The best cheap metal detector is one that will suit your needs. This article reviews the top five models in terms of quality, performance and value for money. The reviews are based on personal experience and customer feedbacks online.
This guide should be helpful whether you’re looking to purchase a detector for the first time or replace an old model.
Best cheap metal detector is not just for kids and teenagers. Adults of all ages find them great fun to use, even if they’re long retired from their glory days of treasure hunting in the garden or at the beach! For example, I bought a Garrett Ace 150 so that my son would grow up with an interest in history and archaeology – teaching him how important it is to protect our past heritage. But once he had gone off camping with his scouts group, playing on the local beaches etc., I soon found myself borrowing it back when visiting historic sites around Britain (Stonehenge, Iron Age hill fort near Gloucester) where entry fees are too high to make owning your own detector worthwhile. It’s also ideal for detecting on holiday, especially when you’re exploring the Greek Islands, Italian Riviera or Spanish Costas where metal detecting is perfectly legal.
Best cheap metal detector are also ideal for adults looking to get back into shape – not just because they give you an excuse to take regular exercise in pleasant surroundings (provided by Mother Nature) but also because it’s so easy and relaxing to swing a detector without getting too tired. I especially love the fact that you can go detecting for hours on end with no ill effects – unlike jogging or cycling which, after 30 minutes tends to make your muscles stiff and sore!
Types of Metal Detectors
There are basically two types of metal detector: VLF (very low frequency) and pulse induction.
- A VLF machine will be the best option if you want to find objects like coins, rings and other metallic items at shallow depths on dry ground or under water as well as in saltwater conditions. This is because they use a single coil to detect objects which are close to the surface. The best VLF detectors have a double-D searchcoil with an elliptical design because this gives good all round performance – especially at shorter ranges where depth is less of an issue.
- Pulse induction metal detectors (PI) on the other hand, need coils spaced several inches apart to function effectively. They are better at detecting deeper objects such as gold nuggets and relics from WWII but not silver coins etc., because the spacing of the coils is too far apart for metallic items which lay close together in the ground or sand/soil – this also applies when using them underwater.
Best cheap Metal Detectors Reviews
The Bounty Hunter Gold Digger Metal Detector is an excellent entry-level model. It can be used for coin and jewelry hunting, as well as treasure hunting in the sand at the beach. This affordable metal detector has a simple design that makes it easy to use without any unnecessary features or complicated settings. The lightweight construction allows customers to carry this unit comfortably throughout the day while searching for hidden treasures and valuables.
Notable features include: waterproof search coil (to allow you to submerge your machine underwater), adjustable height rod, and headphone jack so you can listen through headphones rather than external speakers on this product’s control box if desired . Overall, we think this best cheap metal detector offers incredible value to new users who are interested in learning how to use a device like this.
The Bounty Hunter Gold Digger Metal Detector is appropriate for children and adults who are interested in metal detecting; it’s simple enough for kids, but also has the power needed to find coins or jewelry while out with dad on an afternoon treasure hunt! This product is great if you’re looking for something easy-to-use that won’t cost much money.
- Affordable
- Simple to use; anyone can do it
- Waterproof search coil
- None
The Wedigout MD-4030 Pro Edition Metal Detector is an advanced model that gives you the ability to find hidden items at greater depths than entry level machines. With its adjustable sensitivity, customers can reduce or increase their overall range in order to hone in on a specific type of metal they would like to search for. This product also comes with headphones so you can listen through them instead of using external speakers if desired . The headphone jack will allow users who want to listen through earbuds or who prefer to keep their headphones in, while still having the choice of using external speakers. This machine is waterproof up to 100 feet so it can be used at the beach without worrying about damaging your detector . You will receive a free accessory kit with this purchase which includes an extra search coil and batteries. Also, this product comes with a two-year warranty.
- Waterproof up to 100 feet
- Comes with two-year warranty
- Accessory kit
- None
The Makro Mini Hoard is a great choice for beginners. It’s not the least expensive metal detector on this list, but it does have some of the best features and excellent performance to price ratio. The build quality is very good as well with an all-metal design that makes it durable enough to be used in rugged areas like parks or beaches where there are lots of large rocks around which can go unnoticed by lower end detectors even when they set off their alarms.
This model has variable sensitivity which allows you to reduce false signals from these larger objects and make sure they don’t interfere with your hunting session, and full discrimination capability lets you weed out iron trash so only nickels or gold rings will show up if you’re hunting for them. The target indicator screen gives you a great deal of information about what might be hiding in the soil, including depth estimation to make sure your finds are not deeper than they appear and three separate tones depending on whether it is iron (a low tone), nickel (middle) or gold/silver (high).
The ground balance function lets you adjust for mineralization which can cause false signals as well making this one of the best cheap metal detectors out there that still packs advanced features like these allowing you to hunt with confidence.
- Very good build quality
- Very sensitive to find objects in the ground and discriminate between them
- Ground balance setting for adjusting performance based on soil conditions
- Vibrates a lot when close to a target which helps with depth estimation
- None.
The Bounty Hunter QSI Quick Silver is one of the best cheap metal detectors on this list. It’s not quite as fully featured or sensitive as some others, but it has enough to make an experienced hunter happy and at its price point there isn’t much more you can ask for. The design is good with a lightweight all-plastic build that doesn’t take up too much room in your pack so you can carry it around easily if needed. There are three frequencies available which allow for better discrimination between targets depending on what kind of gold, silver or other metals you might be hunting for giving you more options when judging objects found during hunts.
This model also features ground balance technology which makes sure that any interference from the ground in your area is accounted for and reduced so you don’t get false readings. It also has a headphone jack that can be used with headphones to help reduce interference from outside noise which could interfere with detecting something like gold or silver nuggets, but this isn’t necessary if you prefer not to use them.
This model does lack some of the more expensive bells and whistles such as an LCD display showing depth or target ID information depending on what kind of metal it detects. However, we feel that these features aren’t needed when using a cheap detector like this one since they will make finding small objects difficult anyway and at its price point there is no better option than Bounty Hunter QSI Quick Silver!
- Good build quality
- Three frequencies for better discrimination between targets
- Does not require headphones to use
- Some features are missing such as an LCD display or depth meter
Tacklife MMD02 is one of the best cheap metal detectors that you can buy. This model has all the bells and whistles for a detector at this price range, which makes it an excellent choice if you don’t mind some extra weight on your next treasure hunting adventure! It features four frequencies giving it more versatility than most similar models as well as ground balance technology to help reduce interference from surrounding materials such as dirt or rocks. A headphone jack with adjustable volume control allows you to use headphones so no outside noise interferes with listening only to possible gold, silver or other metals found during hunts.
It also has different modes available depending on what kind of objects you might be looking for making it easier to find specific types of metals. The sensitivity level is adjustable and the unit itself will beep faster when it gets closer to a metal, which helps you find the object quickly so you can get back to finding more treasure!
- Four frequencies
- Sensitivity Level Adjustable
- Beeps faster when closer to metal object
- No pinpointing technology available on this device.
Another very popular model among serious treasure hunters is the RMCOMAX GC-028, which features three frequencies instead of four like Tacklife’s detector. However it does have pin pointing technology to help you zero in on your target even if they are buried, so this can be a big advantage when hunting for coins or other objects that may not be close enough to the surface to detect easily without pinpointing capabilities.
One unique feature about this device is its ability to find coins up to ten inches deep! This makes it an excellent choice for finding lost jewelry and similar items because people often forget how far down into the ground their favorite pieces might have fallen over time through different weather conditions causing them to sink further below the surface than you might imagine.
If you’re looking for a metal detector that is less expensive than the ones we mentioned above, then this one from RMCOMAX could be just what you are searching for! It will help to find gold and silver coins up to eight inches deep which can either save you money or make it easier to find lost treasure without having to dig down too far with your shovel. This device also has three frequencies so if hunters want something slightly different they have an option of switching between them depending on where they are hunting at the time. Just remember each frequency works best in certain areas so knowing about these types of things beforehand definitely helps when picking out a new treasure hunting tool like this .
- Pinpointing technology
- Ability to find coins up to ten inches deep
- Three frequencies so you can switch between them depending on where you are hunting.
- Users report it is quite heavy.
The Minelab GO-FIND 11 is a basic but powerful metal detector that can be used for serious treasure hunting and finding objects like gold nuggets without having to pay the high prices of professional detectors.
This device comes with three frequencies, multi tones and two search modes which make it very versatile when trying different areas or types of terrain such as rocky ground, flat land or even in water if you want to try your luck at fishing! The only downside about this model is users report it requires some assembly before use because there are so many pieces involved including screws etc., however once its together the machine works perfectly fine .
One other detail worth noting about this device has to do with its weight. It weighs just over one pound so it can be pretty heavy to hold up after a while, especially if you are hunting for long periods of time.
This particular model is also quite popular because it comes with headphones and does not require batteries either! It’s powered by the rechargeable battery which makes this an extremely convenient metal detector that will save users money in the future when they need new supplies or parts.
- Comes with headphones
- Durable and powerful design for long life use
- No batteries needed! Just recharge the battery which makes it very convenient.
- Requires some assembly before use (instructions included)
Bounty Hunter BHJS Junior is a metal detector designed for people who are new to treasure hunting. It’s very affordable, lightweight and easy to use so it makes the perfect beginner machine! Its not at all complicated which can be good or bad depending on how much experience you have with these devices before trying this model out. If you are an expert user then maybe there are better options but if your just starting out its probably one of the best cheap metal detectors available right now in terms of price range .
This device comes with headphones included which many users find extremely useful because they do not need to purchase them separately after buying the Bounty Hunter junior since that would cost extra money spent when budgeting for this product. The headphones work perfectly and allow you to hear the tones as well as any objects that are found.
Another great detail about this device is it comes with a “pinpointer” which helps users find small targets much easier then using just the metal detector alone, especially in tough terrain where tiny items can be lost or hard to see from above ground level . It also includes an instruction manual for learning how to use the product properly before going out on your first hunt! The machine itself operates very easily and doesn’t require batteries either so its another positive aspect of this model because if something breaks down later on there will be no need to replace parts all over again after buying new supplies etc.
- Comes with headphones
- Pinpointer tool makes finding objects much easier.
- May be too basic for advanced users or people who have used metal detectors before.
What to Look For in The Best Budget Metal Detector
The first thing that you need to look for in a budget metal detector is the brand name that it comes from. You want something that has been tried and tested by other people so they can tell you how well it works, what its strong points are, and of course any weak points as well. Some brands have made great strides over time, and they are now considered to be premium brands. However, if you don’t want to spend your money on something brand new then you might consider buying a used metal detector instead!
You also want to look for a metal detector that has multiple search modes. This is important because in one mode the machine might be really good at finding coins, but in another it could do much better when looking for relics or other types of metals. Having different modes allows you to use your money on something affordable without sacrificing too many features that are important to you.
Some of the top metal detectors on the market today have up to four different modes, and they are labeled as coin hunting, fishing/relic hunting, jewelry hunting, and gold prospecting. The truth is that most people use their machines in multiple modes even if it’s just for fun or practice purposes because changing things up allows you to improve your game.
Another important feature to look for is ground balancing. This allows you to find something that will work well no matter what kind of soil or terrain that you are hunting in because it automatically tunes itself according to the surroundings. The more expensive models have automatic as well as manual modes, and some might even come with a brush accessory so you can clean off those hard-to-reach places before using your detector!
So now that you know what to look for in the best cheap metal detectors, let’s talk about one of its most important parts – the search coil. This is basically just a round piece of metal that serves as an antenna and it sits on top of your device. The larger this part is, the more new things you will be able to detect because it covers more ground at once. On average, professional hunters use coils between eight inches all the way up to 15 inches wide but if they are hunting for smaller items then they might even switch down to five inch coils! However, there are some models out there with only four-inch loops which can be used by amateurs or children who want small enough so they don’t have to dig up big items by accident.
If you want to get the best cheap metal detector then reading reviews is something that you will need to do. This way, you can learn more about all of its features and how it might work in different kinds of environments. Of course, some people are going to give their experiences with certain models a lot higher rating than others but if someone says they had major issues or problems with something then you should always think twice before buying! Plus, even though most reviewers probably try out a product for themselves first hand there could be other factors involved as well such as shipping mishaps or receiving defective goods from the manufacturer which may have been resolved by now.
Tips for beginners
- Try to practice with coins and metal items first, before using it on a beach or in the woods.
- It is always better not to use headphones as more light will be reflected into your eyes. You can also purchase external speakers for some models if needed.
- Be sure that your battery works well! Sometimes batteries are useless even though they have been charged but you won’t know this until after spending time digging holes which contain nothing of interest.
- Ensure that you understand how each knob functions on your machine especially depth control, discrimination control and pinpoint modes so these don’t stop working suddenly leaving you lost on what might have caused problems with locating something at a site where there was no problem previously being detected by the metal detector.
- Try to get a hold of the detector’s manual and read it carefully. You will understand better how your metal detector works this way.
- When you are starting out, just use a beach or park that doesn’t have too much activity so you can learn step by step from beginning but if there is too much going on in an area where other people might be hunting for treasures as well, then try somewhere else so no one gets angry with you when they find themselves being disturbed while searching for something valuable!
FAQs
Conclusion
The best budget metal detector will have a high sensitivity level, be lightweight and durable. You should also keep in mind your expected use case for the device so you can find one that offers features suited to the type of work you’ll need it to do. For example, if you’re looking for a cheap metal detector suitable for gold prospecting or other outdoor activities where weight is not as much of an issue, then something with lower sensitivity levels may be more appropriate. If you plan on using your new detector primarily indoors at home, then higher sensitivity may be preferable since there isn’t as much interference from ground mineralization outdoors. Read our reviews below and find out which cheap metal detectors are right for your needs!