FILTERz™ technology cancels metallic objects, such as metal studs and copper pipe, and low density objects, such as plastic, PEX, and plumbing The StudSensor ™ L50 stud finder locates the edges of wood and metal studs and joists behind walls, floors, and ceilings. Its easy-to-read display screen indicates stud edges, SpotLite ® Pointer shines a beam of light on the wall to clearly identify the target, and WireWarning ® detection indicates the presence of live AC voltage. Its patented pivot pinch grip and contoured shape provide an easy, secure hold in either hand, at any angle. The Zircon MetalliScanner m40 detects the metal nails or screws in the studs themselves to help you locate them without relying on density measurements. The Tavool Wall Scanner looks much more modern than the stud finders on this list and that's no coincidence. The tech inside this device is top-notch and its features are pretty impressive too. Before we go into these details though, let's review the scanner's build and profile. First, the unit's shape is as ergonomic as they come, so you'll have no issues grabbing, holding, and using this device. The rubber-coated surface makes this scanner easy and comfortable to hold even with wet hands. Typically, you’ll just see sensors capable of detecting changes in density just beyond the width of a typical piece of drywall. It won’t necessarily matter what that change in density is. However, some sensors can detect more. This includes stud finders that can distinguish iron pipes, detect through ceramic tile and other materials, and even find livewires.

With the screw still off, take the battery cover off and place the tool flat on a table. Carefully take the top case off to reveal the circuit board inside. Make sure everything is aligned correctly and looks square. Varying visual displays (electronic models only) give you some choice in how you want to “see” the stud. Some electronic stud finders let you preview a digital map of the stud beneath the wall on an LED screen; others feature LED lights across the top that blink when the finder is passed over a stud—both provide a reliable way to pinpoint a stud. This simple stud finder uses a powerful magnet instead of battery-powered sensors to identify studs, making it our top choice for magnetic stud finders. The magnet’s plastic casing is easy to hold and won’t mar or scratch the surface of the wall. Since it has no batteries or moving parts, the stud finder is always ready to use. To make this list of the best stud finders, each one of the tools I tested had to be highly accurate. Users rely on wall stud finders to pinpoint the location of studs concealed beneath the drywall because deciding how to find a stud can be difficult without one of these handy tools. Battery 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. Rechargeable A-type batteries are also much more common and last longer than rechargeable 9V types.

Compare Products

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. This basic Craftsman Stud Finder doesn’t come with a lot of bells and whistles, but it gets the job done—and at a very attractive price point. I was a bit surprised on the first inspection of the Craftsman stud finder; it weighs less than 4 ounces, and it’s just 5½ inches long. I didn’t hold out much hope that it would do the job. I was wrong. Fortunately, even plaster wall surfaces still use metal fasteners holding them to the studs, so you can usually find studs with a strong neodymium magnet or a purpose-built magnetic stud finder like the Studbuddy.

First is the fact that you’re working directly over your head. This can lead many people to lose their balance or even to feel vertigo. It’s important that you have a safe, steady platform or step ladder to stand on when you’re working on a ceiling.

Conclusion

SpotLite™ Pointer shines an arrow-shaped light on the wall to clearly indicate the edge of the stud WireWarning® detection is a feature to alert the user to the presence of live,unshielded, electrical AC wires while scanning for studs and metal. The WireWarning® detection is always on in StudScan, DeepScan®, or Metal Scan modes. (An LED light will flash, or a lightning bolt icon will appear on the LCD display when live AC voltage is present, depending on the model.) To stand out, manufacturers will add features of varying degrees of usefulness. These bonus features can vary from being neigh-on essential (at least, for you) to being expensive price boosters. If you already have one of the best home tool kits, you will likely find yourself not needing too many extras on your stud finder.

The Bosch Digital Multi-Scanner GMS120 is a powerhouse of a wall scanner. It has three modes; wood, metal, and electrical power, and is quite accurate with all three. In addition to the three scan modes, the Bosch has a center finder for studs, a magnetic sensor to show screws and other metal, and a ring that changes color depending on how close you are to the material you're seeking. The light-up ring changes from green (no stud sensed), to yellow (close), to red (directly on top of a stud). The ring is also hollow, allowing accurate marks right in the center of the sensor. For bonus points, the ring is wide enough to accept a permanent marker if that's your writing implement of choice. We appreciated not having to hold any buttons down to use it, which was more comfortable in awkward positions, like looking for ceiling joists. We also love the light-up screen, which made it easy to use in crawl spaces or other dimly lit areas. Magnetic stud finders use large magnets to find the nails that are holding the studs together. Some magnetic stud finders we researched are molded into a plastic casing, while some are left loose. With molded ones, you can feel the magnetic attraction as you push it along the wall. With loose ones, we find you’ll hear a “thunk” noise when it finds something or see a bright piece of plastic pop up. Notably, the downside to this type of stud finder is that you can’t guarantee that it found a stud and not some other magnetic piece behind the wall. Electronic Center: Center finders use multiple sensors to gauge the stud’s entire width and provide you with the location of the center of the stud.A good deep scan mode helps make up for the extra gap created by the texture, but in our tests it was better calibration accuracy that made the biggest difference in eliminating false positives on a popcorn ceiling. How we tested ACT ™ (Auto Correcting Technology) automatically corrects common calibration errors, such as when scanning begins over a stud Though the technology may sound complicated, electronic stud finders are easy to use: Simply place the tool flat against the wall and move it slowly in a horizontal fashion. When it detects a stud, it will emit an audible alarm and produce a visual indicator, depending on the specific model. Caution: Electrical field locators may not detect live AC wires if wires are more than 2 inches from the scanned surface, in concrete, encased in conduit, present behind a plywood shear wall or metallic wall covering, or if moisture is present in the environment or scanned surface.