Sensors and boards for measuring the environment, indoors or out - from air quality and carbon dioxide to particulates, temperature, humidity, pressure and soil moisture. You'll find individual sensor breakouts alongside complete monitoring boards that bring several measurements together.
Choosing an environmental sensor
- Air quality can mean several different things, so it's worth choosing a sensor that measures what you're interested in. The BME690 and BME688 combine temperature, humidity and pressure with gas sensing for monitoring changes in indoor air quality, while sensors like the SGP40 are designed specifically for detecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) sensors such as the SCD-41 and SCD-30 measure CO2 directly, making them a good choice for monitoring ventilation and indoor spaces.
- Particulate matter sensors measure tiny particles suspended in the air. The PMS5003 reports PM1.0, PM2.5 and PM10 and can be connected to a Pi or microcontroller with our particulate matter breakout. The PMSA003I is a compact alternative with an I2C interface.
- Temperature, humidity and pressure are the building blocks of weather stations and general environmental monitoring. Sensors such as the SHT40 and AHT20 cover temperature and humidity, while pressure sensors like the ICP-10125 and BMP581 are sensitive enough to detect small changes in altitude as well as atmospheric pressure.
- Soil and high temperatures need more specialised sensors. The soil moisture sensor can keep an eye on thirsty plants, while the MCP9600 thermocouple amplifier lets you measure temperatures well beyond the range of an ordinary environmental sensor.
Complete environmental monitoring boards
If you'd rather have several sensors already assembled into one tidy package, our Enviro boards make a handy starting point. Enviro for Raspberry Pi combines environmental sensors with a small LCD, while Enviro Urban and Enviro Weather are wireless, battery-friendly boards designed for monitoring urban conditions and the weather. Pico Enviro+ Pack adds a selection of environmental sensors and a colour LCD to a Raspberry Pi Pico.
The Raspberry Pi Sense HAT V2 is another all-in-one option, combining temperature, humidity and pressure sensing with motion sensors, a joystick and an 8x8 RGB LED matrix.