The Best Metal Detectors

The idea of exploring vast lands in search of hidden treasure appeals to many of us. Investing in a metal detector is one of the best ways to pursue your treasure-hunting hobby. After all, before you get your hands or shovel dirty digging into the ground looking for long-lost riches, you'll want to know if you're searching in the right area. On the other hand, metal detectors have a practical purpose. They can help you find objects like nails and screws buried in your yard. With that in mind, we've rounded up some of the best metal detectors on the internet.

What to Look For

We asked ourselves the following three questions during our search for the best metal detectors on the market: How easy is it to use? Is it capable of finding a wide range of metals? What level of depth detection does it offer? Our favorite was the metal detector from Bounty Hunter, which automatically adjusts itself to the soil you’re searching and has several modes to help you refine your search. We were also impressed by the metal detector from Pancky, which has a large LCD display and makes it easy to search for metals in shallow water. Read on to discover the rest of our favorites to help you find lost treasures.

Bounty Hunter TK4 Metal Detector

Find your treasure

From iron relics to precious metals, this metal detector will help you find what you're looking for.
Best Overall

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As one of the most well-known names in metal detectors, you can count on Bounty Hunter to deliver. The Bounty Hunter TK4 produces top results for finding hidden objects, making it an excellent choice for anyone looking for an all-around metal detector. It calibrates automatically and adjusts to the type of soil being searched without any problems.

Pros:

  •  This metal detector performs as well as more expensive brands, making it a great value.
  •  We love how easy this device is to use and that it can find metal objects several inches buried deep below the soil.

Cons:

  •  It doesn’t use a standard headphone jack, so you may need to purchase an adapter.

Pancky Waterproof Metal Detector 

Explore your world

Take this metal detector with you to the beach or the mountains to help you uncover hidden treasures.
Runner Up

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If you’re ready to search for jewelry, coins, gold, artifacts, and rare metals, this metal detector from Pancky can help you do it. This metal detector is highly accurate, and the coil is fully waterproof, so you can use it in all types of conditions, including shallow water along the shore at the beach, in a stream, or in the rain. It’s lightweight, making it easy to handle and take with you on the go. Plus, it has a user-friendly LCD screen that provides information on depth, operating mode, and more.

Pros:

  • We were impressed by how easy it is to understand the different modes and switch between them on the color LCD screen. 
  •  This metal detector gives you an idea of what type of metal you may have detected before you dig it out of the ground, so you don’t waste time on objects that aren’t worth the effort.

Cons:

  • The backpack that comes with the metal detector isn’t waterproof, nor is it very durable.

PalliPartners Kid Metal Detector

For the young adventurer

This easy-to-use metal detector helps kids find hidden objects in diverse locations.
Best For Kids

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If you know a child who loves searching for hidden treasure, this metal detector from PalliPartners is the perfect gift. This easy-to-use metal detector was designed with kids in mind and makes it easy for them to search for all types of metals, including coins, gold, silver, bronze, and aluminum. Its ergonomic design and lightweight construction make it easy for kids to handle without tiring them out. 

Pros:

  • The device has an audio alert, and the LCD display light blinks to let you know when it has detected metal, making it easy to locate hidden metals.
  • It comes with everything a child needs to get started, including an instruction booklet, digging tools, and a carrying case.

Cons:

  •  It’s not adjustable, so tall children may have to bend over to use it.

National Geographic Pro Series Metal Detector

Search for precious metals

Reach for this lightweight, collapsable metal detector when you want to search for treasure while on the go.
Best Portable

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The name National Geographic often brings to mind international adventures in remote locations, and their compact metal detector keeps the legacy alive. This is the ideal travel companion for those who like to search for metal on the go. While you won’t have to hop on a plane or travel far to use this metal detector, it’ll help you find precious objects, wherever your search leads you. It’s user-friendly but also has sophisticated features that allow you to avoid junk metals and focus your efforts on the valuable treasures buried beneath the earth’s surface.

Pros:

  •  This metal detector is an excellent option for finding everything from coins to jewelry, and it makes it easy to pinpoint objects, so you don’t waste time digging in the wrong location.
  •  The depth feature lets you know where objects are located in relation to the surface, beeping loudly when something is close to the surface and showing a bar when they’re further away.

Cons:

  • You may occasionally get false positives.

Garrett Pinpointing Metal Detector

Underwater wonders await

Find underwater treasures with this metal detector designed for the water.
Best For Swimming

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If underwater adventures are your idea of fun, you’ll want to take this metal detector from Garrett with you to find all the hidden treasure hiding beneath the ocean’s surface. The metal detector’s long handle makes it easy to use while swimming, allowing you to search the shallow waters of lakes, rivers, and the ocean. That’s not all; if you lose your grip while using this metal detector, its alarm will beep, making it easy to find. 

Pros:

  •  This metal detector works just as well on land as in the water, allowing you to pinpoint the location of metals and find them quickly.
  •  It’s highly accurate, making it easy to find metals in various locations, including gravel parking lots, oceans, and beaches.

Cons:

  •  The battery doesn’t last very long.

Frequently Asked Questions

What metals can I find using a metal detector? 

Metal detectors can detect a range of metals, including gold, silver, bronze, nickel, iron, and copper. Since this category of metals doesn’t emit as strong of an electromagnetic signature, it’s difficult for some metal detectors’ magnetic fields to identify them. The type of metal detector you purchase will determine its effectiveness at detecting less conductive metals like zinc, lead, and aluminum.

Can a general-purpose metal detector find gold?

Any metal detector can find gold if the gold is large enough for the detector to find and within the device’s depth range. You can also purchase metal detectors that are specifically designed to locate gold.

About the Author

As a Phoenix native living in Madrid, Lynnae uses technology every day to stay connected to her friends and family back home and teach online. While she knows all the ins and outs of the latest gadgets, Lynnae also knows how to explain the intricacies in simple terms for everyone to understand. She hopes to help you choose the right technology that will make your life easier and more productive.

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