Detecting shops and online listings will happily sell you a bag full of accessories, but you need surprisingly little to get started. Here’s what’s essential, what’s worth adding soon, and what can wait.
Essentials
1. A detector. The big one. For most beginners, a £150–£200 machine from a major brand is the right place to start. See our guide to the best beginner detectors.
2. A proper digging tool. A garden trowel will do for your first trip, but it will bend in clay and flint. A purpose-made detecting spade or trowel, with serrated edges to cut through roots and turf, lets you cut a neat plug that’s easy to put back. The CKG carbon detecting shovel (about £64, 4.6 stars from 199 reviews) is light with a double-serrated blade. Budget alternatives cost around £10–£15 but have far fewer reviews.
3. A finds pouch. A pouch on your belt with separate pockets for finds and rubbish keeps finds safe and stops you dropping the rubbish back in the field, which landowners appreciate. The finds bag with pinpointer holster (about £30, 4.4 stars from 1,883 reviews) is a popular choice.
4. Permission and a way to record finds. Not kit exactly, but essential. A written permission and a GPS app on your phone to record where each find came from. Our guide to the law explains why.
Worth adding soon
5. A pinpointer. The first accessory most detectorists buy. It finds a target’s exact position in the hole, so you dig less and damage finds less. The Garrett Pro-Pointer AT is the most popular in the UK. See our pinpointer guide for cheaper options.
6. Headphones. They help you hear faint signals and stop the beeping disturbing anyone else. Some detectors, such as the Minelab X-Terra Voyager, include a pair.
7. Gloves and knee pads. You’ll spend a lot of time kneeling in wet fields.
For the beach
8. A sand scoop. A long-handled stainless scoop lifts targets out of wet sand or shallow water in one go. The stainless sand scoop we link is about £38 and rated 4.5 stars from over 1,000 reviews. See our beach detecting guide. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
What can wait
- Extra search coils. Useful later for specific conditions, but the coil that comes with your detector is fine to start with.
- Wireless headphones and gadgets. Nice to have, not essential.
- Expensive finds cases. Small plastic bags and a marker pen do the job. Bag each find separately and note where it came from.
A realistic starting budget
| Item | Approx. cost |
|---|---|
| Beginner detector | £150–£200 |
| Detecting spade or trowel | £10–£65 |
| Finds pouch | £15–£30 |
| Pinpointer | £40–£120 |
| Total | about £215–£415 |
Prices are approximate Amazon UK prices from September 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the most important accessory? A pinpointer, once you have a detector and something to dig with.
Do I need a special spade? Not for your first trip, but a proper detecting spade makes neater holes and is much easier in heavy UK soil.
What should I do with rubbish I dig up? Take it home and bin it. Leaving ring-pulls and scrap in the field means you, or someone else, will dig it up again, and removing it is part of being a good guest on someone’s land.