By clicking a retailer link you consent to third-party cookies that track your onward journey. This enables W? to receive an affiliate commission if you make a purchase, which supports our mission to be the UK's consumer champion.
Best stud finders 2026: electronic and magnetic options tested for home DIY
Matt has been putting products through the mill for more than a decade, from complex heating systems, to his true passion, bikes and bike accessories
Whether you're hanging a heavy mirror or putting up floating shelves, the best stud locators help you locate wooden studs, live wires and metal pipes behind your walls, so you can drill holes with confidence.
We custom-built a fake stud wall in our testing room, filled it with pipes, live wires and wooden studs, then tried out stud finders from big brands including Bosch, Draper and Stanley to determine which ones we could rely on.
We focused on the home DIY market, so most of the products we've tested cost under £100, including one of our two Best Buys. Our Great Value stud finder costs less than £40, so a premium product needn't leave a hole in your pocket.
How our tests find you the best
Identification
We test how well each stud finder accurately identifies wood, metal or live wire behind our specially built test wall.
Accuracy
We measure how accurately each stud locator marks the edge and middle of a wooden stud, metal pipe and live wire behind the wall.
Ease of use
A panel of testers assesses how easy it is to switch between detection modes and identify different materials hidden behind the wall.
Wall protection
We score each stud locator on how well it protects the wall while you're moving the device across it.
The stud finders we tested
The biggest brands and the most popular stud locators are listed below.
Only logged-in Which? members can view our results.
| Stud finder | Price | Score | Finding a wooden stud | Finding a live wire | Finding a metal pipe | Ease of use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sign up to reveal Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations Unlock tableGet Digital access £9.99 per month, cancel at any time. Already a member? | 96% | |||||
| 89% | ||||||
| 83% | ||||||
| 78% | ||||||
| 77% | ||||||
| 76% | ||||||
| 64% | ||||||
| 63% | ||||||
| 40% | ||||||
| 36% | ||||||
| 35% | ||||||
| 35% |
Sign up to reveal
Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations
Unlock tableGet Digital access £9.99 per month, cancel at any time.
Already a member?
Log in
Date tested: September 2026. Page last checked: September 2026. We are not able to show every retailer, and cheaper prices may be available.
The electronic stud locators we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.
Only logged-in Which? members can view our results.
Bosch Pro GMS 120-27 Detector
Type Electronic
Need to know Claimed to detect wood, live wires, metal pipes, also has a centre-finding function, 2 x AA batteries supplied
Bosch UniversalDetect Digital Detector
Type Electronic
Need to know Claimed to detect wood, live wires, metal pipes, also has a centre-finding function, 4 x AAA batteries supplied
Bosch Truvo Wall Scanner
Type Electronic
Need to know Claimed to detect live wires and metal pipes, also has a centre-finding function, 3 x AAA batteries supplied
Di-Log DL1097 Digital 3-in-1 Wall Scanner
Type Electronic
Need to know Claimed to detect live wires, wooden studs and metal pipes, also has a centre-finding function, Li-ion rechargeable battery
Draper Combined Metal Voltage and Stud Detector
Type Electronic
Need to know Claimed to detect live wires, wooden studs and metal pipes, also has a centre-finding function, 9V battery required and sold separately
Draper 3-in-1 Metal Voltage and Stud Detector
Type Electronic
Need to know Claimed to detect live wires, wooden studs and metal pipes, 9V battery required and sold separately
Need a new drill to take your DIY to a new level? Check out our reviews of the best cordless drills
Franklin Sensors ProSensor M150/X990
Type Electronic
Need to know Claimed to detect live wires, wooden studs and metal pipes, two AAA batteries provided
Hardys Multi-Detector Stud Finder
Type Electronic
Need to know Claimed to detect live wires, wooden studs and metal pipes, 9V battery required but not provided
Hilka 3-in-1 Metal Voltage and Stud Finder
Type Electronic
Need to know Claimed to detect live wires, wooden studs and metal pipes, 9V battery included
Stanley Stud Detector S160
Type Electronic
Need to know Claimed to detect live wires, wooden studs and metal pipes, two AAA batteries required not provided
Studbuddy Magnetic Stud Finder
Type Magnetic
Need to know Claimed to detect metal nails in wooden studs
Studbuddy Pro Magnetic Stud Finder & Spirit Level
Type Magnetic
Need to know Claimed to detect metal nails in wooden studs, also has a spirit level
Which? Don't Buy stud finders
Our tests uncover the best and the worst. If a product performs so poorly that we think you should avoid it, we call it a Don't Buy.
We've tested four stud finders that we've named Don't Buys.
To find out which they are, and which stud finders earned our Best Buy and Great Value recommendations, log in or join Which?.
How we test stud finders
Many free-to-access websites review stud finders using just one tester, basing scores on their preferences. These sites may also receive products free of charge, directly from manufacturers.
Which? tests are different. Our test scores are based on measurements and ratings, and brands cannot buy their way into our testing. We select the most searched-for stud locators, and we pay for every single one we test.
We regularly revisit the stud finders on sale to see if there are any more popular models that need testing, and when we find them, we do.
We built a fake stud wall with a double layer of plasterboard and hid wooden studs, metal pipes and live wires in the cavity between the layers. We then asked a panel of five testers to use each stud locator to carefully mark and identify each object behind the wall.
We’re not influenced by third parties and we don't accept freebies from product manufacturers or retailers. As a not-for-profit organisation, we have no owners, shareholders or government departments to answer to, so we work entirely on behalf of you, the consumer – nobody else.
Read our full statement of editorial independence.
Accuracy: how well does it mark the edges and middle?
We score each stud locator on how accurately it can mark the edge and middle of hidden objects behind the wall.
Identification: can it identify different materials?
We score each stud finder on how accurately and consistently it identifies the object it detects. Many stud finders can't consistently identify live electrical wiring, or distinguish between wood and metal.
Ease of use: how easy is it to operate?
We assess each stud locator for how easy it is to operate and switch between detection modes.
Wall protection: will it mark or damage walls?
The best stud finders will leave your wall mark-free after use. The worst can leave scratches or marks in the paint.
How we choose
To make sure our reviews are 100% independent, we never accept free product samples from manufacturers or brands. Instead, we invest hundreds of pounds in buying a range of stud locators directly from major retailers.
We've tested 12 stud finders and we cater for the home DIY market, covering a price range from less than £20 to over £150. Everything from basic, no-frills machines to all-singing, all-dancing models will make their way through our test lab in any given year.
This means we can showcase premium Best Buy models alongside Great Value machines that punch above their price tag.
What is a stud finder?
A stud finder is a handheld tool designed to locate the hidden wooden or metal framing studs behind a wall. Finding these studs is essential if you want to securely anchor heavy items – such as flatscreen TVs or large shelving units – into the wall's load-bearing support, rather than just screwing into hollow plasterboard.
They can also help you avoid accidentally drilling into live wiring and metal pipes.
Stud finders generally fall into two categories, each using a different method to locate the target structures.
Electronic stud finders (cost £15-£150)
Electronic models (often called 'wall scanners') detect changes in wall density. When you place the device against the wall, it calibrates itself to the normal density of the drywall or plaster. As you slide it horizontally, it senses the thicker mass of the hidden stud and lights up or beeps to alert you.
Many electronic models also detect live electrical wiring (AC) and metal pipes, preventing you from accidentally drilling into a hazard.
Magnetic stud finders (cost £10-£50)
Instead of detecting density, magnetic finders use powerful magnets to locate the hidden metal screws, nails, or metal studs used to attach the drywall to the wooden frame. As you glide the magnet across the wall, it pulls toward the fastener, letting you mark the exact spot.
Because they rely on magnetism rather than battery-powered sensors, magnetic stud locators don't require calibration and are immune to electronic interference.
But they won't reliably help you find live wires or metal pipes, many of which are copper and therefore not magnetic.
Are stud finders effective?
It depends. We found huge variation in performance among the models in our test.
Not all the stud locators we tested were adept at the basic job of finding a wooden stud behind an internal wall – we found the magnetic stud finders particularly frustrating in this regard.
Of the electronic stud finders we tested, ease of use proved a big stumbling block. Many were incredibly complicated to use, and some couldn't distinguish well between hidden objects behind a wall.
So it's all the more reason to choose one of our Best Buy models, one of which is Great Value too.
Walls looking tired? See our reviews of the best washable paint
How to use a stud finder
1. Calibrate on clear section of wall
Turn the stud finder on and press it flat against the wall in an area free of obstruction. Hold down the activation button until the device beeps or its indicator lights stop flashing, signalling that it has calibrated to the wall's thickness.
2. Scan across the wall
Keeping the button pressed (if necessary), slowly slide the device horizontally in a straight line without lifting or tilting it. When the detector beeps or lights up, mark that spot with a pencil – this is the edge of the stud.
Continue scanning past the spot, then reverse direction and slide back to mark the opposite edge. The exact centre of the stud lies midway between your two pencil marks.
About to embark on some home DIY? Make sure you have these toolbox essentials