Adafruit
Adafruit SCD-41 - True CO2 Temperature and Humidity Sensor
The Adafruit SCD-41 is a photoacoustic true CO2 sensor that directly measures carbon dioxide concentration in ambient air with a wide measurement range of 40...
The Adafruit SCD-41 is a photoacoustic true CO2 sensor that directly measures carbon dioxide concentration in ambient air with a wide measurement range of 400 to 5,000 ppm. It also includes integrated temperature and humidity sensing, providing comprehensive environmental data from a compact module.
Compared to the lower-cost SCD-40 (400–2,000 ppm range), the SCD-41 offers wider range and better accuracy, making it ideal for industrial and scientific applications where CO2 levels can get very high. Data is read over I2C with Arduino and CircuitPython libraries available for quick setup.
Key Features
- True CO2 Measurement – Photoacoustic sensing, not VOC-based estimation
- Wide Measurement Range – 400 to 5,000 ppm CO2
- Accuracy – ±(40 ppm + 5% of reading)
- Integrated Temperature & Humidity – Built-in environmental sensors for compensation and standalone readings
- I2C Interface – STEMMA QT / Qwiic connectors for solderless hookup and daisy-chaining
- 3.3 V / 5 V Compatible – Onboard 3.3 V regulator provides clean, low-ripple power for accurate readings; level shifters for 5 V logic
- Compact Form Factor – Significantly smaller than NDIR-based CO2 sensors
Also Consider
- SCD-40 CO2 Sensor – Lower-cost version with 400–2,000 ppm range, ideal for standard air quality monitoring
- SCD-30 NDIR CO2 Sensor – Larger NDIR-based sensor with 400–10,000 ppm range and ±(30 ppm + 3%) accuracy
Ideal For
- Industrial CO2 monitoring where levels exceed 2,000 ppm
- Scientific experiments and environmental research
- Smart building and HVAC systems
- Indoor air quality monitoring and ventilation studies
Package Contents
- 1× Adafruit SCD-41 True CO2, Temperature & Humidity Sensor Breakout
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- breakout
- A breakout is a small circuit board that makes a tiny or hard-to-solder component easier to connect to with standard pins. It matters because this OLED module can be wired into a microcontroller project without needing to solder directly to the display’s fine contacts.
- CircuitPython
- A beginner-friendly version of Python designed to run directly on microcontroller boards. If a product supports CircuitPython, you can often program it by copying code files onto the board rather than setting up a more complex toolchain.
- I2C
- I2C is a two-wire communication bus used by many sensors and small modules. It matters because several I2C devices can share the same two wires, but each device needs a compatible address and your controller must support I2C.
- ppm
- ppm means parts per million, a common way to express very small gas concentrations in air. For CO₂ sensors, the ppm range tells you what levels the sensor can measure, such as normal indoor air through to poorly ventilated spaces.
- Qwiic
- Qwiic is a plug-in connector system for I2C devices that uses small 4-pin cables, so you can connect compatible sensors without soldering. It matters because your controller or adapter also needs Qwiic, or you will need a cable or breakout to wire it up.
- STEMMA
- A plug-and-cable connection system used on some maker electronics boards to make wiring simpler. If a product uses STEMMA, you need the matching cable or connector type to plug it in without soldering.
- STEMMA QT
- A small plug-in connector system for I2C boards that lets you connect compatible sensors and controllers without soldering. It matters because it can make wiring faster and less error-prone, especially when adding several small modules to a project.
- VOC
- Volatile organic compounds are gases released from things like paints, cleaners, smoke, and some plastics. A VOC reading helps indicate indoor air quality, but it is usually an index or estimate rather than a direct identification of each chemical.
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