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The Best Metal Detectors of 2024

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Product image of Garrett ACE 300

Garrett ACE 300

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This affordably priced metal detector from Garrett offers five search modes, depth adjustments, and beginner-friendly controls. Read More

Pros

  • Five search modes and depth adjustments
  • Can detect treasure up to 8 inches deep
  • Includes ClearSound headphones

Cons

  • Requires some fine-tuning
Product image of Fisher Research Labs F22

Fisher Research Labs F22

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This weatherproof metal detector from Fisher can run for up to 30 hours on just two AAs. It’s got modes for jewelry, coins, artifacts, and more. Read More

Pros

  • Waterproof search coil and lightweight body
  • Modes for jewelry, coin, artifacts, and more
  • Up to 30 hours of battery life

Cons

  • Not ideal for certain metals and settings
Product image of Garrett AT Pro

Garrett AT Pro

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The mid-priced Garrett AT Pro comes with everything a beginner might need to take up metal detecting—without sacrificing performance. Read More

Pros

  • Flexible yet intuitive controls
  • Beginner-friendly presets
  • Impressive accuracy

Cons

  • None that we could find
Product image of XP Deus RCWS5

XP Deus RCWS5

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The XP Deus has a heftier price tag than the other metal detectors on this list, but its performance and flexibility seem to justify the investment. Read More

Pros

  • Variety of high-sensitivity detection modes
  • Waterproof coil and five-year warranty
  • Superb quality and performance

Cons

  • None that we could find
Product image of National Geographic Junior Metal Detector

National Geographic Junior Metal Detector

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This kid-approved metal detector is great for the little ones who love a bit of mystery and exploration. Read More

Pros

  • Great for kids
  • Portable
  • Fun and easy to use

Cons

  • Inconsistent with detecting
  • Garrett ACE 300
  • Fisher Research Labs F22
  • Garrett AT Pro
  • XP Deus RCWS5
  • National Geographic Junior Metal Detector
  • Minelab Vanquish 540
  • Bounty Hunter TK4 Tracker IV

When shopping for a metal detector online, knowing where you’ll be searching for treasure—and what kind of treasure you hope to find—is half the battle. Every detector will offer a unique set of features, search modes, and a different degree of user-friendliness. If you’re a beginner, you probably don’t want something designed and built for a seasoned “metal head.” Start with something simpler; a metal detector that works well can be a serious investment.

Experienced detectorists may want to look into Fisher, Garrett, Minelab, and XP metal detectors because they are trusted brands known for their longstanding quality. You also want to find a detector that can distinguish between junk and a metal object that’s valuable, like gold nuggets and jewelry relics. After hours spent looking at several types of metal detectors at different price points and user reviews, we’ve put together a list of the five best metal detectors you can buy online. Happy hunting.

Editor's Note:

The recommendations in this guide are based on thorough product and market research by our team of expert product reviewers. The picks are based on examining user reviews, product specifications, and, in some limited cases, our experience with the specific products named.

Product image of Garrett ACE 300
Garrett ACE 300

The Garrett ACE 300 has a very reasonable price tag and offers five search modes, depth adjustments, and a good balance of beginner-friendly controls and advanced performance. Its search coil is submersible, so you can safely hunt in the water, and it’s got a range of up to eight inches deep and wide.

It measures for copper, silver, and gold levels, and it comes with a pair of Garrett ClearSound headphones. It’s a popular choice among Amazon shoppers, with hundreds of rave reviews.

Pros

  • Five search modes and depth adjustments

  • Can detect treasure up to 8 inches deep

  • Includes ClearSound headphones

Cons

  • Requires some fine-tuning

Buy now at Amazon
Product image of Fisher Research Labs F22
Fisher Research Labs F22

This affordable Fisher offers weatherproofing, 25 to 30 hours of battery life (on a pair of AAs), and some useful features. It has modes for coins, jewelry, artifacts, and customizability, and will let you know when it’s found iron.

The search coil is submersible, and it’s extra lightweight at just over two pounds. As for the type of terrain to use it on, reviewers found that it didn’t work well on wet beaches, and it can be a little tricky to dial in what you’re looking for, but most users were thrilled with the value here.

Pros

  • Waterproof search coil and lightweight body

  • Modes for jewelry, coin, artifacts, and more

  • Up to 30 hours of battery life

Cons

  • Not ideal for certain metals and settings

Buy now at Amazon
Product image of Garrett AT Pro
Garrett AT Pro

At $599, the Garrett AT Pro is a midrange model from one of the most trusted brands in metal detection. It comes with a pinpointer, a digger tool, and headphones, giving you everything you need to get serious about your new hobby in one handy package.

Reviewers have praised its accuracy, the flexible yet intuitive controls, and the easy-to-use modes for those new to metal and gold prospecting. It runs on four AA batteries, and its all-black design looks fantastic.

Pros

  • Flexible yet intuitive controls

  • Beginner-friendly presets

  • Impressive accuracy

Cons

  • None that we could find

Buy now at Amazon
Product image of XP Deus RCWS5
XP Deus RCWS5

The XP Deus is a waterproof metal detector, has flexible controls, and comes with a five-year warranty, offering high-end performance in a sleek, simple package. “This is the one to get,” one reviewer wrote. “It gives you a ton of useful information before you decide to dig.”

The Deus comes with a remote control, a hip-mount case for the remote, and full-sized wireless headphones. It’s got a variety of detection modes with a high degree of sensitivity (across 35 frequencies).

Pros

  • Variety of high-sensitivity detection modes

  • Waterproof coil and five-year warranty

  • Superb quality and performance

Cons

  • None that we could find

Buy now at Amazon
Product image of National Geographic Junior Metal Detector
National Geographic Junior Metal Detector

This kid-approved metal detector is great for the little ones who love a bit of mystery and exploration. As a light 1.4 pounds, this detector is easy to handle and great to bring to places like the beach and desert. The waterproof dual coil can be adjusted to dodge false discoveries of things like coins and small metal items. Based on reviews, many note that the detection is inconsistent and only works if objects are very close to the surface.

When an object is found, this detector makes it easy to know. It beeps and illuminates an LED light whenever it hits the prize. The comfortable, padded arm can be adjusted as long as 39 inches. It can also be removed for easy travel, which allows this detector to pack down as short as 24 inches in length.

Pros

  • Great for kids

  • Portable

  • Fun and easy to use

Cons

  • Inconsistent with detecting

Buy now at Amazon
Product image of Minelab Vanquish 540
Minelab Vanquish 540

Sitting at a mid-price range, the Minelab Vanquish 540 is fully adjustable, collapsible, lightweight, and comes with everything you need to dive into your new treasure-hunting hobby. It’s got a pair of wired headphones, a pinpointer, and other accessories, and the coil is waterproof—though you’ll probably want to stay out of heavy rain.

“I was amazed,” one user wrote of “its ability to ID different metals.” It offers three modes tailored for jewelry, coins, and “relics.

Pros

  • Can detect treasure up to 10 inches deep

  • Adjustable, collapsible, and lightweight

  • Presents for coins, jewelry, and relics

Cons

  • May have a learning curve

Buy now at Amazon
Product image of Bounty Hunter TK4 Tracker IV
Bounty Hunter TK4 Tracker IV

Affordable and user friendly, the Bounty Hunter Tracker IV is strong enough to ensure extreme conditions in the ground. Its disc notch makes it easy to determine if you’re hitting a pile of treasure or unwanted metal items. Reviewers find that it’s great for the price and is easy to use, making it more suitable for beginner treasure hunters.

Pros

  • 3 mode settings

  • Great for the pice

  • Easy to use

Cons

  • Most ideal for beginners only

Meet the writers

Alex Kane

Alex Kane

Sr. Editor, Search & Updates

@alexjkane

Alex Kane is a senior editor at USA Today’s Reviewed and the author of the Boss Fight Books volume on Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. He has written for Fangoria, PC Gamer, Polygon, Rolling Stone, StarWars.com, and Variety. He lives in west-central Illinois.

See all of Alex Kane's reviews
Lily Hartman

Lily Hartman

Staff Writer, Search

Lily Hartman is a staff writer who also enjoys writing magazine articles about health and outdoor recreation. In her free time, she likes to hike, camp, run, and lift weights.

See all of Lily Hartman's reviews

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