Best Metal Detectors

Searching for the best metal detectors to begin your treasure hunting journey? It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the options. But imagine the absolute thrill of unearthing your first historic coin or lost relic! This guide cuts through the noise, matching you with the perfect detector for your budget and goals. We’ve reviewed the top models to help you choose the right machine and start making incredible finds right away. Let’s dig into our top picks.

Top 5 Metal Detectors:

1. Minelab Equinox 900 – Best Metal Detector Overall

 

 

Get a Minelab Equinox 900 if you’re looking for one detector to tackle parks, fields, beaches, and creek beds with minimal changes. The pro-level performance is tamed down into a streamlined, go-anywhere build. Multi-IQ simultaneous multi-frequency fires five frequencies at once to stabilize IDs, punch deeper, and tame mineralized soils and wet salt. Hence, you will dig more keepers and less junk. When you have something specific in your sights, you’ll always have a single frequency for it: any of the six available.

Target calls are prompt and decisive. The high-resolution 119 Target ID scale and revised audio let you calibrate the size and gauge of a find at a glance. You spend less time second-guessing and more time locating them. The Equinox 900 includes low-latency wireless headphones, so the audio is sharp and in sync with the coil for accurate pinpointing. Water won’t halt your progress. The Equinox 900 is entirely waterproof and submersible to 16 ft, allowing you to access shallow rivers, lake edges, and surf zones where others are put off. It’s also lightweight, with carbon-fiber shafts weighing in around 2.8 lb.

The three-piece design folds to 24 inches to fit in a daypack. Dial in the parameters to suit your requirements, such as sensitivity, retrieval speed, and ground balance, to balance out the rest. Then check to see whether the detector is running smoothly and quietly throughout. The Equinox 900 is a versatile, future-ready device that increases the accuracy across the board. All soils and seasons are covered, so this is a wise investment. You’ll notice the difference even on your first swing.

 

2. Minelab Vanquish 440 – Best Metal Detector for Beach

 

 

Do you want a beach-ready detector that behaves on salt, stays stable, and keeps the hunt fun? Minelab Vanquish 440 is the easy pick. Simultaneous multi-frequency tech means wet sand and the splash zone produce fewer false signals, and that means spending more time digging real targets and less chasing noise.

It’s fine with splashes and up to shallow water use – keep the control box dry, and stick to wading depth; it isn’t for submersion. You’ll find four search modes make tuning in fast. Start with a trash-cutting profile for busy, bottle-cap heavy areas that don’t produce coins, then go for the coin-focused mode when your ground is cleaner. Save the settings you like, and the quick pad means next time you can hit the beach with a single button press. At 2.6 lb, it’s comfortable for long shoreline walks.

Whether you’re new to detecting or a returning hunters, the lightweight build and intuitive controls make it a solid pick. Bring a sand scoop, sweep in serpentine or lines, and crisscross suspect beeps from two directions. If you want a reliable beach performer, ease of use, and one you can sling or grip all day, the Vanquish 440 helps you chase finds that matter and keeps the hunt the fun part.

 

3. Garrett ACE 300 – Best Portable Metal Detector

 

 

If you want to level up your detecting without complicating your life, the Garrett ACE 300 will give you the features that matter and make sure they remain relatively easy to use. Pinpoint mode gives you the ability to zero in on a find’s exact location, which means you can dig smaller plugs and retrieve your finds faster. The water-resistant search coil also lets you work wet sand and shallow streams, but keep the control box dry. You can tailor the detector to your hunt with five search modes.

You can change your profile to coins, jewelry, relics, zero discrimination, or your own custom panel if you know what you’re after. With detection depths of about 10 inches and operating at 8 kHz, you’re well-equipped to find common items such as coins, rings, and small relics. The extendable stem allows you to find the perfect size, eliminating the fatigue that a too-short length can cause during long hunting sessions. It feels light and moving it around all day is very feasible.

For your best shot, keep the sensitivity moderate at first, move slowly, with overlapping passes, and track each update with pinpoint after a cross-check. If you’ve had enough practice and are ready to hit the ground running, this dependable, budget-friendly selection is suitable for a beginner with plenty of room for growth. It’s all you need in the park or the shoreline.

 

4. Garrett Pro-Pointer A.T. – Best Pinpointer Metal Detector

 

 

Want to recover targets faster and leave tidy plugs behind? A pinpointer is the upgrade that makes your hunts smoother and more precise. Your detector gets you to the spot; the pinpointer narrows it to the exact inch, so you dig less, find more, and keep the site looking great. Always start with a clean recovery method. Cut three sides of a plug and hinge it open—this preserves roots and makes restoration easy. Sweep the pinpointer across the hole and the lifted plug.

Use short, controlled probes along the edges to triangulate the target. If the signal feels broad, reduce sensitivity or “retune” against soil to shrink the detection field and home in faster. Gear: the Garrett Pro-Pointer is waterproof for shallow water, accurate enough to isolate small coins and jewelry, and built from rugged ABS to handle rough ground.

Audible and vibration alerts help in wind or surf, and the simple control scheme means you’re working the drill, not the menu. It’s battery powered, so carry a spare to avoid cutting a session short. With a good pinpointer and clean the plug technique, you’ll recover more finds, protect your sites, and spend more time celebrating what you dug, not chasing it.

 

5. Bounty Hunter TK4 – Best Budget Metal Detector

 

 

The Bounty Hunter TK4 is a budget-friendly detector that’s simple to learn, easy on the wallet and rugged enough to take with you on weekend expeditions. And thanks to a rugged build that scoffs at rocky, muddy and soggy ground, you can hunt coins, jewelry and relics in parks, playgrounds, yards, beaches and anywhere else people gather outside. It’s battery-operated and lightweight so you’ll be comfortable as you cover more ground.

You have 3 simple detect modes to choose from to match your detecting condition and target/terrain. All-Metal provides further distance and sensitivity to detect more metals when you don’t need discrimination. Discrimination mode further improves detection so you can find more treasure and less trash in junky areas. Tone mode adds beeping or other sounds to help you more easily discriminate likely treasure from trash as you sweep.

The 8 inch waterproof search coil allows you to search in shallow water, wet grass or sand. When you want quicker recoveries or want to crawl high trash areas for small targets, that’s the time to pair it with a pinpointer or basic gold panning kit.

Whether you are a budding treasure hunter or an experienced one, the TK4 makes it easy to get up and running. Begin with low sensitivity, run a few practice signals to figure out which ones you want to dig and just notch the trash! It’s also a rugged and durable product that is designed for beginners who aren’t sure if they want to get too involved with the hobby, so this is how you find more and guess less (hahah).

 

Things to Consider Before Buying a Metal Detector:

Many factors influence which metal detector will best meet your needs, including target type, ground conditions, discrimination settings, and budget. In this guide you’ll learn how to match detector features to your goals, evaluate build quality and coil types, consider battery life and portability, and assess warranty and support so you can make an informed purchase.

VLF (Very Low Frequency) Detectors

Most hobbyist machines use VLF between roughly 6–30 kHz; lower frequencies (6–9 kHz) penetrate deeper for larger targets, while higher frequencies (18–30 kHz) pick up tiny gold and jewelry. You get discrimination, notch filtering, and often ground balance to reduce mineralization effects; models like the Minelab Equinox show how simultaneous multi-frequency VLF improves target ID and depth for varied hunts.

PI (Pulse Induction) Detectors

PI units send short pulses and measure the decay, making them resistant to salt and heavy mineralization; you’ll find them preferred for surf hunting and deep-cache searching because they ignore ground noise and focus on target-conductivity echoes rather than tone discrimination.

Pulse induction works by sending a high-current pulse through the coil then listening to the decay of the induced magnetic field; decay time correlates with target conductivity and size, so big metal masses return longer signals. You can expect PI rigs to detect large items up to 0.9–1.2 meters (3–4 feet) under ideal conditions with a large coil, but smaller gold pieces remain challenging because PI lacks fine discrimination and multiple frequency sensitivity.

Purpose of Use

If you hunt coins and jewelry in parks you’ll favor a VLF detector with good discrimination and a 6–8″ coil, which typically locates coins 6–10 inches deep depending on soil; gold prospecting pushes you toward higher frequencies (18–71 kHz) or specialized gold machines to detect small nuggets in mineralized ground; beach and saltwater use require a fully waterproof coil or a PI system to ignore salt-induced noise. Match frequency, coil size, and features to the targets you pursue most often.

Weight and Portability

Typical detector weights range from about 1.5 to 4.5 lbs (0.7–2 kg); lighter units under 3 lbs reduce fatigue for multi‑hour hunts, while heavier, sturdier machines can be more stable and durable in rough terrain. Coil diameter affects maneuverability—10–15″ coils cover ground faster but are bulkier in tight spots—so balance sweep speed against how you search. Consider foldable shafts and waterproofing if you travel or hunt beaches frequently.

Account for total carried weight: batteries, headphones, digging tools, and a pinpointer add 1–3 lbs and change how long you can comfortably search. Carbon‑fiber shafts and compact foldable designs cut carrying weight but add 15–30% to cost; a 1‑lb reduction across a 4‑hour hunt noticeably lowers shoulder strain and keeps your swing consistent. Evaluate transport options like backpacks or vehicle mounting for longer expeditions.

Research and Reviews

Scan field-test videos and forum threads (TreasureNet, Reddit) for real-world detection depths—coins typically 6–12 in, large relics 12–24 in—and iron-rejection examples. You should prioritize videos with blind tests and at least 50+ user reviews, compare lab-style test rigs, and note reports on reliability over 1–2 years to separate marketing claims from performance.

Features to Look For

Prioritize adjustable ground balance, digital target ID, multi-frequency options, coil interchangeability, and battery life (most detectors run 8–20 hours). You want notch discrimination, sensitivity controls, a true pinpoint mode, and a clear LCD or audio discrimination to speed up digs and reduce trash recovery.

Match frequency to targets: 7–12 kHz works well for coins; 3–5 kHz favors deep relics; 18–45 kHz or multi-frequency excels for small gold. Choose DD coils for salt or highly mineralized soils and concentric for cleaner sites; 9–11″ coils balance coverage and sensitivity. Confirm the detector offers manual ground balance for mineralized fields and a waterproof coil if you hunt surf.

Brand Reputation

Audit warranty length, spare-parts availability, and dealer network—brands like Minelab, Garrett, Nokta/Makro, Fisher, and XP typically offer broader service ecosystems. You should check documented firmware updates, authorized repair centers, and how long each model line stayed supported historically to gauge long-term value.

Look for warranty terms and a clear return policy. Verify replacement coil and battery availability, local service options, and active user communities; steady resale prices on marketplaces like eBay often indicate models with reliable long-term support and parts supply.

Limitations and Challenges

You will encounter soil mineralization that masks signals and increases false positives; in some beaches or iron-rich fields, depth and target clarity can drop dramatically. Expect a significant portion of signals to be trash in high-traffic areas, plus a learning period of 20–40 hours to use discrimination, ground balance, and notch modes effectively. Legal access, seasonal closures, and environmental rules can further limit where you search.

Ground balancing—manual or automatic—reduces mineralization effects, and multi-frequency units (e.g., stacked multi-frequency designs) perform better on mixed ground. Coil choice changes results: an 8″ coil tightens target separation for relic hunting, while a 12″ coil increases depth by roughly 25–40% but may mask closely spaced targets. Archival research, landowner permission, and GPS logging of finds raise success rates and keep your detecting legal and efficient.

Cleaning and Storage

After beach hunts rinse the coil and lower stem with fresh water within 30 minutes to remove salt, sand, and grit; use a soft brush and mild soap for stubborn grime. Air-dry fully before storing with silica-gel packs in a cool, dry place (10–30°C) and avoid hanging the detector by the shaft for long periods. Store headphones and cables coiled loosely to prevent kinks and connector corrosion.

Regular Inspections

Inspect your detector before each outing and perform a deeper check monthly: look for frayed cable insulation, loose shaft clamps, corroded battery terminals, and cracked coil housings. Test controls, display backlight, and mode switching under battery load; intermittent faults often show up only during motion. Tighten fasteners snugly—avoid overtightening—and replace any split rubber boots or worn mounting bolts to prevent water ingress.

Use a short checklist: visual scan, flex the cable 20–30 times while watching the display for dropouts, measure battery voltage under load (expect close to rated voltage), and consult the user manual for coil resistance specs if available. Send the unit for professional service every 12–24 months or sooner after saltwater exposure; one detector owner avoided a failed season by catching terminal corrosion during a routine check and replacing the pack before a trip.

To wrap up

As a reminder, before buying a metal detector you should weigh your experience level, target goals (coins, relics, gold), budget, and the unit’s frequency, discrimination, depth, and coil options; consider ground mineralization and waterproofing for your locations, check warranty, support and local laws, and factor in necessary accessories so your purchase fits your detecting style and long-term needs.