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Shop by pick: Simplex Ultra · ACE 300 · X-TERRA PRO · VANQUISH 360 / 460 · FindX Pro · Gold Kruzer
The best cheap metal detectors we sell, as of October 2026, are the Nokta Simplex Ultra (best overall), the Garrett ACE 300 (best simple, proven beginner detector), the Minelab X-TERRA PRO (best selectable frequency), the Minelab VANQUISH 360 and VANQUISH 460 (cheapest true multi-frequency), the Nokta FindX Pro (best ready-to-hunt kit) and the Nokta Gold Kruzer (best cheap detector for small gold). All six sit between roughly $230 and $550, all come from brands that publish firmware and honor warranties, and five of the six are submersible to 16 ft (5 m). Which one is right depends on where you will swing it: parks and freshwater, any of them; salty wet sand, the VANQUISH; small gold, the Gold Kruzer.
Our Top Cheap Metal Detector Picks at a Glance
If you only have a minute, here's the shortlist. Each links to its full review below.
| Best for... | Pick | Why it wins |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall cheap detector | Nokta Simplex Ultra | Fully waterproof, easy to learn, Bluetooth audio. The one we hand most beginners. |
| Best classic beginner detector | Garrett ACE 300 | Proven, simple and light, with a 0 to 99 Target ID. Still earning its reputation every weekend. |
| Best with selectable frequencies | Minelab X-TERRA PRO | Switchable 5, 8, 10 and 15 kHz and a 16 ft waterproof rating. |
| Best budget multi-frequency | Minelab VANQUISH 360 / 460 | True Multi-IQ for salt beaches and mineralized ground, now fully waterproof. |
| Best ready-to-hunt kit | Nokta FindX Pro | Headphones in the box, waterproof, about 12 hours per charge. The lowest priced pick here. |
| Best cheap detector for small gold | Nokta Gold Kruzer | 61 kHz, two coils and IP68 waterproofing. |
Ready to shop?
Most picks sit in the $200 to $400 detectors collection, and the beginner and intermediate detectors collection is our curated entry-level lineup. Tighter budget? See the detectors under $200.
What "Cheap" Really Means in Metal Detecting
"Cheap metal detector" is one of the most misunderstood phrases in the hobby, because two completely different products hide under that label.
The toy detector
A $40 to $90 import sold under no-name brands. Some will technically detect a soup can. They won't give you a stable Target ID, won't handle mineralized soil, chew through 9-volt batteries, and end up in a yard sale by August.
The entry-level hobby detector
What this guide covers: a real machine from Nokta, Minelab, Garrett or Fisher, from about $230 to $550. The same brands the pros swing, with the same engineering DNA as their flagships and fewer features. Stable Target ID, real discrimination, real ground balance.
about $230
The lowest price we'd hand an adult beginner
5 of 6
Picks here are waterproof to 16 ft
6-10 in
Typical depth on a coin in average soil
The cheap detector market in 2026 is the best it has ever been. You don't need a flagship to start finding things. You need the right machine for where you'll use it, and you need to put in the hours.
From our bench
A $300 detector in skilled hands will outhunt a $1,500 detector in untrained hands almost every time. Spending more buys faster recovery, more depth in punishing ground and features you may not need yet. It does not buy more finds.
Side-by-Side Comparison
The cheap-detector landscape in one table, grouped by what each machine is built for. Specs are checked against each manufacturer's published data.
| Detector | Technology | Waterproof | Weight | Coil in the box | Skill level | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All-round beginner detectors | ||||||
| Nokta Simplex Ultra | VLF 15 kHz | 16 ft (5 m), IP68, whole unit | 2.6 lb | 11 in DD | Beginner | Parks, freshwater and dry sand for first-time buyers |
| Garrett ACE 300 | VLF 8 kHz | Not submersible (keep the control box dry) | 2.8 lb | 7 x 10 in concentric | Beginner | Parks, yards and ball fields in fair weather |
| Minelab X-TERRA PRO | VLF 5 / 8 / 10 / 15 kHz | 16 ft (5 m), IP68, whole unit | 2.9 lb | 12 x 9 in V12X DD | Beginner to intermediate | Coins and relics across changing ground |
| Nokta FindX Pro | VLF 15 kHz | 16 ft (5 m), whole unit | 2.6 lb | 11 in DD | Beginner | Gift buyers and anyone who wants one box, ready to go |
| Multi-frequency on a budget | ||||||
| Minelab VANQUISH 360 / 460 | Multi-IQ | 16 ft (5 m), IP68, whole unit | 2.6 lb (360) | 10 x 7 in V10X DD | Beginner | Saltwater beaches and mineralized ground on a budget |
| Small gold | ||||||
| Nokta Gold Kruzer | VLF 61 kHz | 16 ft (5 m), IP68, whole unit | 3 lb | 7.5 x 4 in DD + 10 x 5.5 in concentric | Intermediate | Small gold nuggets in mineralized ground |
Each pick below gets an overall score out of 100 and five metric bars: depth, target separation, Target ID accuracy (how steady and trustworthy the numbers are, which iron discrimination directly affects), ease of use and value. Scores are our editorial judgment from field use and customer feedback, scored against other detectors in this price range.
The Six Cheap Detectors We Actually Recommend
In rough order of how often we recommend them. Every one is a machine we'd put in a beginner's hands without hedging.
1. Nokta Simplex Ultra - The One We Hand Most Beginners
15 kHz VLF | Waterproof to 16 ft (5 m) | 11 in DD coil | Bluetooth audio | 2.6 lb | 3-year warranty
Depth 7.5
Target Separation 7.5
Target ID Accuracy 8.0
Ease of Use 9.5
Value 9.5
Pros
-
Whole detector submersible to 16 ft (IP68) -
Shallow menu you can learn in an afternoon
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Bluetooth wireless audio built in
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Rechargeable lithium battery, charges over USB
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Coin & Relic ID scale and 3-year warranty
Cons
-
Single frequency, so salty wet sand makes it chatter -
One coil in the box
-
Headphones not included with the base package
If a stranger walked into the shop and gave us thirty seconds to recommend one cheap detector, the Nokta Simplex Ultra would be the answer almost every time. We've watched a lot of customers come back six months later with their first silver dime, their first wedding band or their first old button, and the Simplex has been the machine under their arm more often than not.
What it does well: clean audio, a target ID stable enough to learn from, a menu shallow enough that you won't read the manual twice, and a whole-unit rating to 16 ft underwater. The 11 in DD coil is a sensible all-round choice, and Bluetooth audio works the way wireless audio should.
What to know going in: the Simplex Ultra runs a single 15 kHz frequency. It is not a simultaneous multi-frequency detector, so salt-soaked wet sand will give it more trouble than it gives a Multi-IQ machine. For parks, freshwater and dry beach that gap won't matter. If saltwater is your main ground, look at the Minelab VANQUISH. Browse the full Nokta Simplex Ultra collection for bundles with a pinpointer and digger.
Shop the Nokta Simplex Ultra →
2. Garrett ACE 300 - The Reliable Workhorse
8 kHz VLF | 5 search modes | 7 x 10 in PROformance concentric coil | 0 to 99 Target ID | 2.8 lb | 3-year warranty
Depth 7.0
Target Separation 7.0
Target ID Accuracy 7.5
Ease of Use 9.5
Value 8.5
Pros
-
Turn it on, swing, dig: nothing to misconfigure
-
5 search modes plus pinpoint
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0 to 99 digital Target ID with iron discrimination
-
Runs on 4 AA batteries (included)
-
Decades of tutorials and a huge owner base
Cons
-
Control box isn't waterproof
-
8 kHz is on the low side for tiny gold jewelry
-
No wireless audio
The Garrett ACE series has been the default first-detector recommendation in North America for two decades, and the Garrett ACE 300 is the most balanced model in that line. Garrett has been building detectors since 1964, the controls are dead simple, and a kid can swing it for an afternoon without complaining.
Five search modes (Zero Disc, Jewelry, Custom, Relics, Coins), eight sensitivity levels, an 8 kHz operating frequency, a 7 x 10 in PROformance concentric coil and a 0 to 99 Target ID scale. No Bluetooth, no waterproof control box and no multi-frequency, and that simplicity is the point.
Where it shines: parks, lawns, yards, schoolyards, ball fields and church grounds. Where it falls short: small gold jewelry and anything wet. This is a fair-weather, dry-grass machine; if you'll hunt wet sand or surf, the Simplex or Vanquish is the better buy. We've dug a lot of silver Mercury dimes with ACE detectors over the years.
3. Minelab X-TERRA PRO - The Versatile Pick for Hunters Who Move Around
5, 8, 10 or 15 kHz (PRO-SWITCH) | Waterproof to 16 ft (5 m) | 12 x 9 in V12X DD coil | 2.9 lb | 3-year warranty
Depth 8.5
Target Separation 8.0
Target ID Accuracy 8.0
Ease of Use 8.5
Value 9.0
Pros
-
Four frequencies to retune for the target you want
-
Park, Field and Beach modes, two profiles each
-
Whole unit waterproof to 16 ft (IP68)
-
Large 12 x 9 in coil for coverage and depth
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Same menu logic as the EQUINOX and Manticore
Cons
-
One frequency at a time, not simultaneous multi
-
Wireless headphones cost extra
-
A little more to learn than the Simplex or ACE
The Minelab X-TERRA PRO brought serious adjustability under $300. Minelab's PRO-SWITCH gives you four selectable frequencies (5, 8, 10 and 15 kHz), three search modes (Park, Field, Beach) with two profiles each, and full 16 ft waterproofing.
In practice this is one detector that adapts to where you hunt. Big silver in an old farm field? Drop to 5 kHz. A small gold ring at a freshwater swimming hole? Push it to 15 kHz. The interface follows the same Minelab logic as the EQUINOX and Manticore, so if you upgrade later you'll already know the menus.
Worth being clear about: it runs one frequency at a time. On salty wet sand a Multi-IQ machine like the Vanquish is steadier. Nearly everywhere else, being able to retune for the target you're chasing makes it the most versatile machine in this price band.
Shop the Minelab X-TERRA PRO →
4. Minelab VANQUISH 360 / 460 - The Cheapest Real Multi-Frequency We Sell
Multi-IQ simultaneous multi-frequency | Waterproof to 16 ft (5 m) | 10 x 7 in V10X DD coil | 2.6 lb (360) | 3-year warranty
Depth 8.0
Target Separation 8.0
Target ID Accuracy 8.5
Ease of Use 9.0
Value 9.0
Pros
-
True simultaneous multi-frequency (Multi-IQ)
-
Steady on salty wet sand where single-frequency machines chatter
-
Now fully waterproof to 16 ft (IP68)
-
Built-in lithium battery, up to 10 hours
-
119 Target IDs and a 3-year warranty
Cons
-
360 has only Park, Beach and All Metal modes
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Field mode and Bluetooth start on the 460
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Fewer adjustments than the X-TERRA PRO
This is the pick we wish more beginners knew about. Simultaneous multi-frequency used to cost several times what the VANQUISH does. The Minelab VANQUISH 360 brings Minelab's Multi-IQ, the same technology family as the EQUINOX, to the bottom of this price band. The VANQUISH 460 adds a Field mode and Bluetooth audio for a little more.
Why multi-frequency matters: salt, hot rocks and trashy soil throw false signals at single-frequency detectors. Multi-IQ transmits several frequencies at once and reconciles the readings, so the Target ID holds steady where a Simplex or ACE 300 would chatter. On a saltwater beach or iron-laden farm dirt, it rolls through.
What changed: the current 360, 460 and 560 are fully waterproof to 16 ft with a built-in lithium battery, which the older 340, 440 and 540 did not have; those three had a waterproof coil only. The 60 series succeeds them, and as of October 2026 we stock the 360, 460 and 560. The VANQUISH 560 steps up to a 12 x 9 in coil, five tones and Iron Bias if your budget stretches.
Shop the Minelab VANQUISH 360 / 460 →
5. Nokta FindX Pro - The Ready-to-Hunt Bundle
15 kHz VLF | Waterproof to 16 ft (5 m) | 11 in DD coil | Headphones included | 2.6 lb | 2-year warranty
Depth 7.5
Target Separation 7.0
Target ID Accuracy 7.5
Ease of Use 9.5
Value 9.5
Pros
-
Headphones in the box
-
Fully submersible to 16 ft
-
About 12 hours per USB charge
-
Field, Park, Beach and Jewelry modes
-
The lowest price of any pick here
Cons
-
Single frequency, so salt wet sand is a struggle
-
Fewer adjustments than the Simplex Ultra
-
2-year warranty, shorter than most picks here
The Nokta FindX Pro is the answer for someone who wants to open one box, charge one battery and start hunting. It ships with headphones, a waterproof 11 in DD coil and a lithium battery that runs about 12 hours per USB charge, and the whole detector is submersible to 16 ft.
Four search modes (Field, Park, Beach, Jewelry), a 0 to 99 Target ID, a retractable shaft that fits younger or smaller hunters, and a weight of 2.6 lb. For travel hunters, gift buyers and anyone who hates buying accessories piecemeal, it's the cleanest entry into the hobby we sell.
Fair trade-off: it sits behind the Simplex Ultra on adjustability and behind the Vanquish on saltwater. What it does better than either is land in your hands complete and ready to hunt, at the lowest price on this list.
6. Nokta Gold Kruzer - The Cheap Pick for Small Gold
61 kHz VLF | Waterproof to 16 ft (5 m) | 7.5 x 4 in DD and 10 x 5.5 in concentric coils | 2.4 GHz wireless headphones | 3 lb
Depth 6.5
Target Separation 8.0
Target ID Accuracy 7.0
Ease of Use 7.5
Value 8.5
Pros
-
61 kHz: sensitive to sub-gram gold
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Two coils and wireless headphones in the box
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Whole unit waterproof to 16 ft
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Up to 19 hours per charge
-
Gen, Fast, Boost and Micro modes
Cons
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Less depth on coins than the general-purpose picks
-
A specialist, not an all-rounder
-
Check stock before you plan around it
Gold prospecting is its own world. Most cheap general-purpose detectors run between 8 and 15 kHz, which is fine for clad and silver but nearly blind to sub-gram nuggets. Small gold wants a high-frequency machine, and the Nokta Gold Kruzer runs at 61 kHz, serious gold-hunting territory at a price most dedicated gold detectors can't touch.
It ships with a 7.5 x 4 in DD and a 10 x 5.5 in concentric coil, IP68 waterproofing to 16 ft, four modes (Gen All Metal, Fast, Boost, Micro) and 2.4 GHz wireless headphones. High frequency plus full waterproofing is unusual at this price: it can chase nuggets in a desert wash and gold rings in waist-deep water.
The trade-off: depth on coins. For park coin shooting the Simplex, X-TERRA PRO or ACE 300 will get more depth on a clad dime. The Kruzer is a specialist tool, and it is scored that way.
In-stock alternatives for gold
Fisher Gold Bug Pro
A 19 kHz gold machine that is easier on moderately mineralized ground and a classic first gold detector. Shop the Gold Bug Pro
Minelab Gold Monster 1000
45 kHz with automatic ground tracking and almost no menu to learn. Above this guide's budget, but the simplest serious gold VLF we sell. Shop the Gold Monster 1000
For every tier of gold machine, browse the gold detectors collection or read our Best Gold Metal Detectors guide.
How to Choose Your First Cheap Detector
Specs matter, but most beginners obsess over the wrong ones. After years of helping people pick their first machine, we keep coming back to the same five questions. Answer them and your shortlist narrows itself.
Where will you hunt 80% of the time?
Be honest. A trip to Aruba twice a year matters less than your actual weekend ground. The right detector for parks isn't the right one for saltwater, and neither is right for desert gold.
| Where you hunt | What you need | Our picks |
|---|---|---|
| Parks, yards, schoolyards, churches | Almost any single-frequency detector | ACE 300, Simplex Ultra, X-TERRA PRO, FindX Pro |
| Freshwater rivers, lakes, swimming holes | Full waterproofing | Simplex Ultra, X-TERRA PRO, FindX Pro, VANQUISH |
| Saltwater beaches and wet sand | True multi-frequency | VANQUISH 360, 460 or 560. See beach metal detectors |
| Mineralized soil (red dirt, hot rocks) | Multi-frequency or high frequency | VANQUISH, Gold Kruzer |
| Gold prospecting | A dedicated high-frequency gold machine | Gold Kruzer, Gold Bug Pro. See gold detectors |
| Old homesites and relic fields | Iron handling and tight separation | X-TERRA PRO at 5 kHz. See relic detectors |
What do you actually want to find?
Different targets respond best to different operating frequencies. It is the single most useful spec to understand before you buy.
Silver, copper, large brass
Lower frequencies (4 to 8 kHz) hit these hardest and deepest. The X-TERRA PRO at 5 kHz.
Clad coins, general coin shooting
Mid-range (8 to 13 kHz). The ACE 300 at 8 kHz is dialed in here.
Gold jewelry, smaller targets
Mid to high (13 to 20 kHz). The Simplex Ultra and FindX Pro at 15 kHz, or the X-TERRA PRO's 15 kHz setting.
Tiny gold nuggets
30 kHz and up. The Gold Kruzer at 61 kHz is in a different league.
A bit of everything
True multi-frequency. The VANQUISH line at this price.
How much do you want to learn before you hunt?
Some detectors are turn-on-and-go. Others reward you only after ten hours in a menu. Neither is better, but they aren't the same machine.
1Hunting today, no patience for menus
Garrett ACE 300, Nokta Simplex Ultra, Nokta FindX Pro.
2One weekend of learning is fine
Minelab X-TERRA PRO, VANQUISH 360 or 460.
3Want to go deep on settings
The VANQUISH 560, or save for an EQUINOX 700.
How important is waterproofing?
More important than most beginners realize. A waterproof detector lets you hunt creeks, lake bottoms, surf and rainy days without worry, and it survives the thunderstorm you will eventually get caught in. Five of the six picks here are fully submersible to 16 ft; only the ACE 300 needs to stay dry. See the full waterproof metal detectors collection.
What's your real, all-in budget?
The detector price isn't the total. A real beginner kit looks more like this:
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Detector | about $230 to $550 |
| Pinpointer (finds the target in the hole) | $80 to $160 |
| Digger or hand trowel | $20 to $60 |
| Sand scoop, if you'll hunt beaches | $25 to $120 |
| Finds pouch and bag | $20 to $40 |
| Coil cover, headphones if not included, batteries | $20 to $80 |
All-in
Plan on $350 to $900 for a complete starter kit. Many picks come in bundles with a pinpointer and digger; see the beginner and intermediate detectors collection for kit options.
Best Cheap Metal Detector by Price Bracket
Most beginners shop by price first and features second. Fair enough. Here's the bracket-by-bracket breakdown.
Best Metal Detector Under $200
Honest answer: this bracket is thin. The under $200 collection has a few real machines from real brands, like the Minelab GO-FIND 44, which is fine for casual family hunts but only reads targets in four broad segments. If you can stretch to the Nokta FindX Pro at about $230, you get a full 0 to 99 Target ID, headphones and 16 ft waterproofing, and that is the money we'd spend. Avoid no-name detectors here; the savings aren't worth the frustration.
Best Metal Detector Under $300
The sweet spot, and where the most-recommended cheap detectors live: the Nokta FindX Pro, the Minelab VANQUISH 360, the Garrett ACE 300, the Minelab X-TERRA PRO and the Nokta Simplex Ultra. If we had to hand one beginner one detector under $300, it would be the Simplex Ultra. Browse the $200 to $400 metal detectors collection.
Best Metal Detector Under $400
Stretching toward $400 buys you more multi-frequency. The VANQUISH 460 adds Field mode and Bluetooth LE Audio to the 360, the VANQUISH 560 moves up to a 12 x 9 in coil with Iron Bias, and Garrett's multi-frequency ACE Apex starts here. It's also where bundles with a pinpointer and digger land, which is often better value than more raw spec.
Best Metal Detector Under $600
The Nokta Gold Kruzer is the standout if gold is your priority, with the Fisher Gold Bug Pro as the alternative when the Kruzer is out of stock. Otherwise this is the band where you should ask whether you've outgrown a cheap detector and look at the $400 to $1,000 collection for an EQUINOX 700 or similar.
What Makes a Cheap Detector Actually Worth Buying
Marketing tells you to look at depth, weight and frequency. The more useful filter has three things on it.
Real-world target ID stability
If a toy detector reads the same penny as 28 today and 67 tomorrow, it's worthless: you'll dig everything. The detectors above are stable enough to build pattern recognition, and that's what separates a real machine from a toy.
Brand support that exists
Nokta, Minelab, Garrett, Fisher and XP publish firmware, honor warranties and have communities you can turn to. Buy from an authorized dealer and you'll have someone to call. Serious Detecting is an authorized dealer for every brand we sell.
An upgrade path that doesn't punish you
The best cheap detectors teach the same conventions as the flagships. The X-TERRA PRO and VANQUISH prepare you for the EQUINOX and Manticore; the Simplex for the Nokta Legend 2; the ACE 300 for the ACE Apex and Vortex.
When to Step Up to a Mid-Range or Flagship
Customers ask all the time whether they should just save for an EQUINOX or Manticore. Our call: only if you've already outgrown a cheap detector. Here's the rule of thumb.
1Stay cheap
about $230 to $550
You're brand new, you hunt mostly land or freshwater, or you aren't sure you'll stick with the hobby.
2Mid-tier
About $500 to $1,000
You've researched the hobby, know you'll commit, and want one machine you won't outgrow for years. The EQUINOX 700 lives here.
3Flagship
$1,000 and up
You've had a cheap detector and know exactly what you want more of. Read our flagship detectors guide first.
For mid-range options, browse the $400 to $1,000 collection. For flagships, see the $1,000 to $3,000 collection.
Other Guides You Might Need
This page covers the cheap end of the market. For other tiers and use cases:
By tier
- Best Metal Detectors, the overall lineup across every tier
- Best Metal Detector for Beginners
- Best Flagship Metal Detectors, for when you're ready to step up
By use case
- Best Metal Detectors for Kids
- Best Metal Detectors for Coins
- Best Beach Metal Detectors
- Best Gold Metal Detectors
- Best Relic Metal Detectors
- Best Pinpointers
By brand
- Best Minelab Metal Detectors
- Best Nokta Metal Detectors
- Best Garrett Metal Detectors
- Best Fisher Metal Detectors
- Metal Detector Comparison Guides, brand-by-brand analysis
Ready to Start Hunting?
Browse the full metal detectors collection, the beginner and intermediate detectors or the specials and promotions for current deals.
Shop Cheap Metal Detectors
View all $200 to $400 Metal Detectors →
Beginner and Intermediate Detectors
Authorized U.S. dealer pricing and full manufacturer warranties. Call (844) 771-0707 or email support@seriousdetecting.com for a second opinion.
Jump to a model: Simplex Ultra · ACE 300 · X-TERRA PRO · VANQUISH 360 · FindX Pro · Gold Kruzer
About the Author
Evan K is a detectorist who hunts Great Lakes swim beaches, rivers and surf, and writes detector buying guides for Serious Detecting, an authorized dealer for Minelab, XP, Nokta, Garrett and Fisher. The team answers the phone at (844) 771-0707 and would rather talk you into the right detector than sell you the wrong one.