Infrared Thermometer or Laser Thermometer question

Is an handheld infrared thermometer and a laser thermometer the same thing or are they different products? I need to purchase one and I am trying to decide which would be better for my automotive garage.


It is a common misconception to mistakenly refer to an infrared thermometer as a "laser" thermometer. Infrared thermometers only use the laser and as aiming reference. The laser beam does not measure temperature. The device uses infrared to acheive this. Some do not even come equipped with a laser. However, I would recommend purchasing one with this option. It is critical you know which surface area you actually getting a temperature reading from. Also, the further away from the object you are measuring, the more inaccurate your temperature reading will be.