Your home must be protected as much as humanely possible. That said, no matter how protected it may be, there's always the chance that fire or carbon monoxide will ignite and spread. It's also why early detection of these hazards and choosing the right smoke detector are vital. However, not all smoke detectors are created equal.Some houses will require multiple devices due to their size. The National Fire Protection Association recommends placing one on every floor, in each sleeping area, at the top of stairways, and even on ceilings adjacent to stairways in basements. The more your home is covered, the better protected you are.We have extensively tested a wide variety of smoke detector models and curated a list of the very best options for households. Whether you are upgrading an outdated unit or investing in your first smoke detector, these top choices offer unmatched safety and reliability. Make sure your home is protected with the most effective smoke detectors on the market. Our Picks Best smoke detector overall Kidde Dual Sensor Smoke Detector PI9010 View details $53 at Amazon View details Best smoke detector for a smart home Nest Protect 2nd Gen View details $150 at Best Buy View details Best hardwired smoke detector Kidde Smoke Alarm 20SD10-V View details $40 at Amazon View details Best smoke detector for the price Kidde Firex Smoke Alarm i4618AC Ionization Sensor (Update: Out of Stock) View details $23 at The Home Depot View details Table of Contents What is the best smoke detector overall?Our pick for the most reliable smoke alarm is the Kidde Dual Sensor Smoke Detector PI9010 because it can detect different types of home fires, making it one of the more unique smoke detectors available.Best smoke detectors of 2025 Photo Gallery 1/1 $53 at Amazon Pros Fast acting Detect different types of fire Cons Lacks smart home compatibility Battery power isn't an option for everyone Power source Battery poweredAlarm 85 decibelTemperature rating Up to 100FSensor type Ionization, Photoelectric, Dual Sensor $53 at Amazon As the name suggests, this Kidde smoke detector is equipped with dual sensors that allow it to efficiently detect two common types of home fires. It's no surprise that it had the best performance detecting a slow-smoldering fire, averaging 24.1 seconds after initial exposure to smoke, and similarly, the second-best performance detecting a fast-flaming fire, averaging 17.9 seconds.It's powered by a 9-volt battery, plate-mounted and features both "hush" and "test" buttons for weekly testing.If you're looking for efficiency and reliability at an affordable price, the Kidde PI9010 is where your search should start. However, it doesn't have the smart home compatibility of some brands like Google Nest, which may be disappointing to some high-tech homeowners. $150 at Best Buy If you are looking for a high-tech device that you can control and communicate with, the Nest Protect is perfect for the task. It features a single button that has "hush," "test" and "reset" functionality, and you can hard-wire it to a 120-volt circuit or run it on a battery.It features two alert modes: Heads-up, characterized by a yellow glow in the background when smoke levels are rising, and Emergency, when the smoke concentration in an area has reached a critical level, displaying a red light. The device will speak to you in English, letting you know which area of your home needs immediate attention. This is particularly useful if you have a large home and need to know exactly where the emergency is located.The Nest App allows you to interconnect other Nest Protect smoke alarms in your home, displaying them all in a single dashboard. From there, you can easily hush and/or test all or any of your smoke detector devices at the press of a button. Sensors, alarms, voice, battery level and Wi-Fi connectivity checks are all part of the assessment.The original Nest Protect ranked fourth in our quickness of response test, but its ample functionality, versatility and smart features make it a very compelling option for those looking to upgrade their smart home security game.