Whether you're searching for gold or coins, we found detectors for all levels.
We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process. Weight Inspection Machine
If you've ever had a gold bracelet or a ring slip off at the beach and it's nowhere to be found, you know how frustrating it can be. Even if you've never lost something valuable, it's easy to see how difficult it would be to track down such a small item over a large area. However, if you had a metal detector, this device could help you retrieve that missing item — or even have fun unearthing new treasures. Experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute researched the best metal detectors, evaluating portability, modes, coil size and more. See where this potential hobby can take you — and what it may help discover — with plenty of options under $200.
For the average hobbyist, the Garrett ACE 300 is loaded with a breadth of features and controls to keep you happy and searching. With your purchase, you’ll get expert pinpointing (a.k.a. centering around your target) and precise identification of metals. You can view all the details on a large screen, and there’s also a water-resistant coil for beach searching and five search modes suitable for different materials like relics for small iron pieces and jewelry for precious metals.
You’ll also get a few accessories, including headphones equipped with volume control, a cover and a search coil cover. It has an 8kHz frequency and a range of 10 inches, though you can upgrade it with a larger one, but that should be enough for finding low and medium targets, like coins and lost rings.
One Reddit user recommended Garret's high-quality detectors for beginners, and we appreciate that this pick is under $300.
At $150, the PANCKY Metal Detector gives you the best bang for your buck compared to some of the more expensive models on this list. It still offers five modes (including metal, disc, memory, jewelry and pinpointer) and a waterproof search coil that can detect up to 10 inches below the ground and claims to still function in shallow water. Although some Amazon reviewers note issues with excessive beeping when it's near wet ground.
The large LCD screen displays all your stats from how close an object is to what type of material it is. It also comes loaded with useful accessories, like headphones, a detection bag, a backpack and a small shovel to dig up your goods. It has close to 3,000 five-star reviews on Amazon and several shoppers described it as "reliable" and "user-friendly."
If you're new to the hobby, it can be worth investing in a quality metal detector that comes equipped with all of the accessories you may need on an excursion. Our pros appreciate that the Nokta Simplex BT includes a digger, finds pouch, leg holster and cap.
Reddit users like the Nokta brand as another solid entry-level pick that doesn't skimp on modern features. In fact, this metal detector has Bluetooth connectivity, lighting for low-visibility tasks and is designed to be water-resistant up to 16 feet, per the brand's description.
An Amazon review gave it five stars for easy installation, and one Reddit user wrote: "I bought a Simplex Ultra about a month ago. Works great! Found all kinds of things on my property as well as the beach down the road."
Some Amazon reviews recommended reading the user manual in full before using because remembering all the settings can be difficult and lead to confusion. If you don't want to spend almost $300 on a detector, look to our best-value pick for a more affordable option.
If going to the beach is one of your kid's favorite activities, level up the day trip with a junior metal detector that can grow with them throughout the years. This lightweight metal detector features an adjustable stem that extends from 24 to 35 inches. Its handle and search coil are waterproof, according to the brand, so they can bring it right up to the shoreline and discover what treasures lie beneath the waves.
The metal detector has a one-press operation for easy use and a clear LCD display. You'll appreciate that it is just shy of $80 and still comes with a shovel, trowel and carrying case. The 7.4-inch search coil will help your child unearth coins and precious metal objects.
It has a pretty cool design too and holds the Amazon's Choice badge with an average 4.4-star rating. Amazon reviewers reported their children and grandchildren are thrilled to take the detector with them to the beach, park or even their own backyards. One five-star review said: "My 8-year-old boy and his friends loved it. They were running around the campground looking for treasure and even took it in the shallow river."
All in all, this metal detector is a great gift idea for kids that will bring new meaning to outdoor adventures. Note that some Amazon reviewers found the detector didn't last as long as models designed for adults and gave false alarms when no treasure was actually found.
RELATED: Best Outdoor Toys for Kids
It’s every treasure hunter’s dream to stumble upon a gold mine, and with the Garrett Metal Detectors ACE APEX, that goal might be closer than you think. It has a large, backlit display and offers six detection modes, including coins, U.S. coins, jewelry, relics and a custom setting where you can save a different frequency setting that suits your hunts best as well as a pinpoint setting for more precise location targeting.
It uses multi-flex technology that swaps from a low to higher frequency to help you detect larger coins or pinpoint gold nuggets. Targeting certain materials gets more specific with the “iron audio,” which can determine if you’ve just encountered a bottle cap. There’s also the notch discrimination feature that filters out certain frequencies to avoid flimsy scrap metal. With the amount of features, it might be a bit complicated for the average user, though.
A beach trip can become an adventure with the Minelab Vanquish 440. The manufacturer says its multi-frequency technology is good for searching along saltwater, meaning you’ll be able to discover lost items that fall closer to the water. However, it’s only water-resistant up to a little more than 3 feet, so you'll want to be careful not to submerge it.
It also has four find modes that employ different frequencies, depending on the area you're in. For example, park mode is great for helping to cut through high-trash areas, while field mode is more suited for coin searching. Once you find the best setting for you, you can save it for future use. Additionally, it weighs only 2.6 pounds, so it’s easy to transport and use for extended periods of time. Some Amazon reviews do note that the detector wasn't able to uncover as many precious items.
RELATED: Best Beach Wagons and Carts
If you want to go deeper than a standard metal detector, the XP DEUS Metal Detector detects up to 11 inches deep. It uses 35 frequencies to track down objects of a wide variety of sizes and materials with nine modes to shuffle through. The same Reddit thread previously mentioned reveals XP as one of the leading brands in recent years. Many Amazon shoppers concur, with several highlighting the metal detector's lightweight design and advanced features. One five-star review summed it up well: "Have had going on 2 years, no battery problems, always works flawlessly. I would give it 10 stars if I could."
It’s a bit more expensive than other models on this list, but well worth it if you want to hunt underground, thanks to the extended notch discrimination range. You’ll also get a remote control, a hip-mount case for the remote and full-sized wireless headphones with your purchase. Plus, there’s a five-year warranty if you encounter any issues.
While not technically a full metal detector, this pinpointer is incredibly useful for pinpointing your treasure before you start digging. When you turn it on, it uses a shrink detection field, which tunes out mineralized ground, wet beach sand and the like that might otherwise interfere with detection, to precisely pinpoint large targets. When used in tandem with your metal detector, you’ll waste less time sifting around the area and add more found goods to your pocket.
This model claims to be weatherproof: You can dip the tip in water, but not the entire device. It has an average 4.7-star rating across more than 1,000 Amazon reviews, with many who liked its durability, quality and accuracy. Some shoppers said they have gone back to Garrett to replace their pinpointer and have used it to find coins and other targets. We appreciate its compact size that's easy to transport and that it is just a tad over $100.
To select the best metal detectors, our experts did extensive categorical research on different models with varying capabilities and price points. "You don't have to spend a fortune, but I do recommend [investing in] something you’ll be able to find stuff with because it’s a wonderful hobby," said Chris Turner, CEO of The Ring Finders, an online directory of metal detecting specialists. "It’s the only hobby in the world where you can find money."
In addition, we read through Amazon reviews and Reddit threads as well as the brand's product descriptions to weigh important features including the number of modes, included accessories, depth and more. We also considered how easy the metal detector would be to transport as well as the weight of each to determine how hard it would be to carry over a period of time.
We prioritized metal detectors that have notch filter discrimination, which allows the device to “notch out” or remove a certain kind of metal or iron from the radar. This means the user can pinpoint what metal they are searching for and avoid more basic metals that you would find in a bottle cap. Turner warned not to discriminate against anything but irons, as you could be missing out on striking gold and other valuables.
Aside from making the leap to look for treasure, there are a few things to think about before making an investment in a metal detector.
✔️ Type: There are two main types of metal detectors: very low frequency (VLF) and multi-frequency.
✔️ Coil size: Typically with coil size, the larger the coil, the deeper and more sensitive a metal detector will be. This may seem that larger is better, but large coils tend to be less sensitive to smaller targets and more at risk to electromagnetic interference (EMI), according to MineLab. Smaller coils may not have a deep depth, but can track those smaller targets. We chose metal detectors that have close to 10-inch coils for a happy medium of the two.
✔️ Location: "Some people are relic hunters who like to look for old coins. Some people like beach hunting," he said, so depending on your interests, "there are different ways you want to hunt." You can’t just take out a metal detector and use it anywhere and expect good results. For example, a metal detector that uses VLF would pick up on the minerals on a sandy beach, giving you too many inaccurate results. Make sure that the metal detector you use has a mode or setting that's suited to the area you plan on using it the most often. Beaches where saltwater can interfere with detection should use a lower frequency (around 5 kHz). Coins and jewelry that are usually closer to the surface and are of a higher conductivity will benefit from frequencies of about 10 kHz.
✔️ Modes: Metal detectors typically come with several pre-set modes that use a specific frequency based on what you’re looking for and where you're searching to increase the likelihood of finding some goods.
✔️ Metals: Metal detectors can pick up on a range of materials from iron to silver and gold. However, some have more specific detection for certain items like coins or jewelry. A metal detector with a larger range will allow you to know what you’re likely to unearth before you start digging.
✔️ Duration: Think about how long you will be using your metal detector for. If it’s longer than an hour, double-check that the model of your choice will last for your entire treasure hunt. Most metal detectors use lithium batteries that last for about 20 hours before needing to be charged. You can usually view the remaining battery life on the included the device's display.
✔️ Pinpointer: Some metal detectors have a built-in pinpointer to help you narrow down the exact location of the target. These gadgets work by using a combination of beeps and vibration to show a more precise spot of the target that your metal detector has found. If the model doesn’t have one, you can always purchase a pinpointer separately to make your search a little easier.
✔️ Accessories: Headphones are needed to hear the buzz of the metal detector that will indicate how close you are to an object. Some come with headphones included, as well as carrying cases, a cover-up or a search coil cover. Other detectors will also include small shovels, a pouch for your loot or even a leg holster.
You can use your metal detector in a variety of spaces. Fields with little interference (i.e. the minerals in the ground that your metal detector can get confused with a solid target) are great for looking for coins and beaches are great for discovering lost items.
Just be careful that you are allowed to be there. It's illegal to use a detector in U.S. National Parks and historic battlefields, according to the Society of American Archeology. Also, before heading out, check local city and county laws to determine where you’re allowed to metal detect and if you’ll need a permit to do so.
Tuner also pointed out the importance of leaving no trace. It's good practice to leave the spot you're hunting in just as good, if not better, condition than you left it. That means bringing a separate bag for any trash you may find and covering up digging marks. "You’re finding treasure for yourself and you’re cleaning up the beach at the same time," he said. "Plus, that way you won't be finding the same trash next time around."
Once you’ve found an object, you’ll need to uncover it. Since metal detectors can’t sense more than a few inches below the ground, you shouldn't need to dig too deep to find your loot. A large shovel might make too much of a dent on public and private property, but using something like a sand scoop on dry sand or trowel on hard dirt is good.
For land, Turner recommended a tactic called a dirt plug, which is essentially achieved by cutting a square with your shovel and then pulling out the earth to inspect. "You lift it up, retrieve your target and put the earth and the plug back," he said. "It should never look like someone has been hunting in a park, so cover it up."
Courtney Campbell has five years of experience testing everything from reusable straws to standing desks to homemade kombucha kits. She currently heads up the American Kennel Club's product review site Retrievest and previously worked as the Shopping Editor for USA Today’s Reviewed and has covered design and lifestyle trends for Apartment Therapy, Domino, SELF and more.
Courtney (she/hers) has spent the past 5 years testing everything from reusable straws to standing desks to homemade kombucha kits. A longtime reviewer, deals hunter, and lifestyle writer, she currently heads up the American Kennel Club's product review site Retrievest and previously worked as the Shopping Editor for USA Today’s Reviewed. Additionally, she has covered design and lifestyle trends for Apartment Therapy, Domino, SELF, and more. A graduate of Elon University, she loves telling everyone about what race she’s planning on running next while raving about her favorite running headphones (they’re bone conducting!).
The Best Kids Backpacks for the New School Year
The Best Zero Turn Mowers
These Amazon Bestsellers Are Must-Haves
The Best Mattresses for Heavy People
The Best Adjustable Beds for Seniors
The Best Robot Vacuums for Pet Hair
The Best Sheets You Can Buy on Amazon
A Part of Hearst Digital Media
Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.
X Ray Inspection System ©2024 Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.