Do you love treasure hunting? If so, the best metal detector under $100 is a great tool to have. It is a budget metal detector that can detect different metals such as nickel, silver, brass, copper, and iron. This article will provide you with thebest metal detectors for this price and the information you need to decide which one is best for you.
What is a Metal Detector?
A metal detector is a device that helps you discover metal objects below the ground. In other instances, you can also use a metal detector to find lost metallic items such as rings. The devices use electromagnetic fields to communicate with the metals.
In application, your best metal detector under $100 transmits an electromagnetic field into the ground. If there is a metal in the ground, it resends an electromagnetic field to the detector, and then you will hear an audible alert.
The metal detecting device has several parts that make your work easier. These include a control box, a search coil, a shaft, grip, and arm cuff. In addition, there are various metal detector models for different experience levels, from beginner to pro.
Regardless of your treasure-hunting skill level, we have compiled a list of the best metal detectors under $100 you can buy today. These cheap metal detectors will help you discover hidden treasures in the ground in no time. Read on to discover your most compatible metal detector.
At a Glance:
Best Metal Detector Under $100
Bounty Hunter Metal Detector
- Affordable
- Great for all metal mode prospecting
- Battery-powered
- Comes with headphones to save batteries
- Excellent ground balance and sensitivity control
- Sturdy build
- Comes with a seven-inch search coil resistant to weather damage
- 6.6kHz operating frequency
So let’s get started.
- What is a Metal Detector?
- What Are the Best Lawn Mowers Under $300?
- Bounty Hunter Metal Detector
- Ommo Metal Detector
- Sakobs Metal Detector
- RM RICOMAX Professional Metal Detector
- DR.ÖTEK Metal Detector for Kids
- Parts of a Metal Detector
- Factors to Consider Before You Buy the Best Metal Detector Under $100
- a) Price
- b) Operating frequency
- c) The metal detector sensitivity level
- d) Ground balance
- e) Metal discrimination
- f) Detection Depth
- g) Ease of use
- Summary of the Best Metal Detector Under $100
What Are the Best Lawn Mowers Under $300?
| Award | Design | Metal Detectors | Retailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Metal Detector Under $100 | Best Pick | Check Price | |
| Best Metal Detector Under $100 | Staff Pick  | Check Price | |
| Best Metal Detector Under $100 | Budget Pick  | Check Price | |
| Best Metal Detector Under $100 |  | Check Price | |
| Best Metal Detector Under $100 |  | Check Price |
Bounty Hunter Metal Detector
Best PickBest Metal Detector Under $100
Pros
- Affordable
- Great for all metal mode prospecting
- Battery-powered
- Comes with headphones to save batteries
- Excellent ground balance and sensitivity control
- Sturdy build
- Comes with a seven-inch search coil resistant to weather damage
- 6.6kHz operating frequency
Cons
- Not suitable for serious gold prospecting
- No volume control when not using headphones
- Batteries not included in the purchase
If you love a metal-hunting experience, this Bounty hunter metal detector is your best metal detector under $100. It will sniff out any underground metal objects and has all the control features you need for an enjoyable experience.
Firstly, it has a great detection depth of six inches for small objects and a 2-inch detection depth for larger pieces of metal. Then, you can adjust the performance by adjusting ground balance and sensitivity levels.
Finally, this cheap metal detecting device is ideal for children and adults. It comes with a sturdy, rugged build, so you know it will last you a long time. You can take it with you to your backyard, beach, park, and even fields. However, it may not be the best option for gold prospection.
The metal detecting device also comes with headphones and is powered by two 9V alkaline batteries.
Ommo Metal Detector
Staff PickBest Metal Detector Under $100
Pros
- Affordable metal detector
- Lightweight
- Ideal for beginners
- Large backlit LCD to show performance levels
- Comes with an IP68 waterproof search coil
- Comes with durable headphones compared to other metal detectors
- Works with three modes so that you can use it in different areas
Cons
- Batteries not rechargeable
If you look for a metal detector with a waterproof search coil, you will find the best match in this Ommo metal detector. The waterproof search coil will let you use the device underwater and at the yard and beach.
The Tacklife metal detector alternative comes with a 10-inch search coil that covers a large area when detecting metals. The device has three working modes: all-metal mode, disc mode, and pinpoint mode, so you never miss your target.
The set is adjustable and hosts a large LCD that shows the detection depth, battery level, sensitivity level, and overload warnings, among other features. The lightweight metal detector comes at an affordable price and uses two 9V alkaline batteries. The package also comes with a pair of headphones that will allow you to save power.
Sakobs Metal Detector
Budget PickBest Metal Detector Under $100
Pros
- Affordable
- Has three operational modes
- Comes with an adjustable stem
- Easy to assemble
- Lightweight
- 3-year warranty
Cons
- Does not come with batteries
Like the Ommo metal detector, this Sakobs also comes with three operation modes; an all-metal mode, disc mode, and a notch mode. The adjustable stem houses the intuitive backlit LCD that shows you various performance features such as sensitivity, detection depth, and battery levels, among others.
It can detect metals up to eight inches deep, and the waterproof search coil allows you to prospect underwater and on land. The affordable metal detector comes with a carrying bag, a shovel, and a headphone jack. Unfortunately, you will have to buy batteries separately.
It is an easy-to-assemble metal detector with a three-year warranty. It is also lightweight and ergonomic, thus ideal for children and adults looking to prospect various metals.
RM RICOMAX Professional Metal Detector
Best Metal Detector Under $100
Pros
- The lightweight metal detector is ideal for both children and adults
- Two operation modes for the best exploration
- Battery-powered
- Comes in an ergonomic design
- Excellent sensitivity and discrimination for best results
- It is an all-purpose metal detector
Cons
- Batteries not included in the purchase
This RM Ricomax all-purpose metal detector is your best bet for finding jewelry, coins, artifacts, and other hidden treasures. It also works with a disc mode that alienates distinct audio tones from unwanted metals detected in the soil.
The waterproof search coil will let you explore treasures buried underwater, and it will detect these up to 8 inches deep. The easy-to-use metal detector comes with three main buttons; one for the volume, another for sensitivity adjustment, and the last one for metal discrimination.
This affordable metal detector runs on two 9V batteries to combine 150 hours of power. At just 2.8 pounds, this metal detector is lightweight and comes in an ergonomic design for long-term use. It has a telescopic arm that also hosts a padded armrest.
Finally, the detector comes with a headphone jack that allows you to connect your headphones to capture all distinctive audio tones.
DR.ÖTEK Metal Detector for Kids
Best Metal Detector Under $100
Pros
- Ideal for kids and adults
- Comes with extra accessories for the best experience
- Two operating modes
- Comes with a touch screen display
- Lightweight and ergonomic
- Best metal detecting with a waterproof coil
- Adjustable stem
Cons
- Does not come with batteries
If your little one has such great interest in exploring metals and treasures, it is about time to get them the best metal detectors under $100. This Dr. ÖTEK is one of the best options in the market for several reasons.
Firstly, it is lightweight, easy to use, and designed for little hands. It is the best match for a four-year-old, and it will help them detect objects under the ground in parks, yards, and beaches. Secondly, the metal detector comes with a waterproof coil and an adjustable stem to discover different areas.
Finally, the metal detector works with two modes, disc and pinpoint mode, so your child can find all available treasures. The kit comes with a pouch, sand sifter and shovel. In addition, it has an intuitive touch screen for adjusting sensitivity and volume settings and sending low battery warnings.
On the other hand, a battery-operated mower will do if you have a small lawn. You don’t have to get gas
Parts of a Metal Detector
When buying a metal detector, you will need to understand its parts.
- The control box is the part that hosts the detector’s electronics. It produces signals sent to the ground and processes signals received from the detected metals to produce an audible alert. In addition, it is also the metal detector part that has display circuitry, batteries, and control buttons.
- When detecting metals, the search coil is a part you point to the ground. The search coil transmits and receives electromagnetic signals when treasure hunting. It is connected to the control box through a wire to enable an audible alert when you find a metal.
- The shaft connects the control box and the search coil, including the connecting wire. When buying your best metal detectors, look for an adjustable shaft since it allows you to explore different landscapes.
- The grip is the part you hold when detecting metals. It is usually connected above the control box on one end of the shaft. When buying the best metal detector, look for an ergonomic grip to reduce arm fatigue on long excursions.
- The arm cuff is another part that improves your comfort when detecting metals. It is attached to the shaft, and it helps you secure a good fit when detecting metals in different environments.
Factors to Consider Before You Buy the Best Metal Detector Under $100
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, today’s metal detectors can be used in professional and hobbies to detect ferrous and non-ferrous metals. As a result, while you can find your buried treasures, you can also use the metal detectors to find contaminants in water and other places.
When buying a cheap metal detector, here are the factors you need to pay attention to;
a) Price
The best consideration to make when buying a metal detector is the price. After deciding to go for the best metal detector under $100, you need to look for the features to make your purchase worthwhile.
b) Operating frequency
When buying the best metal detectors under $100, you need to understand what an operating frequency is. Expressed in Kilohertsz or KHz per second, the operating frequency refers to how many electromagnetic waves the detector can produce in a second.
Metal detectors generally have operating frequencies between 5 kHz per second and 25 kHz per second. For better understanding, a metal detector with an operating frequency of 25kHz per second can produce 25000 electromagnetic fields per second.
When choosing the operating frequency, it is imperative to understand what levels are useful for your excursions. In simpler terms, a high operating frequency does not always translate into better detection results. Rather, you will also need to understand the metals you target, their size, how deep into the ground they are buried, and how mineralized the soil is.
A metal detector with a low frequency generally targets more conductive metals buried deep into the ground. The low frequency translates into longer wavelengths that penetrate soil obstacles to tell where the metal is. This detector is suitable for copper, brass, nickel, silver, and more conducive metals.
On the other hand, a high frequency makes a sensitive metal detector with higher signal strength. Therefore, it will be best suited for detecting gold, iron, and other ferrous metals. If you can’t seem to find a quality metal detector for your needs, you can choose between a single-frequency and multi-frequency metal detector.
For the under $100 budget, you will likely find single-frequency metal detectors. These detectors only operate at one frequency, either below 10kHz or above 25kHz. The single-frequency below 10kHz will detect metals with high conductivity buried deep, while the latter will target low-conductivity metals near the ground surface.
If lucky, you can also find multi-frequency metal detectors that can simultaneously operate on two or more frequencies. While such a device will tend to be an expensive metal detector, you will also need a great deal of experience to understand all the alerts you get.
c) The metal detector sensitivity level
The sensitivity of your metal detectors under $100 determines how fast they can detect metals buried beneath the ground. Highly sensitive detectors, such as the Marnur metal detector, will detect even the smallest pieces of metal. Still, you will also need to consider other factors such as minerals in the soil and how deep they are buried.
d) Ground balance
As we mentioned above, some factors such as soil mineralization can affect how well you target wanted metals. When buying a metal detector, you can look for the ground balance feature, which aims to eliminate ground signals, so you get alerts for your target metal.
Without a ground balance feature, you might have your small targeted metal signals masked by signals received from soil minerals. Unfortunately, most soil minerals, such as iron particles in fine earth, will trigger your metals detector similarly to a metal.
A good metal detector can have either of three main ground balance types
- Manual ground balance. You manually adjust the settings to hear more of your targeted metal than the ground minerals.
- Automatic ground balance where the metal detector picks the best ground balance setting. This ground balance feature is better than the manual setting because of better accuracy.
- Tracking ground balance. The feature is ideal when treasure-hunting in different landscapes, like from the park to a beach. Naturally, the ground minerals will be different, so the metal detector will automatically apply changes as you go.
e) Metal discrimination
When looking for a metal detector, understand if it has a discrimination feature. It is a feature that allows you to decide which metals you want to detect. For example, you can choose to detect gold, thus ignoring iron or nickel. Your metal detector will not send alerts for ignored or rejected metals when the feature is turned on.
f) Detection Depth
Your metal detector under $100 is only good if it can tell you where to find buried treasures. As such, understanding the detection depth becomes imperative for your buying process. Detection depth is how deep your metal detector can sniff target metals.
Normally, the detection depth relies on a good search coil size, but other factors also come into play. For example, the size of the metal you are detecting can affect how deep your detector can detect. In addition, larger metals are easier to detect compared to smaller metals.
In addition, the shape and orientation of the target metal can also influence detection depth. For instance, a coin that sits upright will be harder to detect than a coin that lies flat. Similarly, a thin shape will be harder to detect than a round shape.
You will also want to understand the target material since your device will detect high conductive metals buried very deep compared to low conductive metals.
g) Ease of use
Great metal detectors are easy to use. When buying, look for different design features such as adjustable stem, lightweight construction, ergonomic grip, and sturdy arm cuff.
Featured image source: themetalsearch.com
Summary of the Best Metal Detector Under $100
| Award | Design | Metal Detectors | Retailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Metal Detector Under $100 | Best Pick | Check Price | |
| Best Metal Detector Under $100 | Staff Pick | Check Price | |
| Best Metal Detector Under $100 | Budget Pick | Check Price | |
| Best Metal Detector Under $100 | | Check Price | |
| Best Metal Detector Under $100 | | Check Price |
