Best thermal scopes
The thermal scopes that let you name what you see the farthest out at every budget, worked out from each maker's sensor and lens, plus the best for coyotes, hogs, AR-15s and rangefinders.
Updated October 12, 2026 · 202 current models considered
How this list is ranked
- Identification distance: the farthest a coyote still stands 12 pixels tall on the screen, enough to tell it from a fox or a dog. Calculated from the maker's sensor and lens.
Identification distance
Our estimate of how far away you can tell a coyote from a fox or a dog. It is calculated from the lens and sensor, assuming good conditions.
- Then field width: on a tie, the one that shows more ground at 100 yards, so you find animals faster.
Field width
How many feet of ground fill the screen at 100 yards. Wider makes scanning faster; narrower usually means more detail on the animal.
- Then price: on a further tie, the cheaper one.
One spot per product line: a model from the same line, or one with the same sensor and lens under a newer name, is listed under the best of them instead of taking a spot of its own. Only current models sold through US dealers with a published US price. Nobody paid for a spot, and affiliate links never change the order. The coyotes are drawn at 200 yards, one square per sensor pixel, all on the same scale. Phosphor color (green or white) is a preference, not a grade, so it does not rank. How we measure.
Best for your hunt
Best thermal scopes for coyote hunting
At every budget, the scopes that let you tell a coyote from a fox or a dog the farthest out, worked out from each maker's sensor and lens.
Best budget thermal scopes
The thermal scopes under $1,000 and under $2,000 that show a coyote the farthest out, from each maker's own specs.
Best thermal scopes with a built-in rangefinder
Scopes with a laser rangefinder built in, ranked at every budget by how far out you can identify a coyote.
Best 640 thermal scopes
Thermal scopes with a 640-pixel-wide sensor, ranked at every budget by how far out you can identify a coyote.
Best 1280 thermal scopes
The highest-resolution thermal scopes sold in the US, ranked by how far out you can identify a coyote and how much ground you see.
Best thermal scopes for hog hunting
Hogs come in groups and move fast at night. At every budget, the scopes that show the most ground at 100 yards, so you see the whole sounder.
Best thermal scopes for AR-15
A light rifle deserves a light scope. At every budget, the lightest thermal scopes, with how far out each one identifies a coyote.
Under $1,000
Top 3 of 9 product lines in this range, from 14 current thermal scopes.
1
7 px tall at 200 yd
2
ATN
ThOR 6 Mini 256 3.5-28x
256×192 · 25 mm · $795
- Identify a coyote to
- ~105 yd
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 37 ft
Also in this range from the same line or with the same optics: ThOR 6 Mini 256 2-16x ($689)
6 px tall at 200 yd
3
RIX Optics
Storm S2
256×192 · 25 mm · $799
- Identify a coyote to
- ~105 yd
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 37 ft
Also in this range from the same line or with the same optics: Storm S2R ($999, rangefinder)
6 px tall at 200 yd
Compare the top 3 side by side · See them all on the thermal scopes page
$1,000 to $2,000
Top 3 of 24 product lines in this range, from 47 current thermal scopes.
1
OneLeaf
Mars MT1000LRF 75mm
640×512 · 75 mm · rangefinder · $1,999
- Identify a coyote to
- ~320 yd
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 31 ft
Also in this range from the same line or with the same optics: Mars MT1000LRF 50mm ($1,699), Mars MT1000LRF 35mm ($1,399), Mars mini 25mm ($1,999), Mars mini 19mm ($1,799)
19 px tall at 200 yd
2
Predator Thermal Optics
Harvester 50-384
384×288 · 50 mm · $2,000
- Identify a coyote to
- ~210 yd
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 28 ft
Also in this range from the same line or with the same optics: Harvester 35-384 ($1,800)
13 px tall at 200 yd
3
Pulsar
Thermion 2 XQ50 Pro
384×288 · 50 mm · $2,000
- Identify a coyote to
- ~150 yd
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 39 ft
9 px tall at 200 yd
Compare the top 3 side by side · See them all on the thermal scopes page
$2,000 to $3,500
Top 3 of 30 product lines in this range, from 61 current thermal scopes.
1
Predator Thermal Optics
Harvester 50-640
640×512 · 50 mm · $2,400
- Identify a coyote to
- ~210 yd
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 46 ft
13 px tall at 200 yd
2
DNT Optics
Hydra HS650
640×512 · 50 mm · $2,444
- Identify a coyote to
- ~210 yd
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 46 ft
Also in this range from the same line or with the same optics: Hydra LRF HS650R ($2,445, rangefinder)
13 px tall at 200 yd
3
ATN
ThOR 6 Mini 640 3-24x
640×512 · 50 mm · $2,495
- Identify a coyote to
- ~210 yd
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 46 ft
Also in this range from the same line or with the same optics: ThOR 6 640 3-24x ($2,595), ThOR LTV 640 4-12x ($2,795), ThOR 6 LRF 640 3-24x ($2,995, rangefinder), ThOR 6 Mini 640 2-16x ($2,095)
13 px tall at 200 yd
Compare the top 3 side by side · See them all on the thermal scopes page
$3,500 to $5,000
Top 3 of 23 product lines in this range, from 44 current thermal scopes.
1
ATN
ThOR 5 640 5-40x
640×480 · $3,695
- Identify a coyote to
- ~315 yd
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 31 ft
Also in this range from the same line or with the same optics: ThOR 5 LRF 640 5-40x ($3,995, rangefinder)
19 px tall at 200 yd
2
Pulsar
Thermion 2 LRF XL60
1024×768 · 60 mm · rangefinder · $5,000
- Identify a coyote to
- ~255 yd
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 61 ft
Also in this range from the same line or with the same optics: Thermion 2 LRF XG60 ($4,500), Thermion 2 LRF XP60 ($4,500), Thermion 2 LRF XP50 Pro ($4,000), Thermion 2 LRF XQ50 Pro ($3,700)
15 px tall at 200 yd
3
Bering Optics
Super Yoter R 3.0-12.0x50
640×480 · 50 mm · $3,595
- Identify a coyote to
- ~210 yd
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 46 ft
Also in this range from the same line or with the same optics: Super Yoter LRF 3.0-24.0x50 ($4,395, rangefinder)
13 px tall at 200 yd
Compare the top 3 side by side · See them all on the thermal scopes page
$5,000 and up
Top 3 of 20 product lines in this range, from 36 current thermal scopes.
1
ATN
ThOR 5 XD 1280 4-40x
1280×1024 · $5,995
- Identify a coyote to
- ~425 yd
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 46 ft
Also in this range from the same line or with the same optics: ThOR 5 XD LRF 1280 4-40x ($6,195), ThOR 5 XD 1280 3-30x ($5,495), ThOR 5 XD LRF 1280 3-30x ($5,795), ThOR 5 XD LRF 1280 2-20x ($5,295)
25 px tall at 200 yd
2
Nocpix
RICO 2 S75R
1280×1024 · 75 mm · rangefinder · $8,800
- Identify a coyote to
- ~320 yd
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 61 ft
Also in this range from the same line or with the same optics: RICO 2 H75R ($7,150)
19 px tall at 200 yd
3
AGM
Secutor LRF 75-640
640×512 · 75 mm · rangefinder · $6,495
- Identify a coyote to
- ~320 yd
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 31 ft
19 px tall at 200 yd
Compare the top 3 side by side · See them all on the thermal scopes page
What is left out
Discontinued models, which sell used on eBay; brands with no US dealer network; and models whose maker publishes too little about the sensor or lens to calculate a distance. All of them are on the thermal scopes page.
Prices are the US price on file for each model, or the maker's list price where marked MSRP. Retailers change them often; the retailer's page is the current one.
More lists
- Best thermal scopes for coyote hunting
- Best budget thermal scopes
- Best budget thermal monoculars
- Best thermal monoculars for hunting
- Best thermal scopes with a built-in rangefinder
- Best clip-on thermal scopes
- Best 640 thermal scopes
- Best 1280 thermal scopes
- Best thermal monoculars with a rangefinder
- Best thermal binoculars
- Best thermal scopes for hog hunting
- Best thermal monoculars for hog hunting
- Best thermal scopes for AR-15
- Best night vision scopes
- Best tube night vision scopes
- Best night vision monoculars
- Best night vision binoculars and goggles
- Best clip-on night vision