Under $500 now buys a detector that is fully waterproof, runs several frequencies at once, and pairs with wireless headphones. A few years ago, a machine that was both waterproof and multi-frequency started well above that. The lineups also changed a lot recently: several detectors that older lists recommend have been replaced by newer models or now cost more than $500.
Every price here is a typical US price from the maker or a major dealer, checked in September 2026.
The short answer
- Best overall: Minelab Vanquish 560 ($399). Multi-frequency, waterproof to 5 m (16 ft), a 12-inch coil, and wireless audio.
- Best under $300: Minelab Vanquish 360 ($249). The cheapest fully waterproof multi-frequency detector on this list.
- Most frequency options: Garrett Ace Apex ($385). Four single frequencies plus two multi-frequency modes, one of them tuned for salt water.
- Simplest waterproof machine: Nokta Simplex Ultra ($299 to $349). One frequency, short menus, submersible to 5 m.
- Pick your frequency: Minelab X-Terra Pro (about $300). Four selectable frequencies and fully waterproof.
All nine at a glance
| Detector | Typical US price | Frequency | Water | Coil |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minelab Vanquish 560 | $399 | Multi (simultaneous) | Submersible, 5 m | 12 x 9 in DD |
| Minelab Vanquish 460 | $349 | Multi (simultaneous) | Submersible, 5 m | V10X |
| Minelab Vanquish 360 | $249 | Multi (simultaneous) | Submersible, 5 m | V10X |
| Garrett Ace Apex | $385 | Multi, or 5 / 10 / 15 / 20 kHz | Coil only | 6 x 11 in DD |
| Nokta Double Score | $349 to $399 | Multi, or 15 kHz | Submersible, 5 m | 12 x 9 in DD |
| Minelab X-Terra Pro | about $300 | 5 / 8 / 10 / 15 kHz | Submersible, 5 m | 12 x 9 in DD |
| Nokta Simplex Ultra | $299 to $349 | 15 kHz | Submersible, 5 m | 11 in DD |
| Garrett Ace 400 | about $360 | 10 kHz | Coil only | 8.5 x 11 in DD |
| Fisher F44 | $309 to $379 | 7.69 kHz | Rain only (IP54) | 11 in concentric |
What matters at this price
Frequency. A single-frequency detector runs one frequency. Lower ones (around 5 to 8 kHz) favor larger coins and silver at depth, higher ones (15 kHz and up) pick up small gold and thin jewelry better. A selectable machine lets you switch between a few. A simultaneous multi-frequency machine runs several at once, which keeps it steadier on wet salt sand and in mineralized soil, the two places where single-frequency detectors struggle most.
Waterproofing.“Submersible to 5 m” means the whole detector can go into the surf or a river. “Coil only” means rain and wet grass are fine and the coil can go in shallow water, but the control box has to stay dry. IP54 handles rain and nothing more. If you ever plan to detect the wet sand at the waterline, buy a submersible machine.
Coil. A larger coil covers more ground per swing and reads a little deeper on bigger targets. A smaller coil separates targets better where there is a lot of trash. DD coils cope with mineralized ground better than concentric ones.
Weight and battery. Check the weight if long sessions tire your arm; the Ace Apex, at 2.5 pounds, is the lightest with a published figure here. Most detectors now have a built-in rechargeable battery, which is convenient until it runs flat in the field, so check the run time.
The nine detectors
Minelab Vanquish 560: best overall
$399.The top model in Minelab's current Vanquish line, and the one to buy if you can reach $400. It runs Multi-IQ, Minelab's simultaneous multi-frequency, and it is fully waterproof to 5 m (16 ft). It comes with the 12 x 9 inch V12X coil and wired headphones, and it supports Bluetooth LE Audio for wireless ones. Five target tones and four levels of iron bias give you more control than the cheaper Vanquish models, and a charge lasts up to 10 hours.
- Good for: one detector for parks, fields and the beach.
- Watch out for: fewer manual settings than mid-range machines, so detectorists who like to fine-tune everything may outgrow it.
Minelab Vanquish 460: the 560 for less
$349. The same Multi-IQ and the same 5 m waterproofing as the 560, with the smaller V10X coil, three target tones, and three levels of iron bias. It keeps Bluetooth LE Audio for wireless headphones.
- Good for: most of what the 560 does, on a smaller budget.
- Watch out for: the smaller coil covers less ground per swing in open fields.
Minelab Vanquish 360: best under $300
$249. The cheapest way into a fully waterproof multi-frequency detector. It has the V10X coil and three tones, but the iron bias is fixed and there is no wireless audio.
- Good for: a first detector that can also go to the beach.
- Watch out for: you cannot adjust how it treats iron, which matters on old home sites full of nails.
Garrett Ace Apex: most frequency options
$385, or $448 with wireless headphones(Garrett's own prices). Garrett's Multi-Flex gives you four single frequencies (5, 10, 15 and 20 kHz), a multi-frequency mode for general use, and a Multi-Salt mode for the beach. It ships with the 6 x 11 inch Viper DD coil, which is fully waterproof, has Z-Lynk wireless built in, runs about 15 hours on a charge, weighs 2.5 pounds, and carries a three-year warranty.
- Good for: learning what different frequencies do on your own ground, and iron-heavy sites where the narrow coil helps separate targets.
- Watch out for: the coil is waterproof but the control box is only weatherproof, so no wading.
Nokta Double Score: a waterproof multi-frequency alternative
$349 to $399. Some dealers list it as the Score 2. It runs simultaneous multi-frequency or a single 15 kHz mode, is submersible to 5 m (16 ft), weighs 2.7 pounds with its 12 x 9 inch DD coil, and runs up to 12 hours on a charge. It has three search modes: Park, Field and Beach.
- Good for: beach and field detecting if you prefer Nokta to Minelab.
- Watch out for: check the model name carefully when you buy, because dealers name the Score models differently.
Minelab X-Terra Pro: pick your frequency
About $300. Instead of running frequencies at once, the X-Terra Pro lets you choose one of four: 5, 8, 10 or 15 kHz. It is submersible to 5 m (16 ft), comes with the 12 x 9 inch V12X coil, and has Park, Field and Beach modes.
- Good for: detectorists who want to match the frequency to the site, lower for deep coins and higher for small gold.
- Watch out for: only one frequency at a time, so wet salt sand is harder going than on a multi-frequency machine.
Nokta Simplex Ultra: simplest waterproof machine
$299 to $349. A single-frequency detector at 15 kHz that is fully submersible to 5 m (16 ft) and weighs 2.6 pounds with its 11-inch DD coil. It has six modes (Field, Park, 4 Tone, 99 Tone, Beach and All Metal), a built-in rechargeable battery, and a three-year warranty.
- Good for: a tough, simple first detector that shrugs off rain and shallow water.
- Watch out for: one fixed frequency, so no switching for different ground.
Garrett Ace 400: classic, but check the price
About $360 (list price $399.95).A 10 kHz single-frequency detector with an 8.5 x 11 inch DD coil that is waterproof, and Garrett's Iron Audio, which lets you hear iron as its own low tone so you can decide what to dig.
- Good for: parks, yards and fields.
- Watch out for: at today's prices the Ace Apex costs about the same and adds multi-frequency. Unless you find the 400 on sale, the Apex is the better buy.
Fisher F44: coins in dry parks
$309 to $379. A 7.69 kHz single-frequency detector with an IP54 weatherproof control box and an 11-inch concentric coil.
- Good for: coins in parks and yards.
- Watch out for: rain is fine but water is not, and concentric coils handle mineralized ground less well than DD coils.
Worth stretching past $500?
Two detectors from older lists now cost more than $500 in the US.
- XP ORX (from $549, $749 to $799 with the high-frequency coil): fully wireless and very light. The high-frequency coils suit small gold.
- Nokta Legend (about $595 to $699 with wireless headphones): two simultaneous multi-frequency modes plus five single frequencies (4, 10, 15, 20 and 40 kHz), waterproof to 3 m (10 ft), 3 pounds. Nokta also sells a newer Legend 2.
For parks, fields and beaches, the Vanquish 560 and Ace Apex cover the same ground for less. Stretch only if you want gold capability or the Legend's extra frequencies.
How much does a metal detector cost?
- Under $200: entry-level and children's detectors. Fine for trying the hobby, usually without full waterproofing or multi-frequency.
- $250 to $400: the sweet spot for a first serious detector. Fully waterproof multi-frequency machines start here, with the Vanquish 360 at $249.
- $400 to $700: more settings, more coil options and wireless audio. The Vanquish 560 packages, the XP ORX and the Nokta Legend sit here.
- $1,000 and up: flagships such as the Minelab Manticore and the XP Deus II.
Budget another $100 to $200 for a pinpointer, a proper digging tool and a finds pouch. Some detectors include headphones, like the wired pair that comes with the Vanquish 560.
Which one should you buy?
- Mostly beaches: a submersible multi-frequency machine, so the Vanquish 560, 460 or 360, or the Double Score. Then read when to go by the tides.
- Mostly parks and yards: anything on this list works. The Vanquish 460 or 560 and the Ace Apex are the most versatile.
- Farm fields and old home sites: the Ace Apex or the Vanquish 560. Finding those sites is half the work, so learn how to read old maps and how to ask landowners.
- Small gold nuggets: none of these is a gold machine. Look at high-frequency options such as the XP ORX with an HF coil.
- Tightest budget: the Vanquish 360.
After you buy
A better detector only finds more on ground you have not already searched. SweepTrack Pro draws your path on the map as you walk, so on the next visit you can see which parts of a field or beach you have covered and which you have missed. Tracking is free on Android for up to 10 sessions a month, and it works without a signal.
Prices are typical US prices from Minelab, Garrett and major US dealers (Kellyco, MetalDetector.com and Detector Warehouse), checked in September 2026. They change often, bundles with headphones or pinpointers cost more, and prices in euros and pounds differ.