Everything you need to know before buying the best kids metal detector for 2019
In our children’s metal detector reviews, we look at the pros and cons of each so you’ll know which metal detector will best suit your child, their age, where they’ll be hunting and what they’ll be hunting for.
Note that none of these metal detectors are toys. They are all fully functioning metal detectors. Let’s get into it.

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A comparison of the best metal detectors for kids
Make
Model
Price
Type of metal detector
Waterproof
For ages
Adjustable
Depth
Weight
Headphones
Warranty
Bounty Hunter
BHJS
$
VLF
6 - 12 years
Up to 5"
1.5 lbs
1 year
all-Sun
Junior
$
VLF
6 - 12 years
Up to 3"
1.5 lbs
Unknown
Treasure Cove
TC 100
$
VLF
6 - 12 years
Up to 3"
1.5 lbs
10 years
Nat Geo
Pro Series
$$
VLF
8 years+
Up to 10"
lbs
2 years
Ground EFX
MC1
$
VLF
5 - 12 years
Up to 12"
3 2 lbs
1 year
Kids metal detector 101
Features to consider before buying a metal detector for kids
- Adjustable height – this is especially important if the metal detector is going to be shared amongst a couple of young people.
- Waterproof – you’ll want the search coil to be waterproof in case of accidents and it opens your family up to beach hunting.
- Inexpensive – you don’t want to buy a top of the range metal detector if it’s only going to gather dust and sit at the back of a closet.
- Lightweight – little arms tire very quickly when swinging a bulky metal detector so choose a lightweight metal detector.
- Easy to assemble – little people will be eager to get started, so buying a metal detector that’s easy to assemble will keep the whining to a minimum.
- Battery life – you won’t want to change batteries or have to recharge too often.
- Robust – we all know what kids can be like. Their metal detector might take a few accidental bangs and beatings.
- Warranty – you’ll want a metal detector with a reasonable warranty period in case something goes wrong with it.
Let’s take a look at the best kids metal detectors available today.
Kids metal detector reviews
- Bounty Hunter BHJS Junior metal detector
- all-Sun Junior metal detector
- Treasure Cove TC 1003
- National Geographic PRO Series
- Ground EFX MC1
Bounty Hunter BHJS Junior Metal Detector

Features of the BHJS Junior Metal Detector
The BHJS Junior Metal Detector is a superb starter metal detector for kids who want to try out metal detecting. It’s such an addictive hobby and the BHJS will make it even more enjoyable because the kids will be able to find and uncover treasures. We love that it’s lightweight so their little arms won’t tire quickly. It’s easy to assemble and adjust – if you have more than one kid wanting to use it, you’ll find the adjustable arm a plus.
It doesn’t have an LCD screen but kids can easily read the dial with some instruction. The further the needle swings to the right, the stronger the signal.
We also love that it can detect bigger objects to a depth of up to 3 feet. It will find smaller objects like coins to a depth of about 5 inches.
The down side is that it’s not suitable for treasure hunting in water. The search coil is only water resistant. If you’re set on beach hunting, then check out one of the other detectors that have a waterproof search coil.
Price | Â $ Click to check today’s super low price |
Type of detector | VLF operating a frequency of 6.6 kHz |
Waterproof | Search coil is water resistant |
Suitable for ages | 6 to 12 years |
Adjustable | Yes |
Depth rating | Up to 5 inches (for small coin-sized objects) and 3 feet for larger objects |
Weight | 1.5 lbs |
Search coil | Â 6.5″ weather resistant search coil |
Batteries | 2 x 9V alkaline batteries and a visual battery life indicator |
Headphones included | No, it has a built-in speaker |
Warranty | 1-year limited warranty |
Made | USA |
Best for

The is best for:
- Coin hunting on land
- Gold prospecting
- Relic hunting on land
The pros
- The price – great value
- Lightweight and easy to operate
- Target indicator
- Discrimination control
The cons
- Limited one-year warranty
- No headphones
- The search coil is only water resistant – don’t get this one if you want to go beach hunting
See our full review of the BHJS Junior metal detector for more details.
all-sun Junior Metal Detector

Features of the all-sun Junior Metal Detector
The all-sun Junior metal detector
Price | $ Click to check today’s low price |
Type of detector | VLF |
Waterproof | No |
Suitable for ages | 6 to 12 years |
Adjustable | Yes |
Depth rating | Up to 3 inches |
Weight | 1.5 lbs |
Search coil | 6.5 inch search coil |
Battery |  1 x 9V alkaline battery for the detector and 1 x AA for the torch. Not included. |
Headphones included | No, but it has in-built speakers and a headphone jack |
Warranty | Unknown |
Made | China |
Best for

The all-Sun metal detector is best for:
- coin and relic detecting
- jewelry detecting
- gold and other precious metal detecting
The pros
- Lightweight and easy to assemble
- Comes with a bonus torch
- SUPER low price
The cons
- No screen
- Not waterproof
- Limited depth search
- Not made in the USA
Read our full review of the all-Sun Junior metal detector.
Treasure Cove TC 1003 metal detector

Features of the TC 1003
We love that this super-cheap metal detector child’s metal detector comes with a 10-year warranty. Clearly Treasure Cove stands by their products.
The TC 1003 is portable and adjustable. It’s easy to take with you on vacation.
It comes with two search modes and uses a single tone to help locate the buried target. Grab the kit on Amazon and you’ll get a bonus sand scoop.
Price | $ $ Click to check today’s super low price |
Type of detector | VLF |
Waterproof | Yes, waterproof search coil |
Suitable for ages | 6-12 years |
Adjustable | Yes |
Depth rating | About 3 inches (8 cm) |
Weight | 1.5 pounds |
Search coil | 6.5 inches waterproof |
Battery |  1 x 9V (not included) |
Headphones included | No |
Warranty | 10 years |
Made | Unknown |
Best for

The TC 1003 is best for:
- Coin and relic hunting
- Jewelry hunting
- Precious metal prospecting
The pros
- So cheap! Really good value.
- Bonus sand shovel
- Easy to operate
- Lightweight
- 10-year warranty
The cons
- No headphone jack
- Only detects to about 3 inches
Read our in-depth review of the TC 1003.
National Geographic PRO Series Metal Detector

Features of the National Geographic Pro Series
Branded under the National Geographic name, this kids metal detector is made by trusted American brand, Minelab.
We love that this metal detector has a waterproof search coil. Take it to the trails or the beach and you can also use it in the snow.
It’s very portable and collapses to 20 inches so you can easily stow it in the trunk of your car on family vacations.
The arm is adjustable, so the whole family will be able to use it. While significantly more pricey than the previously reviewed models, you get a metal detector with great credentials that the whole family will love using.
Price | $$ Click to check today’s low price |
Type of detector | VLF |
Waterproof | Yes, it has a waterproof search coil |
Suitable for ages | 8 years and up |
Adjustable | Yes |
Depth | Up to 10 inches, depending on the terrain and soil or sand mineralization |
Weight | 2.3 pounds |
Search coil | 10 inch waterproof search coil |
Battery life | Up to 20 hours |
Headphones included | No, but it has a headphone jack and adjustable audio |
Warranty | 2 years |
Made | USA (by Minelab) |
Best for

The National Geographic PRO series is best for:
- Coin, relic and artifact hunting
- Beach hunting
- Jewelry hunting
- Gold prospecting
The pros
- All-metal and discriminate modes
- 4 sensitivity modes
- 100% satisfaction guarantee from National Geographic
The cons
- Heavier than the lower-cost models but otherwise, no negatives!
Read our full review of the National Geographic PRO series metal detector.
Ground EFX MC1 youth metal detector

Features of the EFX MC1
Designed with kids in mind, they’ll have a ball fossicking with the Ground EFX MC1 youth metal detector. It’s robust enough to withstand the inevitable bumps it will receive.
It has an analog face. The further the needle swings to the right, the closer to the object they are. We love that even at this price range, it includes a basic form of discrimination. This model has been supersceded, but there is plenty of stock still around so you’re bound to get it for a huge discount.
We love that it comes with a waterproof search coil. You’ll be able to enjoy treasure hunting at the beach and in shallow water with the kids.
Price | $ Click to check today’s low price |
Type of detector | VLF |
Waterproof | Yes |
Suitable for ages | 5 and up |
Adjustable | Yes |
Depth | Up to 12 inches, depending on the terrain and soil or sand mineralization |
Weight | 2 pounds |
Search coil | 6.5 inch waterproof search coil |
Battery life | 2 x 9V alkaline batteries required (not included) |
Headphones included | No and it doesn’t have a headphone jack |
Warranty | 1-year limited warranty |
Made | Unknown |
Best for

The Ground EFX MC1 is best for:
- Coin, relic and artefact hunting
- Beach hunting
- Freshwater hunting.
The pros
- 2 search modes
- Sensitivity adjustment
- Waterproof search coil
- Depth of up to 12 inches
The cons
- No headphone jack and no volume control
- The small-sized search coil means they will have to cover a lot more ground to find targets
Read our full review of the Ground EFX MC1 youth metal detector.
The information in this post was sourced from the product manufacturers and our own experience. Please check product specifications before buying a metal detector. Some products come in kits and may contain different accessories and different sizes to what’s mentioned in this post.Â
Last modified: October 2, 2019