Best Metal Detector for the Money 2025: Reviews + Buying Guide

Metal detecting can be both a fun and a profitable hobby. In this article, we are going to be reviewing a bunch of high-quality metal detectors to determine which one is the best metal detector for the money. If you would like to skip our metal detector reviews, we would recommend going with the DR.ÖTEK Metal Detector.

What To Look For In A Metal Detector

As part of this article, we aren’t just reviewing metal detectors. We are also going to be discussing what to look for when buying a metal detector in both this section and in our buying guide later on.

When it comes to buying a metal detector, you really want to focus on how sensitive the detector is (the more sensitivity options that it has, the better) and how good of a job it does at differentiating between different materials.

A sensitive metal detector lets you easily find materials regardless of what sort of terrain it is in or how deep it might be buried and one that differentiates well will let you know when you have found a real treasure and when you are detecting junk.

Once you have the basics sorted, you can focus on deciding between various “nice to have” features. This includes things like extra long reach, long battery life, and other quality of life features that aren’t essential but that do make your detecting experience more enjoyable.

The only other essential feature we would recommend is making sure that whatever detector you get is at least somewhat waterproof. A lot of the best metal detecting happens around water and the last thing that you want is for your expensive device to get damaged by water.

A Spotlight On Some of The Best Metal Detector for the Money 2025:

PANCKY Metal Detector

To start off our best metal detector for the money review list, we are going to be doing a review of the PANCKY Metal Detector.

This is a good, high-end option to kick off our list as it provides a good preview of what high-quality metal detectors can do and why it is so important to have one if you plan to get into this hobby.

Two areas where the PANCKY really excels are when it comes to detection speed and detection sensitivity. First off, this detector does a great job of quickly detecting just about any metal in any sort of surface (whether it be mud, sand, grass, or anything else).

You don’t have to be nearly as slow or as methodical as you would have to be with many of the other metal detectors on the market. Secondly, this is a very sensitive detector and you can of course adjust the settings to put it at your desired level of sensitivity. At the higher settings, this detector has absolutely no issues detecting metal (or even hints of metal) at just about every depth.

There are two minor flaws with this metal detector that we wanted to highlight. First off, while parts of the PANCKY are waterproof, some others are not; specifically, you need to avoid getting the control box at the top of the device wet.

This isn’t a big deal for most, as you tend not to fully submerge a metal detector, but it does mean that you need to exercise a degree of caution around larger bodies of water. The second issue is the fact that the PANCKY doesn’t always differentiate between different metals quite as well as one would hope.

Pros:

• Ergonomic and comfortable to use.
• Great sensitivity.
• Very comfortable to use.
• Detects metal quickly and effectively.

Cons:

• Not fully waterproof.
• Can struggle to differentiate between metals.

 

HLKJJY Handheld Pinpointer Metal Detector

The next option that we want to take a look at on our best metal detector for the money review list is the HLKJJY Handheld Pinpointer Metal Detector.

This is one of the better options available to you if you are looking for either a very compact metal detector or if you are looking for something that is very easy on your wallet so that you can easily dip your toe into the hobby.

This is an extremely compact machine that can be easily stored, moved around, and held in one hand while in use. Likewise, it is easily one of the most affordable metal detector options on the market right now.

The HLKJJY’s waterproof features make it a great option for new hobbyists who are looking to start out with metal detecting around creeks, streams, and shallow beaches.

Not only is the device itself waterproof, meaning it can survive exposure to rain, splashing, etc., but it also works well in water. Some metal detectors, especially budget models, can struggle to detect metal that is any sort of water; but that isn’t the case with the HLKJJY Handheld Pinpointer Metal Detector.

As you would expect, there are some downsides to this budget friendly detector. First off, it is a small detector (which is good in some situations), but it also means that it has a small battery.

So, you have to get used to frequently changing the battery. The other issue caused by the size of this detector is that it has a very small detection radius, so it isn’t always easy to actually find smaller pieces of metal.

Overall, we would say that this is the best budget metal detector that you can find right now.

Pros:

• Very sturdy and compact.
• Waterproof and able to easily detect items in shallow water.
• Great for those who are new to the hobby.
• A great budget friendly option.
• Handheld option that is easy to transport.

Cons:

• Small battery capacity means it will need frequent replacement.
• Small detection radius.

 

DR.ÖTEK Metal Detector

If you are looking for the best metal detector on the market right now, then the option that we feel that you need to consider is the DR.ÖTEK Metal Detector.

This is easily one of the highest quality metal detectors that you can get online and it is perfect for both very experienced hobbyists and people who are just starting out. If it fits into your budget, then you should definitely consider giving this one a go.

A big part of what makes the DR.ÖTEK Metal Detector so good is that it is really good at the basic tasks that you want a metal detector to do. It has a ton of sensitivity options (in fact, it boasts up to 99 different levels), so no matter the size or depth of what you are looking for, this detector is going to be able to find it.

It is also equipped with a ground balancing feature. For those who aren’t familiar with what this is, it allows the metal detector to automatically adjust as you search over different types of ground (rocks, sand, water, etc.).

If you are planning on doing any searching in the water, then this is also a great candidate because it is very waterproof; this includes both the detector itself and the coils.

As one would expect from a metal detector that we consider to be the best metal detector on our review list, it is a bit more expensive than quite a few of the other options that we have reviewed.

It isn’t so pricey as to deter potential buyers, but if you are really unsure if metal detecting is going to be a hobby that you enjoy, then you may want to consider starting out with a less expensive or less advanced model and then “graduate” to this one once you have a handle on the basics.

Pros:

• 99 different sensitivity levels.
• Easily changes between terrains.
• Highly adjustable to fit your comfort levels.
• Very waterproof.

Cons:

• One of the pricier options on our list.

 

MINELAB X-Terra Elite Expedition

If you are looking for the best metal detector (just in terms of pure quality) on the market as of right now, it is hard to beat the MINELAB X-Terra Elite Expedition. While everyone can have their own personal preferences, the sheer quality of this metal detector help to make it one of the best choices out there.

Easily one of the best features of the MINELAB X-Terra Elite Expedition is the fact that it comes equipped with over 100 target IDs. What does this mean exactly? Simply put, it massively improves the detection performance of the machine, which makes it easier for you to find valuable metal as opposed to scrap or other pieces of garbage.

It also comes with various audio cues to help you further differentiate between a great find, a good find, and something worth avoiding. It’s because of these sorts of features that the MINELAB is the recommended option if you are looking to make metal detecting a profitable hobby.

Another thing that helps to make the MINELAB X-Terra Elite Expedition a good choice is that it is fully waterproof; this means that the entire device can be submerged, and it will still work perfectly. This is obviously a big deal as a lot of the best and most valuable metal detecting is done in wet areas like beaches, streams, and river beds.

While it is hard to find a downside with the MINELAB, we will say that this is not a beginner friendly option in the slightest. It’s price point combined with the many different options it offers mean that this is really only going to be a viable option for those who are already super enthusiastic about metal detecting.

If you are at all new to this hobby or if you are operating on a strict budget, then this might not be the detector for you.

Pros:

• Completely waterproof.
• Over 100 target IDs for superior detection performance.
• Different sound queues to help you pick out the best items.
• Great for advanced metal detection hobbyists.

Cons:

• Only for the most serious hobbyists.

 

SUNPOW Metal Detector

For the very last review on our best metal detector for the money article, we are going to be reviewing the SUNPOW Metal Detector. This is a strong contender for the title of the best value metal detector, which is why we wanted to include it on our list.

In terms of quality and performance, the SUNPOW is good for the price point. It has a nice, easy to read LCD screen. It is very easy to change settings on the fly and to read feedback coming from the detector.

The detector itself can withstand some abuse and the main parts of it are waterproof. It has a decent number of detection modes and settings so that you can find treasures and trinkets with relative ease and accuracy. Overall, given that this is an extremely cost-effective detector, both the quality and performance are pretty good.

One minor issue with the SUNPOW Metal Detector that we want to acknowledge is that it isn’t always the best at detecting and differentiating between gold and metal. If you are just a general enthusiast who likes finding unique treasures, then this won’t be an issue. If, however, you are looking to be profitable, then you may want to consider another option.

Pros:

• Good quality for the money.
• Affordable detector.
• Relatively well-made and waterproof.
• Easy to use LCD screen.

Cons:

• Can’t detect gold reliably.

 

Metal Detector Buying Guide

In this next section, we are going to be going over what to consider when it comes to buying a metal detector in general. In our reviews, we focused on specific metal detectors and tried to determine things like which one was the best all round metal detector or which one was the best affordable metal detector.

In this part of the article we will be discussing a lot more general information about these devices as a whole.

Determine What Type of Detector You Need

The very first step that you should do before you even look at any metal detectors is to determine what sort of detector you need. As our best metal detector for the money reviews showed, there is a ton of variety when it comes to these machines. Some machines are great for casual detecting, while others are fine tuned workhorses that are able to find different types of metal.

If you are planning to get very serious about this hobby and you are interested in finding more than just the occasional trinket, then you definitely need to get a higher-end model like the DR.ÖTEK Metal Detector or the MINELAB. If, on the other hand, you are looking for something more casual (meaning you don’t care what you find you just want to explore), then you can pick one of the many affordable options that are designed for beginner or casual use.

The Different Types of Detectors

Something that we didn’t really get a chance to touch on in our reviews but that is very important when it comes to buying metal detectors is the type of detection that the devices uses. All detectors use different types of detection methods and each of the different types has its own benefits and drawbacks.

Low frequency detectors are the most common and also the cheapest. They are good at finding basic metal and differentiating between different types of metals, but they aren’t good for penetrating into deep surfaces like mud, so they are more popular amongst beginners.

On the other end of the spectrum, you have multifrequency detectors that utilize different frequencies to penetrate into all different types of surfaces, including both liquid and solid. As you can probably guess, multifrequency detectors are much pricier and also more geared towards experts and people who are very passionate about the hobby.

Coil Size

When it comes to picking out detectors you want to be cognizant of the coil size of the detector. A larger coil will be great for broad detection, but it will make it harder to find metal deeper in the ground and it will also make it difficult to narrow down a piece of metal’s specific location when detecting.

A smaller coil has the reverse issue where you can easily pinpoint deeply buried metal, but you have to be very precise when searching due to the size of the coil. The solution is to look for a metal detector that is able to support different coils and that gives you the ability to easily change them out on the fly.

Don’t Forget Accessories

Before we end off this buying guide, we wanted to talk about one last point, which is not to forget accessories. Since the focus of our article was exclusively reviewing metal detectors and looking for the best metal detector for the money, we couldn’t really focus on any other products.

However, to do successful metal detecting, you need more than just a good metal detector. There are a lot of other items to consider and budget for. For example, you will want a good pair of wired headphones. You will also need some sort of digging kit to dig up and sift metal from dirt, sand, and mud. You will also likely need things like extra batteries and protective pieces that aren’t included with your standard metal detector.

Conclusion

We hope that you found our product reviews to be helpful and our buying guide to be informative.