For those with a keen interest and eye in detectors, discovering items of value is the ultimate prize. Whether it’s a vintage piece of jewelry, coins, or a historical relic, the excitement of finding something valuable is immeasurable. If you’re just beginning to dip your toe in the world of metal detecting, but are on a budget, there’s nothing to worry about. Even if you have a few hundred dollars, it’s more than enough to get you started with your first metal detector. There are many options for the best metal detector under 300, or maybe even under 500 or 1000, if your budget permits. This essentially demonstrates that you don’t have to break the bank on metal detectors to find highly valued items. Then again, having the right kind of tools makes a world of a difference between striking gold and coming home unsuccessful.
If you want to take your amateur metal detecting hobby to the next level, these value-for-money metal detectors are the best place to start. In fact, they’ll help you stay on budget before you turn your hobby into something productive. In fact, many of the Best Metal Detector Brands in this price range offer a lot better performance and bang for your buck as opposed to even cheaper alternatives. To that end, here are the 13 best metal detector options under 300, with a few under 500 and 1000 ones thrown into the mix.
How To Choose The Best Metal Detector Under $300?
Parts of a metal detector
Basically, a metal detector has three main parts – the machine body, the search coils, and the control box. Basically, they work by generating an electromagnetic field (EMF) via the coils and transmitting this field into the ground. When the EMF encounters an object, the device detects the signal and makes a sound or shows a response on the screen. The larger the size of the search coil, the deeper the detector can find metals. But, larger search coils also tend to be less sensitive when it comes to looking for smaller but valuable objects. On the other hand, smaller search coils can find smaller objects easily but don’t have as much depth as larger ones.
Finally, most metal detectors use one of the three following technologies – multi-frequencies, which are the most expensive, pulse induction, which is less expensive and more common, and very low-frequency which is the commonest. Metal detector options under 500 and 1000 use a mix of multi-frequency technology and low frequencies, so you can choose one according to your preference and budget.
Terminology
- Ground Balance: These are the adjustments that can be made to the detector for better results across different kinds of soils with different types and levels of mineralizations.
- Mineralization: The amount of salt and iron in the ground.
- Discrimination: This is a set of settings that filters out the different kinds of metal.
- Interference: Any object with an EMF can interfere with the metal detector’s signal, including cell phones and power lines.
- Frequency: These are the measure of the number of magnetic fields that are transmitted to the ground. Since different metals react to different frequencies, that’s why you have a frequency range on every metal detector.
- Ferrous Metals: Metals such as aluminum, stainless steel, and cast iron that contain iron are ferrous, and thus, magnetic.
- Non-ferrous Metals: Metals such as lead, silver, and gold not containing iron are non-ferrous, and thus, not magnetic.
Frequency and ground balance
Most entry-level metal detectors have frequencies of 6-7 kHz, and many in this price range will work just fine for jewelry, relic, and coin hunting. However, if you’re a gold prospector, then higher frequencies are better suited for that activity. Additionally, if you intend to search at maximum depth, then go for detectors with lower frequencies. However, if you want to be extremely specific about the metal detector’s frequency, then it’s best to be activity-specific. Hence, you need to zero in on your metal detecting goals, and then look for ones best suited to the job.
Another factor to focus on is ground balance. Most of the best options for a metal detector under 500 and even 1000 come with a preset ground balance. This is done for specifically simplifying performance for beginners who’re just starting off with metal detecting. But, you can also go in for metal detectors that have the ability to provide computer-assisted ground balance.
Waterproofness
All metal detectors come with some of the other waterproof or weatherproof ratings. But, if you’re actually going to be heading into the water, even though it’s shallow, then ensure that the search coil is submersible-proof and not just “weatherproof.” Additionally, you might want to invest in a cover for the control box to protect all the electronics within. That said, underwater and submersible metal detectors are in a league of their own.
Do you need an expensive metal detector for finding gold?
You might think, and many people will even vouch for it that most metal detectors can detect gold. However, that’s not usually the case. Cheaper and more inexpensive metal detectors might be able to detect jewelry and coins that have gold in them, but they aren’t powerful enough to be able to find stuff such as gold nuggets. Hence, if you’re planning to use the metal detector for hunting gold specifically, then you’ll want to invest in a higher-quality model for ensuring that you’ll actually strike gold.
Sunpow OT-MD02
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Costing just $130, the Sunpow OT-MD02 is one of the best metal detector under 300 options. However, don’t be fooled by the cheap price tag of this product, for it has a plethora of user-adjustable features. To begin with, the metal detector comes with a six-target category scale that places the detected item within one of the categories. What’s more, the 3-tone audio, DISC, and all-metal modes allow you to find what you’re after. Above all, what makes the Sunpow OT-MD02 such an excellent buy is the manual ground balance feature. Since most inexpensive detectors come with preset ground balance, they can’t be physically adjusted for high mineralized soils. This one defies the standard for entry-level detectors, more than meeting expectations.
Pros:
- Target categories.
- All-metal and disc modes.
- Manual ground balance.
Cons:
- No target ID.
Fisher Gold Bug Pro
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One of the best metal detector under 500 for gold prospecting is the Fisher Gold Bug Pro. If you want to prospect gold but are on a budget that doesn’t exactly fit the gold metal detector range, then this $450 metal detector one is for you. Whether it’s gold jewelry or nuggets, this one is perfect since it comes with VCO audio. So, you can control the volume through your muffs for hearing those deep and weak targets. What’s also exciting about the Fisher detector is the 5-inch biaxial search coil and the higher frequency of 19 kHz. Together, they help zero in on small nuggets as well as maneuver around awkward and tight spots. Moreover, it even has the Ground Grab feature for calibrating to mineralized soils, a scale, and a Target ID too. So, avoid striking out on your next gold treasure hunt by choosing this metal detector.
Pros:
- VCO audio.
- Motion all-metal.
- Target ID.
- Ground grab.
Cons:
- No volume control
Garrett ACE 300
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For first-time buyers, the Garrett ACE 300 is the best metal detector under 300, costing just $254. It might not be as advanced as some of the other models on this list, but it’s perfectly user-friendly for beginners. There’s a lot to like about this metal detector, starting with the fact that it comes with a preset ground balance. Secondly, you can toggle between various search modes, as well as discriminate further with Iron Masking. If that wasn’t enough, it also has target ID, which is an invaluable tool for identifying various metals. Despite its predecessor having a fixed frequency, the ACE 300 comes in with frequency shift during EMF interference. Wrapping up the features is the pinpoint with search coil, which is a difficult but important technique.
Pros:
- Frequency shift.
- Discrimination mode.
- Digital target ID.
- 5 search modes.
Cons:
- Preset ground balance.
Nokta Impact Pro
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What are you hunting? Gold, relics, coins, or all of the above? For a high-performing do-it-all best metal detector under 1000, you can’t find one better than the Nokta Impact Pro. Costing $999, the incredibly versatile metal detector comes with 12 search modes and iron volume. So, you’ll have eyes and ears on everything that you detect. What’s more, the Impact pro can be used in shallow water as well, since it’s weatherproof. That said, the metal detector does its best work on the land. Its well-balanced and incredibly ergonomic frame won’t cause fatigue or stress either. The product comes with frequencies of 5, 14, and 20 kHz frequencies for individual selections depending on the targets you’re after. All in all, this is one great all-purpose metal detector.
Pros:
- Twice the number of search coils.
- Multiple ground balance methods.
- 12 search modes.
Cons:
- Very heavy at 4 lbs.
Bounty Hunter Land Ranger Pro
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The Bounty Hunter Land Ranger Pro is one of the best metal detector under 300 options offered by the brand. Costing $291, the metal detector comes with VCO audio, so make sure that you pair this with high-quality headphones. Basically, it’s oscillating audio that allows you to train your ear to the varying signals emitted by different targets and is one of the most important skills used by advanced detectorists. Furthermore, this affordable metal detector even offers automatic ground balance, which is extremely important if you’re hunting in soils that are noisy. Finally, you can even adjust the break where the VCO takes over and where the detector provides distinct sounds on metal types.
Pros:
- Ground balance.
- Enhanced V-break.
- VCO audio.
- Visual target ID.
Cons:
- No accessories included.
Garrett ACE 400
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There are a ton of things that makes the Garrett ACE 400 is the best metal detector under 500. The simple yet elegant metal detector costs $340 and is designed for beginners. To begin with, it comes with a preset ground balance, so you don’t have to worry about fiddling with it. Why the ACE 400 scores over the ACE 200 and even the 300 is that it has better overall performance and durability and even has a digital display with a numerical target ID scale. This is an important feature that most advanced metal detectors use, so it’s necessary to learn. Moreover, you even Iron Audio where it immediately grunts to tell you whether what you found is iron or not. In fact, you don’t even have to dig! Finally, the metal detector comes with your first set of batteries, a control box cover, search coil cover, and headphones.
Pros:
- Comes with accessories.
- Iron audio.
- Digital display.
- Five search modes.
Cons:
- Preset ground balance.
Minelab X-TERRA 305
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The Minelab X-TERRA 305 is the best metal detector under 300 with a single frequency. Hailing from the able stable of Minelab, the metal detector has multiple features such as an adjustable threshold, manual ground balance, and 12 discrimination segments. The X-TERRA 305 is anything but simple and takes the single frequency technology to the next level with VFLEX. Moreover, its in-coil tech basically boosts the detector’s performance with any given frequency, so you can even switch out the search coil for operating the X-TERRA at a different frequency. Rounding up the features is the noise cancel function with three manual settings as well as the choice of three-tone IDs and a multi-tone target ID.
Pros:
- Adjustable threshold.
- Ground balance.
- Discrimination.
- Target ID.
- VFLEX.
Cons:
- You need to buy extra search coils.
Fisher F75
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The Fisher 75 is the best metal detector under 1000 for more reasons than one. For one, it has all the fixings, and then some, including an 11-inch search coil that covers more ground while you hunt relics. The F75 has a frequency of 13 kHz that’s optimized for both treasure-hunting and coin-shooting. What’s more, it comes with new features such as Digital Shielding Technology that suppresses EMF interference for working successfully with maximum sensitivity. In fact, it even allows you to choose between three ferrous ID volume settings. So, you don’t even need to discriminate; all you have to do is tone down the signal volume. Rounding up the features is the manual/auto/preset ground balance and pinpoint that help you detect your target right away thanks to the last saved settings.
Pros:
- Five-year warranty.
- Long battery life.
- FA search mode.
Cons:
- There’s a learning curve with this metal detector.
Minelab Vanquish 440
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The Minelab Vanquish 440 is the best metal detector under 300 and even under 500. Minelab is well-known for its proprietary and advanced Multi-IQ technology that even their entry-level detectors boast. And as you can see, the Vanquish 440 has just about everything – four search modes, a target depth indicator with five levels, and a digital display. What’s more, there are even 12 discrimination targets, 3 tones, 10 volume levels, and 10 levels of sensitivity. The all-terrain, all-purpose metal detector that works with multiple frequencies for finding gold, silver, at the beach, park, and whether the ground is wet or dry, you name it. How it works so hard is thanks to the 4x AA alkaline batteries.
Pros:
- Lightweight.
- All-terrain.
- Discrimination.
- Multi-IQ.
Cons:
- Battery life.
Nokta Makro Simplex
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The Nokta Makro Simplex is yet another best metal detector under 500 and even under 1000. The metal detector sits at the forefront of the Nokta lineup and is an all-around favorite thanks to its long list of features. Firstly, the detector is rated not just weather-proof but rather submersible up to 10 feet. It might not be the diving detector, but this is great for scouring shallow rivers for gold nuggets, just like the Gold Rush! So, you might consider investing in one of the Best Wading Boots too.
It even comes with a digital display with an LCD backlight that can even be seen clearly underwater. Plus, it can be paired underwater with wireless waterproof headphones! If that wasn’t enough, the Simplex also comes with manual and automatic ground balance, a dedicated “Beach” search mode, and even “Iron volume” for adjusting the volume on iron targets.
Pros:
- Iron volume.
- Beach search mode.
- Wireless compatibility.
- Digital display
- Submersible.
Cons:
- Not suitable for diving, though.
Fisher F44
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Yet another best metal detector under 300 is the Fisher F44, which is a beginner-worthy detector to start with. Firstly, the detector has a digital display, complete with five search modes, adjustable discrimination, depth indicator, and numerical target ID. What’s more, you can even adjust for sensitivity for up to 20 levels, along with having the ground balance feature for yourself. Plus, you can even adjust the threshold for hearing even the deepest and the weakest targets. While ground balance is preset for the discriminate modes, the ground grab feature is automatic in the all-metal mode. Finally, you’ll also find a waterproof 11-inch semi-elliptical search coil as well as a headphone jack with volume control.
Pros:
- Five-year warranty.
- Lightweight.
- Ground balance.
- Iron audio.
- Digital display.
Cons:
- No included accessories.
Minelab Equinox 600
2
Yet another best metal detector under 1000 is the Minelab Equinox 600. Explore your prospecting skills to the fullest with the 600 metal detector which comes with Multi-IQ technology that incorporates four frequencies simultaneously. So, you can use frequencies of 40, 20, 15, 10, and 5 kHz. If that wasn’t enough, you can also use the 5/10/15 kHz frequencies singularly as well. Since there are some soils where it’s better to work in single frequency mode, this is where the Equinox comes in handy. What’s more, this all-terrain monster even comes with multiple user adjustments that allow canceling out pesky minerals that prevent you from finding hidden treasures. Finally, the 600 comes standard with wired headphones, making detecting slightly more convenient.
Pros:
- In-built battery.
- Submersible.
- Wireless compatibility.
- Multi-IQ.
Cons:
- 12-hour battery life.
Teknetics Delta 4000 Metal Detector
1
Sitting atop the list of options of the best metal detector under 300, and even under 500 and 1000, is the Teknetics Delta 4000 Metal Detector. The metal detector comes with a waterproof search coil, thus being used in areas such as a lake, river, or beach. Operating on a typical 9V alkaline battery, the detector has an operating frequency of 7.8 kHz. What’s more, it even comes with a five-year limited warranty and is extremely lightweight at 2.6 lbs. So, even if you stay out longer looking for treasure, your arm isn’t going to be strained. Moreover, the shaft is adjustable, allowing many users can to use it easily since the height can be adjusted. Finally, this metal detector features an incredible LCD screen that’s easy to read and makes finding your treasure easier.
Pros:
- Easy to set up and use.
- The shaft is adjustable.
- Waterproof search coil.
- Lightweight.
Cons:
- None!
