# Best Metal Detectors 2026: 10 Ranked, and the Coil Spec That Says 12cm

Source: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/garden/best-metal-detectors
Published: 2026-09-16 | Updated: 2026-09-16 | Prices checked on Amazon UK on 2026-09-16

The listing that best exposes the gap between marketing and specification among the best metal detectors is the SUNPOW at £79.98. Its title advertises a "30cm Waterproof Coil"; its bullets promise a "12-inch search coil"; the specification table on that same page gives the search coil size as 12 Centimetres. That is a 2.5x spread between two claims about one coil. Its model number is OT-MD17 — and so is the model number on the cheaper SUNPOW at £63.97, which offers four modes against the £79.98 model's five and carries 479 ratings against 4,527. The same slippage appears elsewhere. The Gbnryg at £109.99 answers "Are Batteries Required: No" while its own bullets say two 9V batteries come in the box. The GreenRex at £119.99 records a unit count of "1.0 gram" beside an item weight of 2.78 kg.

We ranked ten of the best metal detectors on Amazon on three honest checks: whether the headline claims survive the specification table on the same page, how many ratings actually sit behind the star score — the DR.ÖTEK MTXR has 9,252, the ETOOLAB has 4 — and what the money buys at each price band. That last test matters, because a cheap metal detector at £63.97 has a larger review base than a £129.99 model with 14 ratings.

## The ranking

### 1. Minelab X-Terra Elite All-Terrain Waterproof Metal Detector

- Price: £479.00 | Amazon rating: 4.6 from 85 ratings
- Full review: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/garden/best-metal-detectors/minelab-x-terra-elite
- Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0D3WTF3QK?tag=ranked10-21

It tops the list because its spec table is the only one here that states an operating frequency — 93 KHz — alongside a 30.48 cm coil and an IP68 rating.

This sits first because its specification table is the most complete in the group. The search coil size is given as 30.48 Centimetres, the International Protection Rating as IP68, the operating frequency as 93 KHz, the item weight as 1.27 kg. Those are numbers you can check without opening the box, and that is why it ranks above the best metal detectors here with far bigger review bases.

In practice, Multi-IQ runs several frequencies at once, and the bullets list 2 x Park, 2 x Field and 2 x Beach pre-programmed modes plus 30 discrimination segments — more than any other model on this page. Minelab quotes a packed length of 25 inches and a weight of 2.9 lb in those bullets, while the spec table gives 1.27 kg, which is 2.80 lb. Worth noting, that 2.9 lb figure is written for the X-TERRA PRO, not the Elite.

That said, at £479 this is not where a beginner should start. With 85 ratings it has the second-smallest review base of the ten, and if you want a cheap metal detector for occasional park use you are paying for Multi-IQ and IP68 you may never test in water. The spec table also lists no battery type and no runtime, despite answering "Are Batteries Required: Yes".

Pros: Operating frequency stated as 93 KHz — the only listing in this group that gives one; IP68 rating and a 30.48 cm search coil, both recorded in the specification table; 1.27 kg and a packed length of 25 inches, so it travels in a rucksack; 30 discrimination segments, the highest figure quoted on this page; 6 pre-programmed modes: 2 x Park, 2 x Field, 2 x Beach
Cons: £479 — more than three times the cheapest model in this list; 85 ratings is the second-smallest review base of the ten; The 2.9 lb and 25-inch figures in the bullets are written for the X-TERRA PRO, not the Elite; "Are Batteries Required: Yes" but no battery type and no runtime anywhere on the page

### 2. Minelab Vanquish 360 Waterproof Metal Detector with V10X Coil

- Price: £259.00 | Amazon rating: 4.7 from 26 ratings
- Full review: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/garden/best-metal-detectors/minelab-vanquish-360
- Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0GK15HS9H?tag=ranked10-21

IP68 and submersible to 16 ft, with a quoted 10-hour lithium-ion battery and a weight of 1.18 kg that beats the model above it.

Second place goes on the water rating and the coil. The listing gives IP68 and states the detector is fully submersible to 16 ft, with a V10X 10" x 7" Double-D coil that the specification table records as 25.4 Centimetres. For a metal detector for the beach, that combination is the point.

Meanwhile, the built-in lithium-ion battery is quoted at up to 10 hours of continuous runtime, and the item weight is 1.18 kg — lighter than the X-Terra Elite's 1.27 kg, and light enough to swing for a long session. Park, Beach and All Metal modes cover most ground you will meet, and Multi-IQ means no frequency to choose before you start.

The catch is the review base: 26 ratings. A 4.7 average from 26 people tells you far less than 4.4 from 4,527, which means you are buying on specification and brand rather than on evidence. Even so, this is the one to look at if you want a best metal detector for beginners that will survive a wet afternoon.

Pros: IP68, quoted as fully submersible to 16 ft; Built-in lithium-ion battery rated at up to 10 hours; 1.18 kg — lighter than the X-Terra Elite's 1.27 kg; V10X 10" x 7" Double-D coil, listed at 25.4 cm; Park, Beach and All Metal modes cover most terrain
Cons: £259, backed by only 26 ratings; 4.7 from 26 reviewers is a much thinner signal than 4.4 from 4,527; No operating frequency or battery capacity listed; The coil is waterproof but the listing makes no claim about the control pod

### 3. DR.ÖTEK MTXR Metal Detector for Adults, 5 Modes, 10in Coil

- Price: £85.99 | Amazon rating: 4.5 from 9,252 ratings
- Full review: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/garden/best-metal-detectors/dr-otek-metal-detector-mtxr
- Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B091YRJ17F?tag=ranked10-21

The most-reviewed model here — 9,252 ratings at 4.5 — with a 25 cm IP68 coil, 12 hours of battery life and a 907 g build.

This is the most-reviewed of the best metal detectors on this page by a wide margin: 9,252 ratings at 4.5, against 4,527 for the next best. The specification table backs the basics too — a 25 Centimetres search coil, a 12-hour battery average, an item weight of 907 g and an adjustable stem from 108 cm to 136 cm.

In practice, the five modes are All Metal, Discrimination, Memory, Jewellery and Pinpoint, with a Memory mode that locks onto a target metal and filters junk signals. Five sensitivity levels adapt to ground conditions, and the kit arrives with noise-reducing headphones, a digging shovel and a carry bag, so nothing else needs buying before your first trip.

However, the listing is careful in one place and less so in another. It states plainly that the control box is not waterproof, so this is a waterproof metal detector only at the coil. At 907 g it is also light because the build is aluminium and plastic, which is worth knowing on stony ground. No manufacturer part number is listed either.

Pros: 9,252 ratings at 4.5 — the largest review base on this page; 12-hour quoted battery life and a 907 g item weight; 5 modes including Memory and Pinpoint; Adjustable stem from 108 cm to 136 cm; Complete kit: headphones, digging shovel and carry bag
Cons: The control box is not waterproof — only the coil is IP68; Aluminium and plastic construction at 907 g; No operating frequency, battery type or runtime listed; No manufacturer part number on the specification table

### 4. SUNPOW Metal Detector for Adults, 5 Modes, 30cm Coil Claim

- Price: £79.98 | Amazon rating: 4.4 from 4,527 ratings
- Full review: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/garden/best-metal-detectors/sunpow-metal-detector-ot-md17
- Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DDGWYH26?tag=ranked10-21

This is the listing among the best metal detectors that contradicts itself most clearly: its title, its bullets and its own spec table give three different coil sizes.

Crucially, this is the listing where the numbers disagree most. The title says "30cm Waterproof Coil". One bullet says "The 12-inch search coil with an IP68 waterproof rating". The specification table on the same page says the search coil size is 12 Centimetres. That is a 2.5x spread between two claims about one coil, and three different coils by the numbers. The manufacturer part number, OT-MD14, does not match the model number, OT-MD17, either.

What is consistent: five detection modes, 4,527 ratings at 4.4, a twin backlit LCD, a quick-lock spiral shaft and an item weight of 1 kg. The bullets also quote a 10-inch detection depth and an adjustable length of 19 to 59 inches.

That said, the coil you actually receive cannot be known from the page. The model number OT-MD17 also appears on the cheaper SUNPOW at £63.97, which offers four modes rather than five. As a result, if you need a specific coil size for a metal detector for the beach, buy this one accepting you may have to measure it on arrival and send it back.

Pros: 4,527 ratings at 4.4 — the second-largest review base here; 5 detection modes and a twin backlit LCD; 1 kg, the lightest full-size detector in this list; IP68 coil rating stated in both the bullets and the specification table; Quick-lock spiral shaft, adjustable from 19 to 59 inches
Cons: Title says 30cm coil, bullets say 12-inch, spec table says 12 Centimetres; Model number OT-MD17 is shared with the £63.97 SUNPOW that has 4 modes; Manufacturer part number OT-MD14 does not match the model number OT-MD17; No extended length field in the specification table despite the adjustable-length claim

### 5. Gbnryg Professional Metal Detector for Adults, 5 Modes

- Price: £109.99 | Amazon rating: 4.4 from 1,535 ratings
- Full review: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/garden/best-metal-detectors/gbnryg-m55z-metal-detector
- Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0H9RQ6G82?tag=ranked10-21

Its battery field answers "Are Batteries Required: No" while its own bullets say two 9V batteries come in the box — plus 1,535 ratings at 4.4.

The battery field on this listing answers "Are Batteries Required: No". Its own bullets say "2 × free batteries included", and the specification table gives the battery type as 9V. Two readings of one listing, on the same page. In theory the answer might mean batteries are not sold separately; in practice the buyer cannot tell which.

Elsewhere the figures hold together. Five detection modes, five sensitivity adjustments and three volume levels. An IP68 search coil recorded at 30.48 Centimetres, with the item highlight calling it a 12" IP68 Waterproof Search Coil — those two agree. Item weight is 2.63 kg and the kit includes a large backpack, over-ear headphones and a manganese steel digger.

That said, 2.63 kg is the second-heaviest weight here, beaten only by the GreenRex at 2.78 kg. And the listing says outright that the controller is not waterproof, so the IP68 rating applies to the coil alone. If you intend to swing this for three hours, factor the weight in.

Pros: 1,535 ratings at 4.4; 5 detection modes with 5 sensitivity and 3 volume levels; IP68 search coil recorded at 30.48 cm, matching the 12-inch item highlight; Kit includes backpack, over-ear headphones, digger and two 9V batteries per the bullets; Adjustable length up to 60.2 inches
Cons: "Are Batteries Required: No" contradicts the two 9V batteries named in the bullets; 2.63 kg — the second-heaviest model on this page; The controller is not waterproof, as the listing itself notes; No battery runtime given

### 6. SUNPOW Metal Detector for Adults & Kids, 4 Modes

- Price: £63.97 | Amazon rating: 4.4 from 479 ratings
- Full review: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/garden/best-metal-detectors/sunpow-otmd13-metal-detector
- Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FGXZM13F?tag=ranked10-21

At £63.97 it is the cheapest of the best metal detectors here, and it shares its model number with a £79.98 sibling that has one more mode and ten times the ratings.

Here is the cheaper half of a pair. It costs £63.97 and its model number is OT-MD17 — the same model number as the £79.98 SUNPOW above. The differences are in the details: four detection modes against that model's five, and 479 ratings against 4,527. Meanwhile its manufacturer part number is OTMD13-UK, which does not match its own model number either.

What you get for the money is reasonable. An IP68 waterproof coil, a large LCD screen, an adjustable stem for adults and children, and a kit that includes a digger shovel, headphones and two batteries. Item weight is 1.2 kg, so a metal detector for kids and adults can share it without much strain.

Worth noting for anyone comparing the two: the specification table here lists no search coil size at all. That is one way to avoid the contradiction its more expensive sibling carries. Either way, if you want a cheap metal detector to test whether the hobby sticks, this is where the least money is at risk.

Pros: £63.97 — the lowest price of the ten; 479 ratings at 4.4; IP68 waterproof coil and large LCD screen; Kit includes digger shovel, headphones and 2 batteries; 1.2 kg and adjustable for adults and children
Cons: 4 modes against the £79.98 model's 5, on the same model number OT-MD17; No search coil size anywhere in the specification table; 479 ratings against the sibling model's 4,527; Manufacturer part number OTMD13-UK does not match the listed model number

### 7. GreenRex Waterproof Metal Detector for Adults, 5 Modes

- Price: £119.99 | Amazon rating: 4.4 from 649 ratings
- Full review: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/garden/best-metal-detectors/greenrex-metal-detector-rex-8
- Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0F939VQSY?tag=ranked10-21

Its spec table records a unit count of "1.0 gram" beside an item weight of 2.78 kg — and at 2.78 kg it is the heaviest model of the best metal detectors here.

The specification table records a unit count of "1.0 gram". The item weight on the same page is 2.78 kg. Both fields sit in the same table, and they cannot both describe the same object. The model number is recorded as "/", so there is nothing to cross-check against either.

The rest reads sensibly. Five detection modes, five sensitivity levels, a 25.4 Centimetres IP68 waterproof coil, an adjustable length up to 132 cm that compresses to 48 cm for travel, and a kit with premium headphones, a foldable shovel, two batteries and a carry bag. It holds 649 ratings at 4.4.

Even so, weight is the practical issue. At 2.78 kg this is nearly a kilo heavier than the DR.ÖTEK MTXR at 907 g, and roughly 1.6 kg heavier than the Vanquish 360. If you detect for two hours at a stretch, that difference shows up in your arm long before it shows up in the finds.

Pros: 649 ratings at 4.4; 25.4 cm IP68 waterproof coil, 5 modes and 5 sensitivity levels; Compresses to 48 cm and adjusts to 132 cm; Includes headphones, foldable shovel, 2 batteries and a carry bag; Large backlit LCD quoted as 50% bigger than standard
Cons: Unit count listed as "1.0 gram" against an item weight of 2.78 kg; 2.78 kg — the heaviest model on this page; Model number recorded as "/"; Control box is not waterproof

### 8. DR.ÖTEK MTXE AIR Metal Detector, 6 Modes, 9.8in Coil

- Price: £99.99 | Amazon rating: 4.3 from 155 ratings
- Full review: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/garden/best-metal-detectors/dr-otek-mtxe-air-metal-detector
- Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0F5PV3HNL?tag=ranked10-21

Six modes including three terrain presets, a 980 g build and a 9.8-inch IP68 coil listed at 24.89 cm.

Six detection modes, of which three are terrain presets — Pasture, Park and Sand — plus one-click auto-calibration that DR.ÖTEK says cuts 90% of manual setup time. That is a specific claim you can test on your first outing, which is more than most marketing copy offers.

In practice the numbers line up. The 9.8-inch IP68 waterproof coil is listed as 24.89 Centimetres, and the bullets quote coin-sized targets up to 10 inches deep. Item weight is 980 g, the second-lightest here, and the stem adjusts from 39.2 to 53.1 inches. For rivers, streams and beaches that pairing of low weight and a sealed coil makes sense.

However, the "40% boost in accuracy" in the bullets is not measurable from anything on the page, and the review base is thin: 155 ratings at 4.3. If you want a lightweight waterproof metal detector with a large body of evidence behind it, the £85.99 DR.ÖTEK MTXR above has 9,252.

Pros: 6 modes including Pasture, Park and Sand terrain presets; 980 g — the second-lightest detector here; 9.8-inch IP68 coil, listed at 24.89 cm; Adjustable stem from 39.2 to 53.1 inches; Complete kit with headphones, carry bag and digging shovel
Cons: 155 ratings at 4.3 — a thin base at £99.99; The "40% boost in accuracy" and "90% less setup time" claims cannot be checked from the page; No operating frequency or battery type listed; Its £85.99 stablemate has 9,252 ratings for less money

### 9. HawkSeek Metal Detector for Adults, 10in Double-D Coil

- Price: £129.99 | Amazon rating: 4.9 from 14 ratings
- Full review: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/garden/best-metal-detectors/hawkseek-hs-x7-metal-detector
- Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0GKT8Q6X6?tag=ranked10-21

At 4.9 it has the highest average rating of the best metal detectors here — but that average comes from just 14 ratings.

This has the highest average rating on the page at 4.9. It also has, at 14 ratings, the second-smallest review base here. Both statements come from the same listing, and the second one is the more useful of the two when you are deciding where to spend £129.99.

The hardware looks right on paper. A 10-inch Double-D IP68 coil listed at 25 Centimetres, five modes including All Metal, Disc, Jewellery, Memory and Pinpoint, 6-metal identification, a colour LCD quoted as twice the size of standard, an item weight of 1.15 kg and a shaft adjustable from 53 to 132 cm. Two 9V batteries and a foldable shovel are in the kit.

That said, several bullet claims — "60% faster response", "50% better grip" — cannot be verified from the specification table or from 14 reviewers. In short, buy this for the colour LCD and the Double-D coil if you want them, not because of the star score.

Pros: 4.9 average — the highest rating on this page; 10-inch Double-D IP68 coil listed at 25 cm; 1.15 kg with a shaft adjustable from 53 to 132 cm; 5 modes and 6-metal target identification; Kit includes foldable shovel, carry bag, headphones and 2 x 9V batteries
Cons: 14 ratings — the second-smallest review base of the ten; £129.99 for a detector with almost no review history; "60% faster response" and "50% better grip" are unverifiable from the listing; Folds and adjusts in seconds, but no runtime is quoted for the two batteries

### 10. ETOOLAB Metal Detector for Adults, 6 Modes, 12in Coil

- Price: £109.99 | Amazon rating: 5.0 from 4 ratings
- Full review: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/garden/best-metal-detectors/etoolab-metal-detector-ip68
- Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0H483D7V3?tag=ranked10-21

A perfect 5.0 — from four ratings. It also has the widest shaft range here, 55 to 140 cm, and a 12-inch IP68 coil.

A 5.0 average from four ratings. That is the smallest review base in this entire list, and it is the first thing to weigh against a £109.99 price. Four people cannot tell you how a detector behaves in its second season.

The specification is otherwise the most generous here on reach. Six detection modes including All Metal, DISC, Jewellery, Memory, Iron Removal and Pinpoint. A 12-inch IP68 search coil. A telescopic shaft running from 55 cm to 140 cm — the widest range on the page, which means it fits taller adults than the HawkSeek's 132 cm maximum. Two 9V alkaline batteries are quoted at around 30 hours, and the kit adds a carrying backpack, headphones, a digging shovel with its own bag and an English manual.

Worth noting the specification table gives no search coil size in centimetres, so the 12-inch claim in the bullets is not confirmed by the same page. At 2.35 kg it is also heavier than the DR.ÖTEK MTXR and the HawkSeek. In short, buy it for the six modes if you want them, not for the rating.

Pros: 6 detection modes including Iron Removal and Pinpoint; 12-inch IP68 waterproof coil; Shaft adjusts from 55 to 140 cm — the widest range here; Two 9V alkaline batteries quoted at around 30 hours; 2.35 kg with padded armrest and contoured grip
Cons: 5.0 average from just 4 ratings; No search coil size in centimetres on the specification table; 2.35 kg — heavier than the DR.ÖTEK MTXR at 907 g; Best Sellers Rank of 10,617 in Garden, the weakest placement of the ten

## Verdict

For most people the DR.ÖTEK MTXR at £85.99 is the safest of the best metal detectors to buy: 9,252 ratings, a 25 cm IP68 coil, 12 hours of quoted battery life and 907 g. If you want a genuine best metal detector for beginners — a waterproof metal detector rather than one with a waterproof coil — the Minelab Vanquish 360 at £259 is better sealed, though its 26 ratings ask for trust a Minelab metal detector has usually earned. Meanwhile, for wet sand and gold, the Minelab X-Terra Elite at £479 is the only detector here that states its operating frequency. Either way, measure the coil against the page before you commit.