How Much Is a Metal Detector in 2026? [Full Pricing Guide]

How Much Does a Metal Detector Cost?

A metal detector is a handheld electronic device which finds buried metal by sending an electromagnetic field into the ground and reading the signal that bounces back. Basically, what you are paying for is the detection depth, target accuracy and how well the machine will handle tough ground such as wet sand or iron rich soil.

Here's the current price landscape at Detector Warehouse, based on actual in-stock units, not manufacturer list prices.

How Much Should a Beginner Spend on a Metal Detector?

Plan on $300 to $500 for the detector itself. That’s the range where machines cease to feel like toys and start to find things at real depth. You fight the gear under it. Over it you pay for ability you may not be able to use yet.

Why under $200 usually disappoints

Detectors below $200 typically have one low frequency and a small coil. They will beep on a bottle cap at two inches down and miss a silver dollar at six inches. Most of the new detectorists that start out here think the hobby is boring, when the real problem was the machine. The exception is a genuine kids detector bought as a kids detector, where the point is fun, not depth.

What $300 to $500 actually buys

This level provides you with a target ID number to give you a rough idea of what is under the coil before you dig, adjustable discrimination to ignore iron, a waterproof coil and a body you can take to the beach. Both the Nokta Simplex ULTRA, $299, and the Minelab X-Terra Pro, $320, are fully submersible. The Garrett ACE 400 at $357.99 adds Iron Audio, which teaches you to hear the difference between a nail and a coin faster than any manual ever will.

When to spend more instead

If you know you're going to be hunting wet salt beaches buy multi-frequency now, don't wait and upgrade in 6 months. Salt water totally confuses single frequency detectors and you can't fix it by adjusting the settings. The least expensive multi-frequency machine we carry that does well in saltwater is the $499 Minelab X-Terra Elite.

Minelab Metal Detector Prices

Minelab has the deepest catalog we stock, with 291 products. Most of the range uses their Multi-IQ platform. So the cheaper models have real technology in common with the flagships, rather than being stripped-back versions of something else.

Garrett Metal Detector Prices

Most people first hear of the Garrett brand. The ACE series has been the go-to recommendation for beginners in the US for years. The AT series is known for enduring abuse in a way that no spec sheet can describe.

Garrett bundles are worth checking before you buy the bare machine. The ACE 400 with a Pro-Pointer AT at $520.96 works out cheaper than buying the two separately, since the pinpointer alone is $127.99. Compare the two before you check out. For a direct comparison of the two most popular models, see our ACE 300 vs ACE 400 guide.

Nokta and XP Metal Detector Prices

Right now those two brands are where the value is and they are the ones that most price guides leave out altogether. Nokta is undercutting the bigger names at pretty much every level. XP makes the lightest machines in the hobby.

Nokta pricing

XP pricing

Same Budget, Different Brands: A Like-for-Like Comparison

With price bands you can see what each brand is giving you for the same money and that makes more sense.

What Does a Complete Metal Detecting Kit Cost?

The detector is about 2/3 of what you spend. Here's a realistic first kit, all from current DetectorWarehouse pricing.

The pinpointer is not optional

New detectorists often leave the pinpointer out to save money and spend twenty minutes digging a hole for a single coin. A pinpointer turns a five minute recovery into a thirty second one which means more holes dug and more found in the same afternoon. “Buy one with your detector, not later. Our guide walks you thru the technique here’s how to use a pinpointer.

Costs that show up later

Be sure to plan on a second coil. A small coil for trashy sites, or a large for open fields, costs $150 to $440, depending on the brand. This will change what your detector can do more than any settings adjustment will. Other recurring items are rechargeable batteries, coil covers and a carry bag, typically $20-$60 each.

Ways to Pay Less Than List Price

List price is hardly ever what anyone actually pays. Four things reliably bring the number down:

1. Bundles. Packaged deals price the detector, pinpointer and accessories together below the sum of the parts. Compare the beginner bundles and all-in-one packages against the bare machine before deciding.
2. Open box and pre-owned. We keep a rotating stock of open box detectors. These are returns and display units, fully functional, at a real discount. Stock moves quickly because there is only ever one of each.
3. Seasonal sales. The discounts on this page are live sale prices, not permanent. Several models are currently 20 to 38 percent below list. Our discounts page, military discounts and newsletter carry the current round.
4. 0% financing. Splitting a $999 Equinox 900 across monthly payments costs nothing extra, and it often means buying the right machine once instead of upgrading twice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where to Buy

Shop our shop by price page to filter straight to your budget or browse the full range at metal detectors. You can also refine it by where you plan to hunt using shop by use, which separates beach, gold, relic and general-purpose machines.

If you’re still unsure, check out our beginner’s guide to metal detecting for what to expect on your first few hunts. You can also call us at 844-344-4465 to talk it thru before you buy.