Garrett ACE series
Garrett ACE Coil Compatibility: What Fits What, and What Does Not
Quick answer
Garrett coils are sold by machine family, not by brand. The 5 by 8 and 8.5 by 11 PROformance Double-D coils are listed for the AT series, not for the ACE 200, 300 or 400, and the NEL Hunter aftermarket coil is cut specifically for the ACE Apex. Always match the listing to your exact model before buying.
The single most expensive assumption in this hobby is that a coil from the same manufacturer will fit. It frequently will not. Garrett's ACE line and AT line use different fitments, and a coil sold as a Garrett coil is not sold as a coil for every Garrett. The aftermarket adds another layer, because makers such as NEL cut separate versions of the same coil shape for different machines.
This page sets out what the current product listings actually say, which is the only defensible source for a compatibility claim. Where a listing names a machine, that is a fit. Where it does not, treat it as a no until Garrett's own compatibility documentation says otherwise.
Top pick
NEL Hunter 12.5 by 8.5 Coil for ACE Apex
The one significant aftermarket coverage upgrade that is explicitly cut for the ACE Apex, which has fewer coil options than the AT line.
Price was accurate when this page was compiled and changes often.
On this page
What do the current coil listings actually name?
Read the fitment column as the complete claim. If your machine is not named, the answer is not yet.
Both the 5 by 8 and the 8.5 by 11 PROformance Double-D coils are listed for the Garrett AT series, and neither listing names the ACE 200, 300 or 400.
| Coil | Size and type | Stated fitment | What it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garrett 5 by 8 PROformance | 5 x 8 inch Double-D | Garrett AT series | Working between nails on an iron-heavy site |
| Garrett 8.5 by 11 PROformance | 8.5 x 11 inch Double-D | Garrett AT Pro and AT Gold | The stock AT coil, sold as a replacement |
| NEL Hunter for ACE Apex | 12.5 x 8.5 inch Double-D | Garrett ACE Apex | More coverage and depth on open ground |
| Stock ACE 200 coil | 6.5 x 9 inch concentric | Supplied with the ACE 200 | General park and yard use, waterproof |
| Stock Apex Viper coil | 6 x 11 inch Double-D | Supplied with the ACE Apex | Broad coverage with good separation in trash |
Fitment claims here come from each product's own current listing. Coil connectors, shaft mounts and cable lengths differ between the ACE and AT families, and a coil cover sized for one coil will not fit another. Check Garrett's own compatibility documentation for your exact model and firmware before ordering.
Why are ACE and AT coils not interchangeable?
They are different machine families with different electronics, different coil connectors and different mounting hardware. Garrett markets and lists the PROformance coils for the AT platform, and the aftermarket follows the same split, which is why NEL sells one Hunter for the AT Pro and a separate Hunter cut for the ACE Apex despite both being the same 12.5 by 8.5 inch shape.
The practical consequence is that a second-hand coil advertised as fitting a Garrett is not information. Ask which machine it came off. If the seller cannot say, assume it will not fit yours.
What does changing coil size actually buy you?
Coverage and depth in one direction, separation and manoeuvrability in the other. A larger coil sweeps more ground per pass and reaches deeper on larger targets, at the cost of averaging several close targets into one confused reading. A smaller coil resolves targets that sit inches apart and gets into fence lines and root systems, at the cost of taking much longer to cover the same field.
On an iron-heavy old site the smaller coil is usually the right answer even though it feels like a downgrade, because the targets you are missing are being masked rather than being out of reach. On open pasture the bigger coil wins, and the coil coverage and sweep time tool will show you how many hours per acre each choice actually costs. If you are still deciding which machine to buy, the weight comparison matters here too, because a big coil on a light machine is still a heavy machine on the end of your arm.
How do you check compatibility properly before ordering?
- Write down your exact model. ACE 200, 300, 400, Apex, AT Pro or Vortex, plus the firmware revision if the machine shows one.
- Read the coil listing, not the brand. Find the sentence naming compatible machines. If your model is absent, that is your answer.
- Check the connector and mount. ACE and AT fitments differ. A coil that plugs in but will not mount, or mounts but will not plug in, is still the wrong coil.
- Budget for a cover. Coil covers are sized to the coil, not the machine. A cover for the stock coil will not fit the new one.
- Confirm with the manufacturer. Garrett publishes compatibility documentation. For anything ambiguous, that document decides, not a forum post and not this page.
Which coil upgrade is worth the money?
For most owners the honest answer is none, until the ground tells you which way you are being limited.
NEL Hunter 12.5 by 8.5 Coil for ACE Apex
$149.95A 12.5 by 8.5 inch Double-D cut specifically for the ACE Apex, for open fields where the stock Viper coil is the limit.
Best for: Apex owners on large permissions
Check price on Amazon
Garrett 5 by 8 DD PROformance Coil
$164.95The AT series sniper coil for working between nails, at $164.95. Listed for the AT line, not for the ACE 200, 300 or 400.
Best for: AT owners on iron-heavy sites
Check price on Amazon
Garrett ACE Apex
$384.99The ACE model with real aftermarket coil support and a 6 by 11 Double-D Viper coil in the box.
Best for: buyers who want room to grow
Check price on AmazonHow we chose
We did not test these machines in person and we publish no find claims. Picks are researched from manufacturer specifications and owner manuals, published listing features, waterproof ratings and warranty terms, and the recurring themes in verified owner reviews. We favour the established detector brands because coils, shafts and control boxes have to stay available years after a model is discontinued, and we place every pick in the tier where its price and capability honestly belong.
Sources
- Garrett PROformance searchcoil compatibility documentation
- Garrett 5 by 8 and 8.5 by 11 PROformance coil listings, for stated fitment
- NEL Hunter coil listings for the ACE Apex and the AT Pro
- Garrett ACE Apex published listing, for the 6 by 11 Viper searchcoil
Frequently asked questions
Will a Garrett AT Pro coil fit an ACE 300?
The AT PROformance coils are listed for the AT series, and the 8.5 by 11 is listed specifically for the AT Pro and AT Gold. Neither listing names the ACE 200, 300 or 400. Treat that as the answer: buy the coil that names your machine. Garrett publishes compatibility documentation, and where a claim is ambiguous that document decides rather than a marketplace title.
What coils are available for the Garrett ACE Apex?
The Apex ships with the 6 by 11 inch Viper Double-D coil, which Garrett describes as giving broad coverage and good target separation in trashy areas. The main aftermarket option is the NEL Hunter cut for the Apex, a 12.5 by 8.5 inch Double-D for people who need more coverage on open ground. The Apex has fewer options than the AT line, so check fitment carefully.
Is a bigger coil always deeper?
Only on larger targets, and only in ground that will carry it. A bigger coil raises the total field but also picks up more mineralisation and more trash at once, so in bad soil or dense iron it can find less than the stock coil. Depth on a small target such as a thin hammered coin often improves with a smaller coil, not a larger one.
Do I need a new coil cover when I change coils?
Yes. Covers are moulded to a specific coil shape and size, so the cover from your stock coil will not fit a different one. It is a small cost and worth paying, because a cover takes the abrasion from rocks and stubble that would otherwise wear through the coil housing, and a coil costs many times what a cover does.
Can I use a third-party coil without voiding the warranty?
That depends on the manufacturer's own warranty terms, which are published with the machine and can change. Garrett supplies the ACE 200 with a three year limited factory warranty. Read the terms before fitting anything third-party, and keep the stock coil, because a warranty claim is easier with the machine in the configuration it was sold in.
Researched, not professional advice. This page is compiled from published specifications, manuals and owner-review consensus, not hands-on testing. Target ID numbers, depth figures and settings vary with soil chemistry, moisture, target size, depth, orientation and firmware version, so treat every figure here as a starting point and verify it against your own machine's manual and your own ground. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.