Independent UK metal-detecting guidance
Find the right detector for your ground.
Straight answers on detectors, settings and responsible fieldcraft—built around the places you will actually search.
Our broadest beginner fit
Minelab VANQUISH 360Multi-frequency · 1.16 kg · fully waterproofWhy it leads our shortlist →A sensible first route
Start with the day you want to have
The right detector comes after the ground, permission and the amount of control you want—not before them.
Get permission clear
Know where you can search and agree what happens to finds.
Match the ground
Tell the finder whether fields, parks or salt beaches matter most.
Build the whole kit
Leave room for a pinpointer, recovery tool and finds pouch.
Learn clean signals
Practise sweep speed, overlap and careful target recovery.
Detector finder · 3 questions
Narrow the field, without the feature fog
Choose the ground you expect to search, how much control you want and your detector-only budget. We score the five current beginner options against those answers.
This is an editorial fit tool, not a performance guarantee. It weights ground suitability most heavily, then controls and budget.
Explore by task
Practical guidance, from first sweep to finds care
Detector catalogue
Filter credible beginner machines by ground, budget and waterproofing.
Compare detectors → 02Field kit
Pinpointers, digging tools, headphones and the small things that save time.
Build your kit → 03Technique
Settings, sweep discipline, target ID and careful recovery.
Improve your method → 04Permission & law
Ownership, protected places and the reporting routes that matter.
Search responsibly → 05Finds care
Record context, store objects safely and avoid damaging cleaning.
Care for finds → 06Your first day
A calm checklist for arriving prepared and leaving the ground as you found it.
Start here →The ground rule
Every place has an owner. Permission comes before the first signal.Read the UK permissions guide