12 Thermometers Every ’80s Home Had (and No One Trusted)
These old-school thermometers were everywhere in the '80s, but nobody fully believed what they showed.
- Daisy Montero
- 3 min read
Back in the ’80s, thermometers came in all shapes, styles, and levels of sketchiness. Some were glued to kitchen windows, others were tucked into medicine cabinets, but they all had one thing in common; they were never 100% reliable. Parents squinted at readings, double-checked temperatures, and still ended up guessing. This list runs through the dozen classic thermometers that defined the decade of weather-checking guesswork.
1. Windowpane Thermometers That Never Matched the News
Levin Holtkamp on Wikimedia Commons
They clung to kitchen windows and were everyone’s quick fix for checking the weather. No matter the season, these plastic-rimmed classics always seemed a few degrees off. Parents glanced at them and still ended up turning on the TV for the real forecast.
2. Mercury Thermometers
Gelegenheitsautor on Wikimedia Commons
They looked fancy and official until you dropped one and sent everyone into panic mode. These glass thermometers gave readings that were always a little suspicious. Most people took the temperature twice and picked the one they liked better.
3. Digital Thermometers
cottonbro studio on Pexels
These felt like a high-tech upgrade until you realized they took their sweet time. You had to wait patiently and pray the battery was still working. Even after the beep, people usually did a second reading just to feel sure.
4. Analog Weather Stations
Friedrich Haag on Wikimedia Commons
They came with brass dials, polished wood, and lots of confidence. These gadgets measured temperature and humidity but rarely agreed with your senses. Most families treated them more like wall art than tools.
5. Porch Thermometer
w_lemay on Wikimedia Commons
They were stuck right where the sun hit hardest and always gave dramatic readings. Summer afternoons felt even hotter when you looked at these things. No one ever dressed based on it, but it still sparked conversations.
6. Decorative Analog Thermometer
Antonio Christoffel Reballio (Milaan circa 1720/25 - Rotterdam 1801) on Wikimedia Commons
These were the “fancy” ones meant to blend with furniture. They had wooden frames and decorative numbers that fooled nobody. The readings were hit or miss, but at least they matched the wall paneling.
7. Fever Strip Thermometer
Arkrishna on Wikimedia Commons
They used bright colors to make fever checks more visual. The red and blue zones looked scientific, but most people never understood the range. If it hit red, it was time to call grandma and stay in bed.
8. Refrigerator Thermometer
Tony Webster on Wikimedia Commons
They hung out in the back of the fridge, foggy and forgotten. No one noticed them unless something spoiled. Even then, people just turned the dial and hoped for the best.
9. Glass Clinical Thermometer
Menchi on Wikimedia Commons
Shaking the thermometer felt like a ritual before every use. That flick of the wrist was satisfying, even if it barely helped. The reading was often off, but no one blamed their shaking skills.
10. Mechanical Oven Thermometer
FASTILY on Wikimedia Commons
They sat inside ovens looking useful but rarely changed anything. Most cooks still trusted instinct or burned the first batch. These just gave a number to argue about when the cookies were too brown.
11. Disposable Oral Thermometers
Beemwej on Wikimedia Commons
These cheap little things were always around but rarely trusted. They felt flimsy and gave suspiciously low readings more often than not. Still, they were the go-to during late-night fevers.
12. Forehead Infrared Thermometers
Syced on Wikimedia Commons
Holding one felt like living in the future, even if it was unpredictable. The readings changed depending on how close you held it. Most people just tried a few times and averaged it out.