In most of the country a smart thermostat is about heating bills. In South Florida it is about the air conditioner, which runs for most of the year, and about humidity, which is the part of comfort a basic thermostat ignores. A home can sit at 76 degrees and still feel clammy if the air handler is not pulling enough moisture out of the air. The best smart thermostats for Florida read indoor humidity, can use the air conditioner to dehumidify, and, on better systems, can run a whole-home dehumidifier directly.
This guide ranks the smart thermostats currently sold in the US that handle Florida conditions best, based on each manufacturer's own specifications. It also covers the wiring question that decides whether a thermostat will work in your home at all: the C wire.
How we picked
We looked for four things, in this order. First, humidity control: whether the thermostat can overcool slightly to dehumidify with the air conditioner, and whether it has terminals to control a separate dehumidifier. Second, room sensors, because Florida homes often have one hot room on the west side and one cold room near the air handler. Third, power: whether the thermostat needs a C wire, and what the maker offers if you do not have one. Fourth, whether it is currently sold and supported. We confirmed each feature on the manufacturer's product page or support documentation. No prices, ratings or review counts, and no manufacturer paid to be included.
A note on older Nest thermostats
If you have a first- or second-generation Nest Learning Thermostat, Google ended support for those models on October 25, 2025. They were removed from the Nest and Home apps, and they no longer receive software or security updates. The thermostat still works from its own dial, including its schedules, but remote control, app settings and connected features are gone. The affected models are the Nest Learning Thermostat 1st gen (2011), 2nd gen (2012) and the 2nd gen Europe version (2014). If you rely on remote control while traveling or during hurricane season, it is time to replace one.
1. ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium
The ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium has built-in temperature, humidity and radar occupancy sensors, an indoor air quality monitor, and a SmartSensor included in the box for a second room. ecobee's AC Overcool feature lets the thermostat keep the air conditioner running a set number of degrees past your setpoint to bring humidity down, which is exactly the problem Florida homes have in spring and fall when it is humid but not hot enough for long cooling cycles. It can also control one wired HVAC accessory such as a dehumidifier. ecobee says it runs on a C wire and includes a Power Extender Kit for installation in most homes without one.
Best for: homes that want humidity control, room sensing and air quality alerts in one device. Worth knowing: Overcool is not a substitute for a dehumidifier in a home with a chronic moisture problem.
2. Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen)
The Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) includes a Nest Temperature Sensor (2nd gen), and Google's wiring specifications list humidifier and dehumidifier terminals (HUM, DEHUM) alongside multi-stage heating, cooling and heat pumps. It works with Google Home and other Matter-enabled apps. Google says it is designed to work with or without a C wire, and that only in limited cases will a C wire or Nest Power Connector be needed.
Best for: Google Home households and anyone replacing an unsupported early Nest. Worth knowing: accessory terminals are shared, so a system that already uses a third stage may limit what else can be connected; check the compatibility tool before buying.
3. Honeywell Home T10+ Pro (installed by HVAC pros)
Resideo's T10+ Smart Thermostat with RedLINK 3.0 manages humidification, dehumidification and ventilation from a single device, and pairs with RedLINK Smart Room Sensors to average temperatures across rooms. It is sold through professional installers rather than retail, so it usually arrives as part of HVAC work.
Best for: homes getting new air conditioning equipment, a dehumidifier or a ventilation system at the same time. Worth knowing: it is a pro-channel product, so availability depends on your HVAC contractor.
4. ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced
The Smart Thermostat Enhanced keeps the features that matter most in Florida, AC Overcool to dehumidify and humidity-adjusted comfort, and supports one-wire HVAC accessories such as a dehumidifier. It is compatible with ecobee SmartSensors (sold separately), and ecobee includes the Power Extender Kit for homes without a C wire.
Best for: most homes that want ecobee's humidity features without the Premium's air quality monitor. Worth knowing: room sensors are an add-on.
5. Sensi Touch 2 (Copeland)
Copeland's Sensi Touch 2 is a touchscreen smart thermostat that works with the major voice assistants. Copeland's humidification and dehumidification setup guide covers control of low-voltage wired dehumidification systems, including slowing the blower during cooling to pull more moisture from the air when humidity is above the setpoint. A C wire is required.
Best for: homes with a C wire already in place that want direct dehumidifier control. Worth knowing: per Copeland's guide, wired dehumidification cannot be configured with two-stage heating systems.
6. ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential
The Smart Thermostat Essential is ecobee's entry model. It still includes AC Overcool to dehumidify and adjusts comfort for humidity, which puts it ahead of many basic smart thermostats for Florida use. The Power Extender Kit is sold separately for homes without a C wire.
Best for: condos and smaller homes that want humidity-aware cooling without extra features. Worth knowing: no room sensors and no occupancy sensor.
7. Google Nest Thermostat
The Nest Thermostat is Google's simpler model. It has a built-in humidity sensor, works with Matter for control from other smart home apps, and is designed to work without a C wire in most homes. Google notes that heating-only or cooling-only systems and zone controllers may need a C wire or power accessory.
Best for: straightforward single-stage systems and Google Home users. Worth knowing: its published wiring specifications do not list humidifier or dehumidifier terminals, so it cannot run a whole-home dehumidifier.
8. Amazon Smart Thermostat
The Amazon Smart Thermostat is a basic, Alexa-controlled option with humidity sensing and scheduling. It needs a C wire; Amazon sells it with a C-wire adapter for systems that have the required wires but no spare conductor.
Best for: Alexa households with simple systems. Worth knowing: it is built for basic scheduling rather than humidity control.
Quick comparison
| Thermostat | Humidity features (per maker) | Room sensor | No C wire? |
|---|---|---|---|
| ecobee Premium | AC Overcool, accessory control | Included | Kit included |
| Nest Learning (4th gen) | HUM/DEHUM terminals | Included | Usually works; connector if needed |
| Honeywell Home T10+ Pro | Humidify, dehumidify, ventilate | RedLINK sensors | Ask your HVAC pro |
| ecobee Enhanced | AC Overcool, one-wire accessory | Optional | Kit included |
| Sensi Touch 2 | Wired dehumidification | No | C wire required |
| ecobee Essential | AC Overcool | No | Kit sold separately |
| Nest Thermostat | Humidity sensor only | No | Usually works |
| Amazon Smart Thermostat | Humidity sensing | No | C-wire adapter |
The C wire: why it matters
A smart thermostat has a screen and a Wi-Fi radio that need constant power. The C, or common, wire provides a continuous 24-volt return path from the HVAC equipment. Many older Florida homes were wired with only four or five conductors for a basic thermostat, and none of them is a common. Thermostats deal with this in three ways: some draw power through the other wires and work most of the time, some ship with or offer a power adapter that is installed at the air handler, and some simply require a C wire.
If you do not have one, the options are a manufacturer's adapter or a new thermostat cable run from the air handler. In a condo or a home with the air handler in a closet near the thermostat, a new run is often simple. In a slab-on-grade house with the air handler in the attic, it can take more work. Either way, it is low-voltage work on the HVAC control circuit, and if the air handler is also due for service, it is worth coordinating with your HVAC contractor.
The South Florida angle
- Humidity targets. The EPA recommends keeping indoor humidity below 60 percent, ideally between 30 and 50 percent (EPA). A thermostat that shows humidity makes it easy to see whether the house is getting there.
- Oversized air conditioners. A system that cools the house quickly and shuts off does little dehumidifying. Overcool features and dehumidifier control help, but they do not fix a badly sized system.
- Hurricane season. Storm season runs June 1 to November 30 (National Hurricane Center). Remote access lets you watch indoor temperature and humidity while you are away, which is useful for spotting a failed air conditioner before mold does.
- Efficiency. ENERGY STAR maintains a list of qualifying smart thermostats for comparing models.
Frequently asked questions
Can a smart thermostat lower humidity in my Florida home?
Some can help. Thermostats with an overcool or dehumidify-with-AC feature run the air conditioner a little past the setpoint to remove more moisture. Thermostats with dehumidifier terminals can run a whole-home dehumidifier. A thermostat alone cannot fix a leaky duct system or an oversized air conditioner.
Do I need an electrician to install a smart thermostat?
Many homeowners install their own when a C wire is present. An electrician or HVAC technician is useful when there is no C wire, when the thermostat location needs to move, or when the thermostat wiring at the air handler is damaged or unlabeled.
Will my old Nest still work?
First- and second-generation Nest Learning Thermostats still run their schedules from the device itself, but Google ended app and remote support for them on October 25, 2025, so they no longer get updates or remote control.
Which thermostat is best for a condo?
Condos often have fan coil units or heat pumps with simple wiring. Check each maker's compatibility tool with a photo of your existing wires before buying; ecobee's specifications, for example, list support for PTACs and fan coil units on the Enhanced.
Wire it for the thermostat you want
Most thermostat problems are power or wiring problems. KRW Electric (license EC13012832) handles smart home wiring across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, including power and wiring at device locations, and low-voltage wiring for thermostats and controls. For more connected-home ideas, see our best smart home electrical upgrades, and if you are comparing contractors, our list of the best electrical contractors in South Florida. When you are ready, get in touch.
Reviewed by Kyle White, KRW Electric Company LLC — licensed electrical contractor EC13012832.
