Buy a metal detector: which one is really right for you?
Choose your price range:Choose your price range – we only recommend what we would use in the field ourselves.
Choose a metal detector by price range and experience
Where would you like to search?
Kids & familyLightweight entry-level detectors for treasure hunting together→ViewView detectors
Relics & historyFor relics, buttons and badges on historical sites→ViewView detectors
Gold prospectingSpecialised detectors for nuggets and gold fields→ViewView detectors
Beach & underwaterWaterproof detectors for the beach, shallow water and diving→ViewView detectorsOur recommendations
View all detectorsAll
- FMF multi-frequency
- 3 frequencies
- Fully wireless
- Featherlight: approx. 830 g
- Waterproof to 5 m
- 6 programs
Buying a metal detector
Buy your metal detector from a specialist dealer run by detectorists: we stock XP, Minelab, Nokta, Garrett and Quest and are the official Golden Mask distributor for Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Which detector suits you depends on experience, search area and budget – from beginner detectors and all-rounders to models for advanced users and professionals and dedicated gold detectors. Not sure? Our buying guide helps in six questions, or browse all metal detectors.
What to look for when buying a metal detector
Checklist
- Search area: farmland, woodland, beach or water each need a suitable frequency, coil and level of waterproofing.
- Single or multi-frequency: multi-frequency runs more stably on mineralised ground and wet beach sand; single frequency is often enough on normal fields.
- Waterproofing: check exactly which parts are waterproof – on many detectors the headphones are not.
- Weight and handling: on long outings a light, wireless detector makes a noticeable difference.
- Accessories: a pinpointer and a good digging tool save time and protect your finds.
- Rules: besides the landowner’s permission, many places – in Germany most federal states – require a permit from the heritage authority.
Why buy from metalldetektoren.de?
- Personal telephone advice Mon–Thu 9 am–5 pm, Fri 9 am–12 noon (German time) – honest, without upselling.
- Order by 1 pm on weekdays – dispatched the same day; free shipping within Germany from €99.
- 30-day right of return and warranty handling from a single source, including repair service for XP detectors.
Frequently asked questions about metal detectors
Is it legal to search with a metal detector?
Metal detecting is not generally prohibited in Germany, but it is regulated differently in each federal state. You always need the landowner’s permission; in most states you also need a permit from the heritage authority if you are looking for historical finds. Registered archaeological monuments and nature reserves are always off-limits. Details: legal provisions in Germany and, as an example, metal detecting in Bavaria.
How much should a good metal detector cost?
Good beginner detectors start at around €200–300, all-rounders for most fields cost €300–500, detectors for advanced users €500–900, and professional and multi-frequency models from about €900. More important than the price is that the detector suits your search area. Our buying guide helps you decide.
Which metals does a metal detector not detect?
None – a metal detector detects every metal, whether iron, copper, silver, gold, aluminium or stainless steel. What matters is how large the object is and how deep it lies. And the detector only shows what you have not filtered out yourself: if you discriminate iron or foil, you may also hide small gold or certain coins. More on this: if you discriminate, you lose and multi-frequency in detail.
About us
By detectorists, for detectorists
I have been out with my detector for more than 30 years – most of all on the fields around my home town, where history goes back to the Bronze Age. The curiosity about what lies beneath the coil has never left me. Many German detectorists may also know me from the Schatzsucherforum or from bodenfundforum.de, where I was an administrator for many years.
For 18 years I worked for Jochen Reifenrath and Abenteuer-Schatzsuche.de. When Jochen retired, I did not want to watch his life’s work simply disappear. So I took over large parts of his range and have been continuing it as metalldetektoren.de since 2023.
To me, good advice also means recommending a cheaper detector – or honestly saying: you don’t need that at all. I only stock brands I stand behind: XP Metal Detectors, Garrett, Nokta, Minelab, Quest and Golden Mask, for which I am the official distributor for Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Plus matching accessories such as pinpointers and digging tools.
Whether you are buying your first detector or have been hunting for years: get in touch. I take my time – without sales pressure and without exaggeration.
Gut Fund! – Happy hunting!
Andreas Licht – owner of Metalldetektoren.de
