The GMC-800 is the top of the line when it comes to traditional Geiger tube counters with a huge number of useful features. The display is intuitive and allows plenty of customization in alarm settings, unit selection, and data storage. It has 2MB of internal flash memory, letting you get plenty of background data before you offload it to the included software with the USB charging/data port.
Specs
- Detection Type: M4011 Gieger Tube
- Range: 0 – 2,000 µSv/hr
- Battery Power: 3.7V Li-ion Rechargeable AA(14500)
- Run time: 48 hours
- Display Type: Backlit Color LCD
- Dimensions: 4.9″ x 2.75″ x 0.6″
- Weight: 8.8 ounces
- Manufactured: United States
One drawback to this model is simply the detector itself. If you go any higher than this 800 model in price, you should switch to a scintillator or other detection style to shore up the weaker gamma detection and non-existent alpha detection. The GMC-800 has all of the bells and whistles- including plenty of sounds and vibrations to alert you on the move. One might say it makes a little too much noise, but it’s all configurable except the startup sound.
With six times the upper range of our budget pick along with the improved display and notification features, this detector is worth the additional investment.
The GQ GMC-800 Geiger Counter is the best Geiger counter for radiation detection under $100.
Budget Geiger Counter
GQ GMC-300S
Inexpensive, Accurate, and Reliable
A cheap measurement device that is easy to use and accurate enough to trust.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
The GMC-300S is not sleek and it won’t wow your buddies, but it gets the job done. It detects Beta, Gamma, and X-Ray radiation. It is a lightweight 4-ounce handheld and it runs on a rechargeable battery. This thing will detect and quantify a respectable range, from background radiation to Fukushima-level disasters.
Specs
- Detection Type: M4011 Gieger Tube
- Range: 0 – 328 µSv/hr
- Battery Power: 3.7V Li-ion Rechargeable AA(14500)
- Run time: 60 hours
- Display Type: Backlit LCD
- Dimensions: 4.8″ x 2.8″ x 0.8″
- Weight: 7.8 ounces
- Manufactured: United States
It has a 64KB internal flash memory, which can help you download radiation data using the USB data/power port. This lets you mount it and set it up as a continuously powered passive monitor in your home, or just download the data as you need it to GQ’s software that’ll let you create maps, timelines, and more.
The GQ GMC-300S Geiger Counter is the cheapest Geiger counter you can trust on the market. A few counters hook to smartphones that run slightly more inexpensive, but their accuracy is unverified and reports on their quality are not promising.
Upgrade Geiger Counter
Better Geiger S-2
High-Range, Accurate, and Durable
Get fast and accurate data with a counter that can quantify radiation to extreme levels.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
The S-2 is a solid upgrade over our top pick that pushes the upper detection range to the limit by using a crystal scintillator. Normally, the other radiation detectors we researched and tested would tell you when radiation is concerning but would max out shortly after that.
Specs
- Detection Type: Solid-state crystal scintillator
- Range: 100 mSv/hr
- Battery Power: 2 AAs
- Run time: 50 hours
- Display Type: OLED
- Dimensions: 4.8″ x 3.1″ x 1.2″
- Weight: 9.6 ounces
- Manufactured: United States
For the audio, you can toggle the clicks on and off and configure the dose alarm settings. The data it displays is designed for field use: it shows the dose rate (you can configure the units), whether the range is normal, high, or dangerous, and shows battery status. All of this is on a high-contrast bright OLED display that is easily readable in sunlight.
One downside is that there is no external data port or ability to store and transfer radiation data. This sets it apart from the lab-style Geiger counters- but doesn’t matter quite as much for preparedness and prepping. It more than makes up for it with its rugged durable case, gamma-sensitive scintillator, and widely-available power source.
If you want accuracy and to understand the entire site picture, the Better Geiger S-2 Nuclear Radiation Detector is ready to help you out right out of the box.
EDC Radiation Alarm
NukAlert
Tiny, Portable, and Easy to Use
There is nothing to it, and that’s the beauty of this super-simple radiation monitor.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
The NukAlert is a small keychain device that detects radiation. It does not have the strengths of a laboratory Geiger counter, since it does not display anything or discern radiation types. Instead, it gives an audible tick and acts as a dosimeter. The faster and more frequent the ticks, the higher the current radiation exposure.
Some owners are weary of the ticks they hear from the device constantly, but they are barely audible up close and it shows the device is simply picking up background radiation. Once the NukAlert is close to a radiation source, the clicks become much louder and closer together. This usually means that you should get out of dodge!
Specs
- Detection Type: Gadolinium oxysulfide scintillator
- Range: 50 Sv/hr (as clicks)
- Battery Power: 3V Lithium CR2477 button cell
- Run time: 10 years
- Display Type: None
- Dimensions: 1.75″ x 1.25″ x 0.75″
- Weight: 1 ounce
- Manufactured: United States
One drawback is that gadolinium oxysulfide isn’t especially sensitive to gamma rays- it’s worse than a typical Geiger counter. Common nuclear attack isotopes like Cs-137 emit plenty of gamma radiation, so this detector will understate your risk in that specific situation. Still, you should notice a pronounced increase in clicks- just not to the accurate level. Another minor drawback is that the battery is soldered in- you’ll need to go through their battery replacement program to swap it out after the 10-15 year battery life.
Still, this tiny keychain provides one of the only ways you can monitor radiation levels on the go without paying attention to a dosimeter/Geiger counter screen, battery life, or alarm settings.
For those who want to be worry-free on the move, the NukAlert Radiation Monitor and Alarm is the way to go.
Comparison Table
| Geiger Counter | Pick | Price* | Top Range | Best Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GQ GMC-800 | Best Overall | $99 | 2,000 µSv/hr | Intuitive display |
| GQ GMC-300S | Budget | $61 | 328 µSv/hr | Affordable reliability |
| Better Geiger S-2 | Upgrade | $150 | 100,000 µSv/hr | High-range scintillator |
| NukAlert | EDC Alarm | $169 | – | Passive alarm |
| GQ GMC-320+ | $110 | 328 µSv/hr | Data logging | |
| GQ GMC-500+ | $148 | 20,000 µSv/hr | Dual Geiger tubes | |
| Mira Safety Geiger-2 | $295 | 10,000 µSv/hr | Portability | |
| Radiacode 103 | $315 | 1,000 µSv/hr | Isotope identification | |
| Radiation Alert Ranger | $700 | 1,000 µSv/hr | Alpha sensitivity |
*price at time of latest update
The Geiger Counters We Compared
Our research narrowed the field down to several detectors from various brands that we tested: GQ, Better Geiger, NukAlert, Mira Safety, Radiacode, and more.
More brands make Geiger counters these days: GQ used to be the only fish in the tank if you were looking for an affordable commercial solution. We researched them all first, then bought the best of the bunch to put them through the paces. You can see our full list of review criteria below in the What to Look For section, with an explanation for each.
We steered clear of passive dosimeters, like the RadTriage, because we wanted to compare detecting equipment. We also did not consider any EMF detectors or camera-based counters due to their poor accuracy and performance with radiation. Lastly, I reserved this testing and research for myself, since I have plenty of experience using radiation detection equipment in the military.