A pinpointer is a small handheld detector that finds the exact position of a target once you’ve dug a hole. It’s the accessory that makes the biggest difference to how quickly you recover finds, and to how small and neat your holes are. Here’s how to use one properly.
Step by step
- Pinpoint with your main detector first. Sweep across the signal from two directions to find the centre. Many detectors have a pinpoint button that helps.
- Switch the pinpointer on away from metal. Most pinpointers tune themselves when you switch them on, so hold it in the air away from your spade, your detector and any metal on your clothing.
- Scan the ground before you dig. Push the tip into the soil or run it over the surface. Shallow targets are often found this way before you dig at all.
- Cut your plug. Cut three sides of a square or a horseshoe and fold the turf back on the uncut side. See our spade guide.
- Scan the hole. Probe the sides and bottom. The pinpointer beeps or vibrates faster as you get closer.
- Scan the plug. If the hole is silent, the target is usually in the plug you lifted out. Break it apart gently over the hole.
- Scan again after recovery. Check the hole once more. Where there’s one coin, there’s sometimes another.
- Fill in the hole and tread the turf back.
Tips for better results
- Retune often. If the pinpointer starts sounding constantly, especially in wet or mineralised soil, switch it off and on (or press retune) with the tip in the hole wall. That tunes out the ground.
- Lower the sensitivity in trashy ground to stop it chasing tiny bits of foil and iron.
- Use the side as well as the tip. Most modern pinpointers detect all around the probe, which is quicker for scanning a hole wall.
- Use a lanyard or a bright colour. Pinpointers are easy to leave in a hole. It’s the most common way to lose one, and a big reason many are orange.
- Keep it away from your coil when you’re searching, or your detector will beep at it.
Common mistakes
- Digging without pinpointing first, which makes big holes and damages finds.
- Stabbing too hard with the tip. You can scratch or damage a find. Probe gently.
- Switching on next to metal, which detunes it so it misses targets.
- Forgetting it in the field. Check your holster before you move on.
The best pinpointers
Best overall: Garrett Pro-Pointer AT (about £117)
The most popular pinpointer in the UK, rated 4.7 stars from over 8,600 Amazon UK reviews. It gives audio and vibration signals, has an LED light and a scraping blade, detects all around the tip, and is waterproof to 6 metres. It's bright orange, so you're less likely to lose it.
From Minelab: Minelab Pro-Find waterproof pinpointer (about £119)
A waterproof Minelab pinpointer with tone ID, adjustable sensitivity and a built-in torch, rated 4.5 stars from over 1,300 reviews. A higher-spec version costs about £139.
Best mid-price: Nokta waterproof pinpointer (about £90)
A fully waterproof pinpointer from Nokta, rated 4.4 stars from 608 reviews. A good choice for beach and river use.
Best budget: DR.ÖTEK IP68 pinpointer (about £41)
Fully waterproof, with an LCD screen, and rated 4.5 stars from over 3,500 reviews. It's a lot of pinpointer for the money and a sensible first buy. Keep it in a finds pouch with a pinpointer holster so it's always to hand. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
For a full comparison, see our best pinpointers guide.
Frequently asked questions
Do I really need a pinpointer? You can manage without one, but it makes recovering finds much faster and your holes much smaller. It’s the first accessory most detectorists buy.
Why does my pinpointer keep beeping? It usually needs retuning. Switch it off and on with the tip away from metal, or in the hole wall to tune out wet ground.
How deep does a pinpointer detect? Only a few centimetres. It’s for finding the exact spot in a hole, not for searching.
Will a pinpointer work with any detector? Yes. Pinpointers work independently of your main detector.