Security Metal Detectors
In short. Security screening splits into two jobs. Checking individual people as they arrive needs a hand wand, which starts at £149. Screening a steady stream of people needs a walk through archway, which starts at £2,250. Most sites end up with both.
Security metal detectors are judged on different things from hobby machines. Nobody cares how deep they read. What matters is how many people you can process in an hour, how often the unit cries wolf, and whether it is still working in three years. If you are pricing metal detectors for security screening, start with those three questions rather than the specification sheet. The notes below are based on what our customers actually run day to day.
Where Each Type Fits
Hand wands, £149 to £279A guard sweeps each person individually. Cheap, portable, and the right answer for door staff, small venues and spot checks. Slow if you have a queue. See the
hand held range.
Walk through archways, £2,250 upPeople walk straight through and the unit flags the zone where the metal is. Fast, consistent, and what schools, courts and stadiums use. See the
walk through range.
Thermal scan modules, £2,999 upBolt on temperature screening for an archway, or the
standalone module at £3,250 where you need it on its own.
Discreet units, £2,350The
Office Hidden detector screens without looking like security kit, for receptions and offices where an archway would set the wrong tone.
What to Check Before You Buy
ThroughputA hand wand takes fifteen to twenty seconds per person. An archway handles thirty to sixty people a minute. Work out your busiest ten minutes, not your average.
Detection zonesA multi zone archway tells the operator roughly where on the body the metal is, so the follow up search is quick and targeted rather than a full pat down.
False alarm rateThe real cost of cheap screening kit is time. A unit that flags belt buckles and keys on every third person stops being used properly within a fortnight.
Siting and powerArchways need a flat floor, a standard socket and clearance from lift motors, metal doorframes and other archways. We will talk this through before you order.
Security Metal Detector Prices
£2,250 to £2,500Entry archways. The
ThruScan s3 at £2,250 and the
s6 at £2,450.
£2,500 to £3,500More zones and better discrimination. The
s9 at £2,760 and the
sX at £3,099.
£3,500 and upWeatherproof and high specification. The
sX-WP at £4,625 for outdoor use and the
sX-i NOVO at £5,350.
Why Buy From Us
Official UK supplierReal warranty, spares held in the UK, and someone to ring when a unit plays up.
Screening kit we knowWe sell and support this equipment every week, so the advice is based on what holds up in daily use.
Honest adviceIf a hand wand will do the job, we will tell you that rather than sell you an archway.
Quotes and paperworkWritten quotes, purchase orders and invoices for schools, councils and venues.
Not sure which way to go? Ring us with your site, your busiest hour and what you are screening for, and we will tell you whether you need an archway at all.
Security Metal Detector Questions, Answered
How do security metal detectors work?
They generate a magnetic field and watch for the disturbance a metal object causes as it passes through. Nothing is sent into the body and no image is produced. The unit simply reports that metal is present and, on a multi zone archway, roughly where.
What do security metal detectors detect?
Anything conductive or magnetic. Knives, firearms, phones, keys, belt buckles, coins and foil. They do not detect plastics, ceramics, liquids or explosives that contain no metal, which is why screening kit is one layer of security rather than the whole of it.
Do security metal detectors detect gold?
Yes, though not as readily as steel. Gold is conductive but weakly magnetic, so a small ring may be missed at low sensitivity while a gold chain or bar will flag clearly. Airport style units are set up to catch items of weapon size, not jewellery.
Do security metal detectors detect vapes?
Usually yes. A vape contains a battery and a metal coil, which is more than enough metal to trigger both a hand wand and an archway. This is the single most common reason schools buy screening equipment.
How much do security metal detectors cost?
Hand wands run from £149 to £279. Walk through archways start at £2,250 and reach £5,350 for weatherproof, high zone count units. Thermal scan modules are £2,999 to £3,250.
What are security metal detectors called?
The archways are walk through metal detectors, or WTMDs. The wands are hand held metal detectors, or HHMDs. You will also see archways described as portal detectors and wands as portable metal detectors.
Do security metal detectors detect aluminium?
Yes. Aluminium is highly conductive, so foil, drinks cans and aluminium cases flag easily. Thin foil wrapped around something else does not hide it, it usually makes the signal stronger.
Are security metal detectors safe for pacemakers and in pregnancy?
Yes. The field strength is a tiny fraction of what a medical scanner produces, and well below the limits set for everyday exposure. Pacemaker manufacturers advise walking through normally rather than standing inside the archway, which is sensible practice for anyone.
