Gifts for metal detectorists: ideas for any budget
DETECT BLOG | GIFT IDEAS
Know someone who is crazy about metal detecting, or who has dreamed of getting started for years? Then finding a gift is easy, as long as you know what to look for.
Every year around Christmas, we at Detect Metaaldetectors in Almelo help lots of people looking for a gift for a detectorist. The question is almost always the same: what is useful, what works with his or her detector, and what fits my budget?
In this gift guide we share our tips: from small gifts under €50 to a first metal detector of their own for your child or partner.
The short answer
Does the recipient already have a metal detector? Then a pinpointer, a good shovel or digger and a finds pouch are gifts almost every detectorist will use. Want to help someone get started? Choose a light, easy entry-level detector. For children of about 8 to 12, a real kids' detector is a far better gift than a toy. Not sure what suits? Visit our shop together, or just ask us.
Gift finder: what suits whom?
| For whom? | Budget | Our advice |
|---|---|---|
| Any detectorist | up to €50 | Finds pouch or digger |
| Finds enthusiast | €13 – €40 | Magnifier, finds brush, cleaning pencils or coin holders |
| Detectorist without a pinpointer | €99 – €165 | Pinpointer: the accessory that saves the most time |
| Child aged approx. 8 – 12 | €150 – €170 | A real kids' detector, such as the Nokta Midi Hoard |
| Adult beginner | €200 – €350 | Light entry-level detector, such as the Quest X5 or Nokta FINDX Pro |
| Experienced detectorist | €500+ | An upgrade, for example to the XP ICON X, or an extra search coil |
1. Small gifts up to €50
Perfect for a stocking or under the tree. Almost every detectorist uses these, whatever detector he or she owns.
2. For those who love working with their finds
Many detectorists enjoy studying, sorting and storing their finds at home just as much as the search itself. There are great gifts for that too, most of them under €40.
Detect magnifier with stand
€39,95
Study the details of coins and finds without touching them.
Le Crayon à André cleaning pencils (6 pcs)
€29,95
For carefully cleaning modern coins and less fragile finds.
Kapaan finds brush with magnifier
€12,99
Handy field tool: brush and inspect finds right there in the field.
Important: cleaning pencils are meant for modern coins and less fragile finds. Don't clean old or possibly archaeological finds yourself, or you'll damage the patina and detail. Read how to identify and care for your finds.
View everything for cleaning and storing →
3. A pinpointer: the gift everyone uses
A pinpointer is a small handheld detector that helps you locate a find in the hole precisely. Many detectorists later call it their most useful purchase: you dig less, damage fewer finds and no longer spend minutes searching through the soil you dug out.
Nokta AccuPOINT Lite
€119
USB-C rechargeable, with colour display and iron discrimination. Waterproof to 3 metres.
Garrett Pro-Pointer AT
€165
A Garrett classic: signal by tone or vibration, with LED light and lost-alarm.
Does the recipient use an XP DEUS II, ICON or ICON X? Then also look at the XP MI-6, which can pair wirelessly with those detectors. Curious why a pinpointer makes such a difference? Read how to relocate a signal faster.
4. Practical gifts from €50 to €200
A bit more to spend? A good shovel or a complete accessory set will also make a detectorist happy.
XP Backpack 240
€69,95
Light backpack (31 litres, 700 grams) with pockets for coil and pinpointer.
XP backpacks: the Backpack 240 and 280 are made for the XP DEUS, DEUS II, ORX, ICON and ICON X. Does the recipient use a different brand? Then a finds pouch or shovel is a safer choice.
Note on headphones: not every set of headphones works with every detector. Not sure which model the recipient has? Check first, or read which XP headphones suit which detector.
5. A first metal detector for your child
A detector of their own is a gift many children never forget. Do choose a real kids' detector: toy detectors often aren't made to actually find anything in the ground, and then the fun soon wears off.
Nokta Midi Hoard
€149
Made for children aged approx. 8 to 12. Light, with just a few buttons.
With children, look not only at age but also at height, the weight of the detector and how easy it is to use. Go out together the first few times: you can help with digging and see right away what your child finds.
View all metal detectors for children →
6. A first metal detector for an adult beginner
Has your partner, father or friend dreamed of metal detecting for years? With a good entry-level detector they can get started straight away. Look mainly for low weight, simple controls and a waterproof coil.
Tip: make it a complete starter kit. A detector with a pinpointer and a finds pouch is a gift someone can really go detecting with the very next day. Also read what you need to get started.
Our advice: the best metal detector for beginners →
7. For the experienced detectorist
Someone who has been detecting for years often has a clear wish. Think of a lighter or faster detector, an extra coil for trashy ground, or wireless headphones.
Groundtech IQ Detect Scuba
€215
Compact PI detector, waterproof to 30 metres, for beach and diving.
Does the recipient also like searching on the beach or in the water? The Groundtech IQ Detect Scuba is a compact underwater detector, waterproof to 30 metres.
With an upgrade for an experienced detectorist it is extra important that everything matches: coils and headphones must suit the model and software version. Torn between the ICON X and the DEUS II? Read which XP suits whom.
Five tips before you buy a gift
- Check the model. Coils, headphones and some pinpointers only work with certain detectors. Secretly take a photo of the detector if you're not sure.
- Choose real over toy. For children, a real kids' detector is the difference between an afternoon of searching and a new hobby.
- Think of the whole package. A detector without a shovel or pinpointer is only half the fun. A small addition makes the gift complete.
- Add an experience. Plan a first detecting day together, or find an organised detecting day. Also read how your first day of detecting goes.
- Don't forget the rules. Detecting is only allowed with the landowner's permission. Give the new detectorist a good start with where you can go detecting.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good gift for someone who loves metal detecting?
A pinpointer, a good shovel or digger and a finds pouch are gifts almost every detectorist uses. They work with virtually any metal detector.
From what age is a metal detector a good gift?
There is no fixed age. Kids' detectors such as the Nokta Midi Hoard are made for roughly 8 to 12 year olds. Younger children are best off searching together with a parent.
What does a good first metal detector cost?
A real kids' detector starts at around €150. A good entry-level detector for adults usually costs between €200 and €350.
I don't know which detector the recipient has. What now?
Choose a gift that works with any detector, such as a finds pouch, digger, shovel or a standalone pinpointer. Or bring a photo of the detector to our shop and we'll help you choose.
Can I see or try a metal detector first?
Yes. In our showroom in Almelo you can hold and compare different detectors. Saturdays and Sundays by appointment.
Can I pay later?
Yes, at Detect you can pay later with Klarna, among other options. See the payment methods for all options.
Prices are a snapshot from late October 2026 and may change. You can always see the current price on the product page.
Need help choosing a gift?
Not sure which gift suits the recipient's detector or experience? At Detect Metaaldetectors we're happy to help, by phone, by email or in our shop in Almelo.
As the official importer of XP Metal Detectors for the Netherlands and a dealer for brands including Nokta, Garrett, Quest and Rutus, we know exactly what works together.
