The thermometer industry is vast with an endless array of temperature measuring instruments of all shapes and sizes. From the thermometer monitoring the temperature of a chemical plant to the one you use to see if your child has a fever, the quality and cost vary greatly.
So, how much do thermometers cost?
After spending 40 years working in this industry, I’ve become quite familiar with prices and cost drivers in the temperature market. However, there are far too many types of thermometers to include in this article, so instead, I will focus on the cost of industrial bimetal thermometers and what factors impact those prices.
A bimetal thermometer senses and indicates temperature using a bimetal coil, which consists of two dissimilar metals bonded together. When subjected to temperature change, the metals expand and rotate the coil.
Bimetal thermometers are designed for ease of use, prolonged instrument life, and accurate and dependable temperature measurement for process and industrial environments.
What Makes a Quality Bimetal Thermometer?
Before we discuss the prices and cost drivers, I want to explain what makes a high-quality thermometer to help you better understand the value. What features should a good bimetal thermometer have?
First, a quality thermometer must be hermetically sealed. This prevents fogging from happening in the case. The thermometer should be easy to read, the temperature range should meet the requirement of your application, and it should have 1% full-scale accuracy, traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
Bimetal thermometers are available with single (Fahrenheit or Celsius) and dual scale (Fahrenheit and Celsius) dials. Temperature ranges are from -100 degrees F through 1000 degrees F with equivalent Celsius ranges. A bimetal should be used intermittently from 800 degrees F to 1,000 degrees F (425 degrees C to 500 degrees C).
Be sure that you’re also using a thermowell to protect your thermometer from pressure or corrosion, too!
Now, let’s talk about price.
Cost of Industrial Bimetal Thermometers
Here are some general price ranges for bimetal thermometers to give you an idea of cost:
- 2-inch bimetal thermometers: $20 to $100
- 3-inch bimetal thermometers: $25 to $160
- 5-inch bimetal thermometers: $45 to $190
As you can see, size plays a role in determining the cost of a thermometer. The volume of your order will also impact your cost. There are many other factors driving the price as well, so let’s dive in and go through them.
6 Factors Impacting Thermometer Price
When researching the price of thermometers for your specific application, keep these six factors in mind that can impact the cost:
1. Size
The price of a thermometer is relative to its size. The larger the thermometer, the more expensive it is because there are more materials used and more time spent to manufacture it. The dial size also impacts price. If you need a larger dial size to be able to read it from far away, that will make it cost more.
2. Connection
The type of connection the thermometer has, or how you need to mount it to see it properly, also impacts the price. Is the thermometer rear connected? Or does it have a lower connection? Those that are lower connected are more expensive. There are also “every angle” thermometers. This type of thermometer allows you to view the temperature from every angle no matter where it’s mounted because the dial rotates 360 degrees.
3. Stem Length
The length of the thermometer’s stem impacts the cost. As I mentioned in factor number one, the larger the thermometer, the more expensive it will be. So, the longer the thermometer’s stem, the higher the cost.
4. Material
What is the thermometer made of? The materials used to build it impact price. 304 stainless steel is the norm, and a 316 stainless steel option adds cost. Do you want a plastic dial window, or do you prefer shatterproof safety glass? That will also increase the price.
5. Liquid Fill
In vibration applications, silicone liquid fill can prolong instrument life, though it does add to the cost. Liquid-filled thermometers operate in ranges from -40 degrees F to 550 degrees F (-40 to 300 degrees C).
6. Tamper-Proof vs. Externally Adjustable
Bimetal thermometers come in externally adjustable or tamper-proof designs. If you need to check and recalibrate the thermometer in the field, an externally adjustable thermometer works. But a tamper-proof unit has no adjustment, meaning it can avoid any tampering with the temperature indication.
We don’t like to pressure you, but we have more information.
Now that you have a better idea of price ranges for industrial bimetal thermometers and what drives their cost, I hope your shopping becomes easier. You can always reach out to our temperature specialists here at Ashcroft if you have questions or research the available thermometers on our site.
To help explore various options available for temperature instruments, our website offers a helpful resource center that includes white papers, specification sheets, material selection guides, videos and other tools.
And for more information on thermowells, check out our article about the cost of thermowells!
Dave Dlugos, Global Tech Product Leader contributed to this article.