Buying guide
How to choose a metal detector
A detector is a tool for a particular job. Work out what you want to find and what your ground is like, and the choice narrows to two or three models. This guide covers the main decisions in plain language.
1. Start with what you want to find
| You want | Best technology | Good choices |
|---|---|---|
| Coins, relics, jewelry in parks and fields | Multi-frequency VLF | Nokta Triple Score Pro Pack, Garrett Vortex VX7, Minelab Equinox 900, Minelab Manticore |
| Rings and jewelry on salt beaches | Multi-frequency with beach mode, or pulse induction | Garrett Vortex VX9, Nokta The Legend 2, Fisher Impulse AQ Limited |
| Small gold nuggets | High-frequency VLF | Minelab Gold Monster 1000, Fisher Gold Bug 2, Teknetics G2+ |
| Deeper gold in hot ground | Pulse induction or ZVT | Garrett Axiom Lite, Nokta Magnetar 9000, Minelab GPX 6000, Minelab GPZ 7000 |
| Caches, voids and large deep objects | 3D ground scanner, GPR or two-box | GroundTech GR-4 3D Ground Scanner, Fisher Gemini-3, OKM Rover C4, OKM Gepard GPR 3D |
| Groundwater for a well | Resistivity (geoelectric) instrument | Ajax Omega, BR Systems BR 950 Max, OKM GeoSeeker |
2. Single frequency, multi-frequency or pulse induction?
Single-frequency VLF detectors transmit one frequency. Low frequencies (5 to 10 kHz) favour large, highly conductive targets such as silver coins; high frequencies (40 kHz and up) favour small, low-conductivity targets such as gold flakes. They are light, simple and affordable.
Multi-frequency detectors transmit several frequencies at once. They keep target IDs steadier in mineralised soil and wet salt sand, which is why most mid-range and premium hobby detectors now use it (Minelab Multi-IQ, Garrett MD-MF, Nokta SMF).
Pulse induction (PI) sends strong pulses and listens for the echo. It ignores salt water and heavily mineralised ground and goes deep on gold, but it gives less information about what a target is, so you dig more iron.
3. Match it to your ground
- Trashy parks and old home sites: look for fast recovery speed and good iron separation (Equinox, Vortex, Teknetics T2).
- Salt beaches and surf: multi-frequency with a beach mode or a PI detector, plus a waterproof rating for how deep you wade.
- Goldfields with hot rocks: high-frequency VLF with good ground balance for small gold, PI or ZVT for depth.
4. Budget, honestly
| Spend | What you get |
|---|---|
| $150 to $400 | Solid first detectors and pinpointers. Waterproof models with multi-frequency now start around $300. |
| $400 to $1,000 | The sweet spot for most hobbyists: full multi-frequency, wireless audio, more control. Dedicated VLF gold machines. |
| $1,000 to $2,500 | Flagship coin and relic detectors, dive detectors, entry 3D scanners and PI gold detectors. |
| $2,500 and up | Professional gold machines, 3D ground scanners, ground penetrating radar and groundwater survey instruments. |
5. Ground scanners, long-range locators and water detectors
These are specialist tools. 3D ground scanners record a grid of readings over an area and show anomalies as an image; they are for larger objects, voids and structures rather than single coins. Resistivity water detectors measure how electricity moves through the ground, the same principle survey geophysicists use. Long-range locators are used to narrow down an area before a closer search.
The depth and range numbers you see for these products are the manufacturers' maximums under good conditions. Real results depend heavily on the soil, the size of the target and how the survey is done. If you tell us what you are looking for and what the site is like, we will tell you honestly which system suits it, or whether a standard detector would do the job better.
6. Accessories worth buying
- A pinpointer, which cuts recovery time in half.
- A good digging tool and a finds pouch.
- Headphones, which help you hear faint, deep signals and save battery.
7. Detect legally and leave it tidy
Always get the landowner's permission. On US federal land, the Archaeological Resources Protection Act prohibits removing archaeological items more than 100 years old, and state parks often have their own rules. Fill your holes, carry out the trash you dig, and report significant historical finds to the relevant authority.
Still unsure? Send us a message with what you want to find, where you will hunt and your budget, and we will reply with two or three suggestions.