Best stud finder

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Best stud finder Estep is a plant biologist and journalist who has worked for a variety of online news and media outlets, writing about and editing topics including environmental science and houseplants.

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Jump to a Section. To find the best stud finders, we put 30 electronic and magnetic options to the test at our testing lab in Des Moines, Iowa.

Best stud finder

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more. We decided to test a slew of them to help readers find one that suits their needs, including both magnetic and electronic models to find the best stud finder options for a variety of user preferences. While selecting our list of top picks, we also decided to get professional advice about stud finder features from an expert, John Mazzuca. He is a home builder at Gambrick in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, who has more than 25 years of experience in construction. His recommendations are included below. Read on to learn what to look for in a stud finder and find out which popular models scored highest with our expert and during my tests. Home builder Mazzuca says that stud finders are great for everyday projects around the house, like mounting a TV, hanging a picture, or installing a cabinet. Since DIY projects most likely involve fixing up an older building, each one of the tools we tested had to be reliable, accurate, and versatile enough to detect a range of materials behind drywall to make this list of the best stud finders. I wanted to create a test situation that was very close to the situation DIYers and pros face when trying to find wall studs , so I built a facsimile of a stud wall. That allowed me to test the tools on the drywall while noting how accurate they were.

Overall, best stud finder, we found electronic finders to be more precise, especially with added features like LED screens or indicator lights. We know home projects can be fun, but they can also be stressful — and after best stud finder fifth trip to the hardware store, the last thing you want to worry about is comparing all the competing products on the market.

Looking for studs in all the wrong places? After investigating over 28 of the best stud finders on the market, we compared the top 12 models side-by-side. We tested for accuracy, ease of use, and features, both in isolated tests as well as while working on home projects to get a feel of their real-world performance. Read on to see our detailed results and find what works best for you, whether you're hanging a mirror or remodeling your entire kitchen. It has three modes; wood, metal, and electrical power, and is quite accurate with all three.

Knowing where your studs are is crucial for hanging up heavy items, like mirrors or mounts for flat-screen TVs. Some stud finders have other features, too, like deep scanning and AC wire detection. To test all the features, we put a selection of stud finders through their paces on a wall of our own making and walls in real homes. Magnetic stud finders work by waving the magnet along the wall until it catches on the fasteners that attach drywall to the studs. Since fasteners may be spaced over a foot apart on a single stud, it may take longer to locate one with a magnetic stud finder, but this is an affordable and simple option. If the builder missed the stud, so will the magnetic stud finder. In commercial construction, where metal studs are standard, you may find magnetic stud finders more useful.

Best stud finder

Affiliate Disclosure: We may be compensated if you purchase through links on our website. Our Reviews Team is committed to delivering honest, objective, and independent reviews on home products and services. Stud finders are used to determine where the studs and fasteners in your walls are located.

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The Studpop was the only one that combined the two types of alerts. Your Questions, Answered. If you need a stud finder for PVC pipes, look no further than this top-notch electronic option from Bosch. Even magnetic finders can miss non-magnetic metals. For this roundup, she relied on our testing results as well as manufacturer information and customer input, both positive and negative. Measure advertising performance. As I slid the device over the stud, the light ring turned red, and the stud finder emitted a beep. Some stud finders have other features, too, like deep scanning and AC wire detection. It might have a better shot on a plaster wall than most of the others, but we can make no guarantees. In our tests, the StudPop performed best on drywall and plaster, but wasn't quite as responsive over paneling. Tackle home projects like a professional. The small C. Lastly, it requires a calibration process that works only if you activate it at a spot that does not have a stud.

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The main flaws of the C. He lives in a very demanding year-old farmhouse and spent four years gutting and rebuilding his previous home. Meet your guide. The Stud Thud makes a noise when it finds metal, and the magnet of the Johnson Stud Finder Plus sits on a little hinge so that it pivots like a dowsing rod. While a wall scanner primarily finds studs, having a tool that can detect other things behind drywall can be quite handy and prevent some seriously unfortunate mishaps. Best Budget Stud Finder:. Pros Plenty of sensors No calibration required Tracks multiple objects at once. I moved the tiny stud finder around in large swooping circles on a standard wall and eventually felt a magnetic pull; it took maybe 15 to 20 seconds. Our Top Picks. If you are hanging something that is truly light, like a small picture, he says you can hang it on drywall regardless of whether you find the stud. Both single-sensor and multiple-sensor stud finders perform well on average. Best Cordless Circular Saw.