The ProSensor M210 Is the Only Stud Finder I’ve Tested That Shows a Stud’s Full Width

2 min readThere are a lot of stud finders out there, which can make choosing the right one difficult. Prices range from a little over $10 to well over $100. While the more expensive ones can also locate live wiring or plumbing, among other functions, they may be overkill for most people. When I boil it down, the goal of using a stud finder is to simply find a stud in the wall, and for that, the Franklin Sensors ProSensor M210 stands out above the rest.ProsWide LED displayDetects wood or metal studs, and live wiresStrong enough to work on plaster wallsConsDoes not differentiate between wood or metal studsScan TypeFull widthScan Depth1.7 in.Scans ForWood or metal studs and live wiresDimensions7.5 x 3.25 x 2.5 in.Not Your Average Stud FinderWhat makes the ProSensor M210 different? In part, it’s as much what it doesn’t have as what it does. It doesn’t have a fancy color screen filled with icons, nor does it have numerous buttons. It does have 13(!) sensors, 21 LEDs, and a single button. The simplicity of that single button makes it one of the easiest stud finders to operate.trevor raabThe LEDs laid out across the top of the M210 light up to show the full width of the stud, and a single green LED indicates the center. A second, arcing set of six LEDs light up when they pass over live electrical wires.When using a stud finder to scan a wall to locate a stud, many models display some sort of alert when they find the edge of a stud, followed by another alert once they reach the center of it. I’ve tested plenty of models that do this reliably. The ProSensor M210’s 21 LEDs essentially form a display 6 inches long. When the M210 passes over the edge of a stud, it illuminates a red LED right at that edge—and that lit-up LED follows the edge, and additional ones light up, until they display the full width of the stud. Once the middle of the M210 is over the center of the stud, a green LED pinpoints the center.Trevor RaabLEDs on the M210 light up and turn off as it passes over studs.The full-width display of the stud makes the M210 the most confidence-inspiring stud finder I’ve tested. It’s really like an x-ray for your wall. You can scan across the wall to find a stud, then scan up or down the wall, tracing its entire length with certainty, seeing exactly where it is.Bonus Featurestrevor raabA pocket in the right side of the M210 keeps a pencil handy for marking studs.While the M210 works great as a stud finder, it can also detect live wires within your wall. Pass over a live wire, and a second group of six LEDs lights up to alert you—so you’ll know where the wires are if you’re trying to locate or avoid them when you’re trying to fasten something to the wall. The M210 also features a simple bubble level to assist when hanging things such as framed artwork or shelves, as well as a hidden pocket to store a pencil for marking studs when you find them.Shop the Franklin Sensors ProSensor M210 Stud FinderMore Stud Finders We LoveBrad Ford has spent most of his life using tools to fix, build, or make things. Growing up he worked on a farm, where he learned to weld, repair, and paint equipment. From the farm he went to work at a classic car dealer, repairing and servicing Rolls Royces, Bentleys, and Jaguars. Today, when he's not testing tools or writing for Popular Mechanics, he's busy keeping up with the projects at his old farmhouse in eastern Pennsylvania.