Top 12 Best Stud Finders On The Market 2024

The stud finder is a piece of equipment utilized with wood buildings to find the framing studs placed within the surface of the wall, especially the drywall. Although there are lots of stud finders, you can find them in two major categories, the electrical stud finders, and magnetic stud detonators.

The first set of stud finders came in the 20th century, and they were magnetic, which relies on the magnets within to identify the metals in the walls, which also include nails. The attraction becomes strong whenever the magnet goes closely to the iron within the building.

The electronic piece of equipment depends on sensors that identify changes within the wall’s dielectric constant. It changes anytime the sensor goes across a stud, and its reading signifies the existence of metal within the wall.

There is various stud finder on the market, the process of choosing the best stud finder as a newbie, or selecting for the first exercise, the below guide offers a thorough explanation and a great insight on how to make the right choice.

Which Are The Best Stud Finders To Buy?

Now that you know the factors to consider when purchasing the best stud finder for your exercises. The illustration below shows stud finders types and provides an excellent insight into the features of the stud finders:

• Best Magnetic: CH Hanson Stud Finder
  “Has a compact design, small and utilizes strong magnets to locate metal studs and irons.”
• Best Stud Finder: ProSensor 710 Franklin Sensors Stud Finder
  “Active deep scans, has additional width that provides an accuracy of stud locations.”
• Best for the Middle Ground: Zircon MultiScanner i520- Stud Finder
  “Detect live wires, has deep and stud scan modes, and a spot lite pointing system.”
• Best Economical: Zircon StudSensor e50 Stud Finder
  “It can identify metal, and wood studs make a sound and flash when it picks up the stud edge and has a wire detector.”
• Best for Ceiling: Bosch Multi-Scanner GMS120 Stud Finder
  “Has various mode sensor to identify metal or wood objects, and live AC wires simultaneously.”
• Best Precision: Franklin Sensors FS710+02B Stud Finder
  “Straightforward to use, precise, detect live wires, and covers lots of spaces in a short time.”
• Best for Floors: Bosch Wall and Floor Detection Scanner D-TECT 120 Stud Finder
  “Easily identify wood, metal or concrete objects, accurate, durable, and displays close by objects directions with arrows.”
• Best for Plastics: DEWALT 12V MAX Stud Finder
  “Picks different objects like plastic, wood, and scans through various wall surfaces.”
• Best for Metals: Zircon MetalliScanner m40 Stud Finder
  “Straightforward to use, identifies metals behind ceilings, floors, and walls that are not metal.”
• Best Heavy-Duty: Precision Sensors ProFinder 5000+ Stud Finder
  “Easy to use, light in weight, and can quickly identify studs.”
• Best Live Wiring: Zircon HD800 9 Volt 4-Mode Stud Finder
  “Clear display, reads through thick walls, identify live wires.”
• Best for Picture Hanging: BLACK+DECKER Line Laser Stud Finder
  “Straightforward to use, light auto-leveling for pictures, and can identify metal, live wires, and wood.”

Stud Finder Comparison Chart 2023

Below is an illustration of the best stud finder with different features and outstanding performance, can identify both metal and wood studs, metal support object, and scan different locations of the wall at once.

Top 12 Best Stud Finder Reviews in 2023

There are different types of stud finders on the market, and mostly every construction worker uses it across over the world. It is essential to get the right stud finder for your projects and now that you understand the concept of selecting the right choice, here are my best stud finders:

1. CH Hanson Stud Finder

(Best Magnetic)

It is an excellent stud finder for beginners, and it is magnetic, which means it does not require batteries or charging but restricted while finding studs through vital and essential material. Magnetic finders are advanced options for the old school versions.

Although they are straightforward to utilize, it also comes at an affordable price and an excellent choice if you require a stud finder without batteries. It has an in-built magnet that attracts screws and nails which hold angles of frames together, and that gives a better idea of the stud’s location within the wall.

The stud finder utilizes strong magnets to locate metal studs with no power, and its body has a two-way level that lets users hang the piece of equipment from a metal stud for accurate wall leveling and surfaces. It also has a pointed arrow that comfortably indicates a safe spot for metals, removing errors in the process of picture hanging and more than that.

Key Features:

• It has a small and compact design
• It does not require batteries
• It comes with a two way level for easy marking

Product Specifications:

Brand	CH Hanson
Model Number	03040
Weight	2.4 ounces
Color	Black and Yellow
Included Components	CH Hanson
Battery Cell Type	Mercury Oxide

Watch the video review of the CH Hanson Stud Finder here:

2. ProSensor 710 Franklin Sensors Stud Finder

(Best Stud Finder)

One of the most important things about a stud finder is accuracy and having a particular piece of equipment can save lots of time and prevent disasters. The ProSensor in excellent with precision and can make your projects faster and more efficient.

Its accuracy can identify a large wall in the process of finding studs beneath, and its additional width provides accurate stud positions when you move the stud finder across the surface. It lights up its LED lights, marks the stud width and position to give you the length and breadth of the stud as you perform the task.

Key Features:

• It has an improved sense of technology
• It comes with an outstanding LCD lights
• It is fast and error-prone

Product Specifications:

Brand	ProSensor
Model Number	ProSensor 710
Weight	9 ounces
Color	Yellow
Style	Yellow Precision
Material	Electronic Components, Plastic
Shape	Rectangular
Power Source	Battery-Powered
Voltage	3 volts
Handle Material	Ergonomic Soft Plastic

Learn how to use the ProSensor 710 Franklin Sensors Stud Finder here:

3. Zircon MultiScanner i520- Stud Finder

(Best for the Middle Ground)

It is the best for middle ground projects, and it also has outstanding attributes and comes at a fair price. Furthermore, it is one of the best stud finders that you will find on the market and comes with excellent accuracy.

The piece of equipment can identify live wires and also metal items, and it has a multiple function system for scanning and will display results through its LCD screen. It has a live wiring detection that makes the equipment very safe to utilize as well.

It can identify errors made by users and make corrections to them, and it also has an open packaging. There have been few talks about its LCDs being limited and regularly unreadable at specific locations.

Key Features:

• It has a four-mode switch for functions changing
• It identifies metal
• It comes worth a SpotLite system for pointing

Product Specifications:

Brand	Zircon
Model Number	68314
Weight	9.6 ounces
Color	Backlit LCD Display
Style	i520 Backlit Display
Measurement System	Metric
Included Components	1 MS i520
Batteries Required?	Yes

Watch the introduction of the Zircon MultiScanner i520- Stud Finder here:

4. Zircon StudSensor e50 Stud Finder

(Best Economical)

It is an economical option although you need to beware of those because of their accuracy, but this is an accurate piece of equipment and an excellent stud finder that will save some money. It provides the metal and wood stud detector at a low price.

The stud finder comes with two modes for scanning, the deep scan for objects of about 1.5 deep and stud scan of about 0.75 deep. It can also identify live wires which can prevent drilling into unsafe electrical dangers.

Key Features:

• It identifies live wires
• There is a spot lite system
• It can identify metal and wood materials

Product Specifications:

Brand	Zircon
Model Number	68277
Weight	7.8 ounces
Size	Edge Finding
Color	Yellow
Style	e50-FFP
Batteries Required?	Yes

Watch the video to learn the basic concept of the Zircon StudSensor e50 Stud Finder here:

5. Bosch Multi-Scanner GMS120 Stud Finder

(Best for Ceiling)

Whenever you have the task of hammering or drilling inside surfaces of floors and ceilings, the Bosch multiple scanners are the best for you. Ceilings are an essential location because screws or nails in the wrong location might create drywalls on the flow or even the head.

It is a multiple scanning alternative that you can hold conveniently under challenging locations to get to the ceilings or floor. It also has an ergonomic design that consists of different sensor modes that can identify metal, wood or live wires simultaneously. It comes with an audio detector and an LCD display.

Key Features:

• It comes with advanced three-sensor technology
• It has LCD
• It can pinpoint objects center with an audio identification signal

Product Specifications:

Brand	Bosch
Model Number	GMS 120
Weight	15.2 ounces
Color	Blue
Material	metal
Voltage	9 volts
Measurement System	Metric
Batteries Included?	Yes

Watch a video explanation of the Bosch Multi-Scanner GMS120 Stud Finder here:

6. Franklin Sensors FS710+02B Stud Finder

(Best Precision)

It provides a top-quality level of power and accuracy and comes with thirteen sensors that function at once to provide accuracy and also display LED lights to show the stud location. It is straightforward to use and great at displaying the stud location.

It also saves users lots of time by laying the stud finder on the wall instead of moving its location.

Key Features:

• Very accurate
• It can identify metal and wood
• It comes with thirteen sensors for accuracy

Product Specifications:

Brand	Franklin
Model Number	FS710+02B
Weight	9.6 ounces
Color	Blue
Material	Steel
Measurement System	Metric
Included Components	ProSensor 710+ (56)
Description Pile	AA

Watch the Franklin Sensors FS710+02B Stud Finder review video here:

7. Bosch Wall and Floor Detection Scanner D-TECT 120 Stud Finder

(Best for Floors)

It provides an extensive collection of detecting performance to about six inches wide, and definitely also identify magnetic and non-ferrous objects like plastic pipes, wood or live wires. Although it may not identify live wires, specific circumstances like a metal conduit.

It shows the right position of item width, edge, and depth and provides accuracy regularly for several years. It can display arrows to indicate the location of the objects close by on its screen as well.

Key Features:

• It is a versatile piece of equipment
• Straightforward to use floor and wall scanner
• It is very accurate

Product Specifications:

Brand	Bosch
Model Number	D-TECT120
Weight	1.08 pounds
Color	Blue
Material	Plastic
Power Source	corded-electric
Battery Cell Type	Alkaline
Warranty	Ninety Days

8. DEWALT 12V MAX Stud Finder

(Best for Plastics)

There can be lots of challenges from various items inside the walls, floors for the stud finder, there are some finders that can identify only wood studs, but this one is the best for plastics. The Dewalt stud finder can provide accuracy on surfaces that are made by plastic.

It is also a choice for heavy-duty projects and can map out the layout of a wall and for several items like wood, plastic, metal and so on as well as live wires. It provides an accurate map and gives you a clear picture and locations of the items on the wall.

Key Features:

• It has an LCD
• It comes with an automatic mapping attribute
• It scans through various wall surfaces

Product Specifications:

Brand	DEWALT
Model Number	DCT419S1
Weight	7.3 pounds
Voltage	12 volts
Battery Cell Type	Lithium Ion
Batteries Required?	Yes
Warranty	3 year

See the video tutorial of the DEWALT 12V MAX Stud Finder here:

9. Zircon MetalliScanner m40 Stud Finder

(Best for Metals)

One material that is very difficult to identify is metal for the stud finders manufactured to detect wood studs. Even the magnetic one may not identify metals because they are not magnetic and can also identify an extensive collection of metal support and items in-between floors, ceilings and walls.

It can detect magnetic and non-ferrous metals, and that makes the equipment perfect for detecting little nails and screws inside the wall deep up to 4 deep inches. Furthermore, it also comes with a blue coil changes that help users get the accurate position of objects that can identify.

Key Features:

• Detects metal easily in wood
• It comes with a 9-volt battery
• It can scan through plaster and lath

Product Specifications:

Brand	Zircon
Model Number	67044
Weight	11.2 ounces
Color	Yellow
Certification	certified frustration-free
Batteries Required?	Yes

Learn how to use the Zircon MetalliScanner m40 Stud Finder here:

10. Precision Sensors ProFinder 5000+ Stud Finder

(Best Heavy-Duty)

It behaves like a density detector and has a one-step mode of operation for its accuracy, and you only need to tap the down button to turn the equipment on and start searching for studs on the wall. It has an outstanding accuracy that can identify two continuous studs no matter how close they become.

It is also light equipment, quick identification and materials because it has an enhanced and efficient sensor pad area, and can find studs in various locations. It can also identify heavy materials within the walls but cannot determine which material is a stud and another object.

You should also safeguard the piece of equipment from heavy items in the toolbox.

Key Features:

• It comes with various sensors for accuracy
• LCD lights
• It has a one-button operation

Product Specifications:

Brand	ProFinder
Model Number	PS5000+ESF1
Weight	15.5 ounces
Color	Blue
Material	ABS Plastic
Batteries Required?	Yes
Battery Cell Type	Alkaline

Watch the Precision Sensors ProFinder 5000+ Stud Finder review here:

11. Zircon HD800 9 Volt 4-Mode Stud Finder

(Best Live Wiring)

The stud finder comes with various modes, which include metal and DeepScan mode, wire detection system and also the autocorrect attribute. It is a reliable piece of equipment when it comes to deep scans.

It also comes with the Spotlite pointer attribute, which minimizes the time spent on finding studs in the center and sides. It guides users in the wall scaling process until finding the center and sides. It is very accurate and consistent with wonderful scanning systems.

Key Features:

• It has an LCD
• It has a digital visual display
• It has three inches scanning depth

Product Specifications:

Brand	Zircon
Model Number	HD800
Weight	6.4 ounces
Power Source	battery
Voltage	9 volts
Batteries Required?	Yes

Watch the Zircon HD800 9 Volt 4-Mode Stud Finder video explanation here:

12. BLACK+DECKER Line Laser Stud Finder

(Best for Picture Hanging)

It consists of a two-function system that functions as an automatic leveling equipment and a stud finder. It also comes with straightforward functions that include the on-off switch.

The auto-leveling features make pictures installation, wall decorations and televisions easy. It also comes with an LCD display that you can read quickly and you can find the equipment in a transparent display case.

Key Features:

• It comes with 2 AA batteries
• It comes with an LCD
• It has an auto-leveling light

Product Specifications:

Brand	Black and Decker
Model Number	BDL190S
Weight	1 pound
Color	Black
Material	Aluminum, Plastic
Measurement System	Metric
Batteries Required?	Yes
Battery Cell Type	Alkaline
Warranty	2 years

Watch BLACK+DECKER Line Laser Stud Finder review video here:

Things To Consider Before Buying The Best Stud Finder

The stud sensors operate on their own anytime you turn the equipment on, and there are several tasks that you can perform to make the stud finding process more efficiently. Clear the wall area or the location to perform the search because nothing else should be on the wall beside the stud at the back of the wall.

Anytime you want to purchase a stud finder, the first thing you should be sure about its purpose, it could be for projects on drilling a shelf’s into walls. The precision level on every task is different, and if you are creating a large hole into commercial building walls that electric wires run through, you should identify the wire’s location.

Stud Material

A lot of homes contain wooden studs, but you mostly find the metal studs in commercial walls and sometimes plastic studs. Some stud finders can find just one type, so before you select anyone, you should ensure that the equipment you select can find more than one type.

Stud Location

Also, you might think about the location of the studs within the wall, flow, or ceiling, some stud finders cannot make a hole through a thick floor.

You should also watch out for the stud finder handle, and also select a comfortable one that you can hold conveniently while using it at any angle. Some handles can be bad, so you should consider that factor as well.

Extra Attributes

You can also get a piece of equipment for simple projects, and there are lots of studs finders with additional attributes than can perform exceptionally for large projects. Some stud finders units can identify live wires and can provide important abilities for large tasks.

FAQs

My Top Pick

For the newbies into the stud finding world, I will recommend the CH Hanson Stud Finder for your metal and wood search. It has a compact design, small and utilizes strong magnets to locate metal studs and irons.

But for professional stud finders, I will recommend the Bosch Wall and Floor Detection Scanner D-TECT 120 Stud Finder. It easily identifies wood, metal, or concrete objects, accurate, durable, and displays close by objects directions with arrows.

To get great results and accuracy from your stud finding exercises, then select the right stud finder for the task. All the products on this list have great features to make stud finding accurate, efficient, and fast.