About DetectorLab

DetectorLab is an independent review site dedicated to metal detectors. We help hobbyists, treasure hunters, and beginners find the right detector — whether you're hunting coins in the park or prospecting for gold — without wading through sponsored content and marketing fluff.

We Buy Every Detector We Review

We don't accept manufacturer samples, loaner units, or pre-production prototypes. Every metal detector on this site is purchased at full retail price with our own money. That means our reviews reflect the same out-of-box experience you'll get — no cherry-picked units, no special firmware, no strings attached.

Field Testing Methodology

We test every detector in real dirt, not on a bench. Our methodology includes burying known targets (coins, jewelry, relics, iron junk) at measured depths in multiple soil types. We record actual depth performance, discrimination accuracy, recovery speed, ground-balance effectiveness, and ergonomic comfort over multi-hour sessions. When we say a detector hits a quarter at 8 inches, we measured it.

No Sponsored Placements

There are no paid reviews on this site. No manufacturer has ever paid us to feature, rank, or favorably review their product. Our ratings and recommendations are based entirely on field performance, build quality, and value for money.

Affiliate Disclosure

DetectorLab is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon.com. When you buy through our links, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This is how we fund the site and keep buying detectors to review. It does not influence our ratings or recommendations — we recommend what we'd buy ourselves.

Contact

Questions, suggestions, or want us to review a specific detector? Email us at logan@ridgenotch.com.