Rechargeable A-type batteries are also much more common and last longer than rechargeable 9V types.Ĭalibration mode: Basic stud finders require you to start your search over a known-empty section of wall if you want to get accurate detection of studs, while more expensive devices automatically calibrate as you use them. Live circuit detection: An electricity detection mode will tell you if you’ve got energized, un-armored electrical wires in a spot you intend to put a screw or nail.īattery type: most stud finders use a 9V battery type, but one brand we tested uses AA or AAA batteries, which are less expensive and more likely to be in your cupboard already. In most cases this will be a good way to double-check that you’ve found a stud by looking for drywall screws, but on an advanced stud finder like the Bosch – GMS120 you also get a determination if the metal is non-ferrous (like a copper pipe) rather than steel.ĭeep scan mode: When your wall is covered with lath and plaster or stucco this mode will help you find studs more accurately than a regular stud finder could. Metal scan mode: This mode will look for metallic objects in your wall, rather than wood. An electronic stud finder will check for the density change from the actual stud anywhere along its height, while you may have to sweep a magnet back and forth over a large part of the wall before you find one of the screws. Compare the best stud findersĮlectronic vs magnetic stud finders: Magnets don’t stick to wooden studs, but they do stick to the screws that hold your wall up. An entire package of big neodymium magnets can often be had for the same price or less. We’ve used rare-earth magnets to find studs around the office before, but we bought the highest-rated magnetic stud finders in order to see if the extra features they include really make them better stud finders. While most grizzled veterans of kitchen cabinet installation projects will tell you a dozen tricks they think are more accurate than electronic stud finders, there are a few sheepish pros and DIY types who will admit to finding better stud finders and being happy with the accuracy.Īfter checking both reviews from Wirecutter, This Old House and Popular Mechanics, we looked for YouTube reviews of our top picks and confirmed we had found the latest models with the top features.Īfter checking retailer review scores, we bought the top six electronic scanners that either met a budget of $30 or $70, with higher expectations like electrical and metal scanning from the more expensive group. We assessed how far the world of electronic stud finding has come by talking to contractors as well as checking internet discussion on the subject. Early stud finders he used were frustrating, to say the least. Our tester, like many who witnessed the heady days of unreliable technological advancement in the 1980s, is skeptical of electronic stud finders.
This challenge continues to baffle both professional carpenters and do-it-yourselfers. But short of having X-ray vision, finding exactly where the studs are located can be quite tricky.
Only the heavier, thicker wooden studs behind the relatively light, thin plaster of the walls can bear the weight of something heavy like a big plasma TV.
You'll need to know where the studs are located in your walls to hang heavy pictures or put up new shelves.