Weather is a surprisingly common hobby. For some fans, it's been a passion since childhood. And for someone who loves tracking their local weather patterns, a home weather station is a must-have.
Whether you're a weather connoisseur yourself or you're searching for the perfect gift for one, a weather station is the way to go. Depending on the model, they measure a wide variety of data points and track them over time.
As you may or may not realize, though, weather stations come in a wide variety of price ranges and models. It's important to weigh all your options depending on the features that are important to you.
To break it down into an easier choice, our experts have ranked our favorite home weather stations for every price range.
Best Home Weather Station for Any Budget
There are many factors to weigh when you're shopping for a home weather station. Depending on your budget, all of these are options that provide strong value for the cost.
La Crosse Technology Horizontal Color Wireless Weather Station
If you're looking for a starter weather station or one that fits a rather limited budget, this is your best choice.
It can't compete with the models that are ten times its price or more, but you wouldn't expect it to. For the price point, the La Crosse Technology Horizontal Color Weather Station offers great value.
Like many other models, this weather station comes with a handy indoor monitor. One monitor, however, can connect with up to three outdoor sensors, giving you diverse and accurate measurements. The base model comes with one sensor, but you can buy additional sensors.
You can expect this unit to measure:
- Indoor temperature
- Outdoor temperature
- Daily forecast
- Indoor humidity
- Outdoor humidity
It might not be the most high-tech weather station, but this model is a great way to get started in the weather monitoring game. It's simply a matter of deciding if you can live without features like a rain gauge, barometer, and smartphone access.
La Crosse Technology 308-1412-3TX-Int
It's interesting to compare the two La Crosse Technology models on this list. While they're at the same price point, they spend the money in two different ways.
The "Horizontal Color" model puts your investment primarily into the display. It's colorful, easy to read, and attractive to display. The La Crosse Technology 308-1412-3TX-Int, on the other hand, has more advanced monitoring abilities.
The measurements you'll receive, similar to the brand's other $40 model, include:
- Indoor humidity
- Indoor temperature
- Outdoor temperature
- Outdoor humidity
Remember when we mentioned that the colorful model comes with one sensor but can connect with up to three? This model can connect to three sensors as well, but it comes with all three sensors included. This is the core difference between the two La Crosse models on our list.
The multiple sensors are the greatest advantage to this specific device. You can see how the temperature and humidity varies at three locations in your hard. The system will also tell you if each sensor is on an upward or downward trend.
With the added sensors and technology, you do sacrifice some quality in the display. It's just a matter of deciding which you prefer.
Ambient Weather WS-YG332
We had to include this model on our list because it's so vastly different from the other models. Some weather trackers want to know what's going on in their yard but they don't like the futuristic look of other weather stations.
If you prefer a more vintage, traditional look, this weather station was made for you.
The Ambient Weather WS-YG332 only tracks three measurements: temperature, barometric pressure, and humidity. There are other models in the same price range that give you far more data.
The design is the key advantage with this unique model. It has an intriguing style that goes perfectly in a traditionally designed study or living room. You do, however, sacrifice the ability to access your readings on your smartphone and other devices.
AcuRite 00622
We're getting toward the top end of the budget models, but the AcuRite 00622 is a definite winner.
This weather station combines two features our lower-priced models choose between more measurements and an advanced display.
Your AcuRite 00622 will track a variety of data points, including:
- Outdoor temperature
- Outdoor humidity
- Indoor temperature
- Indoor humidity
- Wind chill/heat index
- Current wind speed
- Recent wind speeds (low, high, and average)
- Barometric pressure
- Temperature variation throughout the day
On top of this wide array of measurements, this weather station also comes with a cosmetically pleasing display. The coloration makes it easier to read and more attractive to display in your home.
Another unique feature of this model is that design of the outdoor sensor. Higher-end models use complex sensors that look similar to a boat motor. This model, on the other hand, has a much smaller profile. It looks similar to a sink plunger with antennae on top.
Ultimately, the sensor's design is a matter of personal preference. Some weather fans like a complex design because it's a conversation piece, while others prefer a more discrete style.
AcuRite 01014M
If you're aiming for a mid-range price point, this model offers great value. While it may not have the precision of higher-end models, it still gives you plenty of data to track.
The AcuRite 01014M connects to a sophisticated you can access from your smartphone, computer, or tablet. The software shows you a variety of data points, including:
- Indoor temperature
- Outdoor temperature
- Humidity
- Wind speed
- Rainfall
- Wind direction
The software provides a convenient way to see a historical record of your data. Like some of our other options, it also lets you set parameters for specific alerts. As an added bonus, the indoor sensor is attractive and discrete.
A useful feature for all weather enthusiasts is that this system will connect directly to Weather Underground. It's a great way to connect with other enthusiasts and keep track of your measurements.
If you live in a wintery climate, however, keep in mind that this unit is not designed to measure snowfall.
Netatmo Weather Station
As successful as the other weather stations on this list are, none of them have as sleek and modern of a look at the Netatmo Weather Station. If you want to keep on top of the weather while maintaining a fashionable look, this is the choice for you.
Like several of the other models on this list, the Netatmo weather station sends all of your data to your smartphone. It's a great way to stay connected wherever you are.
It's important to note that the default model does have fewer features than some of the most expensive weather stations on this list. It provides accurate measures for:
- Indoor temperature
- Outdoor temperature
- Barometric pressure
- Adjusted temperature for wind and other factors
- Humidity
On top of these features, the app shows you the forecasted weather for the day.
However, if you want more information, there are easy add-ons. For additional costs, you can add on a rain gauge as well as a wind gauge. All of this data can be accessed conveniently on your phone as well.
Like some of the other weather stations on this list, the Netatmo model is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for easy use.
Ambient Weather WS-2902A
This rather affordable wonder of technology is perfect for everyone with a passion for weather monitoring. Simply install the futuristic-looking sensor in your yard and you can track all the statistics you want on your app or your monitor.
While the sensor doesn't come with a mounting pole, you can buy one so you don't need to attach it to your home.
Our favorite feature of the Ambient Weather WS-2902A is the wide variety of statistics it measures, including:
- Temperature
- Humidity
- Wind speed
- Wind direction
- Barometric pressure
- Rainfall
- UV index
As an added bonus, the monitor you'll keep in your home can measure the indoors temperature as well.
To keep you connected no matter where you are, you can connect to your station with the Ambient Weather Network. You can even set alerts so you receive notifications when certain measures hit your pre-set limits.
For instance, you can set an alert to tell you when the rainfall reaches a select amount for a day so you'll know to turn off your lawn sprinklers.
This weather station also comes with access to the popular weather system Weather Underground. If you have an Amazon Alexa, it's also compatible with this affordable weather station from Ambient Weather.
Ambient Weather WS-1201
This model is getting toward the higher end of affordability, but it's worth every penny. The value in the Ambient Weather WS-1201 comes from its diverse measurements and its user-friendly data access.
This weather station tracks a wide range of measurements, which include:
- Wind direction
- Wind speed
- Wind gusts
- Wind chill and heat index
- Indoor temperature
- Indoor humidity
- Outdoor temperature
- Outdoor humidity
- Dewpoint
- Rainfall
- Barometric pressure
- UV index and solar radiation
In addition to all these helpful data points, your display will also show you:
- Daily sunset time
- Daily sunrise time
- Graph of historical measurements for temperature, barometric pressure, and humidity
- Moon phase
- Date and time
The organized display is easy to read and navigate, even with minimal color.
Davis Instrument 6520
This weather station is on the higher end of the pricing spectrum, but it comes with plenty of perks to make up for the cost. It also updates your data more frequently than many other models. The high-tech system monitors:
- Dewpoint
- Indoor and outdoor temperature
- Barometric pressure
- Wind direction
- Wind speed
- Rainfall
- Humidity
Many of the units on this list compare the current measurements with the daily forecast. However, this model does so with a particularly detailed reading. The display also lists sunrise and sunset times as well as moon phases.
Our favorite feature of the Davis Instruments 6520, though, is that it graphs weather trends for you and shows them on an easy-to-read interface.
Davis Instruments 6153 Vantage Pro2
This is about the peak of technology for home weather stations. It really has all the bells and whistles and the outdoor monitor makes that clear. It looks like something out of The Matrix, but it gets the job done.
One of the best advantages of this system is that it updates your data every 2.5 seconds, making it among the fastest on the market. Just to name a few of the features, this model measures:
- Solar radiation
- Outdoor temperature
- Indoor temperature
- Humidity
- Rainfall
- UV index
- Wind speed
- Wind direction
- Barometric pressure
- Heat index
- Recent trends
However, the greatest asset of the Davis Instruments 6153 Vantage Pro2 is its durability. The sensor is built to withstand extreme heat as well as extreme cold, in addition to 200mph winds. It also has a radiation shield that's active around the clock.
If you're a true weather maven, there are also additional extras you can buy to enhance even this advanced model.
Choosing the Perfect Home Weather Station for Your Budget and Function
Ultimately, finding the right home weather station for you or your loved one requires some thought and planning. Think about what features you want it to have and what budget you want to limit yourself to.
It's also a good idea to prioritize what measurements you want. Models that only track a few data points are very inexpensive, but adding features can raise the price point quickly.
Between figuring out what you're looking for and sifting through online reviews, your shopping process can be time-consuming. Our goal with the guide above is to break down your best options for any price to make your shopping easier.
For more tips about home weather stations and other great tech gadgets, check out our technology blog.