Stud Finders can be the best way to ensure your DIY project is successful and you don’t end up making any costly mistakes. However, with so many varied options on the market, it’s easy to get confused about which products are great and which are not so great.
After our stud finder reviews, we list the key things you’ll want to watch out for when choosing one to ensure you don’t end up with a sub-quality product.
1. Franklin Sensors ProSensor 710 Stud Detector (Top Pick)
The Prosensor 710 is easily one of the best stud finders you can buy. It is on the expensive side, but you get what you pay for. It is easy to use, requiring no setup and is very consistent.
The visual display is very nice and easy to read; anyone can use it even if they have never used a stud finder before. It doesn’t beep at you either, which is nice, as you can tell where a stud is from the visual display. This unit is very accurate, you will almost never get a false positive.
The only negative thing we can find is the battery compartment. It can be difficult to find without instructions and it doesn’t seem all that secure. This unit may pop open if it’s thrown into a toolbox or dropped.
What We Like:
- Accurate
- Easy to use
- Great visual display
What We Don’t Like:
- Battery compartment is hard to find
- Expensive
2. C.H. Hanson Magnetic Stud Finder
This stud finder from Hanson is magnetic, so it’s a great back up when your electronic stud finder breaks down. It’s very effective, but you need to be a bit careful as it’s sensitive.
If you hold it in your hand while trying to find a stud in the wall, you may have trouble with accuracy. Some people have found it useful to hang it from a thread and sweep it over the wall to get the best results. It can be very accurate if used this way.
The footprint is quite small, because of its size, which may trouble some people. Keep it for occasional use in the home or as a backup.
What We Like:
- Accurate
- Doesn’t need batteries
What We Don’t Like:
- Small size
- Holding it may interfere with the reading
3. Vivreal Stud Finder Wall Scanner
The Vivreal stud finder is a solid device; it is well constructed and easy to use. It has an LCD display that is easy to read and gives pretty consistent readings.
You can find studs in the wall and AC wires pretty accurately, but it may give some false readings if there are nearby metal objects like coat hangers. The centre mark is accurate and consistent but some people have found that the edges can be a little fuzzy. Readings might be off by up to a quarter-inch, so judging the size of a stud may sometimes be difficult.
Overall, this is a good stud finder that will suit most handymen and women.
What We Like:
- Well constructed
- Easy to use
- LCD display
What We Don’t Like:
- Judging the size of studs may be difficult
- May get false readings from nearby objects
4. Stanley Stud Detector Sensor Finder
This stud detector from Stanley is useful for occasional jobs. It is pretty simple, it has LEDs that light up and it beeps when it passes over a stud.
It works very well as a wall scanner but some people have found it to be a bit too sensitive when it comes to AC detection. It may sometimes give false readings, alerting you to wires that aren’t there.
This will suit most DIYers if you just want something inexpensive, but it clearly isn’t for commercial use.
What We Like:
- Simple to use
- Accurate for studs
What We Don’t Like:
- Gives false positives for AC power
5. Bosch Digital Stud Detector
The Bosch digital stud finder has a nice design with a colour display and touch screen. It detects wood, metal objects, and wires with current pretty accurately. Any instructions or hints that you might need appear on the display, so it’s very easy to use.
The unit is relatively big but it isn’t too heavy. Although it is well-constructed, it is not recommended to throw it in a toolbox where it might get damaged.
This is on the pricey side and some people may find that using this stud finder is overdoing it. You don’t really need all these bells and whistles if you are just doing the occasional home improvement.
If you don’t mind the price, then this is pretty accurate and consistent; it’s one of the better stud finders around.
What We Like:
- Accurate
- Consistent
- Colour display and touch screen
What We Don’t Like:
- Pricey
Stud Finder Buyers Guide
Types of Stud Finders
There are two main types of stud finders, magnetic and electronic. Magnetic stud finders use rare earth magnets to find the nails in the wooden stud. They don’t require batteries and are simple to use. You basically just hold it to the wall and see where it sticks.
Electronic stud finders scan for changes in density in the wall. They can tell the difference between wood and drywall as well as a range of other materials. They often have features such as the ability to detect wires with current, metal objects, and the edges of studs.
Sensor Size
Larger sensors are usually better than smaller sensors as they can scan a wider area and cover more space in less time. Stud finders with large sensors tend to be more expensive and are best for commercial purposes.
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Centre Targeting
A useful feature that you can find on advanced stud finders is the ability to pinpoint the centre of a stud. This can save you having to calculate it yourself, especially if the studs are a non-standard size.
You will need to make several passes over the wall as the unit recalibrates and determines the centre point based on where the edges of the stud sit.
Indicator
Each type of stud finder has a different way of indicating when there is a stud. Magnetic stud finders just rely on magnetic attraction to let you know if there is something in the wall, but many of them come with a leveling bubble to help you find vertical and horizontal lines in relation to the stud.
Electronic stud finders may have LED lights that indicate the strength of a reading, or an LCD display that makes it clear. Many of them will also beep when they pass over a stud.
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Stud Finder FAQs
We recommend a high-quality electric stud finder. This variety of stud finders are accurate, easy to use, and often come with a useful visual display and other handy features. In this article we reveal our top pick for electric stud finders, where to purchase, along with some other great options and a guide on what to look out for when making your selection.
The most common types of stud finders are either magnetic or electric. Magnetic stud finders work by using magnets which are attracted to, and therefore detect, metal in the wall. Electric stud finders work by detecting changes in the dielectric constant of the wall, which basically means they detect the change in density of the material by using electrical or static energy.
The method for using your stud finder will vary based on the type of stud finder you have. If using an electric variety, first ensure your appliance has full batteries. Next, consult the manual to determine whether your stud finder needs calibrating (many modern ones are self-calibrating). Next, identify your desired area for drilling, then use the stud finder to locate the closest stud, along with those on either side (they should be consistent distance apart).
