The 7 Best Golf Rangefinders of 2025, Tested and Reviewed
Dial in the yardage with rangefinders from Garmin, Canon, Bushnell, and more.

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Golf requires both precision and accuracy, which is why if you want to maximize your scorecard, grabbing one of the best golf rangefinders is a new must-have, as they have become indispensable gadgets for players of all skill levels. These compact devices use lasers to measure the distance between the golfer and the target, providing invaluable insights that will make your time on the course more productive, precise, and, most importantly, more fun—no more misreads that leave you 20 yards shy of the pin.
While golf courses will use color-coded stakes to indicate distance to the greens (red=100, white=150, blue=200 yards) or flat plates in the fairway, plus sprinkler head markers, to show distance to the center of the green, those only help you in limited situations. Rangefinders help you out in every situation, not just when your ball is a few feet from a marker. They eliminate guesswork by delivering precise measurements, allowing you to select the appropriate club and execute shots with confidence. Additionally, rangefinders enable users to account for factors that can influence club selection, such as wind direction, elevation changes, and hazards. Use a rangefinder for even just a few rounds, and you’ll quickly start to understand how slope and elevation can affect every shot on the course.
Not all golf rangefinders are created equal. Here are a couple of things you should be aware of before you make your selection, more than just the obvious cost.
Best Golf Rangefinders of 2025
- Best Overall: Garmin Approach Z30
- Best Budget: RedTiger Golf Rangefinder with Slope
- Most Compact: Bushnell Golf A1‑Slope Laser Rangefinder
- Best Rangefinder for On-Course Photos and Video: Canon PowerShot Golf Digital Laser Rangefinder
- Best Mid-Tier Rangefinder: Calloway Golf 300 Pro Slope Laser Rangefinder
- Most Stable Rangefinder: Nikon Coolshot ProII Stabilized Rangefinder
- Best Tech-Forward Rangefinder: Blue Tees Golf Series 4 Ultra Golf Rangefinder
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What to Look for in a Rangefinder
Accuracy
The most crucial factor to consider when choosing a rangefinder is accuracy. Look for a rangefinder that is accurate to within a yard or two. The best ones can dial in yardage down to the half-yard, but for most of us, accuracy to 1.5 yards or so is plenty.
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Range
The range of a rangefinder is the maximum distance at which it can measure accurately. Consider the type of golf you play and the courses you typically play when choosing a rangefinder with an appropriate range. Most rangefinders list a max distance it can measure based on reflective surfaces—usually somewhere between 1,000 and 1,300 yards. Further, you’ll want to look for a rangefinder with a pin-lock accuracy distance, which will probably come into play more often than that 1,000 yard maximum measurement (unless you’re just really into seeing how far away the tip-top of that tree is).
Ease of Use
A rangefinder should be easy to use, for beginners and experts, alike. Look for a rangefinder with a simple user interface and clear display. Most rangefinders will only have one or two buttons on them, so that’s not always an issue, but you’ll want to double check what the display looks like, what information it gives you, and how to access said information. Some rangefinders on our list only offer distances and make adjustments for slope, while others take in four or five factors to gauge the proper playing distance. Make sure you know what you’re getting into when you make a purchase.
Battery Life/Charging
Your rangefinder is only as handy as it is when it's working, and if the model you opt for has poor battery life, it won’t do you much good being left in your bag, dead. Whether your model uses disposable or rechargeable batteries will determine their lifespan. Most disposable models will run for months on end (likely all season) with up to a couple of thousand measurements. Rechargeable batteries are more eco-friendly but offer much shorter lifespans, generally up to 20 hours of use or 10 to 20 rounds.For rechargeable batteries, also consider how long it takes to recharge them to full capacity. Most will take 2 to 3 hours; however, as newer models switch to faster charging methods like USB-C, this can take less than 60 minutes, now.
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How We Tested
To determine the best rangefinders on the market, our senior gear and commerce editor, Ryan Brower, provided his testing notes to ensure we can provide you with the best. Ryan plays around 20 rounds per year, so he definitely knows his way around a course, and having tested ample rangefinders, he took into consideration many factors, including accuracy, magnification, battery life/charging, and bonus features. Even for someone like myself, who only plays a handful of times a year, using one of these models from our list can be literally game changing.
Will Porter is an LA-based freelance writer covering golf, tech, and travel. In addition to Men's Health, his work has been published in GQ, Gear Patrol, The Strategist, and others. When he's not writing, you'll find him running the trails at Griffith Park or trying to catch every new movie in IMAX at the local movie theater.
Jeff Turbett is a fitness and wellness writer who's based in Miami, FL. His work has been featured in The Manual and FightCamp.

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