Best Magnet Fishing Kits for Beginners, Experts, and Kids in 2026

I've been magnet fishing long enough to have opinions about kits — strong ones. And the number one mistake I see new people make is buying whatever shows up first on Amazon without thinking about what's actually in the box. A magnet fishing kit isn't just a magnet. It's the rope, the gloves, sometimes a grappling hook, sometimes a case — and the quality of all those pieces together determines whether your first trip out is fun or a total disaster.

This guide covers the best magnet fishing kits available right now, broken down by skill level and budget. Whether you're brand new and want something under $50, or you've been doing this a while and want to step up to real gear, there's something here. I've also included picks for kids, because magnet fishing with kids is genuinely one of the best ways to spend a Saturday. If you're not sure what magnet fishing even is yet, check out my magnet fishing for beginners page first — it covers the basics.

I haven't tried every kit on Amazon, but I've tested enough of them (and pulled enough junk out of enough canals) to know what separates a solid kit from one that falls apart on your third outing. Pull force, rope quality, what's included — that's what we're focused on here.

Our top pick

Platinum Online Products 1320LB Double Sided Complete Kit — A solid all-around kit that includes the magnet, rope, gloves, and a carrying case, all for under $60. It's the one I'd hand to someone who just wants to get out there without overthinking it.

Check price on Amazon

Why the Kit Matters More Than Just the Magnet

Most people think the magnet is the whole thing. And yeah, the magnet matters — pull force in particular, which I'll get into below. But the rope is where cheap kits quietly ruin your day. I remember one early trip where I was using a kit I grabbed fast and cheap, and the rope started fraying at the carabiner on my second throw. Nothing fell in, but it got close. After that I started paying a lot more attention to what kind of rope comes with a kit and how it's rated.

The other thing people overlook is gloves. You're hauling on wet, often rusty rope, and you're handling metal objects that have been sitting underwater for who knows how long. A decent pair of cut-resistant gloves isn't optional. Some kits include them, some don't. When they do, you still want to check if they're actually useful or just thin nylon things that don't do much. And if you're shopping for magnet fishing magnets separately, just know you'll need to pair them with quality rope and hardware — you can't assume a bare magnet comes with everything you need.

Kits that bundle everything together well save you time and money up front. That's the whole point of buying a kit. If you end up needing to go buy rope separately anyway, the kit didn't do its job.

Budget Pick

FINDMAG 2625LBS Double Sided Kit

$49.99

Not yet rated

Under fifty bucks and it comes with everything you need to get started. The rope is decent for the price, and the double-sided magnet gives you good coverage. Don't expect premium build quality, but it'll hold up for casual use.

Shop on Amazon

Top Pick

Platinum Online Products 1320LB Double Sided Complete Kit

$54.99

Not yet rated

This is the kit I'd recommend to almost anyone starting out or looking to upgrade from a bare-bones setup. It's a complete bundle — magnet, rope, gloves, and a case — and the price is fair for what you get.

Shop on Amazon

Premium Pick

Magnetar Savage Package 1600kg Barbarian Allround 360°

$399.99

Not yet rated

Magnetar is a dedicated magnet fishing brand — not a generic Amazon seller — and the Savage Package shows it. At 3,500 lbs of pull force, this is for serious fishers who want the best gear available and are willing to pay for it.

Shop at Magnetar

What to Actually Look For in a Magnet Fishing Kit

Pull Force (lbs)

This is the number everyone asks about. Pull force tells you how much weight the magnet can hold when it's making full, flat contact with a ferromagnetic surface. The catch is that real-world pull is always lower than the rated number — you're rarely getting a perfect flat contact underwater. For beginners, 500–1000 lbs rated pull force is plenty to start finding interesting stuff. You don't need 3500 lbs to pull up old knives and anchors. That said, if you're getting serious and fishing deeper water or around old bridges, more pull force is genuinely useful.

Single-Sided vs. Double-Sided

Double-sided magnets attract from both the top and bottom, which sounds great but actually makes them harder to control and harder to detach from metal surfaces. I think double-sided magnets are overrated for beginners — you're more likely to get stuck and frustrated than to pull up twice as much. Single-sided with a 360-degree rotating eyebolt is a better starting point for most people.

Rope Quality and Length

Look for braided nylon or polyester rope, rated for at least the pull force of your magnet. Most kits come with 65 feet, some with more. The rating matters, but so does how the rope connects to the magnet — a solid stainless carabiner is what you want, not a cheap stamped clip that'll bend under load.

What's Included

Good kits include the magnet, rope, gloves, and a carrying case at minimum. Some add a grappling hook, which is actually really useful for snagging objects the magnet can't hold. Check the listing carefully — a lot of budget kits advertise a big pull force number but skip the gloves and case entirely, which means you're paying extra for those separately anyway. You can see more options for add-ons in my magnet fishing accessories guide.

Brand vs. Generic

There's a real difference between dedicated magnet fishing brands and generic sellers just slapping a magnet on Amazon. Dedicated brands actually test their gear for this specific use. That matters when you're trying to detach a 40-pound manhole cover from the bottom of a river — the last thing you want is a magnet housing that cracks under pressure.

Platinum Online Products 1320LB Double Sided Complete Kit

Top Pick: Platinum Online Products 1320LB Double Sided Complete Kit

Price: $54.99

Rating: Not yet rated

This is the kit I'd point most people toward first. It's a complete setup — magnet, rope, gloves, and a carrying case — so you're not scrambling to buy extras before your first trip. The double-sided design gives you pull from both surfaces, which is handy when you're dragging along the bottom. At $54.99 it sits right at the edge of the beginner budget range, but the completeness of the kit makes it worth it.

Check price on Amazon >>
Magnetar Savage Package 1600kg Barbarian Allround 360

Premium Pick: Magnetar Savage Package 1600kg Barbarian Allround 360°

Price: $399.99

Rating: Not yet rated

Magnetar is not a generic brand — they make gear specifically for magnet fishing, and you can feel the difference in the build quality. The Savage Package comes in at 3,500 lbs of pull force with the 360-degree allround design, which means it's catching on all sides as you drag. I remember the first time I used a 1000 lb pull magnet and nearly dislocated my shoulder on a manhole cover — I can only imagine what 3,500 lbs feels like on a serious find. This is the kit for experienced fishers who fish deep water, old bridges, and spots where they know heavy stuff is sitting.

Check it out at Magnetar >>
Magnetar Advanced Package 400kg Single Sided

Comparison: Magnetar Advanced Package 400kg Single Sided

Price: $119.99

Rating: Not yet rated

If the Savage Package is overkill for you but you still want Magnetar quality, the Advanced Package is the one to look at. At 880 lbs of pull force with a single-sided design, it's actually a great setup for intermediate fishers who want reliable gear without the premium price tag of the Savage. Single-sided is easier to control and detach — honestly a better choice if you're not specifically looking for the all-around coverage of a 360 design. Magnetar being a dedicated magnet fishing brand means the rope, carabiner, and magnet housing are all designed to work together, not just thrown in a box.

Check it out at Magnetar >>
FINDMAG 2625LBS Double Sided Kit

Budget Pick: FINDMAG 2625LBS Double Sided Kit

Price: $49.99

Rating: Not yet rated

FINDMAG's double-sided kit comes in under $50 and includes enough to get out on the water right away. It's a budget pick, so don't go in expecting premium rope or heavy-duty gloves — but for a first kit or a kids kit, it does the job. The double-sided design means you get pull from both faces, which helps when dragging. If you're looking to keep costs down and just want to try magnet fishing before committing to anything serious, this is a reasonable place to start. Check out the best places to magnet fish once you've got your kit sorted.

Check price on Amazon >>
Platinum Online Products 2000LB 360 Degree

Comparison: Platinum Online Products 2000LB 360 Degree

Price: $74.99

Rating: Not yet rated

If you want more coverage than the standard top pick but don't want to jump to the Magnetar tier, Platinum's 2000LB 360 Degree kit is worth considering. The 360-degree design means the magnet is attracting on all sides as it moves through the water — useful when you're dragging along a murky canal bottom and can't see what's down there. It's $20 more than the top pick, so whether that's worth it depends on how often you're fishing and in what conditions. A solid step-up kit for someone who's done a few outings already.

Check price on Amazon >>
FINDMAG 1000LBS Double Sided Kit

Comparison: FINDMAG 1000LBS Double Sided Kit

Price: $25.99

Rating: Not yet rated

At $25.99 this is one of the cheapest complete kits you'll find, and it's actually fine for what it is. I'd call it a solid kids kit or a grab-and-go spare — something you'd bring to a casual outing where you don't want to risk your main gear. The rope that comes with budget kits at this price is usually... fine. Not great. But it gets the job done for lighter use. If you're buying this for a kid or as a starter before you decide if you actually like magnet fishing, it's hard to argue with $26.

Check price on Amazon >>
AnglerMag 1325LBS Double Sided Kit

Comparison: AnglerMag 1325LBS Double Sided Kit

Price: $39.95

Rating: Not yet rated

The AnglerMag 1325LBS kit sits in an interesting spot — it's priced between the cheap budget options and the more complete kits, at just under $40. The double-sided design and the pull force rating put it in the same general territory as several other kits on this list. It's a reasonable option if the other picks are out of stock or if you've specifically seen this one recommended somewhere. Not my first choice given the competition at this price point, but it's not a bad kit either.

Check price on Amazon >>

Which Kit Should You Actually Get?

Honestly, most people are best served by the Platinum Online Products 1320LB Complete Kit. It's got everything in the box, the price isn't brutal, and you're not going to outgrow it after two outings. If budget is the only thing that matters, the FINDMAG kit at $25.99 is a real kit for real money — I'd probably buy one as a backup or for my kid without much hesitation. And if you've been doing this long enough to know what you want, the Magnetar Savage Package is in a different league. Magnetar builds gear specifically for this hobby, and that shows up in how the whole kit holds together over time — not just the magnet, but everything that comes with it.

The main thing is just to get out there. A decent kit and a good spot makes for a better afternoon than most people expect the first time. If you need help figuring out where to go, my best places to magnet fish guide is a good starting point.

Explore More Magnet Fishing Gear

Ready to upgrade your setup? Check out our guides on Magnet Fishing Magnets and Magnet Fishing Accessories for ropes, gloves, and protective gear to enhance your adventures.

  • What pull force do I need for a beginner magnet fishing kit?

    Honestly, 500 to 1000 lbs of rated pull force is more than enough to get started. Keep in mind real-world pull is always lower than the rated number since you rarely get perfect flat contact underwater. You'll find plenty of interesting stuff — old knives, bolts, coins, the occasional bigger item — without needing anything close to the 2000+ lb kits. Start reasonable and upgrade once you know what you're looking for.

  • Are double-sided magnets better than single-sided for beginners?

    Not necessarily. Double-sided sounds like an obvious upgrade but they're actually harder to control and harder to detach from metal surfaces — which gets frustrating fast when you're starting out. I think single-sided magnets are underrated for beginners. A 360-degree single-sided design gives you good coverage without the detachment headaches that come with a full double-sided setup.

  • What should a good magnet fishing kit include?

    At minimum you want the magnet, a solid rope (rated for the magnet's pull force), a quality carabiner, and gloves. A carrying case is a nice bonus that keeps everything organized between trips. Some kits also include a grappling hook, which is actually really useful for snagging objects the magnet can't grip. If a kit only comes with the magnet and a cheap rope, factor in the cost of buying gloves and extras separately before deciding it's a deal.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.