Metal detecting tips | What equipment do you need?
The big metal detecting
equipment & practice guide
Everything you need for a successful start in metal detecting – from basic equipment, technique and where to search to the legal basics in Germany.
What is metal detecting – and why does it fascinate so many people?
Metal detecting combines technology, nature and history in a unique way. With a metal detector in your hand you roam fields, beaches and meadows – and every tone from the detector could be the start of an exciting discovery.
Feel history
Every find tells a story. Whether a medieval coin, a uniform button or a lost piece of jewellery – you literally hold the past in your hands.
Experience nature
Metal detecting gets you out into the fresh air. Hours pass like minutes when you concentrate on searching a meadow – the ideal balance to everyday life.
Community & exchange
The detecting community is open and helpful. In forums and local groups, beginners and experts share finds, tips and areas.
Basic equipment: what you really need
These tools are essential for getting started with metal detecting. Nothing works without them – invest in quality right from the start.
Metal detector – the heart of it all
The metal detector is the most important piece of equipment. The range goes from inexpensive entry-level models to high-end detectors with multi-frequency technology. What to look out for:
Very low frequency – ideal for most conditions. Excellent discrimination between valuable finds and junk. Recommended for beginners and advanced users.
Pulse induction – perfect for heavily mineralised ground and saltwater beaches. Greater depth, but less ability to discriminate.
Several frequencies used simultaneously (e.g. XP DEUS II with FMF). Maximum versatility for all ground types and targets – the current state of the art.
Pinpointer – indispensable for beginners
A pinpointer is a rod-shaped handheld metal detector that shows the exact position of a find in the hole you have dug. Beginners without a pinpointer often dig huge holes – with a pinpointer you work to the centimetre. Almost always waterproof and very sensitive. Be sure to use a coiled lanyard to attach it to your belt so that you do not lose the pinpointer.
Digging tools – gentle and efficient
A sturdy, sharp digging tool is a must. For farmland, a narrow folding spade or a special detecting spade that makes small, clean cuts is recommended. For wooded ground full of roots, a pick is useful. Important: always fill in the hole carefully after recovering your find – detectorists’ etiquette demands it.
Store your finds safely
A robust, weatherproof finds pouch with several compartments keeps coins, junk and valuable finds apart. Separate compartments protect delicate pieces.
Don’t miss faint signals
Headphones block out ambient noise and help you hear even very faint signals from deep objects. Wireless models are more comfortable, wired ones less prone to interference.
Protection when digging
Sturdy work or garden gloves protect your hands from thorns, broken glass and sharp metal edges in the soil. A small detail – that you will appreciate after the first cut.
Always enough power
Nothing is more frustrating than a detector that dies in the midday sun. Always take spare batteries or charged rechargeables with you. Power banks for USB chargers are handy.
Advanced equipment: for experts & special conditions
You don’t need these tools from the very beginning, but they add a lot of comfort, efficiency and certainty – once you go detecting regularly.
Transport backpack
A specially designed backpack with compartments for the detector, pinpointer, digging tool, finds containers and food. Saves a lot of time when packing and protects your detector.
GPS device / smartphone app
Mark productive spots and keep track of areas you have already searched. XP’s GO-TERRAIN is designed specifically for detectorists. Historical map services such as landkartenarchiv.de or vici.org are also worth their weight in gold for research.
Rain jacket, hat, sturdy footwear
Metal detecting happens in all weathers – except frozen ground. A waterproof jacket, a protective hat and sturdy, waterproof footwear are not a luxury but essential for full-day outings.
First aid kit
Minor injuries happen quickly when digging. A compact kit with plasters, disinfectant and bandages belongs in every backpack – especially on trips away from towns and villages.
Small things that make life easier
Finds log & camera
Note the find spot (GPS coordinates!), depth, date and type of find. A finds log quickly shows you which places and settings work best. Take photos on site.
Water bottle & brush
Many finds can be roughly cleaned on site so you can assess them better. For fine restoration at home, use special metal cleaners – never aggressive household remedies!
Multitool & mobile phone
A multitool helps with small repairs or unexpected situations. Your mobile phone is your means of communication in an emergency – charge it fully before every trip.
Search technique: how to find more
A good detector alone is not enough. The right technique makes the difference – an experienced detectorist with a mid-range detector finds more than a beginner with high-end equipment.
Get to know your detector at home
Place different metal objects (coins, keys, foil) on the lawn and scan them. Learn which tones and target IDs your detector produces for which metals. This is a must before your first time in the field.
Correct coil control: flat and even
Always keep the search coil flat and close to the ground – do not swing it up like a pendulum at the end of the sweep. Make sure your sweeps overlap so that no spot is missed. Average speed: about one sweep per second.
Cross-pinpoint before digging
Do not dig at the first signal! Sweep the coil from left to right and note where the signal is strongest. Then change direction: forwards and backwards. The object lies where the two lines cross – this saves time and protects the find from being damaged by the spade.
Learn to recognise junk signals
Low target IDs = iron/junk. High target IDs = copper, silver, gold. Medium values = aluminium or older copper alloys. Over time you develop a feel for which signals are worth digging.
Dig gently – start next to the crossing point
Always put the spade in next to the strongest signal, never directly on top of it. Remove as little soil as possible. Use the pinpointer in the hole to locate the object to the centimetre before you dig deeper.
Recognise and avoid interference
Power pylons, railway lines, telephone poles and electric fences interfere with the electronics. Keep enough distance. Unstable, random signals usually mean electromagnetic interference – look for the source.
Do it right
- Keep the coil close to the ground, never swing it like a pendulum
- Search in overlapping lines
- Cross-pinpoint before digging
- Start next to the signal, not on top of it
- Fill in holes neatly
- Record your finds (place, depth, date)
- Calibrate your detector regularly (ground balance)
- Use headphones for faint signals
Avoid beginner mistakes
- Swinging the coil too fast
- Lifting the coil at the end of the sweep
- Digging at the first tone
- Starting directly on top of the signal
- Leaving holes open (an etiquette violation!)
- Blind trust in the target ID display
- Sensitivity set too high (→ false signals)
- Detecting without permission
Expert tip from 30 years of experience: An experienced detectorist with a mid-range detector often finds more than a beginner with the most expensive model. Practise, practise, practise – and really read the manual. The best features only help if you know how to use them.
Where is it worth searching?
With historical research (old maps, place names, field registers) you can identify the best places to search. Always clarify the landowner’s permission and the legal situation first!
Cemeteries, registered archaeological monuments, nature reserves, dunes. Never touch military finds (grenades, ammunition) – call the police immediately!
Research tools for historical find spots:
- landkartenarchiv.de – historical ordnance maps
- vici.org – archaeological map of Europe
- Field registers & land registry offices of the municipalities
- Place-name research (names of woods, fields and streets)
- Conversations with older local residents
- Parish registers & local chronicles
Etiquette: how a good detectorist behaves
The behaviour of every single detectorist affects the reputation of the whole hobby. Those who act fairly also secure access to good search areas for future generations.
Every hole you dig must be carefully filled in and the turf put back. Farmers and other users must not notice any damage – otherwise future permissions are at risk.
Do not leave junk you have dug up (nails, bottle caps, aluminium) lying around – collect it in your finds pouch and dispose of it properly. This reduces interfering signals for future searches and leaves nature clean.
If you are approached – by walkers, a forester or a farmer – explain openly and in a friendly way what you are doing. A leaflet from the German detectorists’ association Deutsche Sondengänger Union (DSU) in your backpack builds trust.
Entering and detecting without the owner’s express permission is trespassing. Always ask first – most farmers are open-minded if you explain how you work.
Concealing finds, especially archaeological ones, is a criminal offence. Take reporting duties seriously – cooperative detectorists are welcome at the authorities and get permits more easily.
War relics can still be dangerous after more than 80 years. Never touch, move or try to defuse them. Call the police, mark the location and keep your distance. It saves lives.
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