm features ground-breaking thermoptek technology which provides responsiveness to all fire types in one alarm by detecting slow smouldering fires and rapid rises in temperature. Battery-powered with ten years Panasonic battery lifespan, this smoke alarm is a top choice amongst Amazon customers with over 10,000 raving reviews.

Pros:

Ten-year battery

Able to detect all fire types

Smart Silence - silence false alarms

Cons:

Some reviewers found the alarm too sensitive

The smoke alarm that others look up to. Nest Protect is a smoke and carbon monoxide alarm with a split-spectrum smoke sensor to detect both fast -and slow-burning fires. It can send an alert to your phone, speak to you and even light the way in the dark. It tells you what the danger is and where it is. The Split-Spectrum Sensor looks for both fast and slow-burning fires. It also has a ten-year CO sensor so that it can tell you where poisonous, invisible CO is hiding.

Pros:

Easy to install

Split-Spectrum Sensor looks for both fast- and slow-burning fires

Ten-year CO sensor so that it can tell you where poisonous, invisible CO is hiding

Nest Protect can alert your phone when something is wrong at home

Cons:

The most expensive smoke alarm in our round-up

Ideal for installation in bedrooms, this mains-powered alarm is great at detecting fast flaming fires which are commonly caused by clothing and paper. Supplied with an Easi-Fit base to make it quick and simple to install, it can be interconnected with other alarms and accessories through hardwire connection or, for less mess and disruption, by RadioLINK wireless interconnection.

Pros:

Mains & battery-powered

Five year manufacturer’s guarantee

Easi-Fit base

Cons:

We couldn’t find any!

Fitted with optical smoke-sensing technology, this smoke alarm features a high-performance sensor and sounds as loud as 85dB. Resistant to nuisance alarms, this alarm is ideal for grade F installations where cost is a priority.

Pros:

Highly affordable pack of two

Ten-year battery life

Optical smoke sensing technology

Cons:

Some reviewers found the alarm sensitive near steamy areas like the bathroom.

Two alarms in one unit for space-saving and convenience. This smoke alarm features two different voice warnings for smoke and carbon monoxide, giving a warning if this poisonous by-product of incomplete fossil fuel burning is present. Slim and stylish, this smoke alarm has a ten-year lifespan, alongside a ten-year replacement promise if faulty.

Pros:

Two-in-one smoke and carbon monoxide alarm

Ten-year sensor life and manufacturer’s warranty

Easy battery replacement without removing of alarm

Cons:

Features a flashing light some reviewers have found unnecessary

Related: The best Smart doorbells that really work

Featuring an upgraded smoke sensor with the latest in photoelectric technology, this smoke alarm responds to hazardous smoke quicker than traditional alarms. With an over 85dB loud alarm and a rapid flashing LED indicator, it gives you extra time to control the fire or safely escape. The ten-year battery-operated fire detector reduces the trouble of frequent battery replacement, keeping your home safe by providing reliable, 24/7 uninterrupted protection.

Pros:

Compact and secure

Ten-year battery life

Self-check and silence functions

Cons:

Some reviewers found the base fiddly and hard to release

The Somfy Protect Smart Smoke Alarm connects to your phone to help keep your home safe. As soon as the sensor detects smoke, the loud siren will sound and your smartphone will get a notification. If you're worried about the siren being heard across the house, you can install more than one. The siren is easy to operate, install and maintain from the Somfy Protect app.

Pros:

Compatible with iOS & Android via Somfy Protect app

Two-year manufacturer’s guarantee

Discrete design

Cons:

Batteries not included

Smoke alarm FAQs:

10 top tips to get your smoke alarm fitted

London-fire.gov.uk give us ten great tips to get your fire alarm system sorted.

1. A single smoke alarm isn't enough.

2. Consider everyone's needs – if there's any reason there might be a delay in noticing or escaping from a fire, seek extra help.

3. Make sure any alarms you buy are marked with a current British Standards or European (CE) safety mark, which shows they are approved and safe.

4. Fit smoke alarms on a ceiling (or high up on a wall, if the instructions state it is suitable for wall mounting).

5. Make sure you fit an appropriate alarm in every room where there's a fire risk.

6. Follow the instructions that come with the alarm when it comes to installation– they all work in different ways.

7. Screw don't glue – if you use glue, it can seep into the alarm, and stop it working.

8. Fit your smoke alarms away from kitchens or bathrooms as steam can damage the alarm or set it off by mistake.

9. Fit a heat alarm in the kitchen.

10. Choose smoke alarms with a ten-year or long-lasting sealed battery.

Will smoke alarms go off from low battery?

According to University of South Carolina "Most smoke detectors are instead designed to go off when their electrical current goes down. That's because smoke in the air will reduce the current. If your battery is dying, the current that's flowing through your sensor also goes down. And so you can get a false positive."

How many smoke alarms do I need?

We recommend putting a smoke alarm on every level of your home. The best place to install a smoke alarm is where you'll find electrical appliances, like the kitchen and living room. We'd also suggest placing the devices outside of your bedrooms - if there's a fire in your home, it will warn you.

Are smoke alarms required by law?

If you live in a rented property, The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations came into force on 1 October 2015. But what does that mean? GOV.UK states, "At least one smoke alarm installed on every storey of their rental property which is used as living accommodation, and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room used as living accommodation where solid fuel is used - after that, the landlord must make sure the alarms are in working order at the start of each new tenancy."