The 10 Best Stud finders  Sep 2023

Studs are beams of wood in a wall or ceiling that lend support to the frame of the structure. Stud finders work by lighting up as you approach a stud. Some help you locate the stud's edges, whereas others help you locate the stud's center. The stud is typically 1.5 inches wide. The studs are attached to the posts of the structure by means of nails. If you detect those nails, you'll know where the stud is. That is the principle behind the magnetic stud detector:

• Magnetic stud detector- These contain a magnet that is attracted to the metal stud that is attaching the plasterboard.

  • Stationary: These stud detectors look for the nails or screws that were used to attach studs to the house's frame. A magnetic stud detector might not be able to detect the nail or screw if it is too deep in the wall. Or, it may detect other metal objects, giving you a “false positive”.

  • Moving: These use very strong neodymium magnets, which are attracted to any metal in the wall. As you move the magnet over the stud, it will be attracted to the stud. This will result in a “thud”. But the deeper the stud, the less strong will the sound be.

• Electric stud detector:

  • Edge finders—These find the edge of the stud. You first have to calibrate over a section of the wall where there is no stud. When it indicates one edge, you should approach it from the other direction, to find the location of the other edge.

  • Center finders--These have two sensors that detect the two edges of the stud. When the two readings are the same, that indicates where the center is located. They only have to be moved from one direction—you don't have to verify the size of the stud by going from the other direction.

  • Instant stud finders--These will make many readings simultaneously to locate the edges and center of a stud.

Based on all the consumers' reviews we've scanned, these are the top things they mentioned about their new stuff:

• Points an arrow on the wall: Some sophisticated stud finders will display an arrow to tell you in which direction to move it if you lose the location of where the stud is.

• Levels: Some stud finders also give you a horizontal level line from the place where you located the stud. If you go 16 inches to the right or left of the stud, you'll probably end up where the next stud is located.

• Verifying where the studs are without the stud finder: If there is a wall outlet—that's a sign that there's a stud there. But it could be either to the right or left of the outlet. The stud should be 1.5 inches thick, running vertically along the height of the wall.

• Tapping on the wall: If you knock on the plasterboard—where there is a stud, it'll sound solid. Where there is no stud, it'll sound hollow. This should give you an intuitive idea of where the studs are.

• Price shouldn't matter: Experts say that they obtain good results even with the simple stud finders when they are calibrated and used properly.

• Calibrating the stud finder: It is important that the stud finder is first calibrated (=adjusted to a known setting) before being used to find a stud. It is recommended to place the stud finder on the wall before turning it on. Otherwise, it might give a false reading. Also, you must calibrate the device when it is not located on top of a stud. (If you turn the device on when located on top of a stud, it will not notice that stud, or any other studs.)

• Stud finder not just for metal: The magnetic stud finders will detect nails and screws that hold studs in place on the beams. But some of the electronic finders will detect wood, metal pipes, air conditioning or heat ducts, and wiring. So you have to exercise some care—you clearly don't want to drill a hole in a pipe. A stud should be around 1.5 inches thick, and typically there should be a 16-inch distance between studs. So use this as a way of checking that what you have found is really a stud.

• Startup: Wait for the device to stop going through the startup process, and just has the green indicator light.

• Edge or Center: Basic stud finders locate the edges of the studs, not the center. It'll start beeping or flashing when you reach the edge of the stud, and then beep or flash when you approach the stud from the other side. (More expensive models light up when you reach the edge, but then beep when you get to the center of the stud.)

• Exercise caution: Be careful about plumbing pipes, electrical wires, heat duct—you don't want to accidentally detect what you think is a stud where there is in actuality a pipe or electrical wiring.

Franklin Sensors Inc.-- was founded by David Dorrough. They are located in Boise, Idaho. They specialize in stud finders that are more accurate, faster and less error prone than the standard product.

Zircon—was founded in 1975, as a maker of digital watches and video games. They started making stud finders in 1980, and now have a wide selection of levels, measures, drill guides, and metal scanners. They have their headquarters in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

General Tools and Instruments—was founded by Abe and Lillian Rosenberg in New York City in 1922. They originally made hardware and specialty hand tools, but they rapidly expanded into die-cast tools, and digital test and measurement tools. They were acquired by High Road Capital Partners in 2014.

Kapro—is a global manufacturer of hand tools since 1986. They have their headquarters in Lake Mills, Wisconsin. They make laser levels, and tools for layout, marking and measuring, as well as construction and carpentry tools.