Infrared Detector Market Research Report: By Technology (Cooled and Uncooled), By Type (Mercury Cadmium Telluride, Indium Gallium Arsenide, Pyroelectric, Thermopile, Microbolometer, and Others), By Application (People and Motion Sensing, Temperature Measurement, Security and Surveillance, Gas & Fire Detection, Spectroscopy and Biomedical Imaging, Scientific Applications), By Wavelength (Near-infrared (NIR) & Short Wavelength Infrared (SWIR) ,Medium Wavelength Infrared (MWIR), Long-wave infrared (LWIR), By Vertical (Industrial and Nonindustr

Infrared Detector Market Overview:

The global infrared detector market size was valued at USD 401.47 million in 2020 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.2% from 2021 to 2027.

Infrared detectors are devices that detect infrared light. Some are photodetectors (photon detectors) that are sensitive in a very large wavelength range, while others are based on sensing tiny temperature changes caused by infrared light absorption. Infrared detectors also known as infrared sensors or pyroelectric detectors, are optoelectronic components that are used in gas analyzers, flame sensors, spectrum analysis devices, and non-contact temperature monitoring. These detectors have an extraordinarily wide, spectrally and laterally homogenous sensitivity because they are provided with a very efficient, absorbent black layer. The most prominent use for pyroelectric infrared detectors is motion detection. In most cases, inexpensive pyroelectric ceramic sensors will suffice. Non-dispersive infrared gas analysis (NDIR gas analysis) and infrared flame detection and monitoring are two more uses. In these applications, pyroelectric materials mostly consist of high-quality, single-crystal lithium tantalate (LiTaO3). This also provides long-term stability for the high signal-to-noise ratio. It is also feasible to utilize pyroelectric infrared detectors for spectroscopy or radiometry. An infrared detector can also be configured to respond exclusively to larger objects and ignore creatures. Infrared detectors are becoming increasingly popular for use in motion sensors and cameras.

Covid-19 Analysis

COVID-19 has impacted various industries across the globe resulting in travel bans, worldwide lockdown, and the disruption in the supply chain of various businesses. The semiconductor industry has also been deeply affected by the ongoing unprecedented event and witnessed a sharp decline in revenues due to the uncertain positioning of technological devices. Despite the growing uncertainties, semiconductors manufacturers, especially chipmakers, are trying to continue the operations and working upon their long-term strategies. Many semiconductor manufacturers are also collaborating with their partners and specific markets with consistent business stability. For instance, while focusing on the health and safety of their employees, the semiconductor manufacturers are making efforts in constant research, designs, and manufacturing processes. The urgency for continuing operations has occurred within the semiconductor industry for their end users, including medical and healthcare technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), Industry 4.0, and 5G, working to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.  The infrared market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. The application of infrared is industrial use, the capability to detect objects in low-light or complete darkness. To measure the temperature of people in a contactless manner, an infrared sensor is used in various devices, including thermal imaging devices and cameras.

Market Dynamics

The major factors driving the growth of the infrared detector market are the high penetration of infrared detectors into non-contact temperature measurement, gas analysis, astronomy, and fire detection applications, increasing popularity of uncooled infrared detectors and rising demand for infrared detectors in imaging application. However, stringent regulations pertaining to import and export of cameras are hindering the market growth. Although, increasing application areas of infrared spectroscopy technique and increasing penetration of infrared cameras in different application areas are creating an opportunity in the market.

• Increasing adoption of infrared detectors in motion and people sensing solutions

Infrared detector are now widely used in motion and people sensing solutions, which are used in building services to switch on lamps or in alarm systems to detect unwelcome guests. In a defined angle range, the sensor elements detect the heat radiation (infrared radiation) that changes over time and space due to the movement of people. Such infrared sensors only have to meet relatively low requirements and are low-cost mass-produced items. These detectors uses a sensor to detect nearby motion. These sensors measure infrared light radiating from the objects in its field of vision. These sensors find applications in alarms and automatic lighting applications. The demand for automatic lighting devices and alarms has increased significantly. Thus, these factors are expected to drive growth of the global infrared detector market during the forecast period.

• Stringent regulations pertaining to import and export of cameras

The US Department of State's International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) need commodity jurisdiction permission for the sale of restricted infrared cameras in the US. Manufacturers of infrared cameras are prohibited from exchanging their goods with any person or entity, whether within the United States or overseas, without first obtaining export license, and are subject to fines if they do so. Distributors must additionally get commodity jurisdiction permission in order to sell these items. This complicates and increases the cost of selling and purchasing infrared cameras. Some manufacturers also provide infrared cameras that are not subject to commodities jurisdiction approval. However, owing to the essential nature of infrared camera applications, many manufacturers and distributors must obtain approval more than once.

Value Chain Analysis

The global infrared detector market has witnessed significant growth in the past decade due to technological changes and is expected to grow at a steady rate in the upcoming years. The value chain analysis of the Infrared Detector market comprises four major levels: hardware/software providers, cloud vendors/service providers, system integrators, and end users

Market Segmentation

The global infrared detector market has been segmented based on type, technology, application, vertical, wavelength, and region.

Based on the technology, the market has been segmented into cooled and uncooled.

Based on type, the global market has been segmented into mercury cadmium telluride, indium gallium arsenide, pyroelectric, thermopile, microbolometer, and others.

Based on application, the global market has been segmented into people and motion sensing, temperature measurement, security and surveillance, gas & fire detection, spectroscopy and biomedical imaging, scientific applications.

Based on wavelength, the global market has been segmented into near-infrared (NIR) & short wavelength infrared (SWIR), medium wavelength infrared (MWIR), long-wave infrared (LWIR).

Based on vertical, the global market has been segmented into industrial and nonindustrial.

The regions included in the study are North America, Europe, the Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, and South AmericaGlobal Infrared Detector Market, 2018–2027 (USD Million)Source: MRFR Analysis

Regional Analysis

Geographically, the global infrared detector market has been categorized as North America, Europe, the Asia-Pacific, the Middle East & Africa, and South America. North America is likely to be the dominant regional market due to the faster adoption of advanced technologies in developed countries in the region—the US, Canada, and Mexico. This is mainly due to the region is one of the most technologically advanced regions with the presence of a large number of market players such as Excelitas Technologies (US), Texas Instruments (US), Honeywell International (US), and FLIR Systems (US).  The Asia-Pacific is expected to advance at the highest CAGR during the forecast period due to the growing utilization of technologies. The growth of the infrared detector market in Asia-Pacific is expected to be influenced by growing use of infrared detectors in industrial and manufacturing applications. The increasing technological adoption, focus on innovations obtained from R&D and technology, more IT organizations, and ongoing projects will boost the market in the Asia-Pacific region.

Competitive Landscape

The global market for infrared detector has witnessed significant growth over the forecast period due to the growing number of infrared detector players. There are several domestic, regional, and global players operating in the infrared detector market who continuously strive to gain a significant share of the overall market. The key market participants are investing in research & development activities to drive organic growth and increase their market shares. In addition, these players are engaging in new touch point type development to expand and strengthen their existing touch point type portfolios and acquire new consumers

Key Players

• Excelitas Technologies (US)


• FLIR Systems, Inc. (US)


• Hamamatsu Photonics (Japan)


• Murata Manufacturing (Japan)


• Texas Instruments (US)

The global infrared detector market is characterized by the presence of several regional and local providers. Some of the key players in the market are EXCELITAS Technologies (US), Hamamatsu Photonics (Japan), Murata Manufacturing (Japan), FLIR Systems Inc.(US), Texas Instruments (US), Nippon Ceramic (Japan), Omron Corporation (Japan), INFRATEC (Germany), LYNRED(France), TE Connectivity (Switzerland), Honeywell International (US), Raytheon Company (US), Laser Components (Germany), Dräger (Germany), Vigo System (Poland), XENICS (Belgium), MELEXIS (Belgium), Fagus GRECON (Germany), Thorlabs (US), and SEMITEC Corporation (Japan).

Recent Developments

• In October 2021, Excelitas Technologies launched a new medium-range, MWIR thermal imaging camera, CheetIR-Cub. It is designed to meet the challenges of balancing size, weight, power and cost (SWaP-C), combining a 10um VGA format (640x512) HOT detector with a long-life linear cooler, the proven CheetIR common continuous zoom optical module, and a 200mm focal length objective.


• In September 2021, Excelitas Technologies Corp launched its new MachVis OnLine Lens Configurator for vision system designers and engineers. The complimentary MachVis Lens Configurator software, now available as a Web App, enables identification and configuration of all required lens solutions and mechanical accessories, and generates useful supporting documentation to streamline the integration planning and ordering process for a variety of optical applications in the machine vision, and inspection for industrial, semiconductor electronics and flat-panel display manufacturing markets and beyond.


• In April 2021, Excelitas Technologies Corp. launched its new OrcIR Long Range, High Definition MWIR Thermal Camera. The OrcIR combines the latest small pitch sensor technology with a custom designed, continuous zoom optic to deliver exceptional long-range imaging performance in a compact space envelope.


• In August 2021, Hamamatsu Photonics has developed a new profile sensor with an embedded computing function. It is designed to calculate signals from the incident light spot within its processing chip and output incident light position information


• In October 2019, Murata Manufacturing expanded its Thai manufacturing plant to fulfill growing demand for electronic components.

Report Overview

This study estimates revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and offers an overview of the latest developments in each of the sub-sectors from 2018 to 2027. For this analysis, MRFR segmented the global Infrared Detector market has been segmented based on type, technology, application, wavelength, vertical, and region.

• Cooled


• Uncooled

• Mercury Cadmium Telluride


• Indium Gallium Arsenide


• Pyroelectric


• Thermopile


• Microbolometer


• Others

• People and Motion Sensing


• Temperature Measurement


• Security and Surveillance


• Gas & Fire Detection


• Spectroscopy and Biomedical Imaging


• Scientific Applications

• Near-infrared (NIR) & Short Wavelength Infrared (SWIR)


• Medium Wavelength Infrared (MWIR)


• Long-wave infrared (LWIR)

• Industrial


• Nonindustrial

• North America


• Europe


• Asia-Pacific


• Middle East & Africa


• South America