BMP180 vs BMP280: Pressure Sensor Comparison for Arduino Projects

Choosing between the BMP180 vs BMP280 comes up in nearly every environmental monitoring project I work on. Both sensors measure barometric pressure and temperature, both connect easily to microcontrollers, and both cost roughly the same on breakout boards. Yet the differences between them affect real-world performance in ways that matter for your design.

After integrating both chips into weather stations, altitude trackers, and IoT devices, I’ve developed clear preferences based on application requirements. This comparison breaks down everything you need to make the right choice.

How Barometric Pressure Sensors Work

Both the BMP180 and BMP280 use piezo-resistive sensing technology from Bosch Sensortec. Inside each chip, a thin silicon diaphragm flexes when atmospheric pressure changes. This mechanical deformation alters the resistance of integrated strain gauges, which the sensor’s analog-to-digital converter translates into digital pressure values.

The practical applications extend beyond simple weather monitoring. Since atmospheric pressure decreases predictably with elevation (roughly 12 Pa per meter at sea level), these sensors function as accurate altimeters when properly calibrated. Smartphones use them for floor detection in buildings, drones rely on them for altitude hold, and GPS devices use pressure data to improve vertical position accuracy.

Both sensors come from Bosch, with the BMP280 released in 2015 as the official successor to the BMP180. While Bosch discontinued the BMP280 in 2024, modules remain widely available through various suppliers.

BMP180 vs BMP280 Specifications Table

The official datasheet comparison tells much of the story:

Parameter	BMP180	BMP280
Pressure Range	300-1100 hPa	300-1100 hPa
Pressure Resolution	1 Pa	0.16 Pa
Relative Accuracy	±0.12 hPa (±1 m)	±0.12 hPa (±1 m)
Absolute Accuracy	±1.0 hPa	±1.0 hPa
RMS Noise	3 Pa	1.3 Pa
Temperature Range	0 to +65°C	-40 to +85°C
Temperature Resolution	0.1°C	0.01°C
Temperature Accuracy	±1.0°C	±0.5°C (typical)
Operating Voltage	1.8V – 3.6V	1.71V – 3.6V
Current Consumption	12 µA @ 1 Hz	2.7 µA @ 1 Hz
Package Size	3.6 × 3.8 mm	2.0 × 2.5 mm
Interfaces	I²C only	I²C and SPI
Maximum Sample Rate	120 Hz	157 Hz

The BMP280 wins on almost every metric: six times better pressure resolution, ten times finer temperature resolution, less than one-quarter the power consumption, and a 63% smaller footprint.

Key Differences Between BMP180 and BMP280

Resolution and Noise Performance

The BMP180 resolves pressure changes down to 1 Pa, corresponding to approximately 8.5 cm of altitude change. The BMP280 improves this to 0.16 Pa, theoretically detecting altitude variations as small as 1.3 cm.

More importantly, the BMP280’s lower RMS noise (1.3 Pa versus 3 Pa) means cleaner raw data. In practice, I’ve observed the BMP280 detecting 30 cm height changes reliably, while the BMP180 needs more averaging to achieve similar stability. For applications like drone altitude hold or floor detection in buildings, this difference matters significantly.

Temperature Measurement Capabilities

Both sensors include temperature measurement primarily for internal pressure compensation, but many projects use them as standalone thermometers. The BMP280 offers clear advantages here:

The operating range expands from 0-65°C (BMP180) to -40 to +85°C (BMP280), making the newer sensor suitable for outdoor applications in extreme climates. Temperature resolution improves from 0.1°C to 0.01°C, though typical accuracy remains around ±0.5°C to ±1.0°C for both.

One consideration: both sensors self-heat slightly during operation. Expect readings 1-2°C above actual ambient temperature, especially in enclosed housings without airflow.

Communication Interface Options

The BMP180 supports only I²C communication. The BMP280 adds SPI support (both 3-wire and 4-wire modes) plus faster I²C speeds up to 3.4 MHz.

SPI becomes useful when connecting multiple pressure sensors to avoid I²C address conflicts, or when you need higher data throughput. For most Arduino projects using a single sensor, I²C works perfectly on either chip.

Built-in IIR Filtering

The BMP280 includes a configurable Infinite Impulse Response (IIR) filter that the BMP180 completely lacks. This hardware filter smooths out short-term pressure fluctuations from environmental disturbances like doors opening, HVAC systems cycling, or wind gusts.

You can select from five filter coefficients (off, 2, 4, 8, or 16) to balance response speed against noise rejection. For altitude tracking applications, enabling the IIR filter produces noticeably cleaner data without additional software processing.

Power Consumption

At 2.7 µA during active measurement at 1 Hz sampling, the BMP280 uses less than one-quarter the power of the BMP180’s 12 µA. Both sensors drop to sub-microamp levels in sleep mode.

This difference becomes significant in battery-powered applications. A weather station running continuously on coin cells will see measurably longer runtime with the BMP280.

Wiring Diagrams for Arduino

BMP180 Connection Table

BMP180 Pin	Arduino UNO	Function
VCC	3.3V	Power (3.3V required)
GND	GND	Ground
SDA	A4	I²C Data
SCL	A5	I²C Clock

Most BMP180 breakout boards include an onboard 3.3V regulator, allowing connection to 5V Arduino boards. Check your specific module’s documentation.

BMP280 Connection Table (I²C Mode)

BMP280 Pin	Arduino UNO	Function
VCC	3.3V	Power supply
GND	GND	Ground
SDA/SDI	A4	I²C Data
SCL/SCK	A5	I²C Clock
CSB	3.3V	Chip select (high for I²C)
SDO	GND or 3.3V	I²C address selection

The BMP280 requires proper pin configuration for I²C mode. The CSB pin must be tied high, and SDO determines the I²C address: 0x76 when grounded, 0x77 when pulled high.

Arduino Libraries and Code

Each sensor requires different libraries due to distinct register maps:

BMP180 Arduino Library

Use the Adafruit BMP085 library (supports both BMP085 and BMP180):

#include <Wire.h>

#include <Adafruit_BMP085.h>

Adafruit_BMP085 bmp;

void setup() {

  Serial.begin(9600);

  if (!bmp.begin()) {

    Serial.println(“BMP180 sensor not found!”);

    while (1);

  }

}

void loop() {

  Serial.print(“Pressure: “);

  Serial.print(bmp.readPressure());

  Serial.println(” Pa”);

  Serial.print(“Temperature: “);

  Serial.print(bmp.readTemperature());

  Serial.println(” C”);

  delay(1000);

}

BMP280 Arduino Library

Use the Adafruit BMP280 library:

#include <Wire.h>

#include <Adafruit_BMP280.h>

Adafruit_BMP280 bmp;

void setup() {

  Serial.begin(9600);

  if (!bmp.begin(0x76)) {

    Serial.println(“BMP280 sensor not found!”);

    while (1);

  }

  // Configure IIR filter and oversampling

  bmp.setSampling(Adafruit_BMP280::MODE_NORMAL,

                  Adafruit_BMP280::SAMPLING_X2,

                  Adafruit_BMP280::SAMPLING_X16,

                  Adafruit_BMP280::FILTER_X16,

                  Adafruit_BMP280::STANDBY_MS_500);

}

void loop() {

  Serial.print(“Pressure: “);

  Serial.print(bmp.readPressure());

  Serial.println(” Pa”);

  Serial.print(“Temperature: “);

  Serial.print(bmp.readTemperature());

  Serial.println(” C”);

  delay(1000);

}

Note the different initialization and the BMP280’s configurable sampling parameters.

Which Sensor Should You Choose?

Use BMP180 When:

You’re maintaining existing projects with BMP180 code already written, you have spare modules in your parts drawer, or you’re teaching absolute beginners and want the simplest possible I²C-only interface.

Use BMP280 When:

You’re starting a new design and want optimal performance, power efficiency matters for battery operation, you need the wider temperature operating range for outdoor applications, you want hardware IIR filtering for cleaner altitude data, or you need SPI interface capability.

For any new project, the BMP280 represents the better choice. Module prices are essentially identical, and the performance improvements are substantial across every metric that matters.

Useful Resources and Downloads

Resource	Description
BMP280 Datasheet (Bosch)	Official specifications
BMP180 Datasheet	Legacy sensor documentation
Adafruit BMP280 Library	Arduino library for BMP280
Adafruit BMP085 Library	Arduino library for BMP180/BMP085
Bosch BMP280 Product Page	Manufacturer information

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I directly replace a BMP180 with BMP280 in my project?

Not without modifications. The sensors use different register structures and compensation algorithms, requiring different libraries. Physical pinouts also differ, with the BMP280 needing proper CSB and SDO configuration for I²C mode. Plan on updating both hardware connections and software.

Which sensor provides better altitude accuracy?

Both share identical relative accuracy specifications (±0.12 hPa, equivalent to ±1 meter). However, the BMP280’s lower noise floor (1.3 Pa versus 3 Pa RMS) produces cleaner altitude readings with less averaging required. For drone applications or precise height tracking, the BMP280 performs noticeably better.

Do these sensors work with 5V Arduino boards?

The sensor chips themselves require 3.3V or lower. Most breakout modules include voltage regulators and level shifters for 5V compatibility, but verify your specific module’s specifications before connecting directly to 5V.

Why does my BMP280 show I²C address 0x76 instead of 0x77?

The BMP280’s I²C address depends on the SDO pin state. When SDO connects to ground, the address is 0x76. When SDO connects to VCC (3.3V), the address becomes 0x77. Different breakout boards configure this differently, so run an I²C scanner sketch to identify your module’s actual address.

Should I consider the BME280 instead?

The BME280 adds humidity sensing to the BMP280’s pressure and temperature capabilities. If your application needs humidity data, the BME280 makes sense despite slightly higher cost. For pressure and altitude measurement only, the BMP280 performs identically at lower cost.

Final Recommendation

The BMP180 vs BMP280 comparison clearly favors the newer sensor for virtually every application. Better resolution, lower power consumption, additional interface options, hardware filtering, and a smaller footprint make the BMP280 the obvious choice for new designs.

The BMP180 remains functional for existing projects or educational purposes where its simpler interface reduces complexity. But given identical pricing on breakout modules, there’s no compelling reason to start a new project with the older sensor.

Whether you’re building a weather station, altitude logger, or indoor navigation system, the BMP280 delivers the performance characteristics that modern environmental sensing applications demand.

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“Compare BMP180 vs BMP280 pressure sensors: specifications, accuracy, power consumption, and Arduino wiring. Find which barometric sensor suits your project best.”

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