The 10 Best Metal Detectors

Just about every time I have ever gone to the beach, I have seen some guy with a metal detector. If you have ever dreamed of being that guy, you should invest in a quality metal detector that will ensure you’ll end the day with some booty. Below, we selected some of the best beginner metal detectors to get you started on your treasure hunting journey.

Check out quick reviews below of the top Four metal detectors, then scroll deeper for more helpful buying info and full reviews of those models.

Our Top Pick

The Best Metal Detectors List 2020

Best Buy Metal Detectors Online Reviews

SaleBestseller No. 1
XPSGOLD Metal Detector Pinpointing,Waterproof Pinpointer 360 Degree Search Gold&Treasure Finder with Belt Holster &LED Indicator& Buzzer Vibration, for Adults and Kids (Orange)
  • 【360° Side-Scan and Pinpoint Tip Detection】 Quickly locate coins, jewelry, silverware, gold and other metal objects. 360° rapid scanning covers large area,such as indoor, outdoor, lawn, sand, soil or underwater.
  • 【One touch control easy to use】To switch the detector on, press and release the power button while holding the detector away from metallic objects. The white LED will illuminate and one brief audio beeps will occur, indicating the detector is ready for use.
  • 【Audio and Vibration Indicator】The detector has both audible and vibrating alarms to indicate the presence of metal objects. The alarms increase in intensity as the detector is moved closer to the metal target.
  • 【Automatic sensitivity】Microprocessor circuitry allows the detector to operate at maximum sensitivity without any need of adjustments.
  • 【Wide Applications】High Sensitivity Pin Pointer metal detector can detect indoors, outdoors, on sand, lawn or in soil, locate coin, silver, jewelry and gold with speed and accuracy Recommended for coin and jewelry hunting, relic hunting, gold prospecting and utility applications.
SaleBestseller No. 2
Robustt High Sensitivity Hand Held Metal Detector (Pack of 1) Leather case on Handle, with Battery Included Alarm Mode -Sound, Vibration & Led Lights for Malls, Airports, Railway Stations, Banks
  • The Robustt Handheld Metal Detector provides reliable security. Use this handheld security scanner anywhere – indoor or outdoor events, schools, sport events or anywhere you need dependable metal detection
  • The Robustt Metal Detector is very high sensitivity which can detect even small hidden metal objects. Detects concealed weapon, knives and other metal object in baggages.
  • The lightweight design and comfortable Leather grip make it easy to use for long periods of time.
  • The Robustt Metal Detector let you choose between sound or vibration detection alerts. The LED light is also activated to the detection of metal.
  • Size: 4.5cm x 41cm x 8.5cm
SaleBestseller No. 3
YAKSH Enterprise Metal Detector Pinpointing,Waterproof Pinpointer 360 Degree Search Gold&Treasure Finder with Belt Holster &LED Indicator& Buzzer Vibration, for Adults and Kids (Orange)
  • 【360° Side-Scan and Pinpoint Tip Detection】 Quickly locate coins, jewelry, silverware, gold and other metal objects. 360° rapid scanning covers large area,such as indoor, outdoor, lawn, sand, soil or underwater.
  • 【One touch control easy to use】To switch the detector on, press and release the power button while holding the detector away from metallic objects. The white LED will illuminate and one brief audio beeps will occur, indicating the detector is ready for use.
  • 【Audio and Vibration Indicator】The detector has both audible and vibrating alarms to indicate the presence of metal objects. The alarms increase in intensity as the detector is moved closer to the metal target.
  • 【Automatic sensitivity】Microprocessor circuitry allows the detector to operate at maximum sensitivity without any need of adjustments.
  • 【Wide Applications】High Sensitivity Pin Pointer metal detector can detect indoors, outdoors, on sand, lawn or in soil, locate coin, silver, jewelry and gold with speed and accuracy Recommended for coin and jewelry hunting, relic hunting, gold prospecting and utility applications.
SaleBestseller No. 4
HASTHIP® Professional Accuracy Metal Detector - Gold Detector Machine - Waterproof Beach Metal Detector - Metal Detector Kit with Indicator Support Earphone - for Coins, Metal Objects & Gold
  • HIGH ACCURACY METAL DETECTOR: Non-contact accurate metal detector, built in high senstive metal sensor, with 8'' detecting disc, can precisely and high efficiently scan larger area and locate the metal piece or item. Retractable metal detector, can adjust the reaching distance from 30.7''-42.1'', more convenient to use. With 2 detection modes, full metal modes and identifying mode for detecting different metal, including gold, copper, iron, other metal.
  • DIAL PLATE DESIGN: High accuracy detecting disc can reach up to sensitivity of US 25 Cent : 180mm. Clear large dial plate design, with 10 levels detection, can more precisely and clearly show you the detecting object situation. The pointer's viberation frenquency will be change with different detection objects.
  • SUPPORT 3.5MM EARPHONE: Practical earphone jack design, allow you can connecting any 3.5mm earphone to monitor the metal detection. Once the metal subject is detected, the alarm system will make alarm, practical design for outdoor with crowds or noise. You can also adjust the alarm volume by knob.
  • BATTERY OPERATED METAL DETECTOR: Requiring 2pcs 9V batteries(not included) to work, convenient and portable device that is designed to identify metal objects hidden within its scanning range. The absence of power cords also offers greater freedom of movement, allowing users to explore areas where electricity is unavailable or inconvenient to access.
  • WIDE APPLICATION: Handheld metal detector, perfect for ground searching. The metal detector kit is perfect for finding metal objects and anywhere that hidden metal needs to be detected. You could enjoy the fun of exploration, cultivate parent-child relationships, and cultivate your children's curiosity about the world, keeping them away from televisions and game consoles.
SaleBestseller No. 5
R RANSENERS Metal Detector Wand,Security Wand,Portable Adjustable Sound&Vibration Alerts,Detects Weapons Knivers Screw(High Sensitivity,Black)Â…
  • ✔ HIGH SENSITIVITY: RANSENERS metal detector hand wand to help you quickly and accurately find even small hidden metal objects such as gold coins, silver coins, cultural relics, jewelry etc.
  • ✔ 2 KINDS OF ALERTS: Sound & vibration mode, suitable for all occasions. The LED light is also activated to the detection of metal. Depends on the needs, vibration function should be used in noisy situation or in places where the operator does not wish for the sound to be heard in his surrounding area.
  • ✔ ADJUSTABLE SENSITIVITY: Press the low sensitivity switch during detection, detector will only respond to bigger metal objects such as knife, hand gun etc and will not respond to small metals such as ring, key, coin, pin etc. Do not release the low sensitivity switch until you complete low sensitivity detection. Adjustable sensitivity allow pin detection at 4" and a 20mm steel ball at 2.7" depth.
  • ✔ POWER OPERATED: Powered by one 9V battery standard (Not included) or rechargeable battery (Not included). With one external charging port, the battery charger is not included. Please avoid charging it when you have no rechargeable battery, otherwise it can't work normally. And please turn off the detector when charging it.
  • ✔ COMFORTABLE HANDLE & WIDELY USE: Portable metal detector wand, lightweight design and comfortable handle grip make it easy for long time use. It comes with a belt clip, make it portable and convenient. Good for security, indoor/outdoor events, such as airport, schools, train station, subway, sports events, exhibition center, anywhere you need metal detection. Note that it is not waterproof.
SaleBestseller No. 6
SIDDHI EQUIPMENTS Hand Held Metal Detector Model Validator S-16 (Black-Green) with LED Indicator and Variable Audio for Malls, Airports, Hotels, Railway Stations, Banks
  • Operates on rechargeable and disposable dry battery, in-built battery charger.
  • Ultra-high sensitivity and stability.
  • Effectively detects minute quantities of ferrous as well as non-ferrous gold, silver,platinum, brass, copper, mild & stainless steel.
  • ABS moulded body, provides high strength, ruggedness and light in weight.
  • Uses advanced SMD Technology.
SaleBestseller No. 7
Hetkrishi Hand Held High Sensitivity Metal Detector Safety Inspection Metal Detector with Buzzer Vibration for Security Check
  • Lightweight and portable, exquisite design, easy operation. With leather hand strap, portable and to use
  • Automatically reset switch to the sensitivity function, so it is capable of detecting large, but also detecting small metal objects
  • DC POINT TO RECHARGE 9 VOLT BATTERY
SaleBestseller No. 9
UJEAVETTE Metal Detector Gold Digger Finder Deep Sensitive Light with LCD Display
  • LCD Display: Clear and easy-to-read display showing depth, sensitivity level, battery status, and target identification.
  • Adjustable Sensitivity: Allows customization of detection sensitivity to locate small and large objects accurately.
  • Depth Detection: Capable of detecting objects buried deep underground, providing depth readings on the display.
  • Lightweight Design: Ergonomic and lightweight construction for prolonged use without causing fatigue.
  • Discrimination Mode: Ability to differentiate between different types of metals, reducing false positives and focusing on valuable targets.
SaleBestseller No. 10
Smars® Hand-Held Metal Detector Scanner
  • Sound alert LED indiiator
  • Low Power Consumption and low battery indication
  • Handheld and light weight
  • One 9v battery required
  • It can be used for public security in airports, Railway stations, docks, prisons, customs and frontier defense as well as Quality control of medicine, food and other commodities.

Buyer’s Guide Terminology & Definitions

Like every great hobby, metal detecting is an activity that is filled with special words that outsiders may have a hard time understanding. Here we will define some of the words you may not be very familiar with.

Metal detecting experts, feel free to skip ahead to the next section.

  • Ferrous: Metals that contain iron. Non-ferrous metals are metals that are not magnetic, like brass, gold, silver, nickel, tin and lead.
  • Frequency: Frequencies vary on metal detectors and the different frequencies are used for different types of detecting. The frequencies are measured in Kilohertz and measure the number of magnetic fields sent to the ground. Different metals react to different frequencies based on the characteristics and conductivity of that metal.
  • Mineralization: The amount of iron and salt in the ground. Examples of mineralized ground include black sand on beaches (from iron), redness in dirt (iron), and the salt in the sand on saltwater beaches.
  • Interference: Anything with an electromagnetic field, like cell phones or power lines, can interfere with the detector’s signal.
  • Control box: Contains the controls, speaker, batteries and processor of a metal detector.
  • Search coil: This is what “sees” the metal in the ground. Different search coil sizes and shapes perform differently. Generally speaking, smaller coils are most sensitive while larger coils can penetrate deeper underground.
  • Discrimination: You can filter out different types of metal or objects by adjusting your settings.
  • Ground balance: Adjustments made to the detector for different types of soil and mineralization.
  • Target separation: How well a detector identifies targets that are close to one another.

Evaluation Criteria When Choosing a Metal Detector

There isn’t one metal detector that’s better than all the rest, although there are a few stand-out detectors in multiple categories. This buyer’s guide for the best metal detectors will examine the specific features that make for a good detector in a number of those categories. We will make recommendations based on many category-specific criteria, as well as some criteria that are common between several categories.

We will examine factors like:

  • Weight
  • Size
  • Ergonomics
  • Ease of use
  • Durability
  • Reliability
  • Price point
  • Customer ratings and reviews
  • Warranty length
  • Weatherproofing
  • Waterproofing

For each category we evaluate, we will recommend three different detectors:

  • Best of the best
  • Best for beginners
  • Best value

In addition to sharing our expertise in each of these categories, we asked our customers to share their opinions as well. We surveyed our customers to find out which detector they consider to be one of the “best metal detectors” in each category. You can see their responses at the end of each category. Some categories had a clear-cut favorite among our customers, but some categories were not so cut and dry. Presenting this data alongside our opinion gives you yet another way to evaluate machines in each category.

Whether you’re just starting out or are a seasoned professional, this guide will help you make an informed decision on which metal detector is the best fit to become your next detector. After all, once you’ve been bitten by the metal detecting bug, there is no such thing as owning just one metal detector.

About the author

Scott Staffin

ReviewCounty Team try to help you select the best products from the market. We do all kind of research online to find the best product under budget so users can easily make a final decision. We have used almost all kinds of products and try to give our own personal experience as well. Hope you like our extensive research.

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