Best stud finder

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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. 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.

Best stud finder

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Emily 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. If you plan on hanging anything over about 20 pounds in your home, you'll need a stud finder to help you locate the studs and joists you'll need to anchor into to keep things secured in place. Stud finders come in two main types: Magnetic stud finders detect the stud by the nails and screws holding it in place, while electronic sensors use changes in electrical flow to "see" wood, metal, and sometimes electrical wiring within the wall. To find the best stud finder for most projects, we ordered over 30 different models to our lab in Des Moines, Iowa and put them to work on a series of custom-built walls to see how each one performed under a series of different construction situations. At the end of our test, our team of experts and novices found options that are perfect for all levels of DIYers. The electronic Franklin Sensors ProSensor Precision takes the top spot because of the accurate and detailed look it gives you into your walls. Its 13 sensors simultaneously "look" behind the walls it can also be used to find joists underneath the flooring to pinpoint the location of wooden studs and metal objects, such as pipes, easily and accurately. No need to take time to calibrate the tool, as with some other stud finders; this one is ready to go right away. Plus, it shows you the edge and center of the stud simultaneously, making your job much easier. We loved the way the ProSensor located studs, both metal and wood, quickly and accurately. We didn't have to pass the device back and forth over the wall for more than a few seconds before the 13 indicator lights start popping.

But not everyone has a house built after

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.

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.

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. You can also check out our tools buying guide for more critical factors to consider when shopping for tools for your home. We found that customers who liked that this product thought it was multifunctional, saying that it gave them all of the tools they needed to hang items from their walls.

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Best for Metals. We like that it has a center indicator, which saves time making edges to locate the center manually. By Barbara Bellesi Zito. Best Overall Stud Finder. Get the Franklin Sensors stud finder at Amazon. Pros Detection status light Detects a slew of materials, including concrete Audible tones for detection Illuminated screen. We used it to line up picture frames across a broad wall, making it much shorter work than using a spirit level or tape measure. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. Still, for ease of use and no false positives, the C. Best for Plaster Walls. We also found it to be comfortable to hold regardless of hand size. Ryobi Whole Stud Finder. What this means in functional terms is that you must scan the wall multiple times, starting from a different spot each time. Nor will it detect wiring. You will have to recalibrate the stud finder each time you use it, but it only takes a few seconds to do it.

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In our tests, this stud finder was very accurate, and its large, comfortable handle made it easy to hold. Each one was put to the task of locating wood and metal studs—as well as wiring and pipes, where applicable—behind walls covered in drywall, plaster, and paneling. After years of using electronic stud finders, and finding the Franklin and Zircon through recommendations, we focused our testing for this guide on the magnet-based stud finders from our initial search. Rachel has written for Dotdash Meredith's Ecommerce team since , covering home goods, tech, fashion, beauty, and more. Jump to a Section. Key Specs Weight You could probably run over it with a truck, and it would be fine. Take everything with a grain of salt, and use the stud finder in conjunction with the placement of electrical and plumbing fixtures to figure things out. Sometimes stud finders are used to refer to magnetic devices that locate the nails and screws, while stud sensors are used to refer to electronic models that sense changes in electrical flow to detect the wood, metal, and wiring behind a wall. We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. Measure advertising performance. What Is Real Simple Selects? We opted for units that offered additional features such as level vials, an audible detection sound, and removable magnets.