The IoT (Internet of Things) solutions will revolutionise the world in the upcoming years. You’ll learn about the top 20 types of sensors in IoT and their importance in smart technology and automation. The demand makes it mandatory for all of us to understand the various types of IoT sensors. You can learn about IoT sensors, types, and uses. You can rely on Watsoo, the best IoT sensor manufacturer in India.
Top 20 Types of Sensors in IoT
IoT sensors are expected to enhance efficiency, safety, and decision-making with real-time data, predictive maintenance, and smart city applications. The blog consists of 20 different types of sensors and their functions. The effortless integration and increasing use of IoT sensors (that may reach 29.42 billion by 2030) in digital devices will bring a remarkable transformation.
1. Temperature Sensors
The first and most basic sensors in the updated list of sensors in IoT. The temperature sensors majorly measure surroundings. They monitor heat energy and convert it to understandable data. Various types of Sensors in IoT for temperature measurements are used in HVAC systems, smart thermostats, and weather stations.
Categories
Five sub-categories of Temperature sensors are:
- Thermocouples – Devices that measure temperature by tracking the change in voltage.
- RTDs (Resistance Temperature Detectors) – Instruments to measure device temperature based on change in resistance.
- Thermistors (Therm-ally + Res-istor) – Respond rapidly by changing the physical resistance to any changes in temperature.
- Integrated Circuit (Semiconductor) – A chip that can offer a direct temperature reading in a digital form at low temperatures.
- Infrared – It detects temperature by sensing certain characteristics of its surroundings. It detects infrared radiation, detects motion, and observes heat emitted by objects.
Uses
Temperature sensors are mainly used in electric thermometers, aircraft engine control, electric power generation, and furnace monitoring.
Features
Temperature sensors can support specific temperature management in different industries.
2. Proximity Sensors
The proximity sensors from this IoT sensors list detect the presence of close objects without physically connecting with them. You can detect the presence or absence of an object by emitting electromagnetic field radiation. They are often used in security systems or automation.
Categories
Four sub-categories of Proximity sensors are:
- Inductive – They are faster and used for metallic object detection without physical contact
- Ultrasonic – Detect objects in extreme conditions by using sonar or radar.
- Photoelectric – They use a beam of light for long-distance detection and are best for non-metallic objects.
- Capacitive – Detect both metallic and non-metallic objects & use in difficult applications.
Uses
From all types of IoT sensors, proximity sensors are most appropriate for the retail and manufacturing industry. These sensors are more trustworthy than the infrared sensors and are only used to measure the distance from an object.
Features
The Pyroelectric InfraRed (PIR) sensor is a popular example of these sensors that convert images of close objects to an electrical signal. This signal is easy to understand.
3. Acoustic and Noise Sensors
The acoustic and noise sensors from the list of sensors used in IoT detect the noise levels emitted within the connected devices. It analyses surrounding sound using the integrated microphones. These sensors monitor sound levels and generate a report accordingly.
Categories
Four sub-categories of Acoustic and Noise Sensors are:
- Hydrophone – Underwater device to observe and record ocean sounds from all sides.
- Geophone – Ground device to convert ground movement into voltage and record it at the recording station.
Uses
These sensors are used in electronic items like phones and music systems. From the types of sensors in IoT, these sensors are used by the construction, farming, & manufacturing industries. Smart home applications also use it to monitor noise pollution. Researchers use a geophone device to understand the Earth’s structure in a more advanced manner.
Features
These sensors can monitor traffic on the road and figure out noise pollution on highways. Some noise detectors help inside the house for the well-being of toddlers or pets.
4. Humidity Sensors
The humidity sensors from all IoT sensor types measure the air moisture level, air-water vapor, and other gases present percentage in the air. They are usually built-in with temperature sensors.
Categories
Two sub-categories of Humidity Sensors are:
- Capacitive – It features 2 electrode layers with a dielectric material. This material placed in-between absorbs the air moisture.
- Resistive – It measures relative humidity & tracks the change in the resistivity between 2 electrodes. It takes the help of a hygroscopic conductive layer for this.
Uses
These sensors among types of sensors in IoT are majorly used in HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning), agriculture, and weather stations. They are useful in identifying the chemical changes in the air. They are used in weather stations for forecasting.
Features
A thermal conductivity sensor can measure humidity and is a durable alternative. To measure accurately, know the density of the air at a standard temperature.
5. Image Sensors
The optical sensors are inserted into systems for capturing and converting images into digital signals. These signals are transmitted over a network. These sensors are mainly useful in smart vehicles, biometric devices, and night vision equipment.
Categories
Two types of Image Sensors that use metal-oxide semiconductors and have different technologies are:
- CCD – Charge-coupled device
- CMOS – Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor
Uses
The image sensors from all types of sensors in IoT are useful for industrial monitoring and support smart agriculture purposes. They can be used in robots, surveillance cameras, drones, barcode scanners, facial recognition, and quality inspection systems.
Features
They are beneficial for connected IoT devices to visual observation of the surroundings where the sensor is integrated or installed. Customizability, low power consumption, & high-quality images/ videos are prominent advantages.
6. Pressure Sensors
Pressure sensors from this IoT sensors list, as the name suggests, detect the change in the pressure. They can manage the amount of force for any specific purpose (like stopping fluid from dilating). Popular sensors as for industrial applications.
Categories
Two types of Pressure Sensors are:
- Gas Pressure – Widely used in the petrochemical and energy industries for monitoring and control purposes.
- Barometric – It measures atmospheric pressure changes. It is the central component of the weather stations.
Uses
Among all types of sensors in IoT, it is mainly used in applications like industrial equipment monitoring and weather forecasting. These sensors take required actions to address changes after tracking system pressure. They can be used to check commercial and residential building leakages.
Features
The pressure sensors detect the amount of pressure and convert it to electric signals. They are easy to connect with the IoT modules and generate data that appears on the computer system screens.
7. Magnetic Sensors
The magnetic sensors from all other IoT sensor types monitor the magnetic fields. Like proximity sensors, they also detect the object’s presence by sending electromagnetic radiation. These sensors detect the change in the direction and strength of the magnetic field.
Categories
Three sub-categories of Magnetic Sensors are:
- TMR (Tunneling Magneto-Resistive)
- Reed Switches
- Hall Effect
Uses
These sensors from all types of sensors in IoT are used in automotive, consumer electronics, and industrial automation. They are used in biological organisms, industrial objects, current sources, and conductors in cars, power lines, etc.
Features
These sensors are best for contact-free detection of a magnetic field to measure mechanical displacement and motion. They uniquely offer rotational, linear, and angular sensing abilities.
8. Motion Sensors
Motion sensors detect the changes in the position or its movement. The sensors can monitor movements within a certain radius of the surrounding area. They can send alerts regarding the presence of some object or a person.
Categories
Two varieties of Motion Sensors are:
- Ultrasonic Motion – Give out ultrasonic waves that reflect from the object in the surroundings and return to the sensors by measuring the distance from the object.
- Infrared Motion – Detect movements in the temperature in the current surrounding area and indicate the object, human, or animal’s presence.
- Microwave Pulses – Use microwave pulses to detect the movement and cover a larger area than the above two thus is more open to electronic intervention.
Uses
The sensors from various types of sensors in IoT are used in security systems, smart lighting, and gaming. These sensors are also used in the camera to target unusual activity for security purposes at homes or commercial buildings. They are used in soap dispensers, dryers, toilet flushes, and entrance gates.
Features
Motion sensors from this List of sensors and their uses detect physical movements and change them into electrical signals. These sensors have active sensing ability and thus they can capture even the smallest movement occurring in the surroundings.
9. Air Quality Sensors
The IoT air quality sensors from the IoT sensor types compute individual particles and impurities (pollutants). These sensors are majorly used to control environmental health and avoid hazards. They can observe the chemicals, gases, and suspended particles in the atmosphere air.
Categories
Two types of Air Quality Sensors are:
- Gas – Detect changes in the formation of the air due to leakage of dangerous gases (Nitrogen Dioxide & Sulfur Dioxide).
- Particle Matter – It detects the presence of individual impure particles in the air by monitoring the opacity.
Uses
These sensors from types of sensors in IoT are beneficial to detect toxic or combustible gases in the environment. It is mainly used by plastic materials or paint manufacturing industries to control dangerous gases. The pharmaceutical industries can use these sensors to detect hazardous gases & avoid accidents.
Features
The best feature of these sensors is their instant detection and maintenance of the air quality sensors. These were initially used by BAM (Beta Attenuation Monitors) technology which was later replaced by the TOEM (Tapered Element Oscillating Microbalance) technology.
10. Accelerometers Sensors
As the name suggests, the accelerometer sensors detect the changes in the acceleration. Acceleration is the rate at which velocity changes with time, in terms of speed and direction.
They capture the non-gravitational acceleration of the object and enable the measurement of the vibration or its tendency.
Categories
Three main types of accelerometer sensors are:
- Hall Effect
- Capacitive
- Piezoelectric (Electrical charge when mechanically stressed)
Uses
An accelerometer like the other types of sensors in IoT is a packed device alternative that measures vibrations in the object. They integrate it with vehicles, wearables, and robotics to track nearby objects using their vibration. Industries use these sensors in which they manufacture machines or operating devices.
Features
These sensors contain capacitive plates and other attached springs. It converts acceleration data to vibration frequencies and detects unusual movements. A prominent feature of these sensors is that they are low-powered devices thus beneficial for battery-powered applications.
11. Water Quality Sensors
The water quality sensors measure various parameters including the muddiness, pH, and impurities in the water. These measurements are based on the water’s temperature, dissolved oxygen levels, conductance, and saltiness.
Categories
Three types of water quality sensors are:
- ORP (Oxidation-Reduction Potential) – Used in Ion detection to measure the ability of water to oxidize.
- pH – It monitors water quality by comparing its ability to neutralize acids and bases.
- Turbidity – It senses the rate of suspended solids in water by monitoring the amount of light scattered.
Uses
The water quality IoT sensors from numerous types of Sensors in IoT can be implanted into swimming pools and overhead water storage tanks. Researchers use these sensors in environmental monitoring and industrial applications. Companies also use them for large-scale quality checks in rivers.
Features
These sensors can analyze the water’s physical, biological, and chemical conditions in various water bodies. They can work both under and on the water in a floating manner.
12. Gyroscope Sensors
The gyroscope sensors detect the rotational motion. It captures information about an object’s 3-D space orientation. These are also famous as the Angular Rate or Velocity sensor. It uses the earth’s gravity to track the angular motion of any object.
Gyroscope sensors from various types of Sensors in IoT have a rotor (independent-rotating disk) set in motion on a spinning axis at the center of a steady wheel. Its axis spins, the rotor remains motionless, and that is how it indicates the way down.
Categories
Four types of gyroscope sensors are:
- Mechanical
- MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems)
- Light-based (Laser-Ring and Fiber-Optic)
Uses
They are important to revolutionize automotive systems and are used in navigation systems, drones, and virtual reality. In cars, they can detect the skidding of the wheel and react with an automatic break. Smart mobiles can detect the game’s mode (portrait or landscape) using these sensors.
Features
These sensors are fast and an important component for maximum smart navigation systems. They are often integrated with the accelerometers to enable precise motion sensing.
3 angular rate measurements that gyroscope sensors can pick are – YAW (See object from Above), ROLL (See object from the front), and PITCH (See object from the front – vertical rotation).
13. Level Sensors
The level sensors from different types of Sensors in IoT measure the level of liquid or solid substances in containers or tanks. They majorly help businesses to monitor, maintain, and measure the levels of objects or items in transport systems or storage.
Some Common level sensors used in industries are:
Float switch, Capacitance, Optical, Conductive, Tuning fork, Ultrasonic devices, and Radar.
Categories
Two types of level sensors per their usage are:
- Point Level – Indicate the appearance of liquid at a selected point in the storage container.
- Continuous Level – It measures the exact liquid level in the storage container.
Uses
Large vehicles use these sensors for fuel level management. They can monitor sea levels to predict tides and alert them. The medical industry uses these sensors during pharmaceutical processing.
Features
They can control the overflow and diminish the chances of bug accidents. It is useful for liquid stock maintenance in storage houses. Invasive sensors directly connect with substances, and non-contact sensors measure the quantity using surrounding sounds or microwaves.
14. Flow and Gas Sensors
The IoT flow or gas sensors from the types of Sensors in IoT mentioned in this blog, monitor the slowness of gases or liquids. They can detect the change in pressure or leakages wherever used. They also detect the movement or flow of fluids. These sensors can be compared with the flow sensors.
Categories
The major types of these sensors include:
- PID (photoionization detector)
- Infrared
- Semiconductor
- Electrochemical
Uses
These sensors are in manufacturing, health, and oil and gas industries to detect the concentration of different gases in the air, including greenhouse gases and toxins. They install the systems to monitor the air quality and support work safety by detecting toxic gases. Medical applications mostly use flow sensors.
Features
The trending version of Gas sensors is low-powered and can be used in local applications. These sensors can measure gas concentrations and detect leaks remotely. The flow sensors can control the liquid flow rate.
15. Chemical Sensors
Among the numerous types of Sensors in IoT, the Chemical sensors can detect chemicals or gases in the environment. It converts chemical signals into analytical ones. Researchers mainly use them to find pollutants in the surroundings and control pollution to avoid health hazards. Chemical manufacturing industries also take them into account.
Categories
Some common chemical sensors are:
Chemical field-effect transistor, Chemiresistor, Electrochemical gas, fluorescent chloride, Hydrogen sulfide, Nondispersive infrared, pH glass electrode, Potentiometric, and Zinc oxide nanorod sensors.
Uses
They can detect changes in the chemical composition of liquids and gases. The major industries that use them are pharma, automotive, and domestic. These sensors allow industries to control processes.
Features
These sensors can track the changes in surroundings affected by the chemical impurity. It can convert the physical properties of a substance to digital signals.
16. Infrared Sensors
The infrared sensors in IoT detect infrared radiations. These sensors are cost-effective options for motion sensors. These sensors detect and react accordingly to the thermal radiation released by the objects.
Categories
Two types of Infrared Sensors are:
- Active – Uses infrared detectors to detect objects (e.g. – photodiodes).
- Passive – It has 2 two sub-types – thermal and quantum, from which the latter is faster.
Uses
Thermal cameras, night vision, and temperature measurements commonly use these sensors. Security applications can utilize these sensors for alerting. These sensors among all the types of sensors in IoT can detect chemical leakages for industrial maintenance. They can be used in medical industries to monitor fitness levels.
Features
These sensors can transmit a wave to the electronic circuit to monitor the temperature. Its output varies as per the intensity of the energy signals obtained.
17. Rain Sensors
The name itself suggests that these sensors from the IoT sensors list are used to measure rainfall. It uses an IR (Infrared) transmitter unit to obtain and return distinctive intensity lights. These sensors are often used independently as solutions in a network.
Categories
Four common types of Rain Sensors are:
- Water Collection Basins
- Freeze
- Conductive
- Hygroscopic Disk
Uses
The rain sensors are commonly used in weather stations and smart irrigation systems. They are helpful for the agricultural industry as they regulate the water flow. It controls the overwatering in the fields and minimizes operational costs. The sensors automatically activate the car wipers to avoid accidents.
Features
Rain sensors from the prominent types of sensors in IoT indicate rainfall levels to reflect an accurate measure. These sensors are activated automatically once they come in contact with water. They also work as resistive dipoles. They are cost-effective solutions and help in avoiding water wastage.
18. Optical Sensors
The optical sensors in IoT include both electro-optical and light sensors. They detect light levels or objects. These sensors detect a limited amount of light and convert it to digital signals.
Categories
Common types of Optical Sensors include:
- Fiber optics
- Pyrometers
- Photodetectors
- Proximity
Uses
Businesses integrate these sensors into their products, including industrial automation, electronics, and robotics. They are used in smart cities for adaptive street lighting, traffic and automotive monitoring. These sensors are also useful in the automobile industry as they can recognize objects, detect light, and enhance smart parking.
Features
The optical sensors from the other types of sensors in IoT measure electromagnetic energy (From Infrared to Ultraviolet Level). They can detect light’s intensity, frequency, polarization, and wavelength. It can also monitor water levels by tracing the refraction of light.
19. Smoke Sensors
Smoke Sensors from the List of sensors and their uses can detect the smoke in the surroundings. These smoke sensors indicate the presence of airborne particles or smoke in the atmosphere or the air in a specific region.
Categories
Two main types of Smoke Sensors:
- Optical – These are also known as photoelectric smoke detectors and measure the scattering of the light due to smoke presence.
- Ionization – These are sensitive to larger flames or fire and are less effective at detecting slow-smoldering fires.
- ASD (Aspirating Smoke Detectors) – Highly advanced sensors are used in active fire protection systems.
Uses
These sensors are essential components in fire alarm systems. They are installed in factories, residential society buildings, and offices. The sensors from different types of sensors in IoT are used to prevent fire accidents with accurate smoke-sensing ability.
Features
These sensors can send alerts to the connected devices in case of fire. This smoke detector can raise an alarm in its installed places if harmful smoke arises. It uses a little radioactive substance placed between electrically charged plates that can detect even the smallest particles of smoke.
20. Light Sensors
The light sensors from the IoT sensor types are photoelectric sensors that convert light energy into electrical energy. They measure atmospheric light levels and adjust lights accordingly. These sensors work as energy-effective alternatives for smart homes.
Categories
Two popular types of Light Sensors are:
- Photodiode – They work on the inner photoelectric effect. Designed to operate semiconductor lighting appliances.
- Photoresistor – This sensor changes its resistance when light shines on it and it can be used as an analog light sensor.
Uses
These sensors are useful in the agricultural industry. The user can measure the amount of light absorbed in the soil and use this information accordingly. These sensors are also useful in security and brightness control. It may include surrounding light settings on mobile phones and laptops.
Features
The light sensors can detect and observe the quantity of light to then convert it to electrical energy. This electrical energy is easy to understand for IoT instruments. They are cheap to motion sensors and other different types of sensors.
Watsoo – What do we offer?
Watsoo is an IoT-based product manufacturer and technology company in India. The organization has smart fuel sensors and e-locks for fleets. It provides a complete fleet management system.
We are in-house manufacturers and our hi-tech IoT sensors support the better management of the company’s equipment, vehicles, and storage materials. We have contributed well to smart home solutions and environmental monitoring with smart sensors.
Watsoo have IoT sensors that are customizable according to the business-specific needs. We offer OEM-grade IoT-based products that enhance business efficiency, advancement, and process speed.
Conclusion
An IoT sensor is a hardware device that detects the required parameters with in-built sensor elements. There are different types of sensors in IoT available to make tracking, control, and management effortless for industries and smart homes. This device can send or receive information to the cloud or any central system with the help of a communication module.
The blog post covers all the aspects of the types of IoT sensors you need to know in 2025. Each sensor has a unique quality and serves a specific industry. You can understand this technical advancement in the mentioned content. We hope you like it!