About Breathalyzer and how we work

Shopping for a breathalyzer is harder than it looks. Online listings use the same words for very different devices, and phrases such as "police grade" or "professional accuracy" rarely come with numbers you can check. Most buyers cannot tell from a listing whether the sensor is a semiconductor or a fuel cell, how often the unit needs calibration, or what that calibration involves.

We started Breathalyzer to put that information in one place and to explain what each specification means for a real person: a driver who wants a sensible check before calling a cab, a parent with a teen driver, a safety manager at a small company, or a bar owner thinking about a wall unit for guests.

• Rankings and category pages that group testers by use case, such as personal, keychain, smartphone, home, professional and wall-mounted units.
• Model reviews built on the manufacturer's published specifications and public documentation, with the source linked for each model.
• Plain guides on how breath testing works, why readings differ, how calibration works and how long to wait before blowing.
• A BAC calculator that gives a rough estimate and explains its limits clearly.
• General information about legal alcohol limits, ignition interlock devices and workplace testing rules, with pointers to official sources.

Start with the best breathalyzer ranking, try the breathalyzer finder, or read how we review breathalyzers before you trust any of our verdicts.

Every ranking, verdict and recommendation on this site is decided by our editors alone. No manufacturer, seller or advertiser reviews our pages before they go live, and no one outside the editorial team can change what we write about a product.

We do not accept paid placements, sponsored rankings, free products in exchange for coverage, or payment for a better position in a list. If a maker contacts us, the only thing that can change a page is a documented correction to a specification, and we treat it exactly like a correction from any reader.

When two models are close, we say so. When a popular model has a real limitation, such as a sensor type that reacts to other substances or a calibration process that needs a return to the maker, we write that down even if it makes the product look less attractive.

The site is funded by the Amazon Associates program. When you click a "Check price on Amazon" button and then buy something on Amazon, Amazon pays us a commission. The price you pay is the same whether you use our link or not.

The commission does not depend on which model you choose in a way we let influence our rankings. We rank by use case and by published specifications, and a cheaper model regularly wins a category when it fits the job better. Full details are on our affiliate disclosure page.

We do not sell advertising space, we do not run advertising pixels, and we do not sell your email address or any other personal data.

We do not run laboratory tests on breathalyzers, and we never describe a review as if we had. Our reviews are based on the manufacturer's published specifications and public documentation, and each one says so.

• No star ratings and no scores presented as if they came from testing.
• No user reviews or testimonials, because we cannot verify them.
• No prices on the site, because Amazon prices change often and we cannot keep a number accurate.
• No medical or legal advice. A breathalyzer reading or a BAC estimate cannot tell you whether you are safe or legal to drive.

Makers update their products and documentation, and we can make mistakes. If you see a specification that does not match the maker's current documentation, write to us and include a link to the source. We check every report and update the page when the source supports it.

You can reach the editors at support@breathalyzer.io. More on what to write about is on the contact page.