diff --git a/plugins/outputs/mqtt/mqtt_test.go b/plugins/outputs/mqtt/mqtt_test.go
index 92f4a3b32..8fa8886db 100644
--- a/plugins/outputs/mqtt/mqtt_test.go
+++ b/plugins/outputs/mqtt/mqtt_test.go
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf/metric"
 	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf/plugins/common/mqtt"
 	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf/plugins/parsers/influx"
-	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf/plugins/parsers/value"
 	influxSerializer "github.com/influxdata/telegraf/plugins/serializers/influx"
 	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf/testutil"
 )
@@ -598,13 +597,6 @@ func TestIntegrationMQTTLayoutHomieV4(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, container.Start(), "failed to start container")
 	defer container.Terminate()
 
-	// Setup the parser / serializer pair
-	parser := &value.Parser{
-		MetricName: "test",
-		DataType:   "auto",
-	}
-	require.NoError(t, parser.Init())
-
 	// Setup the plugin
 	url := fmt.Sprintf("tcp://%s:%s", container.Address, container.Ports[servicePort])
 	topic := "homie"
diff --git a/plugins/parsers/value/README.md b/plugins/parsers/value/README.md
index 7dbd0db8d..f8fb93608 100644
--- a/plugins/parsers/value/README.md
+++ b/plugins/parsers/value/README.md
@@ -25,14 +25,34 @@ as the parsed metric.
   data_type = "integer" # required
 ```
 
+### Metric name
+
+It is recommended to set `name_override` to a measurement name that makes sense
+for your metric, otherwise it will just be set to the name of the plugin.
+
+### Datatype
+
 You **must** tell Telegraf what type of metric to collect by using the
 `data_type` configuration option. Available options are:
 
-1. integer
-2. float or long
-3. string
-4. boolean
+- `integer`: converts the received data to an integer value. This setting will
+             produce an error on non-integer data.
+- `float`:   converts the received data to a floating-point value. This setting
+             will treat integers as floating-point values and produces an error
+             on data that cannot be converted (e.g. strings).
+- `string`:  outputs the data as a string.
+- `boolean`: converts the received data to a boolean value. This setting will
+             produce an error on any data except for `true` and `false` strings.
+- `auto_integer`: converts the received data to an integer value if possible and
+                  will return the data as string otherwise. This is helpful for
+                  mixed-type data.
+- `auto_float`: converts the received data to a floating-point value if possible
+                and will return the data as string otherwise. This is helpful
+                for mixed-type data. Integer data will be treated as
+                floating-point values.
 
-**Note:** It is also recommended that you set `name_override` to a measurement
-name that makes sense for your metric, otherwise it will just be set to the
-name of the plugin.
+**NOTE**: The `auto` conversions might convert data to their prioritized type
+by accident, for example if a string data-source provides `"55"` it will be
+converted to integer/float. This might break outputs that require the same
+datatype within a field or column. It is thus recommended to use *strict* typing
+whenever possible.
diff --git a/plugins/parsers/value/parser.go b/plugins/parsers/value/parser.go
index 4c8ae65f5..2648e778c 100644
--- a/plugins/parsers/value/parser.go
+++ b/plugins/parsers/value/parser.go
@@ -19,6 +19,29 @@ type Parser struct {
 	DefaultTags map[string]string `toml:"-"`
 }
 
+func (v *Parser) Init() error {
+	switch v.DataType {
+	case "", "int", "integer":
+		v.DataType = "int"
+	case "float", "long":
+		v.DataType = "float"
+	case "str", "string":
+		v.DataType = "string"
+	case "bool", "boolean":
+		v.DataType = "bool"
+	case "auto_integer", "auto_float":
+		// Do nothing both are valid
+	default:
+		return fmt.Errorf("unknown datatype %q", v.DataType)
+	}
+
+	if v.FieldName == "" {
+		v.FieldName = "value"
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
 func (v *Parser) Parse(buf []byte) ([]telegraf.Metric, error) {
 	vStr := string(bytes.TrimSpace(bytes.Trim(buf, "\x00")))
 
@@ -35,14 +58,26 @@ func (v *Parser) Parse(buf []byte) ([]telegraf.Metric, error) {
 	var value interface{}
 	var err error
 	switch v.DataType {
-	case "", "int", "integer":
+	case "int":
 		value, err = strconv.Atoi(vStr)
-	case "float", "long":
+	case "float":
 		value, err = strconv.ParseFloat(vStr, 64)
-	case "str", "string":
+	case "string":
 		value = vStr
-	case "bool", "boolean":
+	case "bool":
 		value, err = strconv.ParseBool(vStr)
+	case "auto_integer":
+		value, err = strconv.Atoi(vStr)
+		if err != nil {
+			value = vStr
+			err = nil
+		}
+	case "auto_float":
+		value, err = strconv.ParseFloat(vStr, 64)
+		if err != nil {
+			value = vStr
+			err = nil
+		}
 	}
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -73,14 +108,6 @@ func (v *Parser) SetDefaultTags(tags map[string]string) {
 	v.DefaultTags = tags
 }
 
-func (v *Parser) Init() error {
-	if v.FieldName == "" {
-		v.FieldName = "value"
-	}
-
-	return nil
-}
-
 func init() {
 	parsers.Add("value",
 		func(defaultMetricName string) telegraf.Parser {
diff --git a/plugins/parsers/value/parser_test.go b/plugins/parsers/value/parser_test.go
index 1a1cf7a61..13d45e5b8 100644
--- a/plugins/parsers/value/parser_test.go
+++ b/plugins/parsers/value/parser_test.go
@@ -2,273 +2,277 @@ package value
 
 import (
 	"testing"
+	"time"
 
+	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf/metric"
+	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf/testutil"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 )
 
 func TestParseValidValues(t *testing.T) {
-	parser := Parser{
-		MetricName: "value_test",
-		DataType:   "integer",
+	tests := []struct {
+		name     string
+		dtype    string
+		input    []byte
+		expected interface{}
+	}{
+		{
+			name:     "integer",
+			dtype:    "integer",
+			input:    []byte("55"),
+			expected: int64(55),
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "float",
+			dtype:    "float",
+			input:    []byte("64"),
+			expected: float64(64),
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "string",
+			dtype:    "string",
+			input:    []byte("foobar"),
+			expected: "foobar",
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "boolean",
+			dtype:    "boolean",
+			input:    []byte("true"),
+			expected: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "multiple integers",
+			dtype:    "integer",
+			input:    []byte(`55 45 223 12 999`),
+			expected: int64(999),
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "auto integer",
+			dtype:    "auto_integer",
+			input:    []byte("55"),
+			expected: int64(55),
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "auto integer with string",
+			dtype:    "auto_integer",
+			input:    []byte("foobar"),
+			expected: "foobar",
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "auto integer with float",
+			dtype:    "auto_integer",
+			input:    []byte("55.0"),
+			expected: "55.0",
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "auto float",
+			dtype:    "auto_float",
+			input:    []byte("64.2"),
+			expected: float64(64.2),
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "auto float with string",
+			dtype:    "auto_float",
+			input:    []byte("foobar"),
+			expected: "foobar",
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "auto float with integer",
+			dtype:    "auto_float",
+			input:    []byte("64"),
+			expected: float64(64),
+		},
 	}
-	require.NoError(t, parser.Init())
-	metrics, err := parser.Parse([]byte("55"))
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	require.Len(t, metrics, 1)
-	require.Equal(t, "value_test", metrics[0].Name())
-	require.Equal(t, map[string]interface{}{
-		"value": int64(55),
-	}, metrics[0].Fields())
-	require.Equal(t, map[string]string{}, metrics[0].Tags())
 
-	parser = Parser{
-		MetricName: "value_test",
-		DataType:   "float",
-	}
-	require.NoError(t, parser.Init())
-	metrics, err = parser.Parse([]byte("64"))
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	require.Len(t, metrics, 1)
-	require.Equal(t, "value_test", metrics[0].Name())
-	require.Equal(t, map[string]interface{}{
-		"value": float64(64),
-	}, metrics[0].Fields())
-	require.Equal(t, map[string]string{}, metrics[0].Tags())
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			expected := metric.New(
+				"value_test",
+				map[string]string{},
+				map[string]interface{}{"value": tt.expected},
+				time.Unix(0, 0),
+			)
 
-	parser = Parser{
-		MetricName: "value_test",
-		DataType:   "string",
+			plugin := Parser{
+				MetricName: "value_test",
+				DataType:   tt.dtype,
+			}
+			require.NoError(t, plugin.Init())
+			actual, err := plugin.Parse(tt.input)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			require.Len(t, actual, 1)
+			testutil.RequireMetricEqual(t, expected, actual[0], testutil.IgnoreTime())
+		})
 	}
-	require.NoError(t, parser.Init())
-	metrics, err = parser.Parse([]byte("foobar"))
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	require.Len(t, metrics, 1)
-	require.Equal(t, "value_test", metrics[0].Name())
-	require.Equal(t, map[string]interface{}{
-		"value": "foobar",
-	}, metrics[0].Fields())
-	require.Equal(t, map[string]string{}, metrics[0].Tags())
-
-	parser = Parser{
-		MetricName: "value_test",
-		DataType:   "boolean",
-	}
-	require.NoError(t, parser.Init())
-	metrics, err = parser.Parse([]byte("true"))
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	require.Len(t, metrics, 1)
-	require.Equal(t, "value_test", metrics[0].Name())
-	require.Equal(t, map[string]interface{}{
-		"value": true,
-	}, metrics[0].Fields())
-	require.Equal(t, map[string]string{}, metrics[0].Tags())
 }
 
-func TestParseMultipleValues(t *testing.T) {
-	parser := Parser{
-		MetricName: "value_test",
-		DataType:   "integer",
+func TestParseLineValidValues(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name     string
+		dtype    string
+		input    string
+		expected interface{}
+	}{
+		{
+			name:     "integer",
+			dtype:    "integer",
+			input:    "55",
+			expected: int64(55),
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "float",
+			dtype:    "float",
+			input:    "64",
+			expected: float64(64),
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "string",
+			dtype:    "string",
+			input:    "foobar",
+			expected: "foobar",
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "boolean",
+			dtype:    "boolean",
+			input:    "true",
+			expected: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "multiple integers",
+			dtype:    "integer",
+			input:    `55 45 223 12 999`,
+			expected: int64(999),
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			expected := metric.New(
+				"value_test",
+				map[string]string{},
+				map[string]interface{}{"value": tt.expected},
+				time.Unix(0, 0),
+			)
+
+			plugin := Parser{
+				MetricName: "value_test",
+				DataType:   tt.dtype,
+			}
+			require.NoError(t, plugin.Init())
+			actual, err := plugin.ParseLine(tt.input)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			testutil.RequireMetricEqual(t, expected, actual, testutil.IgnoreTime())
+		})
 	}
-	require.NoError(t, parser.Init())
-	metrics, err := parser.Parse([]byte(`55
-45
-223
-12
-999
-`))
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	require.Len(t, metrics, 1)
-	require.Equal(t, "value_test", metrics[0].Name())
-	require.Equal(t, map[string]interface{}{
-		"value": int64(999),
-	}, metrics[0].Fields())
-	require.Equal(t, map[string]string{}, metrics[0].Tags())
 }
 
 func TestParseCustomFieldName(t *testing.T) {
 	parser := Parser{
 		MetricName: "value_test",
 		DataType:   "integer",
+		FieldName:  "penguin",
 	}
 	require.NoError(t, parser.Init())
-	parser.FieldName = "penguin"
+
 	metrics, err := parser.Parse([]byte(`55`))
-
 	require.NoError(t, err)
-	require.Equal(t, map[string]interface{}{
-		"penguin": int64(55),
-	}, metrics[0].Fields())
-}
-
-func TestParseLineValidValues(t *testing.T) {
-	parser := Parser{
-		MetricName: "value_test",
-		DataType:   "integer",
-	}
-	require.NoError(t, parser.Init())
-	metric, err := parser.ParseLine("55")
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	require.Equal(t, "value_test", metric.Name())
-	require.Equal(t, map[string]interface{}{
-		"value": int64(55),
-	}, metric.Fields())
-	require.Equal(t, map[string]string{}, metric.Tags())
-
-	parser = Parser{
-		MetricName: "value_test",
-		DataType:   "float",
-	}
-	require.NoError(t, parser.Init())
-	metric, err = parser.ParseLine("64")
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	require.Equal(t, "value_test", metric.Name())
-	require.Equal(t, map[string]interface{}{
-		"value": float64(64),
-	}, metric.Fields())
-	require.Equal(t, map[string]string{}, metric.Tags())
-
-	parser = Parser{
-		MetricName: "value_test",
-		DataType:   "string",
-	}
-	require.NoError(t, parser.Init())
-	metric, err = parser.ParseLine("foobar")
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	require.Equal(t, "value_test", metric.Name())
-	require.Equal(t, map[string]interface{}{
-		"value": "foobar",
-	}, metric.Fields())
-	require.Equal(t, map[string]string{}, metric.Tags())
-
-	parser = Parser{
-		MetricName: "value_test",
-		DataType:   "boolean",
-	}
-	require.NoError(t, parser.Init())
-	metric, err = parser.ParseLine("true")
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	require.Equal(t, "value_test", metric.Name())
-	require.Equal(t, map[string]interface{}{
-		"value": true,
-	}, metric.Fields())
-	require.Equal(t, map[string]string{}, metric.Tags())
+	require.Equal(t, map[string]interface{}{"penguin": int64(55)}, metrics[0].Fields())
 }
 
 func TestParseInvalidValues(t *testing.T) {
-	parser := Parser{
-		MetricName: "value_test",
-		DataType:   "integer",
+	tests := []struct {
+		name  string
+		dtype string
+		input []byte
+	}{
+		{
+			name:  "integer",
+			dtype: "integer",
+			input: []byte("55.0"),
+		},
+		{
+			name:  "float",
+			dtype: "float",
+			input: []byte("foobar"),
+		},
+		{
+			name:  "boolean",
+			dtype: "boolean",
+			input: []byte("213"),
+		},
 	}
-	require.NoError(t, parser.Init())
-	metrics, err := parser.Parse([]byte("55.0"))
-	require.Error(t, err)
-	require.Len(t, metrics, 0)
 
-	parser = Parser{
-		MetricName: "value_test",
-		DataType:   "float",
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			plugin := Parser{
+				MetricName: "value_test",
+				DataType:   tt.dtype,
+			}
+			require.NoError(t, plugin.Init())
+			actual, err := plugin.Parse(tt.input)
+			require.ErrorContains(t, err, "invalid syntax")
+			require.Empty(t, actual)
+		})
 	}
-	require.NoError(t, parser.Init())
-	metrics, err = parser.Parse([]byte("foobar"))
-	require.Error(t, err)
-	require.Len(t, metrics, 0)
-
-	parser = Parser{
-		MetricName: "value_test",
-		DataType:   "boolean",
-	}
-	require.NoError(t, parser.Init())
-	metrics, err = parser.Parse([]byte("213"))
-	require.Error(t, err)
-	require.Len(t, metrics, 0)
 }
 
 func TestParseLineInvalidValues(t *testing.T) {
-	parser := Parser{
-		MetricName: "value_test",
-		DataType:   "integer",
+	tests := []struct {
+		name  string
+		dtype string
+		input string
+	}{
+		{
+			name:  "integer",
+			dtype: "integer",
+			input: "55.0",
+		},
+		{
+			name:  "float",
+			dtype: "float",
+			input: "foobar",
+		},
+		{
+			name:  "boolean",
+			dtype: "boolean",
+			input: "213",
+		},
 	}
-	require.NoError(t, parser.Init())
-	_, err := parser.ParseLine("55.0")
-	require.Error(t, err)
 
-	parser = Parser{
-		MetricName: "value_test",
-		DataType:   "float",
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			plugin := Parser{
+				MetricName: "value_test",
+				DataType:   tt.dtype,
+			}
+			require.NoError(t, plugin.Init())
+			actual, err := plugin.ParseLine(tt.input)
+			require.ErrorContains(t, err, "invalid syntax")
+			require.Empty(t, actual)
+		})
 	}
-	require.NoError(t, parser.Init())
-	_, err = parser.ParseLine("foobar")
-	require.Error(t, err)
-
-	parser = Parser{
-		MetricName: "value_test",
-		DataType:   "boolean",
-	}
-	require.NoError(t, parser.Init())
-	_, err = parser.ParseLine("213")
-	require.Error(t, err)
 }
 
 func TestParseValidValuesDefaultTags(t *testing.T) {
-	parser := Parser{
+	expected := metric.New(
+		"value_test",
+		map[string]string{"test": "tag"},
+		map[string]interface{}{"value": int64(55)},
+		time.Unix(0, 0),
+	)
+
+	plugin := Parser{
 		MetricName: "value_test",
 		DataType:   "integer",
 	}
-	require.NoError(t, parser.Init())
-	parser.SetDefaultTags(map[string]string{"test": "tag"})
-	metrics, err := parser.Parse([]byte("55"))
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	require.Len(t, metrics, 1)
-	require.Equal(t, "value_test", metrics[0].Name())
-	require.Equal(t, map[string]interface{}{
-		"value": int64(55),
-	}, metrics[0].Fields())
-	require.Equal(t, map[string]string{"test": "tag"}, metrics[0].Tags())
+	require.NoError(t, plugin.Init())
+	plugin.SetDefaultTags(map[string]string{"test": "tag"})
 
-	parser = Parser{
-		MetricName: "value_test",
-		DataType:   "float",
-	}
-	require.NoError(t, parser.Init())
-	parser.SetDefaultTags(map[string]string{"test": "tag"})
-	metrics, err = parser.Parse([]byte("64"))
+	actual, err := plugin.Parse([]byte("55"))
 	require.NoError(t, err)
-	require.Len(t, metrics, 1)
-	require.Equal(t, "value_test", metrics[0].Name())
-	require.Equal(t, map[string]interface{}{
-		"value": float64(64),
-	}, metrics[0].Fields())
-	require.Equal(t, map[string]string{"test": "tag"}, metrics[0].Tags())
+	require.Len(t, actual, 1)
 
-	parser = Parser{
-		MetricName: "value_test",
-		DataType:   "string",
-	}
-	require.NoError(t, parser.Init())
-	parser.SetDefaultTags(map[string]string{"test": "tag"})
-	metrics, err = parser.Parse([]byte("foobar"))
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	require.Len(t, metrics, 1)
-	require.Equal(t, "value_test", metrics[0].Name())
-	require.Equal(t, map[string]interface{}{
-		"value": "foobar",
-	}, metrics[0].Fields())
-	require.Equal(t, map[string]string{"test": "tag"}, metrics[0].Tags())
-
-	parser = Parser{
-		MetricName: "value_test",
-		DataType:   "boolean",
-	}
-	require.NoError(t, parser.Init())
-	parser.SetDefaultTags(map[string]string{"test": "tag"})
-	metrics, err = parser.Parse([]byte("true"))
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	require.Len(t, metrics, 1)
-	require.Equal(t, "value_test", metrics[0].Name())
-	require.Equal(t, map[string]interface{}{
-		"value": true,
-	}, metrics[0].Fields())
-	require.Equal(t, map[string]string{"test": "tag"}, metrics[0].Tags())
+	testutil.RequireMetricEqual(t, expected, actual[0], testutil.IgnoreTime())
 }
 
 func TestParseValuesWithNullCharacter(t *testing.T) {
@@ -286,3 +290,11 @@ func TestParseValuesWithNullCharacter(t *testing.T) {
 	}, metrics[0].Fields())
 	require.Equal(t, map[string]string{}, metrics[0].Tags())
 }
+
+func TestInvalidDatatype(t *testing.T) {
+	parser := Parser{
+		MetricName: "value_test",
+		DataType:   "foo",
+	}
+	require.ErrorContains(t, parser.Init(), "unknown datatype")
+}