New research projects steady growth for handheld thermal cameras, with demand supported by predictive maintenance, electrical inspection, workplace safety and emergency response applications.
The global handheld thermal camera market is expected to grow from $1.83bn in 2026 to $2.83bn by 2032, according to a new report from MarketsandMarkets. The forecast represents a compound annual growth rate of 7.6% over the period.
The report says growth is being driven by increasing use of thermal imaging for predictive maintenance, non-contact temperature monitoring and workplace safety. Across manufacturing, automotive, construction, energy and public safety environments, handheld thermal cameras are being used to identify overheating equipment, electrical faults, insulation defects and mechanical failures before they lead to downtime, fire hazards or costly repairs.
For fire and safety professionals, the findings point to continued adoption of portable thermal imaging tools in electrical inspection, building diagnostics, firefighting, surveillance, healthcare screening and automotive diagnostics. The technology’s ability to support early fault detection and real-time temperature monitoring is expected to remain a key factor in its wider uptake.
Electrical inspection is expected to dominate the market by application, as organizations look for faster ways to detect overheating components, loose connections, overloaded circuits and other electrical faults in industrial, commercial and utility infrastructure.
Handheld thermal cameras allow users to inspect electrical panels, transformers, switchgear, motors and power distribution systems without contact, helping maintenance and safety teams reduce the risk of equipment failure and fire-related incidents.
The manufacturer direct and web store segment is projected to record the fastest growth among distribution channels. The report attributes this to greater customer preference for online purchasing, direct technical support, product demonstrations and faster access to specialist thermal imaging products.
The industrial segment dominated the handheld thermal camera market in 2025, supported by use cases in manufacturing, energy, oil and gas, automotive and utility operations. These users are increasingly deploying thermal cameras to monitor equipment, identify mechanical wear and improve safety around critical assets.
MarketsandMarkets identifies Teledyne FLIR, Fluke Corporation, Hikmicro, Testo SE & Co KGaA, Guide Sensmart, Infiray and Seek Thermal among the major companies active in the market.
