Disclosed herein are a dust measuring apparatus and a mobile terminal for controlling the same. The dust measuring apparatus includes a flow channel defining unit for defining a flow channel allowing a fluid containing dust to move through, a light emitter for emitting light into the flow channel, a light detector for detecting light scattered from the dust in the flow channel and converting the same into an electrical signal, and a controller for controlling the flow channel defining unit, the light emitter and the light detector. The controller is configured to verify whether a detection value received from the light detector is within an effective measurement range, vary the effective measurement range when the detection value is outside the effective measurement range, and measure, when the detection value is within the varied effective measurement range, a dust concentration based on the detection value.