Track Dangerous Leaks With the Best Gas Leak Detectors (2024)

Our Top Picks

The Kidde Nighthawk KN-COEG-3 is our favorite gas leak detector because it’s configured to sense a wide range of gases (explosives and carbon monoxide). We also like the included extension cord, which allows you to set it up in any room, regardless of the proximity to power outlets.For example, if you’re worried about natural gas leaks, then you’ll want to install it up high near the ceiling like you would with a smoke detector, while you may want to have it lower if you’re concerned about propane.

This gas detector has a battery backup, so even if this gas detector isn’t your main unit, it's a great option to have on hand in case of a power outage. The digital display only shows two different things: a number representing the concentration of carbon monoxide in parts per million (PPM) or the word "GAS" if any explosive gas has been detected.

The explosive gas detection level is slightly higher than we would like, at 25 percent of the lower explosive level (LEL). This level is above the threshold where most people can smell explosive gases like propane and natural gas. However, it is still an acceptable level because it provides a warning through the 85-decibel alarm (which is similar to the noise level of a blender) to anyone who is far enough away that they cannot smell anything.

If you need something more sensitive, the DeNova Battery Operated Natural Gas Detector (our best for natural gas pick) alerts at 10 percent LEL. The carbon monoxide detection is more sensitive, providing an alert after 60 to 240 minutes of a 70 PPM concentration or within four to 15 minutes of detecting a higher 400 PPM concentration.

_{Gases Detected: Natural gas, propane, carbon dioxide | Detection Range: 25 percent LEL (explosive gas), 70 PPM (60 to 240 minutes, CO), 400 PPM (4 to 15 minutes, CO) | Power Source: Plug-in, battery | Alarm Decibel Level: 85 decibels}

The Aicevoos Natural Gas Detector is our favorite handheld gas leak detector because it senses a wide variety of explosive gases, you can configure sensitivity and provides accurate readings. The user interface is intuitive and easy to use, and the display provides a lot more information (like the specific concentration of explosive gas that was detected) than most handheld units.

We like the flexibility of this detector, which lets you measure for explosive gases like natural gas, propane, LPG, and gasoline using a parts per million (PPM) scale, umol/mol, or percent of LEL. You can also set a custom detection level to sound an alarm or keep an eye on the display to see the exact level of explosive gas concentration while you’re running the test.

This detector includes a flexible metal sensor wand for reaching into difficult places, so it’s useful around the house, in your RV, and anywhere else you’re worried about gas leaks. The device doesn't specify the exact gas it detected, but this isn't a big issue because you probably already know what type of gas to anticipate— there usually aren’t multiple potential gas leak sources in the sort of small area that you test with this device.

This is a battery-operated handheld gas leak detector that uses three AAA batteries. The batteries are included, but Aicevoos sells a version with a rechargeable battery for about $10 more if you’d rather not deal with replacing batteries.

_{Gases Detected: Natural gas, propane, LPG, gasoline | Detection Range: Adjustable 1 to 9999 PPM | Power Source: Battery | Alarm Decibel Level: Not provided}

If you're looking for a smart gas leak detector that will send you notifications of any possible leaks in your home while you're away, consider this unit from Smarter Living. Besides connecting to your home Wi-Fi network for remote monitoring, it sniffs out a wide variety of explosive gases, including natural gas and propane,

Through the app, you can configure the alert levels and set it to sound the alarm at seven percent LEL, which is even more sensitive than the DeNova Battery Operated Natural Gas Detector (our best for natural gas pick). You can also check the current levels in the app and receive an alert any time the sensor detects a dangerous level of explosive gas.

While this gas detector has many advanced features not found in other models, we wish it had a battery backup. Without a battery backup, this detector won't sound the alarm if a leak occurs during a power outage. Therefore, it may even be a good idea to have a backup like the Kidde Carbon Monoxide & Explosive Gas Detector (our best overall pick) if you experience a lot of power loss. This way, you can take advantage of remote monitoring through the Smarter Living detector and have an emergency backup for local alarms during power outages.

_{Gases Detected: Natural gas, propane, methane, butane, LPG, LNG, other combustible gases| Detection Range: Adjustable (7 percent of LEL default) | Power Source: Plug-in | Alarm Decibel Level: 70 decibels}

The X-Sense Smart Carbon Monoxide Sensor connects to your phone via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for remote monitoring and alerts. It works well even without smart connectivity and features a digital display and a loud alarm. The phone app adds convenience but isn't the only way to use the alarm, which is important for smart gas detectors. This means the detector still works if your power or Wi-Fi goes out.

This smart gas detector requires a 2.4 GHz network, so keep that in mind if your router only uses 5 GHz or broadcasts the two together. When you connect it to your Wi-Fi network, you can check the status (and current carbon monoxide level) from the X-Sense app. If the concentration rises to a dangerous level, you’ll receive a push notification on your phone even if you aren’t home.

This user-friendly carbon monoxide detector includes a digital display with a blue backlight that shows important information like the strength of the Wi-Fi connection, the remaining battery percentage, and the current carbon monoxide concentration. That’s a huge improvement over other detectors that provide an alarm but no indication of the concentration of carbon monoxide.

Despite the inclusion of a display and Wi-Fi connectivity, this detector's battery life is exceptionally long. Also, the sensor lasts about 10 years before you need to replace the detector itself.

_{Gases Detected: Carbon monoxide | Detection Range: 30 PPM (over 120 minutes) to 300 PPM (0 to 3 minutes) | Power Source: Battery (included) | Alarm Decibel Level: 85 decibels}

Recreational vehicles all come with carbon monoxide and propane leak detectors, but they typically only last for five to seven years before they need to be replaced. When that time comes (or if you bought a used RV without a gas leak detector), our favorite option is the Safe T Alert 35-742-BL Dual LP/CO Battery-Powered Alarm. It’s compact, takes care of both propane and carbon monoxide detection and typically installs very easily.

This gas leak detector runs on 12 volts, which is exactly what we look for in devices that are designed for installation in RVs and campers. Since the electrical system uses 12-volt DC, there’s no complicated wiring or need for replaceable batteries.

In a lot of cases, this detector actually fits right into the cutout used for the original detector that came with the RV. In cases where it doesn’t, it’s very compact, so it fits in just about any motorhome, trailer, or camper. We like how loud it is, too. It’s the same volume as a lot of our other picks, but 85 decibels seems a lot louder in the cramped confines of an RV.

We like the sensitivity of the propane sensor included in this detector, which sounds the alarm when the propane concentration reaches 25 percent of the level required to cause an explosion. That’s higher than some residential sensors, but it doesn’t take too long to evacuate an RV, and a lower detection level could result in false alarms whenever you start or shut off the stove or heater.

The carbon monoxide detection level is a little higher than we like, but that’s likely also to avoid false positives, and it alerts at a concentration that won’t hurt most people if they vacate the premises when they hear the alarm. If you’re especially sensitive to carbon monoxide, you may want to consider a more sensitive option like the First Alert C0605 (it’s a 110-volt plug-in detector, but it also has a backup battery for times when your RV isn’t plugged into power.)

_{Gases Detected: Propane, carbon monoxide | Detection Range: 25 percent LEL (propane), 400 PPM (carbon monoxide) | Power Source: 12 volts | Alarm Decibel Level: 85 decibels}

The First Alert C0605 is our favorite dedicated carbon monoxide detector because it’s easy to install, has two power sources, and features accurate detection. There’s no need to mount this detector—just plug it into a convenient outlet, and it’s ready to go. It includes a backup 9-volt battery as well, so the protection doesn’t end when your power goes out.

This detector only senses carbon monoxide, so there’s no need to mount it at any specific height. Carbon monoxide is a little lighter than air, but it tends to diffuse throughout the room, so you can plug this detector into any convenient outlet, and it will do its job. It has a long life of about seven years, and First Alert provides a limited warranty if it stops working in that timeframe.

We like how loud the alarm is with this sensor and that the red LED flashes when dangerous levels of CO are detected. It also makes noise when the battery and the entire detector need to be replaced, but the alert noise is so loud that you’re very unlikely to misinterpret it if it does go off.

This detector is designed to meet Underwriter Labs specifications, which means it will sound the alarm after detecting different levels of CO for specific amounts of time. It won’t alert on anything below 70 PPM, so it isn’t suitable for meeting OSHA workplace requirements for CO monitoring, but 70 PPM is a sufficient level for home use.

We like that if it senses higher levels of CO, it will sound the alarm faster. According to the National Fire Protection Association, one hour of exposure to 400 PPM of CO can cause headaches in the average healthy adult, and this detector is designed to provide an alert within 15 minutes of detecting that level of concentration.

_{Gases Detected: Carbon monoxide | Detection Range: 70 PPM | Power Source: Plug-in, battery (included) | Alarm Decibel Level: 85 decibels}

Natural gas is lighter than air, so the number-one thing we look for in a dedicated natural gas detector is freedom of placement. That’s why we like the DeNova Natural Gas Detector so much. With the included mounting hardware, you can set it up exactly where it needs to be, and the 10-year battery ensures that you will not be restricted by the availability of electrical outlets.

These compact gas leak detectors only sense natural gas, so they’re good for instances where natural gas is the only thing you’re concerned about. If you’re worried about other explosive gases and carbon monoxide as well, the Kidde Nighthawk Carbon Monoxide and Explosive Gas Detector (our best overall pick) senses additional gases like propane and carbon monoxide.

If you use natural gas appliances or heat in your home, we like that you can install these sensors up near the ceiling, right next to potential leaks, or a combination of the two for even better coverage.DeNova doesn’t specify the volume of the alarm, but we do like that it provides voice alerts in addition to beeps (including separate voice announcements for faults, low batteries, and dangerous levels of natural gas).

_{Gases Detected: Natural gas | Detection Range: 10 percent LEL | Power Source: Battery (included) | Alarm Decibel Level: Not provided}

Final Verdict

We recommend the Kidde Nighthawk Carbon Monoxide and Explosive Gas Detector as the best overall gas leak detector. It detects a wide variety of explosive gases (including propane and natural gas), along with carbon monoxide, and it has two power sources for extra redundancy. For a portable option, we recommend the Aicevoos Natural Gas Detector. It also detects a wide range of explosive gases with a flexible sensor wand and a digital display that shows the local concentration of explosive gases.

The most crucial duty of a gas leak detector is to alert you when there’s a gas leak in your home. This is usually accomplished with a very loud alarm (most of our recommendations have 85 dB alarms, which is louder than a typical alarm clock). That’s usually sufficient if you have detectors strategically placed, but smart home connectivity brings in many additional alert methods.

“Being able to remotely monitor a building's gas system from any internet-connected device gives valuable peace of mind,” advises Ferris. He goes on to highlight push notifications as one of the most useful features of a smart gas leak detector.

The 8 Best Carbon Monoxide Detectors of 2024