Stud finder specialists Votery don’t seem to make anything else, so it’s a good thing that they’ve made one of the best metal finding scanners I’ve come across so far. The 5 in 1 scanner they’ve come up with is a brilliant piece of kit for the money thanks to some clever features. It can scan for non-ferrous metals much deeper than even the professional brands on my list. Casual users find outstanding reliability and convenience detecting stud locations with the Bosch D-Tect 150 as a precision instrument in its singular role.

Oh the stud finder. The most hated and most loved tool around. Why are stud finders the most loved and hated tool around? Well, when you find a stud or object, you love it. When you are told an object is behind a wall and nothing is there, well then you hate it. I guess you can say it comes down to accuracy. Over the years these type of tools have greatly improved, but let’s face it, there is always room for improvement. So why is it that accuracy is not always 100%? Simple, each wall is different. You can have drywall or plaster. Sometimes the pipes or studs are closer while others are far away and yes the fact of human error. In the past I have used the Franklin stud finder for finding wood studs, but there are times you need more than just finding wood studs and that is where the Bosch GMS120 Wall scanner comes into play. This tool is not just for finding wood studs it’s for so much more and that’s why they call it the wall scanner.Finds stud centers within 1/16th inch, detects metal objects accurately, comprehensive tool yet easy to use The left/right LEDs virtually eliminate guesswork on where exactly the stud edges lie. The bright flash from centered green LEDs clearly indicates when you have passed over the middle of a stud for reliable markings. 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. If undertaking whole home remodeling projects or wanting maximum insights on your wall interiors, the Walabot DIY earns a full recommendation. Simply place and slide the D-Tect 150 vertically across your project walls, observing when the directional LEDs light up to trace stud edges.

The Walabot comes closest to literally seeing through walls with its radio frequency scanning able to visually map studs, pipes and wires behind the surface. While the Bosch doesn’t show images, its radar LED signals reliably detect stud locations even through layers of materials. Final Recommendations The D-Tect 150 balances advanced radar technology with simple LED operation. Just slide the scanner along the wall and watch for the directional lights to trace stud edges. No calibration or settings adjustments needed. They are compact and easily portable designs intended for regular consumers and DIYers to incorporate into their home projects. Plus, they pose no risk to walls with their non-invasive scanning functionalities. Now that we’ve provided deeper dives on the specifics of each scanner model, let’s examine some key factors side-by-side:

My Top Recommended Stud Finders

LED lights with left/right directional indicators activate based on detected edges. This allows users to trace the endpoints and centers of framing elements for precision marking and measurement. The Walabot harnesses radio frequency field technology, which allows sending safe low energy RF signals through solid objects. Plus there is a Deep Scan mode to extend the depth and sensitivity to find deeper set studs if standard mode struggles.

The radar penetration capability allows stud finding for more wall materials beyond just drywall, including plaster, wood, concrete, ceramic tile and more up to a 1.5 inch depth. I like the simplicity of the two-button operation. Turn it on with the power button and cycle through the settings with “mode”. It doesn’t get much easier than that! It’s great that these electronic stud finders auto-calibrate themselves before use as well. 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.The Bosch D-Tect 150 focuses specifically on tracing stud locations reliably using intuitive LED display Here are the core reasons to consider the Bosch D-Tect 150 if stud finding is your primary application: The key differentiator is the Walabot’s radio frequency field imaging capability which reveals a complete picture of what lies inside the walls. This allows identification of not just studs but also pipes, wires, nest critters and more during your scans. A digital stud finder takes all the guesswork out of where to safely drill a hole. Simply turn it on and pass it across your wall to find out where, and where not, is a safe place to start making holes. Features to Look Out For