Infrared (IR) sensors have shifted from niche tools to pervasive enablers across industrial automation, security & surveillance, and smart devices. They detect infrared radiation to measure temperature, sense motion, and “see” through low-light conditions—capabilities that make them indispensable from factory floors to smartphones. According to Stratview Research, the global infrared sensor market is projected to grow at a 5.1% CAGR during 2023–2028, reaching about USD 1.4 billion by 2028.

Download the sample report here:

https://stratviewresearch.com/Request-Sample/3373/infrared-sensor-market.html#form

Drivers

The first demand engine is broad-based automation. Manufacturers, utilities, and infrastructure operators are embedding IR sensors to monitor heat signatures, detect leaks or fires, and automate safety responses—valued for non-contact measurement and fast response. Stratview highlights an overall upswing tied to the “drive for automation” across industrial, aerospace, and automotive domains, where thermal imagers and thermal detectors capture high-resolution data on temperature and related parameters.

Second, security & surveillance use cases are multiplying. Thermal imaging supports perimeter protection, search-and-rescue, and all-weather monitoring; thermal detectors power PIR motion sensing for alarms and lighting. With advantages like uncooled operation, high sensitivity, and small size, thermal imagers are increasingly favored for mission-critical visibility across police, firefighting, and facility monitoring.

Third, consumer electronics and smart buildings are steady volume contributors. Stratview notes rising sensor adoption in smartphones and wearables (e.g., proximity and face-unlock functions) and in building automation for occupancy detection, HVAC efficiency, and temperature control—each expanding the installed base.

Trends

By product, thermal imagers currently hold the largest share, used widely in automotive, aerospace, military, and security—while thermal detectors are the fastest-growing segment due to lower cost and their suitability for temperature measurement, gas sensing, and motion detection. This split points to a “high-spec vs. high-volume” pattern: imagers dominate complex imaging tasks; detectors proliferate in price-sensitive sensing.

Applications are diversifying. Stratview’s taxonomy shows detector-driven use in position & motion detection, gas & fire detection, smart building, people counting, spectroscopy, and HVAC; for imagers, both military (thermal weapon sights, soldier vision) and commercial (thermography, surveillance, personal vision systems, firefighting, ruggedized smartphones) are key growth avenues.

Regionally, Asia-Pacific is set to remain both the largest and the fastest-growing market, underpinned by robust electronics and defense ecosystems and a strong supplier base in China and Japan (e.g., NICERA, Murata, Wuhan Guide Sensmart, Global Sensor Technology). North America and Europe remain significant, but APAC’s manufacturing depth and demand breadth provide outsized momentum.

Industry consolidation also shapes the landscape. Notable moves include Teledyne’s acquisition of FLIR (2021) and the Sofradir-ULIS merger creating Lynred (2019), reinforcing scale in imaging technologies and supply integration.

Conclusion

Infrared sensors are standardizing across automation, safety, and smart-device stacks—supported by a market expanding to ~USD 1.4 billion by 2028 at 5.1% CAGR. Expect thermal imagers to keep the performance crown, with thermal detectors sprinting on cost and versatility. With Asia-Pacific setting the pace and tier-one players consolidating capabilities, success will come to suppliers who balance sensitivity and cost, tailor products to specific end-uses (e.g., surveillance vs. HVAC), and ensure dependable supply and support from pilot to scale.