How much does metal detecting cost?
$253 buys all 4 essentials. $84 of that is the half that has to fit you, and the rest can wait.
4 priced items · checked 10 Sept 2026 · retailer prices, we earn a commission
Everything essential, cheapest sensible pick
$253
4 items, nothing rented
Cheapest real way in
$84
The half that has to fit you. Borrow or rent the rest.
Against 247 hobbies
Above median
Dearer than 79% of them. Median hobby: $84.
What each thing costs
Every essential item, cheapest sensible option first. Mid-range and top picks alongside.
Buy this first
$84The cheap half of the kit, and the half that has to fit you. You keep all of it whatever you decide about the rest, so this is where the first money should go.
The main buy
$169The expensive part, and the part worth deferring. Rent, borrow or buy used until you have done metal detecting enough times to know you are staying.
Metal Detecting costs more to start than 79% of the 247 hobbies we price. The median is $84.
Cost questions
How much does Metal Detecting cost to start?
About $253 for the 4 essential items, taking the cheapest sensible option for each. $84 of that is the cheap half, and the remaining $169 can wait until you know you are staying.
What does each thing cost for Metal Detecting?
Metal Detector: from $169. Headphones: from $39. Pinpointer: from $25. Digging Tools: from $20.
Is Metal Detecting an expensive hobby?
Metal Detecting costs about $214 to start, dearer than 79% of the 247 hobbies we price. The median hobby costs $84, so this is one of the pricier ones to get into.
What should I buy first for Metal Detecting?
headphones, digging tools, pinpointer — $84 together. They are the cheap half of the kit and the half you keep whatever you decide about the rest.
Hobbies that cost about the same
The 6 nearest to metal detecting by startup cost, out of 247.