Stud Finder Reviews & Buying Guides

Both professional tradesman and homeowners need good tools for finding studs. The best stud finder helps a pro locate anchor points for kitchen cabinets or know where to place shelving brackets. The DIYer or homeowner might use a stud finder for hanging a picture on a wall. These tools range from simple metal-detecting or magnetic devices to electronic stud finders. More sophisticated models, called wall scanners, use a form of “radar” to delve deeper into wall cavities and discern between wood, metal, PVC, and ferrous pipe. While more expensive, wall scanners surpass the simplistic nature of stud finders and offer Pro-level capabilities. We pay attention to ergonomics, value, and usability when reviewing stud finders. Above and beyond, a stud finder needs to accurately detect studs. More advanced products use multiple LEDs to let you mark the exact center. This dramatically helps when hanging TVs or other heavy objects.