The BME280 measures pressure, temperature, and humidity; the BMP280 measures pressure and temperature only.
BME280 vs BMP280 Specification Comparison
| Specification | BME280 | BMP280 |
|---|---|---|
| Measurements | Pressure, temperature, and relative humidity | Pressure and temperature |
| Pressure operating range | 300 to 1100 hPa | 300 to 1100 hPa |
| Temperature operating range | -40 to +85 °C | -40 to +85 °C |
| Humidity operating range | 0 to 100% RH, non-condensing; allowable RH is temperature dependent below 0 °C and above 60 °C | Not supported |
| Humidity accuracy | ±3% RH at 20 to 80% RH and 25 °C, including hysteresis | Not applicable |
| Pressure absolute accuracy | ±1.0 hPa at 300 to 1100 hPa and 0 to 65 °C | ±1.0 hPa at 300 to 1100 hPa and 0 to 65 °C |
| Temperature absolute accuracy | ±0.5 °C at 0 to 65 °C | ±0.5 °C at 25 °C; ±1.0 °C at 0 to 65 °C |
| Typical current at 1 Hz | 3.6 µA for humidity, pressure, and temperature; 2.8 µA for pressure and temperature | 2.8 µA for pressure and temperature in lowest-power forced mode |
| Typical sleep current | 0.1 µA | 0.1 µA |
| Sensor supply, VDD | 1.71 to 3.6 V | 1.71 to 3.6 V |
| Interface supply, VDDIO | 1.2 to 3.6 V | 1.2 to 3.6 V |
| Digital interfaces | I²C, 3-wire SPI, and 4-wire SPI | I²C, 3-wire SPI, and 4-wire SPI |
| 7-bit I²C address | 0x76 or 0x77 | 0x76 or 0x77 |
| Chip ID at register 0xD0 | 0x60 | 0x58 for mass-production devices |
| Package | 8-pin LGA, 2.5 × 2.5 × 0.93 mm | 8-pin LGA, 2.0 × 2.5 × 0.95 mm |
Choose the BME280 when relative humidity is part of the measurement requirement. For pressure and temperature alone, either device covers the same published operating ranges. Check the package, software, and current requirements before final selection.
BMP280 vs. BME280: What is BME280?
The Bosch BME280 is a digital humidity, pressure, and temperature sensor. Its humidity and pressure channels can be enabled independently, and its digital interface supports I²C plus 3-wire and 4-wire SPI.
BME280 Specifications
| BME280 specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Measurements | Relative humidity, pressure, and temperature |
| Pressure operating range | 300 to 1100 hPa |
| Temperature operating range | -40 to +85 °C |
| Humidity operating range | 0 to 100% RH, non-condensing; allowable RH is temperature dependent below 0 °C and above 60 °C |
| Humidity accuracy | ±3% RH at 20 to 80% RH and 25 °C, including hysteresis |
| Pressure absolute accuracy | ±1.0 hPa at 300 to 1100 hPa and 0 to 65 °C |
| Temperature absolute accuracy | ±0.5 °C at 0 to 65 °C |
| Typical current at 1 Hz | 3.6 µA for humidity, pressure, and temperature |
Applications
Bosch lists BME280 applications that use humidity, pressure, or temperature measurements, including:
- Context awareness, such as skin detection and room-change detection
- Fitness monitoring and well-being
- Home automation and HVAC control
- GPS enhancement and indoor or outdoor navigation
- Weather forecasting
- Vertical velocity indication
Source: Bosch Sensortec BME280 datasheet, page 2.
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BMP280 vs. BME280: What is BMP280?
The Bosch BMP280 is a digital pressure and temperature sensor. It does not measure humidity. Its digital interface supports I²C plus 3-wire and 4-wire SPI.
BMP280 Specifications
| BMP280 specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Measurements | Pressure and temperature |
| Pressure operating range | 300 to 1100 hPa |
| Temperature operating range | -40 to +85 °C |
| Humidity measurement | Not supported |
| Pressure absolute accuracy | ±1.0 hPa at 300 to 1100 hPa and 0 to 65 °C |
| Temperature absolute accuracy | ±0.5 °C at 25 °C; ±1.0 °C at 0 to 65 °C |
| Typical current at 1 Hz | 2.8 µA for pressure and temperature in lowest-power forced mode |
BME280 vs BMP280: How to Choose and Identify Them
Do not use the I²C address to identify the sensor. Both devices use 0x76 when SDO is low and 0x77 when SDO is high. Read the chip ID register after power-on reset instead.
| Check | BME280 | BMP280 |
|---|---|---|
| Register to read | 0xD0 | 0xD0 |
| Expected mass-production chip ID | 0x60 | 0x58 |
| Possible I²C addresses | 0x76 or 0x77 | 0x76 or 0x77 |
This check matters when a board or listing uses an ambiguous BME/BMP280 label. The address alone does not identify which of these two sensors is present.
Which sensor should you choose?
| Project requirement | Choice | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure, temperature, and humidity | BME280 | It includes the relative-humidity measurement channel. |
| Pressure and temperature only | Either device | Both cover 300 to 1100 hPa and -40 to +85 °C. |
| Unknown device on an existing board | Identify first | Read register 0xD0. The I²C address is not enough. |
| Fixed PCB footprint | Match the package | The Bosch packages have different published dimensions. |
Accuracy and Current Consumption
The pressure specifications are the same under the directly comparable condition: both datasheets state ±1.0 hPa absolute accuracy from 300 to 1100 hPa at 0 to 65 °C. For temperature, the current BME280 datasheet states ±0.5 °C across 0 to 65 °C. The BMP280 datasheet states ±0.5 °C at 25 °C and ±1.0 °C across 0 to 65 °C.
The BME280 humidity accuracy is ±3% RH from 20 to 80% RH at 25 °C, including hysteresis. Its 0 to 100% RH operating range is non-condensing, and allowable RH is temperature dependent below 0 °C and above 60 °C. It is not an accuracy guarantee across that entire range.
Current depends on enabled channels, oversampling, measurement rate, and operating mode. At 1 Hz in the lowest-power pressure-and-temperature forced mode, both devices have a typical 2.8 µA figure. Enabling humidity on the BME280 raises the published typical figure to 3.6 µA for all three measurements.
Interface and Board Notes
Both sensors support I²C plus 3-wire and 4-wire SPI. Their sensor supply range is 1.71 to 3.6 V, while the interface supply range is 1.2 to 3.6 V. Apply the limits for the bare Bosch sensor unless the exact board manufacturer documents additional power circuitry.
For wiring a specific breakout board, use the Bosch bare-sensor datasheet and the breakout vendor's documentation, such as the Seeed Studio Grove BME280 guide.
For broader design context, review how sensor circuits convert physical conditions into electrical data. The PCB components guide helps identify the supporting parts around a sensor IC.
Summary
The BME280 is the required choice when humidity must be measured. If the project needs only pressure and temperature, compare the exact package and implementation requirements. In software, read register 0xD0: 0x60 identifies the BME280, while 0x58 identifies a mass-production BMP280.
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