The Best Ghost Hunting Equipment for Beginners
This guide to ghost hunting equipment covers the gear I actually recommend for ghost tours and paranormal investigations, whether you’re just getting started or building your own kit.
You don’t need a bag full of expensive equipment to go ghost hunting. Some of my favorite investigations have been done with just a few basic tools, and over the years I’ve learned which pieces of gear I actually reach for again and again.
I’ve used many of the tools in this guide on paranormal investigations and ghost hunts, including at the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs. Some have become staples in my ghost hunting bag, while others are simply fun additions depending on where I’m investigating.
If you’re just getting started, a flashlight and simple EMF meter are enough to begin. Below, I’ll walk you through what each tool does, what I use and recommend, and which pieces of ghost hunting equipment I think are worth buying for beginners.
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Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links. If you book a tour, reserve a hotel, or make a purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend destinations, experiences, and products I genuinely believe are worth your time and money.
✅ In This Guide
⭐ About My Picks
Throughout this guide, ⭐ My Pick identifies products I personally own and use. If I don’t personally own a product, I’ll say so and recommend the options I’d consider buying instead.
📡 EMF Meters
An EMF meter is one of the first pieces of ghost hunting equipment I’d recommend for a beginner. It measures changes in electromagnetic fields and can help you notice unusual fluctuations during an investigation.
I use this handheld meter because it’s simple, lightweight, affordable, and easy to monitor in a dark room. For a first ghost hunting kit, this is the one I’d start with.
👑 Upgrade Pick: ERICKHILL Digital EMF Meter
If you want more detailed readings, this digital meter provides numerical measurements on an LCD display. I’d start with the simpler meter first and upgrade later if you find yourself wanting more information.
💡 Worth the Plan Tip: Establish a baseline before investigating so you know where normal electrical interference occurs.
📻 Spirit Boxes
A spirit box rapidly scans through radio frequencies, creating short bursts of audio that paranormal investigators listen to for possible responses. They’re one of the more interactive ghost hunting tools, which also makes them fun to experiment with during an investigation.
Because spirit boxes can pick up ordinary radio broadcasts, I don’t assume every word or voice is paranormal. I pay more attention when a response seems unusually clear, relevant to the question being asked, or repeats during the investigation.
The P-SB7T is the spirit box I personally use. It’s compact, easy to bring along, and lets you adjust the sweep rate and direction while scanning AM or FM frequencies. I especially like it for short question-and-answer sessions.
👑 Upgrade Pick: PSB7 PRO Spirit Box
The PSB7 PRO is worth considering if you want more controls and features than a basic spirit box. I don’t think a beginner needs to start here, but it can make sense if you already enjoy spirit box sessions and want something more specialized.
💡 Worth the Plan Tip: Use a spirit box alongside other equipment rather than relying on it alone. I like pairing mine with an EMF meter and documenting anything interesting in a journal.
🎙️ Digital Voice Recorders
Digital voice recorders are commonly used during ghost hunts to capture audio for later review, including possible EVPs (Electronic Voice Phenomena) that you may not notice during the investigation itself.
You can absolutely use your phone when you’re first getting started. A separate recorder is useful because you can leave it running in one location while keeping your phone free for photos, video, or other uses.
⭐ Recommended Pick: 136GB Digital Voice Recorder
I don’t currently own a dedicated digital voice recorder, but if I were buying one today, this is the model I’d consider. It offers plenty of recording space in a compact device and is an affordable way to add a dedicated recorder to your ghost hunting kit.
🌡️ Infrared Thermometers
Infrared thermometers are an inexpensive way to check surface temperatures during an investigation. I use mine to compare different areas of a room and watch for temperature changes that might be worth investigating further.
It’s important to remember that an infrared thermometer measures the temperature of a surface, not the air in a room. A cold reading can have plenty of normal explanations, so I look for patterns or changes rather than treating a single reading as evidence of anything paranormal.
⭐ My Pick: Infrared Thermometer
I use a simple handheld infrared thermometer on my investigations. You don’t need an expensive model for this—most basic infrared thermometers do essentially what I need them to do. It’s easy to use, takes up almost no room in my gear, and is one of the more affordable tools I’d recommend for a beginner ghost hunting kit.
💡 Worth the Plan Tip: Take readings from several surfaces around the room instead of focusing on one spot. Comparing temperatures gives you more context than one unusually hot or cold reading.
📷 Thermal Cameras
Thermal cameras show temperature differences across a scene, letting you see warmer and cooler areas at a glance. Unlike an infrared thermometer, which measures one specific surface, a thermal camera creates a visual image of temperature patterns across a larger area.
I like thermal imaging because it gives you a visual record you can save and review later. Unusual temperature patterns can still have ordinary explanations, though, including windows, vents, electronics, people, and recently touched surfaces.
💰 Budget Pick: GOYOJO Thermal Imaging Camera
If you want to experiment with thermal imaging without spending a lot, the GOYOJO is the option I’d consider. It attaches directly to your phone, making it an affordable way to add thermal imaging to a beginner ghost hunting kit.
⭐ My Pick: FLIR ONE Thermal Imaging Camera
The FLIR ONE is the thermal camera I personally use. It attaches directly to my phone, so I don’t have to carry a separate device, and I can easily capture and save thermal images while investigating.
It’s more of an investment than most basic ghost hunting equipment, so I wouldn’t consider a thermal camera essential for a beginner. But if you’re ready to add thermal imaging to your kit, this is the one I’d recommend.
💡 Worth the Plan Tip: Give your thermal camera time to adjust when moving between areas with very different temperatures, and check for ordinary heat sources before assuming an unusual image is significant.
📡 REM Pods
A REM Pod creates its own electromagnetic field around an antenna and alerts you with lights and sounds when that field is disturbed. During an investigation, they’re often placed in one location and used to watch for unexplained changes nearby.
I’ve used this REM Pod during paranormal investigations and like that it can be set up in one spot while you use other equipment. The lights and audible alerts also make activity easy to notice without watching it constantly.
REM Pods are more expensive than basic tools like an EMF meter or thermometer, so I wouldn’t consider one essential for a beginner. If you’re building your kit gradually, this is something I’d add later.
🪄 Dowsing Rods
Dowsing rods have been used for centuries for everything from locating water to paranormal investigating. During ghost hunts, some investigators use them to ask yes-or-no questions by establishing specific movements for each response.
⭐ Recommended Pick: Copper Dowsing Rods
I like simple copper dowsing rods because they’re inexpensive, lightweight, and don’t require batteries or electronics. They can also be a fun, interactive tool to experiment with during an investigation.
Dowsing rods are highly subjective and can move because of small, unconscious hand movements, so I wouldn’t treat their responses as evidence on their own. I think they’re best used as one part of the experience alongside other equipment and observations.
🔔 Trigger Objects
Trigger objects are items placed in an investigation area to see whether anything interacts with them. Motion-activated cat balls are popular because they light up when moved, making it easy to notice and document movement in a dark room.
I like these because they’re inexpensive, simple to use, and easy to place around an investigation area.
Just make sure the area is still and free from anything that could accidentally move them before treating a light-up as unusual.
💡 Worth the Plan Tip: You don’t need expensive trigger objects. A light-up cat ball, small bell, or even something you already have at home is enough to get started.
👻 Ghost Hunting Kits
A preassembled ghost hunting equipment kit can be an easy way to get several basic tools at once, especially if you’re starting from scratch. Kits often include things like an EMF meter, thermometer, flashlight, and other investigation accessories.
⭐ Recommended Kit: Ghost Hunting Equipment Kit
If you’d rather buy everything together, this kit provides several beginner-friendly tools in one package.
I personally prefer building a ghost hunting equipment kit piece by piece so you can choose the equipment you actually want, but a preassembled kit can be a simple starting point if convenience is your priority.
🎒 Investigation Essentials
Some of the most important things I bring on a ghost hunt aren’t paranormal equipment at all. A dead phone, dying flashlight, uncomfortable shoes, or no way to take notes can be a lot more frustrating than not having the latest ghost hunting gadget.
Along with my ghost hunting equipment, these are the practical basics I like to have with me:
- 🔦 Flashlight
- 🔋 Extra batteries
- 🔌 Portable charger
- 📓 Investigation journal
- 📱 Fully charged phone
I keep everything organized in one bag so I’m not searching for equipment in the dark. A lightweight setup is especially helpful when I’m investigating somewhere like the Crescent Hotel and walking around for hours.
💡 Worth the Plan Tip: Charge everything before you leave and pack fresh batteries for anything that uses them. Ghost hunting equipment has a remarkable way of dying at the least convenient time.
❓ Ghost Hunting Equipment FAQ
What ghost hunting equipment should a beginner start with?
A basic EMF meter, flashlight, and your phone are plenty when you’re first getting started. You can add equipment like a spirit box, digital voice recorder, or REM pod as you figure out what you enjoy using.
Do I need expensive ghost hunting equipment?
No. Some of my favorite investigations have been done with basic equipment. More expensive tools like thermal cameras can be fun to add later, but they aren’t necessary for beginners.
Can I use my phone for ghost hunting?
Yes. Your phone can work as a camera, voice recorder, flashlight, timer, and note-taking tool. I still recommend bringing a separate flashlight and portable charger so you aren’t relying on your phone for everything.
What is the best EMF meter for ghost hunting?
The K-II EMF Meter is my pick for beginners because it’s simple to use and easy to read in the dark. Just remember that electronics, wiring, and other environmental sources can also cause EMF readings.
Does ghost hunting equipment prove paranormal activity?
No. Ghost hunting equipment measures things like electromagnetic fields, temperature changes, sound, or movement. Unusual readings can be interesting to investigate, but they aren’t proof of paranormal activity on their own.
💙 One Last Thought
You really don’t need a huge collection of ghost hunting equipment to get started. I’d begin with a flashlight and a basic EMF meter, learn how to use them, and add other tools based on what you actually enjoy during an investigation.
My own collection has grown over time, but some of my favorite paranormal experiences have had much more to do with where I was investigating than how much equipment I brought with me.
One of my favorite places to use this gear is Eureka Springs. If you’re planning a trip, check out my Best Haunted Experiences in Eureka Springs guide for the ghost tours, haunted hotels, and paranormal experiences I recommend.
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