The best wall clocks

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  • Wall clocks come in all manner of styles, ranging from practical to downright whimsical, but before settling on just any wall clock, there are a few things that should be considered beyond design.
  • Out of all the clocks to choose from, the HITO Silent Non-ticking wall clock has proven to be an all-around winner. It's both quiet and accurate, has an easy-to-read face, and added features like a thermometer and hygrometer.

The old saying goes that nothing is certain except death and taxes. However, it could be argued that the need to track time can be lumped in with these certainties. After all, without the construct of time where would we be? Well … late. To everything. Luckily, in the digital age, we aren't at a loss for ways to tell time. Many of us rely on our smartphones and various electronics, but a well-made clock can add both function and style to your home or office.

There are an overwhelming number of wall clocks on the market and it can be hard to know where to even start. Luckily we've done the research for you. In our list, you'll find a range of wall clocks to suit multiple needs and style preferences. Time is precious after all, so you shouldn't have to waste it to find the most suitable addition to your wall.

Here are the best wall clocks:

  • Best overall: HITO Silent Non-ticking wall clock
  • Best atomic: Marathon Atomic Self-setting wall clock
  • Best classic style: Seiko Japanese Quartz wall clock
  • Best modern design: HITO Modern Colorful Non-ticking wall clock
  • Best bird lovers: Mark Feldstein Original Singing Bird wall clock
  • Best whimsical: Kit-Cat Classic wall clock
  • Best for memory loss and limited vision: Svinz Digital Calendar wall clock
  • Best for children: EasyRead Time Teacher Children's wall clock

Updated on 9/3/2020. We updated prices, formatting, and links.

The best overall

HITO/Business Insider

The HITO Silent Non-ticking wall clock has a sleek and simple style that matches most decor, a sweep second hand, and temperature and humidity gauges — all for a great price.

If you're looking for a reliable and unassuming wall clock that will go with your décor, the HITO silent Non-ticking wall clock is a great choice. You can choose from a few different styles, including a blue or green clock face if you want to add a pop of color to your walls. However, if you're looking for a clock that blends in with the scenery, white or black provide a great neutral option.

The HITO is the type of clock that can be used in any room of the home, from the kitchen to the bedroom, thanks to quartz movement that allows it to be completely silent. The sweeping second hand that rotates smoothly around the face of the clock provides a touch of elegance that can be hard to find in less expensive clocks.

At 10 inches in diameter, the HITO leaves room for your other wall decor, but it still features easy-to-read numbers. It does more than just tell time, though. It also tracks the temperature and has a hygrometer to measure the humidity in the room. Best of all, it remains in an affordable range, coming in just under twenty dollars.

While some clocks are power gluttons, eating through batteries at a rapid rate, the HITO only requires one AA battery that can last for more than a year.

Pros: Silent sweep second hand, long battery life, clean design, measures the temperature and humidity level, affordable

Cons: Glass cover is reflective which can make it hard to read

The best atomic

Marathon

The self-setting Marathon CL030033SV atomic wall clock is all about accuracy, with multiple temperature and time display modes and an easy-to-read face.

Whether being punctual to a fault is your modus operandi, or you simply want a clock you can take a "set it and forget it" approach to, the Marathon atomic clock will deliver. The ultimate perk? You don't even have to adjust the time. This is an atomic clock that uses radio frequencies to automatically set the time from NIST's Colorado Atomic clock. What makes the U.S. atomic clock so accurate? It measures the seconds according to the frequency of oscillations of electrons in the cesium atom.

If science isn't your forte, you'll still appreciate the accuracy and ease of use this clock provides. All you need to do is insert 2 AA long life batteries, which are included, and the clock will synchronize to the clock in Colorado once it receives the signal. The Marathon will work in all eight time zones of the US, and a Daylight Savings Time on or off option is included. It displays the date as well as the indoor temperature, which can be shown in either Celsius or Fahrenheit. With its easy-to-read 4-inch high display, you won't have any trouble reading the time.

It should also be noted that while the display is large and easy to read in a lit room, you won't be able to read the clock at night as there is no backlight.

Pros: Sleek design, accurate, self-setting and adjusting, long battery life, displays date as well as temperature

Cons: The manual it comes with isn't clear on how to manually set time-zone, display can be hard to read in low light

The best classic style

Seiko/Business Insider

The Seiko QXA597ALH Japanese Quartz Wall Clock has a timeless, classic style with Roman numerals and an elegant, accurate quartz movement and sweep second hand.

If the interior of your home veers more towards a romantic and classical style, this Seiko wall clock will fit right in. Roman numerals replace traditional Arabic numerals on its analog clock face, giving it an air of antiquity, but the technology behind the inner workings of this clock is fully modern.

Its use of quartz means it uses an electronic oscillator that is regulated by a quartz crystal to keep time. Quartz crystal produces a signal with a precise frequency that is far more accurate than mechanical clocks.

Besides the roman numerals, the Seiko is surrounded by a brown frame that has a wood grain finish, giving it a softer, more romantic look compared to the metallic modern-looking clocks. It is silent, with a sweep second hand that makes it a suitable clock for a bedroom or office or wherever peace and quiet is needed. It is battery operated, with only one AA battery required.

Despite the leaps Seiko has made in modern time keeping technology, this clock still caters to those who want to keep a little antiquity alive.

Pros: Easy to read, fits in well with a classical style, non-ticking, quiet sweep second hand

Cons: Battery life not as long as some would have liked

The best modern design

HITO/Business Insider

The Hito Modern Colorful Silent Non-ticking wall clock is all about style and function, with a clean design and a quartz sweep movement to ensure accuracy and silence.

HITO makes our list once again with the more modern-looking counterpart to the HITO Silent Non-ticking wall clock. Both are equally affordable and accurate timekeepers, but the HITO Modern doesn't have the thermometer or the hygrometer, resulting in a clean looking clock face. The HITO Modern comes in a wide variety of colors, so you can give your walls a fun pop of color, or you can keep things simple with a black background and white frame if minimalism is more your style.

The clock face is 10 inches in diameter and the quartz sweep movement ensures that you'll always be looking at an accurate time.

The HITO Modern requires only one AA battery, which is predicted to last six months. Unfortunately, this clock has a shorter battery life than some, but luckily, it is easy to switch out the battery and adjust the time when needed.

This clock is also extremely quiet. If you're looking to add a touch of modern decor to the bedroom, this clock will be a great addition since it won't be keeping you awake at night.

Pros: Easy to read numbers, silent, quartz sweep movement for accuracy, wide variety of colors to choose from, simple design that goes well with modern décor, affordable

Cons: Shorter battery life, some reviewers found it hard to read the numbers against the green and pink backgrounds

The best for bird lovers

Mark Feldstein/Business Insider

The Mark Feldstein Original Singing Bird Clock features 12 of the most recognized songbirds in North America that make their presence known at the top of each hour with a beautiful bird song.

Maybe your idea of a perfect weekend is slinging a pair of binoculars around your neck in hopes of seeing a rare bird species. If so, the Mark Feldstein Original Singing Bird Clock is the ideal way to showcase your Ornithology interests on the wall of your home.

This 10.7-inch analog-style wall clock has a recognizable songbird perched at each hour where a number would traditionally be. The illustrations of each bird are beautiful on their own, but this clock also lives up to its name with bird song at the top of each hour. Each bird song corresponds to the bird that is present at the hour.

For example, the Blue Jay lives at the 3 o'clock mark, so you can count on hearing its song at 3 o'clock every day. The Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, a world leader in the study and conservation of birds, has provided the authentic recordings as well as the illustrated images.

If you don't like the idea of having these feathered friends wake you up every hour of the night, not to worry — the clock is equipped with a light sensor that deactivates the sound when it's dark.

Two AA batteries will be required to hear the singing and operate the clock. The battery compartment does not have a cover to enclose the batteries, but there have been no reports of users having trouble with the batteries falling out.

Pros: Accurate time keeping, beautiful illustrations, authentic bird songs, light sensor shuts sound off at night

Cons: Some reviewers thought the bird songs were too quiet, the battery compartment doesn't have a cover

The best whimsical

KitKat

The Kit-Cat Classic Black wall clock has been making people crack a smile since 1932, with a wagging tail, contagious grin, and eyes that merrily move back and forth — all while keeping the time.

If you want to add a touch of whimsy to your home, the Kit-Cat Classic Black wall clock is just the thing you need. This playful feline has a long history of bringing joy to people's homes, beginning back in 1932. The iconic bow tie and top paws that appear to be holding the analog-style clock face were added in the '40s and '50s, and the design has remained the same ever since.

This clock comes with a fitting tag line: "Brings out the smile in you!" Cheesy as it may sound, it's true. Kids and adults alike will get a kick out of this friendly grinning cat, with eyes that dart back and forth mischievously and a swinging tail that acts as a pendulum.

The white Arabic numerals stand out in stark contrast against the black background, making it easy to tell the time. Widthwise, this clock won't take up much room, but it does measure 15.5-inches tall, so length-wise, you'll want enough space for the tail to swing freely.

As for practicality, the clock keeps accurate time, has long-lasting battery life, and most importantly, it has brought joy to those who have brought it into their home.

Pros: Fun features in the form of moving eyes and tail, keeps accurate time, long-lasting battery

Cons: Some reviewers had trouble keeping the eyes and tail moving consistently

The best for memory loss and limited vision

Amazon

The Svinz Digital Calendar Day Clock is a digital clock and a calendar all in one, with auto-dimming and three alarm modes that can help those facing memory loss, Alzheimer's, or dementia maintain a comforting routine.

While the main function of a clock is to keep time, technology has allowed clocks these days to be capable of so much more. The Svinz Digital Calendar Day Clock is not just a time keeper. It's a multifunctional tool that displays the day of the week, the time of day, and the year all on one easy-to-read screen.

Its alarm function also allows you to set three different types of alarms: a one-time alarm, every day, and week days or weekends only. These can be perfect for reminders of meal times, important appointments, or when to take medication. These features make the Svinz an ideal clock for senior citizens who may be facing memory loss, Alzheimer's, or dementia. It allows for structure during the day, while providing the tools to allow a form of independence to remain in place.

The clock (also available in black) has a high-resolution 8-inch display is easy to read, and it has the day of the week, month, and date in bold lettering along with the time. There are no confusing abbreviations to be had here. While the lettering is bold and easy to read during the day, this clock also has auto-dimming options so it won't be keeping anyone awake at night.

The Svinz can be hung on the wall, but also comes with a stand so it can be propped up on a desk or countertop. It has a power adapter so it can be plugged into the wall and has battery back up in the event of a power outage.

Pros: Easy to read, no confusing abbreviations, auto-dim option, 3 alarm modes, displays both the time and date on one screen, thoughtful packaging

Cons: Some felt that the auto-dim function didn't dim the clock enough

The best for children

Easyread

The Easyread Time Teacher Children's wall clock features bright colors and a two-step teaching system that makes learning how to tell the time both fun and easy.

These days, the digital clocks that are present on so many of our electronic devices make it easy to tell the time without even thinking about it. However, being able to tell the time on an analog-style clock is still a must-have life skill that all children should be learning. The problem? Learning how to tell time isn't always fun or easy. The EasyRead wall clock changes that, implementing bright colors and a unique system that turns learning into a fun activity rather than a tedious chore.

The Easyread clock is designed so children can learn how to tell the time in both 12-hour and 24-hour format. The bright colors and 12-inch diameter make the numbers easy to decipher, and the hands on the clock point directly to the numbers that need to be read. An instruction manual comes with the clock that lays out the teaching system, so you'll be able to effectively teach your children or students how to tell the time.

This is a non-ticking clock, thanks to the sweep second hand, making it ideal for any room of the home, and preventing it from creating a distraction if you're using it in a classroom setting. A single AA battery is required for the clock to operate.

Pros: Colorful design, non-ticking, teaches time in 12- and 24-hour format, comes with easy to follow teaching instructions

Cons: Some reviewers think the minute labels make the face of the clock too busy, clock face could be even larger

What to consider when buying a wall clock

Before settling on just any wall clock, there are a few things that should be considered beyond design.

  • Digital or analog:First off, you'll want to decide whether you want a digital clock, or an analog clock with a minute hand, hour hand, and typically a second hand. Both traditional digital and analog clocks need to be set manually. The exception to this is an atomic clock, which usually comes in a digital format and can be made to set itself according to the time zone it's in.
  • Ticking or silent:If you prefer the look of an analog clock, you'll need to consider the amount of noise you're willing to put up with. While some find the ticking of a clock soothing, others find each tick more irritating than the last. If this is the case, but you still like the look of a traditional clock face, a silent or non-ticking analog clock is the choice for you. Even if the sound doesn't annoy you completely, a silent clock can be ideal for places you want quiet, such as the bedroom.
  • Accuracy and battery life:A clock is only as good as the time it keeps, so one that's inaccurate won't do you any good. If you're the type of person who follows up the time with the word "sharp" you may appreciate the accuracy of the atomic clock. This type of clock is the most accurate, as it uses an electronic frequency to synchronize with the U.S. atomic clock. Battery life also plays a part in accuracy. A long battery life is ideal, so you don't have to take the clock down from the wall to change the batteries and reset the time repeatedly.

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