A stud finder is nice for, nicely, discovering studs you may’t see. Understanding the place your studs are is essential for hanging up heavy objects, like mirrors or mounts for flat-screen TVs.
Studs—the picket or steel beams that your drywall is connected to—are probably the most sturdy place to sink weight-bearing anchors into drywall to make sure your wall hangings don’t fall.
Some stud finders produce other options, too, like deep scanning and AC wire detection. This might help ensure you don’t hit a pipe or wire when hanging one thing up—a mistake that may shortly change into an costly one. That doesn’t imply that stud finders work like X-ray imaginative and prescient, although—there’s quite a bit happening in partitions, and it may be onerous, regardless of advances in tech, for any machine to find out what’s a pipe and what’s a wire, as an example.
To check all of the options, we put a collection of stud finders via their paces on a wall of our personal making and partitions in actual houses. We examined a number of choices to seek out one of the best stud finders for dwelling and industrial use, whether or not you simply want a hand hanging up your new cabinets otherwise you’re hoping to keep away from injury whilst you work throughout the drywall.
Greatest Stud Finders
What to Think about
Magnetic Versus Digital Stud Finders
Magnetic stud finders work by waving the magnet alongside the wall till it catches on the fasteners that connect drywall to the studs. Since fasteners could also be spaced over a foot aside on a single stud, it might take longer to find one with a magnetic stud finder, however that is an reasonably priced and easy possibility.
Magnetic stud finders aren’t at all times probably the most correct, although—they depend on the fastener truly being pushed into the stud. If the builder missed the stud, so will the magnetic stud finder. In industrial building, the place steel studs are normal, it’s possible you’ll discover magnetic stud finders extra helpful.
Most digital stud finders work by sending out a sign from a sensor inside, then studying the sign that bounces again. When the sign adjustments, the stud finder beeps or flashes to let you recognize it’s discovered a stud.
Some additionally determine steel pipes or electrical wires. Essentially the most superior stud finders use expertise like ground-penetrating radar, which makes use of radar pulses to create a subsurface picture.
For many occasional dwelling makes use of, like hanging footage or lavatory mirrors, a magnetic stud finder will do the trick. For those who plan on hanging heavier objects or something that’ll bear weight, like a shelf or a motorcycle rack, you would possibly need to get an digital stud finder to ensure you’re on the right track.
Clockwise, from left: detecting a ferrous object—black pipe—in our take a look at wall; discovering a stud’s heart; setting deep scan mode.
Stud finders have their jobs minimize out for them, given the numerous variables in wall supplies and building. Whilst you might get definitive leads to one case, you possibly can be left scratching your head in one other. Take all the pieces with a grain of salt, and use the stud finder at the side of the location {of electrical} and plumbing fixtures to determine issues out. Scroll to the underside for extra recommendation on learn how to get probably the most out of your stud finder.
How We Evaluated
For our evaluations, we constructed a four-by-eight-foot wall from widespread supplies: wooden and steel studs; drywall; copper, black, pex, and PVC pipes; and nonmetallic sheathed cable. Then, we scanned the wall with every of the stud finders.
All functioned as anticipated when it got here to detecting the studs, however we shortly discovered that a few of them didn’t work as marketed. We additionally took the stud finders to 2 houses—one, a mid-1800s home with lath and plaster, and the opposite, a Nineteen Seventies tract home—for real-world testing.
We discovered a number of stud finders that labored nice, and used our DIY and carpentry experience right here at Widespread Mechanics to find out which stud finders have been finest for varied makes use of. We additionally advocate just a few that we haven’t had an opportunity to check out but, however that we predict are promising primarily based on product specs and person opinions.
Clockwise, from left: The StudBuddy Magnetic Stud Finder; plumbing and electrical options in our take a look at wall; finding a stay wire operating up the facet of a stud.
Key Specs
| Weight | 17.7 oz. |
|---|---|
| Materials | Plastic, steel |
| Dimensions | 9.84 x 5.91 x 1.97 in. |
Bosch’s GMS120 is way more than a stud finder (although it did find the facilities inside an eighth of an inch). It may possibly additionally detect stay AC wiring, steel objects, plastic pipes full of water, and even rebar in concrete. This Bosch unit has audible tones, an illuminated ring across the sensor space, and an LCD display—and all three work in live performance, guiding you to what you’re scanning for.
The ring turns purple when over a stud, whereas the display gives live-wire alerts and shows a bull’s-eye to point the stud’s heart. Although the GMS120 didn’t discover wiring in our wall, it did decide it up pretty precisely within the take a look at homes.
Execs
- Loads of sensors
- No calibration required
- Tracks a number of objects directly
Key Specs
| Weight | 6.4 oz. |
|---|---|
| Materials | Plastic |
| Dimensions | 11.8 x 4.6 x 1.5 in. |
This Hart Skilled stud finder is among the finest values on this record, if not for its 9 sensors, then for its unneeded calibration. This machine can immediately discover wooden and steel studs, and a number of LEDs detect and monitor the place objects are so customers could be cautious of wires, pipes, and stay wires. Every object is tracked with lights that transfer with the machine as you glide it towards a wall, with purple indicating studs and yellow exhibiting stay wires.
The show reveals the complete width of objects with a max depth of 1.5 inches, and a built-in pencil holder makes marking issues simple. Whereas we haven’t had the possibility to check this ourselves, varied shoppers say this Hart machine is among the finest stud finders they’ve used, rivaling premium choices with its 9 sensors. At its worth, it is a stable worth purchase.
For those who solely have to discover a stud, Craftsman’s Hello-Vis Stud Sensor will do precisely that. It’s easy and efficient, designed to find the perimeters of wooden and steel studs. Urgent the button on the facet, we slid the Stud Sensor slowly alongside the wall, keeping track of the indicator. When it lit up, we have been on the fringe of a stud. That indicator stayed on till we handed the opposite edge, then we slid the unit again over the stud to substantiate and mark the perimeters earlier than pinpointing the middle. The instrument constantly discovered studs beneath drywall as much as three-quarters of an inch thick in our testing.
WIDEST SCAN AREA
Franklin Sensors M90 Skilled Stud Finder
WIDEST SCAN AREA
Franklin Sensors M90 Skilled Stud Finder
Execs
- Reveals the complete width of stud
Cons
- Solely scans for studs
Key Specs
| Weight | 7 oz. |
|---|---|
| Materials | Plastic |
| Dimensions | 5.38 x 2.75 x 2 in. |
With 9 sensors unfold out over 5 inches, the ProSensor M90 precisely positioned studs. In testing, after we encountered one, the LEDs over the stud lit as much as present its full width.
The M90 was additionally extensive sufficient to indicated doubled-up studs after we scanned round door frames and home windows. General, we discovered it easy and simple to make use of, and it reliably detected wooden and steel studs beneath ¾-inch-thick drywall.
For locating studs, issues don’t get a lot easier than the StudBuddy. Utilizing it, we effortlessly positioned nails, screws, or steel studs by sliding it in an “S” sample, backwards and forwards on a wall. Two robust neodymium magnets brought on the StudBuddy to snap to ferrous fasteners or studs after we bought inside about three-quarters of an inch of them.
Sliding it up or down shortly confirmed further hits, and the situation and course of studs. We discovered it labored even higher on steel studs as a result of fewer affirmation “hits” have been required. The StudBuddy might also find different ferrous metals within the wall, like ductwork or electrical packing containers—so scanning to substantiate stud orientation is essential.
DeWalt’s DW0150 constantly discovered stud facilities, finding each wooden and steel equally nicely via each 1⁄2- and three⁄4-inch drywall. An alert within the type of an LED arrow pointed towards the studs, and we discovered that touring over the stud after which again till the DW0150 picked up the middle was almost 100% correct.
(We’ll give DeWalt kudos, too, for together with a window within the heart, which made marking stud facilities with a pencil simple.) The machine additionally detects AC wiring—it was dependable via a 1⁄2 inch of drywall however solely intermittent beneath the three⁄4-inch selection.
BEST CENTER-FINDER
Zircon MultiScanner A200 Wall Scanner
BEST CENTER-FINDER
Zircon MultiScanner A200 Wall Scanner
Key Specs
| Weight | 12.3 oz. |
|---|---|
| Materials | Plastic |
| Dimensions | 9.13 x 6.34 x 3.7 in. |
Zircon’s A200 is a strong wall scanner with three scan modes. In our testing, it discovered the studs, iron and copper pipes, and stay AC electrical wires in our wall. It was additionally very dependable and correct, detecting studs and indicating their facilities by projecting a purple arrow on the wall. Once we handed over stay wires, the display displayed an icon indicating the wires had electrical energy operating via them.
Whereas utilizing it in devoted metal-scan mode, we discovered it simple to distinguish between steel plumbing pipes and wooden studs. It was a bit trickier if steel studs have been current, however understanding the stud spacing helped us type issues out.
In deep-scan mode, the A200 didn’t decide up PVC pipes within the wall until they’d water in them. We have been capable of differentiate between pipes and studs by toggling between stud scan and deep scan. And the A200 offered all this info on its illuminated display.
Craftsman’s center-finding unit has LEDs to point scan standing and information you to the middle of the stud—orange ones gentle up while you’re over the stud, and purple ones point out while you hit the middle. Scanning slowly in a single course, previous the middle, after which again bought us correct outcomes over 1⁄2- and three⁄4-inch drywall.
The AC-detection mode was obscure, indicating an space three to 4 inches extensive when it picked up the wiring. However repeated passes allowed us to find out the wiring’s path. In normal scan mode, the Craftsman positioned some copper pipe, which was odd, however the pipe was too slim to be a stud and the machine by no means registered a middle.
Equally, it detected black pipe in steel mode. (Notice that though it positioned the pipes, the stud finder couldn’t, nor was it designed to, determine them as such.) Nonetheless, these readings might help you determine different objects within the wall it’s possible you’ll need to watch out round.
The Bosch Wallscanner D-Tect 150 is greater than only a stud sensor. It’s a strong, professional-grade instrument able to scanning partitions and flooring for studs, pipe, rebar, and stay AC wires—utilizing scan modes for drywall, concrete, deep concrete, moist concrete, steel objects, in-floor heating, and one which reveals sign power.
Our scanning for wooden and steel studs and AC wires in normal partitions wasn’t a lot of a problem for the D-Tect 150; it discovered all fairly reliably. We needed to scan concrete flooring and masonry partitions to research its capabilities.
One of many extra invaluable options is how detected objects seem on the LCD. As you discover issues, they seem at depths relative to the floor being scanned. For many modes, that’s three inches, however in deep scan, it reveals as much as six inches. We have been capable of find a defunct metal drain buried with 5 inches of concrete in our store ground.
Considering of extra methods to leverage the D-Tect 150, we looked for a metal survey spike beneath the pavement at one take a look at editor’s property—and it labored. The D-Tect 150 is just not low-cost, but when it’s good to often uncover hidden issues in partitions and flooring—made out of varied supplies—it might probably do the job and could also be definitely worth the worth.
Execs
- Stable worth
- Properly-rounded
Cons
- AC wire detection restricted past 2 inches deep
Key Specs
| Weight | 5.44 oz. |
|---|---|
| Materials | Plastic |
| Dimensions | 7.1 x 2.8 x 1.6 in. |
We observed many optimistic opinions on Amazon, so we tried the Tavool 4-in-1 Stud Sensor. And we’ll admit we have been stunned. For the cash, it’s onerous to beat. It options 4 scan modes: three for particular objects (wooden, steel, stay AC wiring) plus one for deep scanning—all work moderately nicely.
We famous that it could possibly be inaccurate if we uncared for to attend for the calibration to finish after turning the unit on. So long as we waited for the audible beep, it discovered stud facilities and edges inside ¼ of an inch. We like that it has a middle indicator, which saves time making edges to find the middle manually. We may detect copper and black pipe and not using a heart indication in me-scan mode.
We discovered the stay AC wire detection was unreliable, with some misses alongside the wire path. Nevertheless, as a result of we had entry to the again of the wall, we concluded that this needed to do with wire depth—greater than 2 inches from the face of the wall and the wires have been more durable to select up.
Stud-Discovering Suggestions from Our Knowledgeable, Bradley Ford
Most studs are spaced at 16-inch intervals—discover one, and the subsequent stud needs to be about that very same distance in both course. Adjustments in spacing normally occur close to the ends of partitions or doorways and home windows.
In case your stud finder appears to be selecting issues up between the studs, it could possibly be detecting steel or plastic plumbing elements, electrical packing containers or wiring, or steel ductwork. To fight this, scan above and under the purpose to make sure it continues to the ground or ceiling. If it doesn’t, it could possibly be one thing aside from a stud.
Electrical wires normally run vertically on the facet of a stud and generally horizontally between retailers. If there are lighting fixtures, switches, and retailers on a wall, you may make an informed guess as to the place the wires may be.
Take note of the place the kitchen and bogs are, too—water provide and waste pipes for the second ground are sometimes present in partitions on the primary ground, under sinks, tubs, or showers. (Professional tip: In case your basement is unfinished, you may go down there to see the place precisely the pipes go up on the ceiling.)
Listed below are just a few different ideas for locating studs each single time.
- Don’t contact the wall with both hand whereas utilizing a stud finder—this could alter its readings.
- Some stud finders have to calibrate earlier than scanning, so begin away from switches, retailers, or lighting fixtures.
- Apply some painter’s tape over the world you need to scan. It’ll provide you with a floor on which to mark your findings with out having to jot down on the wall.
- While you detect studs, objects, or stay wires, mark them with a pencil or tape.
- Freshly painted partitions could also be tough to scan for just a few weeks as a result of moisture within the paint.
Commerce Editor
Kevin Cortez is a Commerce Editor for Widespread Mechanics, Bicycling, and Runner’s World. A tradition and product journalist for over 9 years, he’s lined all the pieces from males’s style and sneakers to e-bikes and video video games. He was most lately the model editor for a number one product-recommendation web site, and beforehand lined the music and podcasting industries at Mass Enchantment and The A.V. Membership. In his spare time, he walks his excellent little canine, Money, and reads graphic novels. He has additionally written for Leafly, Enter, Vulture and Genius.
Take a look at Editor
Brad Ford has spent most of his life utilizing instruments to repair, construct, or make issues. Rising up he labored on a farm, the place he discovered to weld, restore, and paint gear. From the farm he went to work at a traditional automotive supplier, repairing and servicing Rolls Royces, Bentleys, and Jaguars. Immediately, when he is not testing instruments or writing for Widespread Mechanics, he is busy maintaining with the initiatives at his outdated farmhouse in jap Pennsylvania.
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