The Bottom Line
The Airthings Wave Plus is the most comprehensive indoor air quality monitor we've found for families. It tracks the six things that matter most - radon, particulate matter (PM2.5), CO2, VOCs, humidity, and temperature - in a single battery-powered device that mounts on a wall or sits on a shelf. No subscription, no wires, no complicated setup. We installed ours in our kids' bedroom and within a week discovered our CO2 levels were hitting 1,400 ppm overnight because we'd been keeping the door closed. That one insight alone was worth the price.
What Is It
The Airthings Wave Plus is a 6-sensor indoor air quality monitor made by Airthings, a Norwegian company that started as a radon detection specialist. It's a small, circular device (about 4.7 inches in diameter) that runs on two AA batteries - no power cord needed. It connects to your phone via Bluetooth and to your home Wi-Fi for continuous cloud monitoring.
The six sensors track:
- Radon - The invisible, odorless radioactive gas that's the #1 cause of lung cancer among non-smokers
- PM2.5 (Particulate Matter) - Fine particles from cooking, candles, wildfires, and dust that penetrate deep into lungs
- CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) - Elevated levels indicate poor ventilation, which affects sleep quality and cognitive function
- VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) - Off-gassing from paint, furniture, cleaning products, and building materials
- Humidity - Too high promotes mold growth; too low irritates airways and skin
- Temperature - Tracks room temperature to help optimize sleep and comfort
All readings sync to the free Airthings app and web dashboard, where you can see real-time data, historical trends, and color-coded alerts when any metric enters an unhealthy range.
Why Indoor Air Quality Matters for Kids
Here's the fact that changed how we think about air quality: children breathe 50% more air per pound of body weight than adults. Their lungs are still developing. Their cells are dividing faster. They spend more time on the floor where heavier particles settle. And the EPA estimates that indoor air is 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air - sometimes up to 100 times worse.
Most of us have no idea what's in the air inside our homes. We can't see radon. We can't smell CO2 building up overnight in a closed bedroom. We don't notice VOCs off-gassing from that new crib mattress. The Wave Plus makes the invisible visible - and once you can see the problem, you can fix it.
We wrote a whole guide about choosing an air purifier for a nursery, and the first step we recommend is always: measure first, then act. The Wave Plus is how you measure.
What It Measures (And Why Each Sensor Matters)
Radon
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that seeps into homes through cracks in foundations, basement floors, and walls. The EPA estimates that radon causes 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year in the US - making it the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. The EPA action level is 4.0 pCi/L, but the WHO recommends action at 2.7 pCi/L. Nearly 1 in 15 US homes has elevated radon levels. The Wave Plus uses alpha spectrometry technology (the same method used in professional monitors) and provides continuous readings that become increasingly accurate over time - reaching full precision after about 30 days.
PM2.5 (Particulate Matter)
PM2.5 refers to particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers - about 30 times smaller than a human hair. These particles come from cooking (especially frying and roasting), candles, incense, wood-burning fireplaces, wildfire smoke, and dust. Because they're so small, they bypass the body's natural defenses and lodge deep in the lungs, and some cross into the bloodstream. For children with asthma or allergies, PM2.5 is a major trigger. The Wave Plus shows you exactly when levels spike so you can identify the source.
CO2 (Carbon Dioxide)
Outdoor CO2 is around 420 ppm. Inside a well-ventilated room, it's typically 600-800 ppm. In a closed bedroom overnight with two people, it can climb past 2,000 ppm. Studies show that CO2 above 1,000 ppm measurably impairs cognitive function, and levels above 1,500 ppm can disrupt sleep quality. Our kids' rooms were hitting 1,400 ppm by morning with the doors closed. Opening the door or cracking a window dropped levels back to 700 ppm within 30 minutes. We'd never have known without the monitor.
VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds)
VOCs are chemicals that off-gas from paint, furniture, carpeting, cleaning products, air fresheners, and building materials. New homes and recently renovated rooms tend to have the highest VOC levels. Some VOCs are known carcinogens (formaldehyde, benzene). Others cause headaches, nausea, and respiratory irritation. The Wave Plus measures total VOC levels (tVOC) and alerts you when they cross into unhealthy territory - so you know when to air out a room after painting, or when that "new furniture smell" is actually a chemical exposure.
Humidity
The ideal indoor humidity range is 30-50%. Below 30%, airways dry out, skin cracks, and static electricity increases. Above 50%, conditions favor dust mites, mold growth, and bacterial proliferation. For kids with eczema or asthma, humidity control is especially important. The Wave Plus tracks humidity continuously so you can spot seasonal patterns and adjust your humidifier or dehumidifier accordingly.
Temperature
Room temperature affects sleep quality significantly, especially for babies and young children. Pediatricians recommend keeping nurseries between 68-72 degrees F. The Wave Plus tracks temperature over time so you can see patterns - like whether the room heats up too much in the afternoon sun or drops too low overnight.
The App Experience
The Airthings app (free, iOS and Android) is clean and well-designed. Each sensor gets a color-coded tile - green for good, yellow for fair, red for poor. You can see real-time readings, 48-hour trends, weekly averages, and long-term historical data. The web dashboard (also free) gives you the same data on a larger screen with exportable graphs.
The app sends push notifications when any reading enters an unhealthy range, which is genuinely useful. We got a VOC alert the day after we painted our hallway - the levels in the adjacent bedroom had spiked to 3x normal without us realizing. Opened the windows for an hour and it was back to green.
One thing worth noting: the Wave Plus doesn't have a built-in display that shows actual numbers. You can wave your hand in front of it to get a color-coded LED glow (green, yellow, red), but for actual readings you need the app. This isn't a dealbreaker - you're going to use the app anyway for the historical data - but if you want a glanceable display, that's a point in favor of the Awair Element.
Cost Breakdown
The Airthings Wave Plus is one of the simplest cost propositions in our review lineup. You buy it once and that's essentially it.
| Item | Cost | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Airthings Wave Plus | ~$230 | One-time |
| AA Batteries (2x) | ~$2 | Every ~16 months |
| App & Dashboard | Free | No subscription |
| Annual ongoing cost | ~$1.50 | Just batteries |
| Professional radon test | $150–$300 | Single snapshot (vs continuous) |
For context: a professional radon test costs $150-$300 and gives you a single reading from a 48-hour period. The Wave Plus gives you continuous radon monitoring plus five additional sensors for less than the cost of that one test. And if you discover a radon problem, you'll know it within the first month rather than waiting for your next professional test.
What We Like
- Only consumer monitor with a built-in radon sensor - this alone justifies the price
- 6 sensors in one device: radon, PM2.5, CO2, VOCs, humidity, temperature
- Battery-powered (2 AA batteries, ~16-month life) - place it anywhere, no outlet needed
- No subscription fees - app and web dashboard are completely free
- Clean, intuitive app with historical data, trends, and push alerts
- Wi-Fi + Bluetooth connectivity for continuous cloud monitoring
- Small, unobtrusive design (4.7" diameter) that blends into any room
- Norwegian engineering with a strong track record in radon detection
What Could Be Better
- No built-in numeric display - you need the app to see actual readings (color LED only on device)
- Radon readings take 7 days to stabilize, 30 days for full accuracy
- $230 is more than basic thermometer/hygrometer combos ($20-30), though those can't detect radon, PM2.5, CO2, or VOCs
- PM2.5 sensor uses estimation algorithms rather than a dedicated laser particle counter
- No Apple HomeKit integration (works with IFTTT and Google Assistant)
How It Compares
We've researched every major indoor air quality monitor on the market. Here's how the Wave Plus stacks up.
Airthings Wave Plus vs Temtop M10
The Temtop M10 (~$80) is a budget-friendly handheld monitor that measures PM2.5, HCHO (formaldehyde), and AQI in real-time. It's portable and has a built-in screen, but it lacks radon detection, CO2 monitoring, Wi-Fi connectivity, and any kind of historical data logging. It's a useful spot-checker, but for continuous whole-home monitoring - especially if radon is a concern - the Wave Plus is in a different league.
Airthings Wave Plus vs IQAir AirVisual Pro
The IQAir AirVisual Pro (~$270) has a gorgeous 5-inch display with both indoor and outdoor air quality data. Its PM2.5 sensor uses a laser particle counter, which is more precise than the Wave Plus's estimation-based approach. However, it doesn't measure radon or VOCs, costs more, requires wall power, and has fewer total sensors. If PM2.5 accuracy is your top priority (wildfire smoke areas), the AirVisual Pro edges ahead. For overall family health monitoring, the Wave Plus wins.
Airthings Wave Plus vs Awair Element
The Awair Element (~$200) is the Wave Plus's closest competitor. It measures CO2, VOCs, PM2.5, humidity, and temperature with a nice LED display and responsive app. But it's missing the big one: radon. It also requires wall power (no battery option) and doesn't have as robust historical data. If radon isn't a concern and you want a glanceable room display, the Awair is solid. For most families, the Wave Plus's radon sensor makes it the smarter buy.
Who Should Buy It
Buy the Wave Plus if...
- You have children at home - kids breathe 50% more air per body weight and are more vulnerable to indoor pollutants
- You live in a radon-prone area (nearly 1 in 15 US homes has elevated radon) or have never tested your home
- Anyone in your family has asthma, allergies, or eczema - tracking PM2.5, humidity, and VOCs helps identify triggers
- You want to know whether your air purifier is actually working (pair it with our Levoit Core 300S for a powerful combo)
- You've recently moved, renovated, or have new furniture and want to monitor off-gassing
Skip the Wave Plus if...
- You only need a temperature and humidity reading - a $20 hygrometer will do that
- You want a device with a large built-in display showing real-time numbers - look at the Awair Element instead
- You need a portable spot-checker for multiple locations - the Temtop M10 ($80) is more practical for that
Our Verdict: 9.0 out of 10
The Airthings Wave Plus is what we use to monitor the air in our kids' rooms. It's the only consumer device that tracks radon continuously alongside PM2.5, CO2, VOCs, humidity, and temperature - and it does it without a subscription, without wires, and without taking up counter space.
Within the first week, we discovered two things we didn't know: our kids' bedroom CO2 was spiking overnight, and our VOC levels jumped every time we used a particular cleaning product. Both were easy fixes once we could see the data. That's the whole point - you can't fix what you can't measure.
If you haven't checked your local air quality yet, start with our free tool to see what's happening outside. Then use the Wave Plus to find out what's happening inside.
$230, no subscription, and we know exactly what our kids are breathing. That's peace of mind we didn't know we needed.
Free shipping on Amazon. No ongoing subscription fees. Runs on 2 AA batteries for ~16 months.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, especially for families with young children. The Wave Plus is the only consumer-grade monitor that tracks radon, PM2.5, CO2, VOCs, humidity, and temperature in a single device with no ongoing subscription fees. Professional radon testing alone costs $150-$300 and gives you a single snapshot. The Wave Plus gives you continuous radon data plus five additional air quality metrics for less than the cost of one professional test.
The Airthings Wave Plus radon sensor becomes accurate after 7 days of continuous monitoring and reaches full precision after 30 days. Airthings uses alpha spectrometry technology for radon detection, which is the same method used in professional-grade monitors. The sensor has a reported accuracy of plus or minus 10% after 30 days, which is sufficient for identifying whether your home has a radon problem.
No. The Airthings app and web dashboard are completely free. You get full access to real-time readings, historical data, and alerts with no monthly or annual subscription. The only ongoing cost is replacing the two AA batteries approximately every 16 months.
They serve different needs. The Airthings Wave Plus is the better choice if radon is a concern - it's the only consumer monitor with a built-in radon sensor. It also runs on batteries, so you can place it anywhere without needing an outlet. The Awair Element has a slightly better display and faster CO2/VOC response times, but lacks radon detection, requires wall power, and costs about the same. For families, the Wave Plus wins on the strength of its radon sensor alone.