Sensor Selection Guide for IoT: Temperature, Humidity, Motion, Gas, Environmental
2026-06-26·Hawking Zhou
Sensor Selection Guide for IoT: Temperature, Humidity, Motion, Gas, and Environmental Sensors
IoT devices rely on sensors to interact with the physical world. Choosing the right sensor impacts cost, accuracy, power consumption, and field reliability. Here's a practical guide to popular sensor types with part numbers and sourcing tips.
Temperature Sensors
| Type | Accuracy | Range | Interface | Cost |
| NTC thermistor | ±0.1°C | -50 to 250°C | Analog voltage divider | $0.10-0.50 |
| RTD (Pt100) | ±0.03°C | -200 to 850°C | Analog (needs excitation) | $3-50 |
| Digital (I2C) | ±0.2-1.0°C | -40 to 125°C | I2C/SPI | $0.50-3 |
| Thermocouple | ±1-5°C | -200 to 1750°C | Analog (mV, cold-junction comp) | $1-20 |
Popular digital sensors:
- Sensirion SHT4x (temp + humidity, ±0.2°C, I2C)
- TI TMP117 (±0.1°C, I2C, medical-grade accuracy)
- Maxim DS18B20 (1-Wire, waterproof probe available)
Humidity Sensors
- Sensirion SHT45 (±1.0% RH, I2C, industry standard)
- Bosch BME280 (temp + humidity + pressure, single package)
- Aosong AHT20 (budget Chinese alternative, ±2% RH)
Note: Humidity sensors drift over time, especially in condensing environments. Budget for recalibration or plan for sensor replacement every 2-3 years in harsh environments.
Motion and Position
| Type | Technology | Range | Key Application |
| Accelerometer | MEMS capacitive | ±2g to ±200g | Vibration monitoring, tilt |
| Gyroscope | MEMS vibratory | ±125 to ±2000 dps | Drone stabilization |
| IMU (6-axis) | MEMS accel + gyro | Combined | Navigation, robotics |
| Hall effect | Magnetic field | 0 to 30mT | Proximity, current sensing |
| Magnetometer | AMR/TMR | ±10 gauss | Compass, metal detection |
Popular IMUs:
- TDK ICM-42688-P (ultra-low noise for drones)
- Bosch BMI270 (ultra-low power for wearables)
- ST LSM6DSO32 (accelerometer up to 32g)
Gas and Environmental
| Sensor | Detection | Cost | Life | Application |
| CO2 (NDIR) | 400-5000 ppm | $15-50 | 10+ years | Air quality, HVAC |
| PM2.5 (laser) | 0-1000 µg/m³ | $5-20 | 5-7 years | Air purifiers |
| VOC (MOX) | 0-60,000 ppb | $3-10 | 5-10 years | Indoor air quality |
| Formaldehyde | 0-1 ppm | $10-30 | 2-5 years | New home monitoring |
Popular environmental sensors:
- Sensirion SGP41 (VOC + NOx, MOX sensor)
- Sensirion SCD41 (CO2, NDIR, ±40 ppm)
- Plantower PMS5003 (PM2.5 laser particle counter)
Chinese Sensor Manufacturers
- Goertek (歌尔) — MEMS microphones, largest MEMS sensor maker in China
- Sensylink (矽睿科技) — AMR/TMR magnetometers
- Asair (奥松) — Temperature and humidity sensors
- Winsen (炜盛) — Gas sensors (CO, CH4, H2S), industrial-grade
Sourcing Tips
- Buy moisture-sensitive sensors factory-sealed on tape and reel — hand-soldering risks damaging the sensing element
- Always request calibration certificates for medical or industrial applications
- MEMS sensors have long lead times during automotive production ramps — plan 12-16 weeks ahead
Related Articles
- IoT Module Selection Guide — Wireless connectivity for sensor devices
- Wireless Connectivity Compared — BLE, LoRa, NB-IoT for IoT sensors
- Power Management IC Selection Guide — Powering your sensor nodes efficiently
Need help sourcing these components?
PartsCube Global stocks all alternatives mentioned in this guide. Search our catalog or submit your BOM for a quote.
Chat on WhatsApp