Our Top Picks
- CH Hanson 03040 Stud 4 Sure – Most Cost-Effective
- Stud Finder – 4 in 1 Electronic Stud Sensor – Writer’s Top Pick
- Zircon MultiScanner 740 – Most Advanced
Having a quality stud finder in your arsenal can protect your home from a failed DIY project. Nothing is worse than when the item you hung comes crashing down, and the surrounding drywall crumbles into pieces. Find the stud the first time with one of the best stud finders in Canada!
Whenever you go to hang something up in your house or apartment, the first question you should ask yourself is whether the item is too heavy for drywall. If the answer is yes, you’re presented with two options – both of which will require the use of a stud finder. First, you can find the stud and hammer the nail directly into it for support. Your second option is to place a drywall anchor for support. Messing up and missing with either of these steps can spell disaster.
The best way to avoid any damaging mistakes or difficulties is to come equipped with the best tools in the business. Even a lower-end stud finder can mess up and miss a stud, so you need the best available. The safety of your wall is at stake, so don’t mess around with a cheap stud finder – pick one that you know will find the stud every time.
We’ve created this article to point you in the right direction and help you find the perfect stud finder for your home. We scoured Canadian vendors to find the best of the best according to our criteria. The three stud finders we present to you are some of the best in the industry and have capitalized on the successes of previous products. Each stud finder on our list offers quality stud finding capabilities and nifty extra features to make the job easier.
Our List of the 3 Best Stud Finders in Canada for 2020
No matter which product you end up choosing, we can guarantee quality and satisfaction. These are some of the most highly rated stud finders available and for a good reason. They make the job simple and get it done right every time. The companies that develop them are friendly and always ready to interact with customers should an issue arise. These are the best of the best, and with all of the extra features they offer, you’ll quickly realize why.
CH Hanson 03040 Stud 4 Sure – Most Cost-Effective
CH Hanson is one of the top vendors for DIY tools, and their stud finder might be the best product they offer, which is quite impressive. The overall quality of the CH Hanson 03040 Stud 4 Sure is incredible, and the features it comes with make the job much simpler for anyone. This small, pocket-sized device is perfect for anyone with many studs to find and little time to do it. We recommend using this device for finding any metal studs as the magnets inside the finder make the job easy.
Our Thoughts
As we mentioned, the metal finding magnate makes this the best stud finder when working with metal beams. This doesn’t mean it’s not practical on any wooden studs, but you will have to switch to a more manual method. Even when using it manually, this stud finder is one of the most effective at nailing the location of the stud, regardless of the depth of the wall you’re on. The soft grip is comfortable and helps alleviate some of the stress of finding the stud.
The best part of this stud finder is that there are no batteries required. The process is entirely battery-free and yet just as effective – if not, more so – than the industry’s best electronic stud finders. With the two-way level, you’ll know when you’re moving parallel to the ground or wall and when you’re at a diagonal. This is easily one of the best stud finders available and is perfect for anyone on the go who can’t be tied down to finding new batteries or a place to store it. Toss it in your pocket and go.
Pros
- No batteries included
- Powerful magnets for metal beams
- Fits in your pocket
Cons
- Sometimes catches nails rather than beams
Stud Finder – 4 in 1 Electronic Stud Sensor – Writer’s Top Pick
Guaranteed accuracy is the goal of this stud finder. The developer of the Stud Finder – 4 in 1 Electronic Stud Sensor, Tavool, ensures that you’ll find the stud – wood or metal – every time with the advanced sensors. Their guarantee has yet to be proven wrong, barring a complete breakdown of the device. As long as it’s working, this stud finder will pinpoint the exact location of your stud every time. When using this device, you know you won’t be encountering any false readings.
Our Thoughts
Whereas the CH Hanson stud finder was the perfect manual stud finder, this is the ideal automated option. Studs, woods, and AC wires will all be easily located with this device, and no interference will give you a false reading. You select which of the four settings you want, and it will identify the correct object based on your preferences. If you’re looking specifically for wooden beams, select it from the menu, and it will be able to locate the beams with ease.
The automatic calibration makes it simple to move from one surface to another. Other stud finders struggle to reestablish their bearings when moved around and need to be placed on a surface without a stud behind it to calibrate correctly. This can be confusing for you and lead to many errors. The Tavool stud finder doesn’t have this issue and will automatically calibrate by itself. The LCD screen is easy to read and provides the perfect light in low-light areas.
Pros
- Automatic calibration
- 4 in 1 settings
- Advanced sensor finds deep studs
Cons
- Struggles to find beam width sometimes
Zircon MultiScanner 740 – Most Advanced
The Zircon MultiScanner 740 is the beast of the list. It’s easily the most advanced out of all products we reviewed, and the price tag, while steep, accurately reflects the progressive nature of the device. This stud finder realizes that we are human and are susceptible to making mistakes. It offers advanced technology that can accurately and effectively correct our errors. No matter what, you’re going to find the stud and create a level mark for when it’s time to place your nail.
Our Thoughts
The extra features available on this device are astounding. There are so many different bells and whistles that offer you the tools you need to not only get the job done right, but as accurately as possible. Perfection is nearly achieved with this stud finder. It has an opening in the centre of the device that emits a laser to show you where the stud is. This way, you can easily mark the stud without having to reach around the device or remove it from the wall.
Its four scanner modes enable the user to find wooden studs, wooden beams, or AC wiring. Switch between the settings and find the stud every time. If the walls are thick, that’s no issue for this device as you’ll be able to switch between StudScan and DeepScan for a more in-depth search for any nearby studs. It even comes with wire warning protection to alert you of a live wire in the area. When the wall gets rough and rigid, the Auto Correcting Technology (ATC) will keep the device level via the laser. This is easily one of the most advanced stud finders available.
Pros
- ATC keeps your findings accurate
- Wire warning keeps you and your home safe
- Central opening allows for easy marking
Cons
- Batteries sold separate and die quick
What Features to Look for in a Stud Finder
Finding the perfect stud finder for your DIY project doesn’t have to be complicated. Keep an eye out for the following three features, and you’ll have an excellent stud finder in your hands and on your wall in no time.
Stud Material
Studs can be made out of metal or wood, and you’ll want a stud finder that works for both. An excellent stud finder is one that can sense where your typical wooden home beam is, and then transition into a newer commercial area where the rays are metal. Find a stud finder that works on both. Some stud finders can even sense AC wiring for further use.
Where is the Stud?
Wall depth is an essential factor to consider when utilizing your stud finder. You’ll want a device that can search deep into the wall as sometimes the studs won’t be near the surface. An excellent stud finder will come with two settings that allow you to adjust the depth of your stud search. Deeper studs won’t elude you any more.
Extras
Stud finders are a great way to locate your stud and avoid drywall disasters, but the base models can be challenging to use. The more extra features a device has, the simpler the process will be. Levelling capabilities, setting switchers, and easy marking assists will be critical.
