Buying guide for best stud finder
When it’s time to screw in a shelf, hang a picture or mount a new television, you need to be sure your intended wall space can support your vision. But before you grab the hammer and nails, there's a crucial step: finding the studs behind your drywall.
Studs are wooden or metal supports that provide the strength needed to hold heavier items like shelves, TVs or artwork. While especially light decorations sometimes require little more than a nail hammered through drywall, if you don’t hammer or drill into a stud for heavier items, your project could end in a frustrating (and potentially wallet-damaging) mishap.
To determine where studs are, you need a reliable, accurate stud finder. These tools use special sensors to detect the presence of metal beams or wood boards hidden behind drywall. Using LEDs, alarms or a combination of both, a stud finder will let you know where it's safe to install heavy, wall-mounted decor or appliances.
This guide will help you choose the right tool. Our top pick is the Franklin Sensors ProSensor M210 Professional Stud Finder. It accurately indicates where the center and edges of any hidden studs are, making it the best stud finder for any contractor or home improvement enthusiast’s tool kit.
Expert Tip
To support your proposed stud finding location, look at other features in the room to guide you. Studs are generally located in the following spots - beside outlet/switch boxes, around doors and windows, behind nail pops, and where you see nails in baseboards.
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Stud finder showdown: Finding the best among the rest
Franklin Sensors ProSensor M210 Professional Stud Finder
Best of the Best
Product Specifications
Detection Depth: 1.7” | Detection Modes: Stud, live wire | Batteries required: Yes | Weight: 12.3 oz
This user-friendly stud finder has 13 sensors to quickly locate wood and metal studs with a single button press. Its long, easy-to-read display packs 21 LEDs that clearly show the center and edges of even wide studs. It runs off a pair of AA batteries, making it cheap and easy to keep powered up.
Other features include a built-in bubble level for accurate measurements, a live-wire detector to identify hidden electrical wiring and a handy pencil slot to keep your marking tool close at hand.
Franklin Sensors ProSensor M150 Professional Stud Finder
Best Bang for the Buck
Product Specifications
Detection Depth: 1.5” | Detection Modes: Stud, live wire | Batteries required: Yes | Weight: 7.8 oz
The Franklin Sensors M150 is a compact and affordable stud finder that packs more features than the competition at a lower price point. It is equipped with nine sensors for accurate stud detection. Additionally, five bright LEDs light up to indicate the center and edges of studs with precision, helping you avoid mistakes while hanging whatever needs hanging.
Like its bigger brother, the M210, the M150 finds live wires for added safety. It runs on common AAA batteries and requires no calibration: Simply press the button, slide the M150 along the wall and get fast, accurate results on stud locations.
JAXWQ Stud Finder
Easiest to Use
Product Specifications
Detection Depth: Up to 2.36” | Detection Modes: 3 stud-depth modes, metal scan and AC scan | Batteries required: No | Weight: 8.1 oz
For DIYers who prioritize affordability and accuracy, this feature-rich stud finder offers a user-friendly experience with minimal trade-offs. Its bright, backlit screen displays stud edges, centers, battery life and your chosen scan mode.
Choose from five modes of operation: stud scanning at three depths, metal detection and AC-power scanning for locating potentially dangerous, live electrical wires. We appreciate this device’s ergonomic, pocket-size design and sturdy build.
The tool requires calibration before you use it or switch modes, which could make it less than ideal in commercial situations that demand immediate readings. However, the price point and accuracy make it a great buy for DIYers.
Craftsman Stud Finder
Best for Hobbyists
Product Specifications
Detection Depth: Up to 0.75” | Detection Modes: Edge detection | Batteries Required: Yes | Weight: 2.39 oz
For those in search of a no-frills stud finder for light jobs, this Craftsman stud finder is easy on the wallet and an apt choice for hanging shelves, pictures and other lightweight items. A simple LED indicator and beep let you know when you’ve hit a stud edge.
It runs on a single 9-volt battery and calibrates automatically with a quick press against the wall. At less than 6 inches long, it’s easy to hold and can fit in just about any pocket or toolbox. Shock-resistant and water-resistant, it’s built to handle even messy projects.
StudBuddy Magnetic Stud Finder
Best Magnetic Stud Finder
Product Specifications
Detection Depth: 1” | Detection Modes: NA | Batteries Required: No | Weight: 1.6 oz
The StudBuddy forgoes advanced technology, sensors and even a battery, using a powerful magnet to detect metal studs and the screws and nails that adhere drywall to wood. Simply slide it across the wall, and its magnet will stick to any metal underneath it, letting you determine where it's safe to drill, cut or nail.
Small enough to slip into a pocket, this little device is a good choice for those who like to keep things simple. Some electronic stud finders can be fickle, frustrating to calibrate and prone to false readings. With the simplicity of magnetism at your disposal, you can skip the technology-induced headaches and get to the task at hand.
CH Hanson Magnetic Stud Finder
Best Stud Finder with a Level
Product Specifications
Detection Depth: 1” | Detection Modes: NA | Batteries Required: No | Size and Weight: 2.4 oz
Harnessing the power of strong earth magnets, this compact stud finder sticks to metal screws and bars behind your drywall without the need for a battery. It features a bubble level you can use to keep your lines and measurements straight.
While its small size might worry those who easily lose their tools, its neon yellow color makes it stand out, should it be dropped into clutter or accidentally left adhered to a wall. With no moving parts and no complicated calibration or technology, it is suitable for basic jobs or to keep as a backup when your primary stud finder is in use or out of commission.
Expert Tip
Once you locate a stud, mark the stud placement on the wall with 1.5 in painter's tape, which is the width of a stud.
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Types of stud finders
There are two main types of stud finders: magnetic and electronic.
Magnetic stud finders
These tools employ a very simple concept. The nails that hold studs together are magnetic, and so are drywall fixings. If your magnetic stud finder sticks to the wall, there’s a good chance there’s a stud there.
Not surprisingly, there are some pretty strong magnets involved. Some are molded into a durable plastic casing. Others are left loose. With a fixed magnet, you push it across the wall until you feel magnetic attraction. With a loose magnet, you get either an audible "thunk" as the magnet is attracted to the fixing, or you get a visual indicator — generally, a bright piece of plastic will pop up.
Often, the stud finder incorporates a central groove, or "V," to help you position a nail or screw or make a pencil mark. A bubble level might also be incorporated.
While magnetic stud finders are inexpensive and easy to use, a major drawback is that they locate the fixing, not the stud. There's no way to know if the fixing is off-center. They're also attracted to any ferrous metal, so it could be a drywall screw they’re sensing — but it could also be steel tube, rebar or who-knows-what hiding in the wall.
Electronic stud finders
Electronic stud finders use advanced sensors to locate studs. Depending on the model, they may also be able to indicate the material of the stud and pinpoint its center and edges.
Premium electronic stud finders display their readings on LCDs or LED screens. Some emit a beep to alert you of what they’re detecting. They may feature different modes of operation that let you select how deep you want to inspect behind your wall and what kind of material you’re looking for. Many electronic units also include AC-power detection, pinpointing live wires or electrical conduits tucked away where you can’t see them.
Most need to be placed against a wall for calibration (an area where there is no stud). As they are moved along the surface, they measure the wall and feedback data until a different density is found. Unlike magnetic stud finders, they're not reliant on magnetism at all, so they find wood and galvanized-steel studs equally well.
False readings and calibration issues are the most common complaints about electronic stud finders. Models that don’t require calibration are available, but they tend to cost more than those that do.
Electronic stud finders are further broken down into different types:
- Edge finder: An edge finder usually has a single sensor that detects a change as it occurs — the edge of a stud. It cannot tell you the size of the stud, so it's a good idea to make a mark and then approach from the other side to make sure you know the width. You can then mark the center of that stud.
- Center finder: Center finders have multiple sensors, so they can gauge the full width and indicate the center for you.
- Multisensor stud finder: Also called an instant stud finder, this device incorporates an array of sensors. They can read a whole wall at once, mapping multiple stud locations in one go. They don't need to be calibrated, either. Because these stud finders take multiple readings, they handle irregularities better than edge and center finders. As a result, they're usually more accurate.
Most electronic stud finders struggle if wall thickness is inconsistent. "Deep-scanning" modes can overcome this to some extent, but it may be necessary to take several readings to get an accurate picture of where studs are.
Extra features
- Some electronic stud finders can detect live electric (AC) cables. This is a very useful safety feature.
- Some models can detect metals, both ferrous and non-ferrous. A basic model might find the edge of a “stud,” only for it to turn out to be a hidden copper water pipe. An advanced model that identifies the pipe could save you a big plumbing bill.
- LED indicators that span the length of the stud finder let you visually see the entire width of the stud being detected. This can make it easier to find the center.
- Some devices include a bubble lever. A bubble level offers a simple way to keep any lines or measurements you make with your stud finder more accurate.
- Some stud finders feature a laser level. The laser can be beamed over an entire wall for those who need extreme precision, especially across wide areas.
- A battery-life indicator is helpful. It can help prevent stalled work by letting you know how much power your stud finder has left.
Expert Tip
Remember that standard stud placement is 16 inches for most homes. That means it is 16 inches from the center of one stud to the center of the next.
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Stud finder prices
Basic magnetic stud finders can be found for as little as $10. Thousands of satisfied customers will tell you they work just fine. They do, but they may lack precision. For example, they may locate fixings that are off-center, metal pipes and conduit without differentiating between the types of objects.
Inexpensive
In the $10 to $15 range, you’ll find stud finders that include only basic features. Magnetic stud finders like the CH Hanson Magnetic Stud Finder are quite expensive. Great for hobbyists or those on a budget, stud finders in this range are not likely to satisfy anyone looking to take care of serious tasks or perform commercial work.
Midrange
For $20 to $40, you can step up to a center finder such as the JAXWQ Stud Finder. Again, it's likely that you'll get depth modes along with live alternating-current (AC) detection. You might also get metal identification for non-ferrous and ferrous materials.
Expensive
The Franklin Sensors ProSensor M150 Professional Stud Finder and other wide, multisensing models are capable of indicating not just the edges and center of a single stud but also several studs at once. You could spend $50 to $75 for a multisensing stud finder like this. It is very much a pro’s tool, but if it's something you’d use frequently, it would likely be worth the investment.
Stud finder tips
- Once you've identified your stud, move away. Then, come back and “find” it again at a different height. Now, find the next stud. Is it where it's supposed to be? Studs are usually located 16 or 24 inches apart. What you're trying to do is make sure you've truly found a stud, not a random cable or length of pipe.
- Some stud finders are surprisingly sensitive to battery charge. If yours was working yesterday and isn't today, try changing the battery before anything else. One manufacturer told us that nine times out of ten, a weak battery was the problem.
- If you're using an edge finder, be sure to find both edges so you can place your fixing in the center. Never assume the other edge is a set distance away. Maybe it is standard, but maybe the contractor ran out and used something else. You never really know what went on when that wall was put up. Better safe than sorry.
- Mounting a TV can be problematic if the bracket doesn't match your stud spacing. It's always best to use studs if you can because they're more secure. However, drywall anchors can also be used. Make sure they have the correct load capacity, and use plenty. Never think you can get away with using less than recommended.
How we analyzed
To put together our roundup of the best stud finders, we considered more than two dozen models of various styles. We researched the differences between magnetic and electronic stud finders and examined which ones had handy features, such as an LED indicator, bubble level or laser level. We also factored the cost of each model into our decision to help you find quality options for a decent price.
FAQ
Q. What is alternating-current (AC) detection?
A. AC detection (also called AC scan, or other similar names, depending on the manufacturer) is an attempt to find cables carrying live current that are hidden in your wall. They can provide a useful guide, but caution is always necessary. They seldom register cables more than 1 and a half inches below the surface, a distance that can further be reduced by concrete, conduit or other obstacles.
As a safety precaution, always turn the main power off before drilling into walls.
Q. What are the false positives on a stud finder?
A. Anyone who has used a stud finder with regularity has gotten a reading indicating the presence of a stud only to drill or nail through nothing but drywall. That’s because stud finders have traditionally used technology that detects changes in the density of wall material. Modern buildings have a tremendous amount of internal ductwork, wiring and piping that a detector may pick up on, resulting in an inaccurate reading.
To avoid false positives, it’s wise to invest in a premium stud finder that uses newer technology. Any sort of visual indication of what’s behind the wall, such as the LEDs on the Franklin Sensors ProSensor M210 Professional Stud Finder, will help you determine what exactly the tool is sensing.
Q. What is the challenge of using an electronic stud finder on a plaster wall?
A. The challenge with plaster is the variety of ways it's made. Even though the surface looks smooth, the underlying structure can be extremely varied. This tends to confuse electric stud finders, which work by finding changes in wall density. To make matters worse, some plaster walls are reinforced with steel mesh, throwing magnetic stud finders out as well.
Our expertise
Using a combination of in-house testing, trusted consumer feedback and a shared thrill of seeking the absolute best products, devices and tools, BestReviews is your number-one resource when it comes to reviews you can count on. Our staff brings you real advice from people who share your passions and seek to make every day a little easier, a little better and a lot more fun.
Derek Walborn is one of BestReviews’ trusted lawn, garden and DIY experts. Providing insight since 2021, he has written extensively on topics that range from home security systems and propane grills to the latest power tools and home improvement gadgets. BestReviews DIY expert Beth Allen also contributed her pro tips and insights into what makes a great stud finder.
