Where Should a Thermostat Go in Your House?

On this page (9 sections)

1. Where should you place a thermostat for a reliable reading?
2. Which places should you avoid when deciding where to place a thermostat?
3. How do you choose a wall and height?
4. Can room sensors help if the thermostat is in a hallway?
5. Which room sensor fits your thermostat?
6. What if a replacement thermostat leaves marks on the wall?
7. What should you check before settling on a location?
8. What mistakes should you avoid when placing a thermostat?
9. Where should you place a thermostat in your house?

For most homes, place a thermostat on an interior wall in a room you use often, away from direct sun, drafts, vents, and heat sources. Keep it clear of furniture and curtains so air can circulate, and follow the thermostat maker's mounting and wiring instructions.

Where to place a thermostat depends on which rooms you want it to control and what could affect the air around it. A central hallway can work if its temperature reflects the rooms you care about and it has steady airflow.

Where should you place a thermostat for a reliable reading?

The best place to put a thermostat in a house is usually an interior wall in a frequently used area. Choose a stable spot where the air is representative of your home, rather than a wall exposed to a local source of heat or cold.

A central position can help the thermostat respond to the home as a whole, but it doesn't need to be at the geometric center. Think about where people spend time and whether that room tends to match the rest of the house.

Leave open space around the device. Don't put it behind a door, bookcase, curtain, or large piece of furniture, where still or trapped air can affect its reading.

If you're planning a new installation, start with our thermostat fit and installation guide. Check the instructions for your thermostat and heating or cooling system before choosing a wall.

Which places should you avoid when deciding where to place a thermostat?

Avoid direct sun, drafts, vents, kitchens, and heat-producing appliances. These can warm or cool the air around the thermostat even when other rooms feel different.

Keep it away from:

• Windows that get direct sun or cold drafts
• Exterior doors and drafty entryways
• Supply vents that blow heated or cooled air onto it
• Kitchens, fireplaces, and lamps that add local heat
• Bathrooms, unless the thermostat maker approves that location
• Walls hidden behind curtains or furniture

A hallway or upstairs landing may be convenient, but convenience alone doesn't make it representative. If bedrooms or a home office regularly feel warmer or cooler, consider those rooms when setting the thermostat's schedule or choosing a compatible room sensor.

How do you choose a wall and height?

Use the thermostat's installation guide to choose its mounting height and check any model-specific location requirements. The right height can vary, so don't assume that a measurement for one thermostat applies to another.

At the recommended height, make sure the display is easy to reach and read, and that household items won't block airflow. Avoid placing it near a shelf or appliance that may create a pocket of warmer or cooler air.

Before drilling, check for wiring, pipes, and other hidden services in the wall. Turn off power as directed by the installation instructions, and get help from a qualified installer if you're unsure about wiring or system compatibility.

If you're moving an existing thermostat, the new location may need additional wiring. See how to change a thermostat for steps to consider before starting.

Can room sensors help if the thermostat is in a hallway?

A compatible room sensor can help a smart thermostat account for temperatures in rooms you use most, especially if the main thermostat is in a hallway. A sensor can add a room's temperature to the system's choices, but it doesn't make a poor spot for the main thermostat a good one.

For homes with an ecobee Smart Thermostat, the ecobee SmartSensor 2-Pack shares temperature and occupancy information with the thermostat. The sensors can sit on stands or mount to walls, and the app can use them to prioritize rooms.

This set suits homes with an ecobee thermostat where two rooms need attention, such as a bedroom at night and a living area during the day. Skip it if you don't have a compatible ecobee thermostat or want a sensor that works across brands.

Setup is through the ecobee app, with no sensor wiring or tools required.

A Nest household can use the Google Nest Temperature Sensor (2nd gen) with a Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd or 4th gen) or Nest Thermostat E. It can sit on a shelf or wall, and the Google Home or Nest app lets you set the room temperature for a certain time of day.

Choose this sensor if you have one of those compatible Nest thermostats and want to prioritize a room or average temperatures across rooms. Skip it if your thermostat isn't one of the supported models.

You can use sensors in up to six rooms, but start with the room that has the clearest comfort problem.

Confirm compatibility before buying any room sensor. Ecobee, Google Nest, and Sensi sensors are made for their own systems, so a sensor from another brand may not pair with your thermostat.

Which room sensor fits your thermostat?

Choose a sensor based on the thermostat system you already have and the way you want it to handle room-to-room differences. A model that supports prioritizing one room suits a different need from a system that can average several readings.

The Sensi Room Sensor works with the Sensi Touch 2 Smart Thermostat. You can set it on a stand or mount it to a wall, then use the system to prioritize a room or average temperatures across sensors and thermostats.

This sensor suits a Sensi Touch 2 owner who wants temperature and humidity monitoring in another room. Skip it if you have a different thermostat or need a sensor to control the main thermostat on its own.

Use the stand or wall mount and follow the setup guide for the Sensi system.

If you don't know your thermostat model, use how to identify your thermostat type before buying a sensor. That helps you check compatibility instead of choosing by appearance alone.

What if a replacement thermostat leaves marks on the wall?

A cover plate can hide holes, paint marks, or wall damage left when a thermostat is replaced or a smaller unit is installed. It is a cosmetic fix, not a way to correct a poor thermostat reading.

The Honeywell Home THP2400WH Cover Plate includes a cover plate, electrical box adapter, and mounting screws. It fits Honeywell Home X1N, X2P, X2S, X7S, and X8S thermostat models and measures 4.6 in high by 6.1 in wide on the wall.

Choose it if you have a compatible Honeywell Home model and need to cover the area around a replacement. Skip it if your thermostat isn't one of the listed models or the damaged area extends beyond the plate.

Measure the wall and confirm the model before installation.

For help matching a plate to a thermostat, compare the thermostat wall plate guide. A cover can improve the finish, but the thermostat still needs a suitable location.

What should you check before settling on a location?

Check the wall at different times of day before mounting the thermostat. Notice whether sunshine, cooking, drafts, or heating and cooling vents change the temperature near that spot.

Also consider how people use the home. A thermostat in a little-used area may not represent the rooms where you want consistent comfort, while a room sensor may help when one bedroom or office runs warmer or cooler than the rest.

After installation, leave the area around the thermostat clear and observe how the system responds. If the temperature seems wrong, check the settings and nearby conditions first.

A sensor reading from a separate room can help you decide whether the issue is a single room or the thermostat's location.

What mistakes should you avoid when placing a thermostat?

The most common mistake is choosing a convenient wall without checking what affects the air around it. Direct sunlight, a nearby vent, a draft, or a kitchen can make the thermostat respond to a local condition instead of the home.

Other mistakes are hiding it behind furniture, mounting it without checking the instructions, and buying a room sensor before confirming compatibility. A sensor can support a thermostat system, but it does not replace safe installation or a representative location.

Avoid moving a thermostat just because one room feels uncomfortable. First check whether a compatible sensor can help the system account for that room, and make sure the thermostat itself is not receiving unusual heat or cold.

Where should you place a thermostat in your house?

For most homes, choose an interior wall in a frequently used area with open airflow, away from sun, drafts, vents, and local heat. Use the mounting height and wiring guidance for your exact thermostat.

Pick a compatible room sensor if one or two rooms need more attention: ecobee for a compatible ecobee system, Google Nest for supported Nest models, or Sensi for the Sensi Touch 2. If you're replacing a thermostat and need to cover wall marks, measure first and check whether the Honeywell plate fits your model.

For broader setup help, start with our thermostat fit and installation guide.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the best place to put a thermostat in a house?

An interior wall in a room you use often is usually a practical choice for a thermostat. Keep it away from direct sunlight, drafts, vents, kitchens, and heat-producing appliances, and leave clear space around it so air can circulate.

Follow the mounting instructions for your exact model.

Should a thermostat be near a window?

Avoid placing a thermostat beside a window if that area gets drafts, direct sun, or strong temperature swings. Those conditions can make it read the air near the window instead of the home's usual temperature.

Choose a more stable interior wall when possible.

How high should a thermostat be mounted?

Mount it at the height specified in the thermostat's installation guide, since instructions vary by model. At that height, choose a spot with open airflow away from vents, shelves, appliances, and other sources of unusual heat or cold.

Can a room sensor fix a thermostat in a bad location?

A compatible room sensor can help a system account for temperature in a room you use, but it doesn't correct unsafe wiring or a poor location for the main thermostat. Check system compatibility, choose a good location for the thermostat, and follow the sensor's setup instructions.