> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.sonohealth.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Single-Lead vs 12-Lead EKG: What's the Difference?

> How a single-lead home EKG differs from a 12-lead hospital EKG, what each can and cannot show, and how personal devices fit into heart-rhythm screening.

If you're comparing a personal EKG device to the one at a clinic, the key difference is the number of "leads" — the viewpoints the device has on your heart. That difference defines what each tool is good for.

<Warning>
  A single-lead home EKG is a screening aid, not a diagnostic tool. It cannot rule out a heart attack or replace a clinical evaluation. Call 911 for chest pain, fainting, or severe shortness of breath.
</Warning>

## What is a lead?

A "lead" is an electrical view of the heart from a particular angle. More leads mean more angles, which lets clinicians localize problems. The number of leads is the main thing separating a pocket device from hospital equipment.

## What does a single-lead EKG show?

A single-lead device — like the SonoHealth [EKGraph](/ekg/overview) — records one view, which is well suited to checking **heart rhythm**: how fast and how regularly the heart is beating. That makes it useful for capturing palpitations or flagging a possibly irregular rhythm such as [atrial fibrillation](/ekg/atrial-fibrillation) the moment you feel symptoms.

## What can a 12-lead EKG do that a single-lead can't?

A **12-lead EKG** records twelve views at once, letting clinicians assess the heart from many angles. This is what allows detection of things a single-lead can't reliably show — such as signs of a [heart attack](/ekg/heart-attack-vs-arrhythmia) or which area of the heart is affected. It's performed in clinical settings and interpreted by professionals.

## So why use a personal EKG at all?

Because the most useful recording is one taken **while you have symptoms** — and symptoms rarely cooperate with appointment times. A single-lead device lets you capture an episode at home and bring that trace to your doctor, turning an intermittent, hard-to-catch problem into something they can review. Learn [how to capture a good reading](/ekg/how-to-take-a-good-ekg-reading).

## Can a single-lead device capture more than one view?

Some can offer more than one *placement*, which improves the trace without making it a true 12-lead. The [EKGraph](https://sonohealth.com/products/ekgraph-portable-ekg-monitor-detect-afib-abnormalities), for example, records four ways — hand-to-hand and wrist-to-hand for a Lead I view, and chest-to-hand or hand-to-ankle for a Lead II view — which can give a clearer rhythm trace. It's still a single-lead screening tool, not a substitute for a clinical 12-lead.

## Which one do I need?

Use a personal EKG for convenient rhythm screening and symptom capture; rely on a clinic's 12-lead and a doctor's interpretation for diagnosis. They complement each other — the home device flags, the clinic confirms.

***

**Related:** [Home EKG Overview](/ekg/overview) · [EKGraph vs. KardiaMobile](/ekg/ekgraph-vs-kardiamobile) · [Best Home EKG for AFib](/ekg/best-home-ekg-for-afib) · [Atrial Fibrillation](/ekg/atrial-fibrillation) · [How to Capture a Good Reading](/ekg/how-to-take-a-good-ekg-reading)