Best Gold Prospecting Metal Detectors of 2025

Toby Butcher Avatar
Toby Butcher
Last Updated: 2 Feb 2025

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Gold prospecting metal detectors are specially designed devices that help detect the presence of gold in soil, rocks, and water. These detectors work by emitting an electromagnetic field that interacts with metallic objects in the ground, producing a signal that can be detected by the device. They come equipped with advanced features such as ground balance adjustment, target identification, and discrimination capabilities that make them ideal for gold prospecting. Whether you are a professional or hobbyist gold prospector, these metal detectors can greatly enhance your chances of finding gold deposits.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

SAFEBAO Portable Folding Sluice Box Kit Cover #TOP 1
SAFEBAO Portable Folding Sluice Box Kit
ftb score rating icon 9.8
XP Metal Detectors Gold Prospecting Kit Cover #TOP 2
XP Metal Detectors Gold Prospecting Kit
ftb score rating icon 9.7
SE 3 Quart Sand Scoop Sifter for Prospecting Cover #TOP 3
SE 3 Quart Sand Scoop Sifter for Prospecting
ftb score rating icon 9.5

Top 7 Gold Prospecting Metal Detectors

#TOP 1

SAFEBAO Portable Folding Sluice Box Kit

TS-428echo
sliver
50 inch
SAFEBAO Portable Folding Sluice Box Kit Cover
SAFEBAO Folding Aluminum Alloy Sluice Box, Portable Gold Prospecting Equipment, Gold panning kit for Gold Mining for River, Creek, Gold Panning, Prospecting, Dredging

The SAFEBAO Sluice Box is an essential tool for gold prospecting enthusiasts. Its portable design allows you to easily carry it on outdoor adventures, thanks to the adjustable shoulder belt. The lightweight aluminium alloy construction ensures durability while remaining easy to manage. With a 4-layer filtration system, this sluice box effectively separates debris and gold, simplifying the mining process for you. Quick assembly and compact storage make it convenient for any gold mining environment.

What We Like
Portable and lightweight design
Effective 4-layer filtration system
Easy to assemble and store
Adjustable carrying belt
#TOP 2

XP Metal Detectors Gold Prospecting Kit

XP Metal Detectors Gold Prospecting Kit Cover
XP Metal Detectors Kit of Accessories for Gold Prospecting Including 2 Mini Tubes, a Magnifier, a Vial, a Pipette, and a 150 ml Suction Bottle.(GP-KIT)

The XP Gold Prospecting Kit is essential for any gold prospector. It includes two mini tubes, allowing you to securely store your finds. The magnifying glass, with its 3x and 6x zoom, helps you inspect tiny details with ease. A vial is also included for safely containing your discoveries, while the 150 ml suction bottle makes retrieving small items both simple and efficient. This kit is designed to enhance your prospecting experience and ensure you can make the most of your finds.

What We Like
Includes essential prospecting tools
Secure storage for your finds
Magnifying glass for detailed inspection
Convenient suction bottle for retrieval
#TOP 3

SE 3 Quart Sand Scoop Sifter for Prospecting

SE
GP3-SS20
Green
SE 3 Quart Sand Scoop Sifter for Prospecting Cover
SE 3 Quart Sand Scoop Sifter with 0.5" Holes - Use for Gold and Metal Prospecting, Green

The SE Sand Scoop Sifter is an excellent tool for gold and metal prospecting. Weighing less than a quarter of a pound, its lightweight design ensures that you won’t feel burdened during your adventures. When using a metal detector, this scoop allows you to easily locate treasures by simply scooping and shaking the sand to sift out debris. With a generous 3 quart capacity, you can sift a larger amount at once, enhancing your efficiency. Additionally, the 0.5" holes are designed for dry sand, ensuring that your finds remain secure while allowing sand to fall away quickly.

What We Like
Lightweight design for easy handling
Efficient sifting with large capacity
Ideal for dry sand use
Convenient for treasure hunting
#TOP 4

SE 9.25 Inch Brass Probe for Metal Detecting

SE
GP3-19CP
SE 9.25 Inch Brass Probe for Metal Detecting Cover
SE 9.25 Inch Non-Marring Brass Metal Detecting Probe for Gold Prospecting and Coin Collecting

The SE Brass Metal Probe is a perfect tool for gold prospecting and coin collecting. Its non-marring feature ensures that you can search for valuable finds without damaging them. As you probe deep into the earth, the brass material protects your discoveries, keeping them intact. This means you can confidently explore various terrains, knowing that your precious artifacts will remain unharmed. The probe's design allows for easy handling, making your metal detecting experience more enjoyable and efficient.

What We Like
Non-marring design protects finds
Durable brass material
Easy to handle
Ideal for gold prospecting
Great for coin collecting
#TOP 5

HOOMYA Professional Metal Detector with Waterproof Coil

HOOMYA
1071
1071
HOOMYA Professional Metal Detector with Waterproof Coil Cover
HOOMYA Metal Detectors for Adults Professional - High Sensitivity Waterproof Search Coil, 4 Adjustable Modes, LCD Backlight Display, Pinpoint Function, Ideal for Gold Detection

The HOOMYA Metal Detector offers a range of features designed for both beginners and experienced treasure hunters. With four adjustable modes, including DISC and NOTCH, you can easily exclude unwanted metals, enhancing your treasure hunting experience. Its high accuracy and sensitivity allow you to detect various metal types efficiently, while the 10” waterproof search coil enables you to search in shallow waters. The adjustable LCD display ensures visibility in all lighting conditions, making your searches more convenient and enjoyable.

What We Like
Multiple treasure hunting modes
High accuracy and sensitivity
Waterproof search coil
Adjustable LCD display
Comfortable arm rest design
#TOP 6

SE Blue Prospector's Scoop for Gold Panning

SE
GP3-SS22BL
Blue
SE Blue Prospector's Scoop for Gold Panning Cover
SE Blue Prospector's Scoop - 12.5" Heavy-Duty Plastic Tool for Metal Detecting, Gold Panning, Treasure Hunting, and Gardening

The SE Prospector's Scoop is an essential tool for gold prospecting and more. Its lightweight design, weighing only 0.01 ounces, ensures it won't add unnecessary bulk to your adventure bag. The non-metallic construction makes it easy to detect metals while using a metal detector, allowing you to quickly identify gold in wet sand or shallow water. Plus, its heavy-duty plastic material resists rust and corrosion, making it ideal for use in any weather condition. This multi-purpose scoop is perfect for gardening, treasure hunting, and gold panning.

What We Like
Lightweight and portable
Non-metallic for easy detection
Rust and corrosion resistant
Multi-purpose use
#TOP 7

Sweetone IP66 Waterproof Handheld Pinpointer

orange
Sweetone IP66 Waterproof Handheld Pinpointer Cover
Metal Detector Pinpointer, Metal Detectors for Adults & Kids, IP66 Waterproof Handheld Pin Pointer with Holster, 360° Scan Detector Portable Metal Detector Great for Gold, Silver, Coins

The Sweetone Pinpointer Detector is an excellent tool for both adults and children, designed for efficient treasure hunting. Its high sensitivity allows you to scan large areas quickly, while the precise positioning tips enable you to accurately locate targets before digging. With easy operation, a single button activates an LED light, sound, and vibration alerts, helping you find metal objects effortlessly. The 360° detection technology further enhances your searching capabilities, allowing you to cover more ground with less effort.

What We Like
High sensitivity for precise detection
Easy one-button operation
360° scanning capability
Detects various metal types
Waterproof for all conditions
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What metal detector can detect gold?

Can Metal Detectors Find Gold? As far as gold-hunting detectors go, there are two types—very low frequency (VLF) and pulse induction (PI). VLF detectors designed to find gold, feature a higher operating frequency than other models in order to offer greater sensitivity to small gold nuggets.

2. Can metal detectors detect gold ore?

Metal detectors provide an exciting means of locating gold and other mineral specimens. They have long been known as highly effective prospecting tools for finding larger mineral deposits. There are countless areas to search—some more advantageous than others. Dry arid climates are popular for meteorite detecting.

3. Can you find gold nuggets with a metal detector?

Sure there have been some big gold nuggets found over the years, but the vast majority of gold nuggets are pretty small; under 1 gram in size. You need a sensitive detector to find them. ... This will give most cheap metal detectors fits! In fact, most multi-purpose metal detectors are almost worthless in the goldfields.

Editor's Notes

During our gold prospecting metal detector research, we found 169 gold prospecting metal detector products and shortlisted 7 quality products. We collected and analyzed 35,855 customer reviews through our big data system to write the gold prospecting metal detectors list. We found that most customers choose gold prospecting metal detectors with an average price of £55.60.

The gold prospecting metal detectors are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of gold prospecting metal detectors, including SAFEBAO, xp metal detectors, SE, HOOMYA, Sweetone.

Written by
Toby Butcher Avatar

Toby Butcher is a Horticulturist, and he earned his title as a Master Gardener in 2016. Toby has acquired a 25-year experience as a home gardener planting, designing, grooming vegetables and flowers. He is the leader of a plant group in Durham. Toby owns a blog where he publishes articles on growing and growing your flowers at home, in a vase, or in a garden.