10 Best Metal Detectors for Gold and Silver 2020 [Buying Guide]

Your Authors and Guides

Heather
Patton

Jennifer
Trimbee

Samantha
Dewitt

How to Choose the Best Metal Detector for Gold and Silver

For the treasure hunters out there, the best metal detectors for gold and silver can help you find treasures buried underground, in the sand, and more! It’s a fun hobby to do with friends and family, or head out on your own to your local beach, park, campsite, or even your own backyard! Before you invest in a new metal detector, there are a few key features to know about to make sure you’re getting the right one for you.

Waterproof: All of the metal detectors we reviewed have waterproof coils, giving you the freedom to hunt for gold and silver in shallow water, mud, or wet grass. We’ll also let you know if the display unit is waterproof as well.

Searchcoil Size: The search coil is the metal disc on the bottom that emits an electric frequency. If it hits metal, the frequency will bounce back to the coil and make a sound. The larger the coil, the wider area it can cover!

Pieces: In addition to the metal detector itself, some of the kits come with extra accessories to enhance your search or give you more options. These accessories include things like extra metal coils, covers for display units, carrying cases, and more!

Frequency: A metal detector with different frequency settings allows you to search for specific metals, giving you the ability to find what you’re looking for. Lower frequencies are great for silver or large items, while higher frequencies are best for gold.

LCD Screen: Some metal detectors use extremely sensitive dials to indicate when the detector “hits” something. Others use LCD screens to show you when you hit metal, and they may even be able to indicate what type of metal it may be.

Warranty: If you plan on investing a lot into your metal detector, it’s a good idea to check the warranty information. A warranty will protect your investment in the event your detector malfunctions or breaks, even if you’re using it properly.

Top 10 Products

Now that you know what to look for, what is the best metal detector for gold and silver to improve your treasure hunting adventures? We found 10 of the best out there, each with their own unique features and fun tools to help you find the most of what you’re looking for! If you’re short on time, don’t worry! We started with our Top Pick and Budget Pick, so head there first and come back when you have more time!

Garrett Ace 400 Metal Detector

Our Top Pick for the best metal detector for gold and silver goes to this 8-piece kit from Garrett! We like this metal detector because it allows you to truly customize your settings to find only what you want to find! The large search coil covers a lot of ground quickly, and it’s waterproof so you can use it in the rain or in shallow puddles or ponds! You can use their pre-loaded settings to detect jewelry, coins, iron, or relics, which is great for beginners. If you want more control over the settings, you can set the frequency or discrimination pattern to detect exactly what you’re looking for. We also like that it tells you the depth of what it’s detecting, so you won’t miss out by not digging far enough! This kit comes with the detector, rain cover for the monitor, headphones, batteries, and more to ensure you have a fun and successful search for gold and silver!

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Bounty Hunter Metal Detector

If you’re new to the hobby of metal detecting, or you don’t want to spend a lot up front, this is our pick for the best cheap metal detector for gold and other amazing treasure! This inexpensive detector is easy to use, especially for beginners and young kids. You can adjust the power level and trash eliminator settings to find a variety of fun trinkets and treasures. The comfortable handle and padded headphones make this kit a dream to use while searching large areas like parks, beaches, fields, and more! It can find coins and small objects up to 6 inches deep, and it will detect larger relics up to 2 feet deep. We like that it can detect a wide variety of metals, like gold, silver, aluminum, steel, brass, and iron! This is a great metal detector for adults and kids alike to introduce them to such a fun and rewarding new hobby that the entire family can enjoy!

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Fisher F75 Metal Detector

Next up is another favorite of ours for the best metal detector for finding gold, coins, and other metals – even in difficult or trashy areas! This detector from Fisher is a great investment for those of you looking to take your metal detector hobby to the next level! The 11” search coil is waterproof and covers a large area, allowing you to search in shallow water, open fields, and anywhere in between! You can set the detector to search for specific items, like gold, iron, and specific coins like quarters and dimes! You can also create your own settings and save them in the device for later! To get around trashy areas, it has double-filter discrimination mode to get around trouble spots to find what you’re looking for. The backlit LCD screen is perfect for taking your metal detector out in the early morning or at night! This is a great detector for people serious about finding gold and silver!

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National Geographic PRO Metal Detector

In our search for the best metal detector for finding gold, we found one your kids will enjoy using during family outings at the beach, park, or in their backyard. This lightweight and compact detector from National Geographic is perfect for kids and adults to find buried treasure! It weighs only 2 pounds, which is great for young kids because it won’t wear them out carrying it around. You can also collapse it down to 22 inches, which fits inside most backpacks or duffle bags for easy travel! We like that this detector is also easy to use, with settings to detect aluminum, iron, coins, and rings up to 12 inches deep! It also detects metals mixed in with trash, so you don’t have to worry about false readouts! The 10-inch coil is waterproof, so you can use this in all kinds of weather and terrain! This is a great detector to get your kids interested in a fun hobby!

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RM RICOMAX Metal Detector

Another great option the whole family will enjoy is this metal detector from RM RICOMAX that will find coins, metals, and jewelry! We like that this detector is easy to use in just about any environment, thanks to the waterproof coil and pinpoint accuracy. It also comes with a headphone jack, so you can use it in noisy places and hear every ping! There are 4 preset modes you can pick from, or set it to the sensitivity and frequency you want. Another feature we like is the adjustable stem! You can set it to the height you’re most comfortable with, or shorten it and let your kids have a go at it! At just over 2 pounds, it’s lightweight enough for kids and adults to use without wearing out their arms. We think this is a great metal detector to take on your next trip to the beach or have fun seeing what treasures are hiding around your yard!

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JunHo Gold Digger Metal Detector

If you’re looking for an inexpensive version of the best metal detector for gold, silver, coins, and more, consider picking up the Gold Digger Metal Detector from JunHo! This detector is great for the whole family, thanks to the adjustable arm and padded armrest. The waterproof coil makes this a great detector to take with you in shallow water like streams, ponds, puddles, lakes, and more! You can set this to the “all metals” mode to detect anything it runs across. If you’re looking for something specific, you can also set it to pick up only those items. For busy areas, you can plug in your headphones to hear the pings clearly in a crowd. It also comes with a collapsible shovel you can bring with you to dig up your finds! We think this is one of our favorites for the best metal detector for gold nuggets, coins, jewelry, and other lost treasure that won’t cost you a fortune!

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Meterk Underground Metal Detector

This detector from Meterk is great for beginners and experienced treasure hunters to find exactly what they’re looking for. We like how easy this metal detector is to use, making to perfect for beginners to find coins, jewelry, and other metals without much fuss! You can set it to detect all metals, which is great if you’re not sure what you want to find. The LCD screen will also tell you the depth of the items it finds, so you can decide if it’s something you want to dig up or leave it for someone else to find. If you have a specific type of metal or coin you’re looking for, this detector will help you find it! You can set it to detect or ignore certain metals, and the pinpoint feature helps you locate exactly where it is. No need to dig a giant hole in search of a coin or disturb too much of the nature around you!

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VEVOR MD-3010II Metal Detector

Walking around while holding a metal detector can be tiring, but this one from VEVOR is made for comfort! The padded armrest keeps your arm from getting tired, and the padded handle is also easy to grip and use for hours! You can adjust the stem to whatever height you need, so you’re not bending over and hurting your back while you’re hunting! This metal detector is also easy to use, with pre-set frequencies you can set to detect or ignore. The LCD screen will tell you what metal it detected, and it’ll give you an idea of the depth so you can decide if you want to dig around for it or not. This is also one of our favorites for the best metal detector for gold and coins because it’s easy to set up and tear down for easy travel! You can easily stow it in your car, truck, or luggage to take on your next big adventure!

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Treasure Cove TC-3020 Detector

Once you’ve gotten the hang of a metal detector, consider upgrading to this professional-quality detector from Treasure Cove for even better accuracy! This kit comes with everything you need for your next treasure hunt, including a carrying case for your detector, padded headphones, and a sand-sifting tool to find trinkets on the beach! You can set this detector to look for specific types of metal, including gold, aluminum, silver, steel, and more. The pinpoint setting also helps you find exactly where the metal is located, and it will tell you the depth as well. It also can be used to detect all metals if you just want to see what’s out there! We also like that this detector is optimized to find metals in tough areas, like around trash, dirt with high mineral content, and seawater – all things that cause fake readouts on metal detectors! For an accurate reading in just about any environment, consider upgrading to this professional detector!

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Freehawk Metal Detector

Last up in our hunt for the best metal detectors is this fun and easy to use detector from Freehawk! We like this metal detector because it’s easy to set up. You can set it to search for all metals, or set it for specific metals to find the treasure you want. It also locates metal coins, gold, and relics up to 8 inches deep. The detector also has unique sounds for each type of metal, and it comes with a headphone jack so you can attach headphones and hear everything – even in busy or noisy areas! The 8-inch search coil is waterproof, so you can use this in shallow water like lakes, beaches, streams, and more. We also like that the wiring is housed inside the device, so you don’t have to worry about it getting tangled or snagged on anything while you’re walking around. The padded armrest and handle make this comfortable and fun to use all day!

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About the Author

Heather Patton

Expert Researcher and Writer

Heather Patton is a lead researcher and writer at GeekWrapped. She has been creating high-quality content for over a decade and covers home, lifestyle, beauty, fashion products and more.

Best Metal Detectors for Gold and Silver

Top 10 Buying Guide

Our Recommendations

Garrett Ace 400 Metal Detector

Bounty Hunter Metal Detector

How to Choose the Best Metal Detector for Gold and Silver

Top 10 Products

Garrett Ace 400 Metal Detector

Bounty Hunter Metal Detector

Fisher F75 Metal Detector

National Geographic PRO Metal Detector

RM RICOMAX Metal Detector

JunHo Gold Digger Metal Detector

Meterk Underground Metal Detector

VEVOR MD-3010II Metal Detector

Treasure Cove TC-3020 Detector

Freehawk Metal Detector

About the Author

TOP PICK

Garrett Ace 400 Metal Detector