Best Stud Finder Reviews 2017 – We all love to be handy around the house. But before you go and start with banging nails into the wall to put up a picture or install a frame or shelf or set up your TV, its best that you get a good stud finder. You can use it to hammer nails safely and correctly without any potential damage. A small investment in it, helps a lot in terms of the resale value of your house.
Best Stud Finder 2017
I have mentioned below the top stud finders including their specifications, reviews and features. Check which are the best in the market today and why:
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(Best Stud Finder No. 1) – CH Hanson 03040 Magnetic Stud Finder Review:
The thing I like best about the CH Hanson 03040 Magnetic Stud Finder is that not only is it one of the best stud finders in the market, it is also one of the cheapest. It is the most sold and most highly rated stud finder in the market today.
Pros:
- Highly portable
- Very reliable and durable
- No batteries needed
- Fits in the pocket easily
- Two way level for easy marking
- Very accurate
- Ergonomic grips
- Powerful magnet for hands-free marking
Cons
- No LCD display or electronic readers
Recommendation
This is a very simple, no-frills stud finder. The great thing about it is that you can do any interior job which needs a stud finder easily with it. It can be used well by both professionals and home owners.
The CH Hanson 03040 Magnetic Stud Finder is in the top spot as it is reliable, durable and accurate and super cheap. Check its price on Amazon.
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(Best Stud Finder No. 2) – ProSensor 710 Franklin Sensors Precision Stud Finder Review:
A little fancier than the previous stud finder is the ProSensor 710 Franklin Sensors Precision Stud Finder. It has multi sense technology and is an electronic one. It can locate studs in various locations.
You can use it in a variety of jobs including large scale ones. It has good LED lights to locate the studs. It can also identify hidden objects. It runs on batteries
Pros
- Good LED lights
- Multi-sense technology
- Good for large scale projects
Cons
- It operates with 2 AA batteries
- More expensive
Recommendation
The ProSensor 710 Franklin Sensors Precision Stud Finder is a great stud finder and if you are a tradesperson or a professional, this is a great stud finder for you. It comes with a manufacturer’s warranty of 3 months and it has excellent LED locator lights. Check price on Amazon
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(Best Stud Finder No. 3) – Zircon Multiscan i520 Center-Finding Stud Finder Review:
The Zircon Multiscan i520 Center-Finding Stud Finder has is an electronic stud finder. It has an audio tone, a laser pointer and LCD display. You can detect wood and metal studs with it. You can also identify live wires with the Zircon Multiscan i520 Center-Finding Stud Finder. It has four types of scanning modes including stud scan, metal scan, AC scan and deep scan. It’s a god sent since it has a live wire detection feature as you don’t want to drill into a live wire!!
Pros
- Audio tone, LCD display and laser pointer.
- Detects wood and metal studs
- Detects live wires
- 4 scanning modes
Cons
- There are some negative reviews online about it
Recommendation
Since it has a great live wire detection feature, I give the Zircon Multiscan i520 Center-Finding Stud Finder thumbs up. It has many other good features and is very reliable. Check its latest price on Amazon.
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(Best Stud Finder No. 4) – Studpop Magnetic Stud Finder Review:
The Studpop Magnetic Stud Finder is a simple, basic stud finder powered by magnets. It does exactly what it says it is, i.e. finds metal studs. Since it is based on magnets it doesn’t require any batteries. It can be used on many types of walls including, lath, plaster, tile and sheetrock.
Pros
- Simple and cheap
- Magnetic so no need of batteries
- Works on various wall types
- Made in USA
Cons
- No high tech
- Only metal studs
Recommendation
This is a great stud finder if you want a simple, magnetic metal stud finder. The Studpop Magnetic Stud Finder has great reviews online and there are many comments about how easy it is to use. Check the latest price on Amazon.
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(Best Stud Finder No. 5) – Zircon StudSensor e50 Electronic Studfinder Review:
There isn’t much difference than the Zircon StudSensor i520 Electronic Studfinder. It is the same but without AC scan and metal scan. But the price is significantly lower (Check on Amazon). It has many great reviews and is reliable.
Pros
- Cheap for an electronic stud finder
- Stud scan and deep scan mode
- Laser pointer, Tone alert and LED display
Cons
- No AC and metal scan
Recommendation
If you liked the Zircon Multiscan i520 Center-Finding Stud Finder but was not too happy with the price then this one is for you. You can get it for literally half the price of the Zircon Multiscan i520 Center-Finding Stud Finder on Amazon.
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Studboss Digital LCD Stud Finder Review:
The Studboss Digital LCD Stud Finder has a precision pointer which helps to make the markings that you make much more correct. It has an LCD display screen. It has an ergonomic handle so that you get a comfortable grip. You also get a free 9v battery. It has a very good review rate online and other than walls outside the house, the Studboss Digital LCD Stud Finder showed pretty good results. It is cheap and has a 1 year warranty on service and parts.
7. Precision Sensors Stud Finder Review with Professional Deep Scanning and LCD 5000:
The Precision Sensors Stud Finder has a rather big sensor pad surface which makes it easier to find the studs. It can be used by beginners too. It is a new stud finder on the market but has about 100 or so reviews online most of it being positive. It is better than a magnetic stud finder but not as great as the ones mentioned above. The best thing about the Precision Sensors Stud Finder is that it is newbie-friendly. Check its latest price on Amazon.
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Bosch GMS120 Digital Multi-Scanner Review:
The Bosch GMS120 Digital Multi-Scanner has three basic modes to detect which is the wood mode, the AC mode (wires) and the metal mode. I like the AC mode part as it always makes sense to know where your wires are. It has a great depth of search and can check the depth of about 120mm. It is a reliable and efficient product though not too great for its price. Since the Bosch GMS120 Digital Multi-Scanner is from the Bosch stable, you can be assured of the quality of the product. There is a 30 day money back guarantee and a 1 year warranty on the Bosch GMS120 Digital Multi-Scanner. Since you know that you will get a good deal and if you are not too happy with the Bosch GMS120 Digital Multi-Scanner you can return it in 30 days, it can be a good purchase. Check its latest price on Amazon.
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Black & Decker Bullseye Review (BDL190S) -Auto-levelling Interior Line Laser and Stud Sensor
The Black & Decker Bullseye Stud Sensor marry’s the electronic stud sensor with a levelling laser. Though the laser level works very well, there are man reviews online that the Black & Decker Bullseye Stud Sensor’s stud finder is very inaccurate. It is pretty expensive too. It is good as a fancy model but not too great. Check on Amazon.
10 Stanley FMHT77407 FatMax Stud Sensor 300 Review:
The Stanley FMHT77407 FatMax Stud Sensor doesn’t sell much and though it is from the Stanley stable and we had high expectations from it, it doesn’t really have any great features that will wow you. The price is cheap but the durability and the reliability of the Stanley FMHT77407 FatMax Stud Sensor leaves much to be desired for. Check on Amazon.
Our Final Take
If you are looking for a simple Stud finder then go for the CH Hanson 03040 Magnetic Stud Finder as it is cheap, highly portable, reliable and durable, doesn’t need batteries as it is magnetic, fits well in the pocket and has a two way level for marking. You can check the price on Amazon here
If you are looking for a high end stud finder then go for the ProSensor 710 Franklin Sensors Precision Stud Finder which is a multi sense technology, electronic stud finder. It has good LED lights and can find hidden objects. And comes with a manufacturer’s warranty of 3 months. You can check the price on Amazon here.
Frequently Asked Questions
We get many questions about Stud Finders so we thought we should make a list of the most common ones:
What Is a Stud Finder?
A stud finder is a machine tat will help you to identify and mark the framing studs that will be present behind the walling surface in your house. If you are doing the carpentry on your home in your house or a expert is doing it, either way you need it.
What are the types of Stud Finders?
Depending on their energy source, stud finders are divided into:
- Electronic which is run on batteries
- Magnetic run on magnets
You can also divide them on the basis of levels
- AC Detectors
- Metal studs
- Wood studs
When and How Should You Use a Stud Finder?
If you need to attach something on to your wall then you will need to use a stud finder to find the framing studs in the wall. That way, when you place anything heavy on the shelves, etc it will hold.
How Do You Choose a Stud Finder That’s Right For You?
The main thing you need to keep in mind when you decide on the right stud finder for yourself is:
- Price: How much are you willing to pay for it?
- Type you need: Do you just need a basic magnetic one or do you need one that will do other things like check for live wires etc.
- How frequently will you use it: The more frequently you use it, the higher end one you will need.
I hope you liked our reviews about best stud finder. Do let us know if we have missed out on any stud finder in the comments below and we will renew it. Also do let us know if you have any question about the various stud finders we reviewed.
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