The Best Golf Rangefinders of 2024 & 2025

Rangefinders have become a necessity on the golf course. There's nothing worse than hitting a perfectly struck shot to the wrong yardage. With advancements in technology, golfers today have a variety of options in a variety of price ranges. 

You can spend anywhere from under $100 to over $600 for devices that perform the same basic function, and because we’ve personally tested many of the latest rangefinders in at every price point, we’re here to help you understand what separates the $100 rangefinders from the $600 devices, and everything in between, and help you decide which one is best for you.

These are, in our opinion, the best golf rangefinders:

• Best for Top-End Features: Garmin Z82
• Most Trusted: Bushnell Pro X3+
• Best All-Around Value: Shot Scope Pro ZR
• Best Budget Rangefinder: Cigman CT-1000
• Great Value: Blue Tees Series 3 Max+
• Best Breakthrough Technology: Caddie Talk Cube
• Best Budget GPS Rangefinder: Precision Pro Titan Elite
• Great Value: Nikon Coolshot 20i GIII
• Best Warranty: Vortex Blade Slope

Pros:

• Find My Garmin option so you don’t lose the rangefinder
• GPS distances accompany lasered yardages for distances all over the course
• Green view that overlays hole map into the viewfinder
• Green contour data available to help plan approach shots and putts

Cons:

• Very top-end price for rangefinders
• Suite of features may be too overwhelming for some users

It’s hard to find other rangefinders priced as high as this Garmin Approach Z82 – it’s not cheap at $599 – and it’s impossible to find competitors that offer as many premium and flat-out nifty features.

Where should we begin? Well, for starters, the Z82 has a “Find My Garmin” feature, which makes it nearly impossible to lose the rangefinder thanks to the built-in GPS. That’s one sure-fire way to protect your investment.

That GPS also integrates into the rangefinder itself, overlaying GPS distances to the front and back of the green while you laser the pin. With somewhere in the neighborhood of 43,000 preloaded courses, you also get a green view, GPS distances all over the course. 

Green contour data is available on some courses with a subscription, which helps you plan approach shots and putts. The Z82 even displays wind direction and speed. 

I used to think that “premium” rangefinders only needed to offer a magnet and on/off slope functionality to separate themselves from the pack, but the Garmin Approach Z82 has made me completely re-think high-end rangefinders.

Pros:

• Industry leader in accuracy and optics
• Fully waterproof (IPX7)
• Pair with Bushnell Golf app to get wind information in the reticle 

Cons:

• No GPS distances despite ability to pair with app

Bushnell rangefinders are trusted by 99% of PGA Tour players – according to Bushnell – which is a testament to their accuracy. 

Now that top-of-the-line accuracy is even more precise, because the Bushnell Pro X3+ can pair with the Bushnell Golf app to deliver compensated distances that incorporate temperature, altitude, barometric pressure, and slope, so you have the truest plays-like distance possible.

On top of that, the Pro X3+ is fully waterproof (IPX7), and includes Bushnell’s other latest technologies, like visual and physical JOLT so there’s no second-guessing when you’re locked into your target.

Despite the ability to pair with the Bushnell Golf app, the Pro X3+ does not add GPS distances to the laser measurements, but with the suite of functions and top-tier precision, most players won’t be bothered by that fact.

Pros:

• High-end package without premium price
• Reliable accuracy
• Multiple optics modes for all light conditions
• Easy on/off slope toggle
• Shot Scope app is an excellent bonus

Cons:

• Magnetic strip is not as strong as some competitors

Shot Scope is another heavy hitter in the laser rangefinder game, in large part because users know they can rely on the accuracy of their Shot Scope products.

I’ve thoroughly tested the Shot Scope Pro ZR rangefinder and used it for a lot of the 2024 golf season, and would personally recommend it to friends and fellow golfers searching for an affordable, reliable, high-end rangefinder.

Since it was first released, the price has dropped by $50, putting it around $249, which moves it from the high-end price point to the great value category, as far as I’m concerned. That’s even more true when you consider the aforementioned premium options from the top dogs like Bushnell and Garmin are now $500 and $600.

While the Shot Scope Pro ZR doesn’t offer GPS functionality to accompany laser distances or help you keep track of the unit itself, it does pack every other premium feature.

The optics not only look sharp, but you can toggle between red and black optics to accommodate any light conditions. The slope-adjusted distances toggle on and off with a switch on the side of the unit, which I always prefer because it’s so much easier than navigating a digital menu through the viewfinder and the buttons on the unit. It also has a clear indicator as to whether it’s in slope more or not, which is great for players who like to compete in tournaments.

The unit does have a magnetic strip on the side to mount to a cart, but after it fell off the magnetic mount on my push cart a couple times, I decided to keep it strapped to my bag.

Pros:

• Best value rangefinder
• Premium features like slope with toggle and magnetic mount at low price point
• Accuracy within 1-yard of premium rangefinders like Shot Scope Pro ZR
• Flagstick vibration lock

Cons:

• Some users complained of getting yardages that bounced between the correct distance and a very short distance, although I was never able to reproduce this issue with my unit

If you want a rangefinder with all the bells and whistles on a budget – heck, even if budget isn’t a top priority – I can’t recommend the Cigmat CT-1000 enough.

I put the CT-1000 through its paces as best I could, and struggled to find anything I didn’t like about it. I even scrutinized its accuracy, comparing it to other higher-end rangefinders (like the Shot Scope Pro ZR), GPS devices, and course markings, and left impressed with its precision.

On top of that, it features slope-adjusted distance which can be toggled on or off with a switch on the unit. 

It even measures vertical height, which I thought was overkill until I found myself in the rough 70 yards from the hole behind a huge tree. I normally would have tried a punchy low shot that certainly would have been caught up in the rough or rolled through the green, but knowing how high I hit my wedges (thank you, Rapsodo), I measured the height of the tree and made a normal lob wedge swing, cleared the tree and held the green.

The unit retails for $108, but Cigman often offers discounts on top of that bargain pricing. GolfLink readers can save 15% when buying at Cigman or 10% at Amazon, where they may also find a $30 off coupon. Either way, this is a great rangefinder at a great price.

The only issue I could find with it is that some users complained that it sporadically bounded between yardages, one obviously being correct and the other being a much shorter, inaccurate distance. I never had that issue, but that would certainly be frustrating and it’s worth noting that more than one reviewer complained of it.

Pros:

• Rechargeable battery
• Slope switch
• Red and black optics
• Rubberized plastic body is water resistant, durable, and feels good

Cons:

• Display and optics fall short of premium alternatives that cost hundreds more

The Blue Tees Series 3 Max+ is another rangefinder that delivers all the premium features (except built-in GPS capabilities) for less than half the price of the top-end alternatives.

The Series 3 Max+ has a rechargeable battery, magnetic mount, and offers slope-adjusted distances with a toggle switch.

The unit also boasts two optics modes, red and black, so you can adjust it based on the light.

One of the only knocks we can find is that, compared to units that cost more than double the Series 3 Max+, the optics aren’t as clear or as big. You’d never notice that if you just picked up the Series 3 Max+ and started shooting targets, but if you compared it side-by-side with a $500 or $600 rangefinder, you might notice. 

Pros:

• Triangulation is a rare rangefinder breakthrough technology
• Digital screen on the outside of the unit displays last distance shot and mode
• Two buttons are well-positioned for an ergonomic design
• 3 slope modes including environmental slope which accounts for additional elements like temperature and humidity, magic slope which accounts for the trajectory of the club you will hit, and regular slope mode

Cons:

• No built-in magnet
• Smaller than most other rangefinders which can make it hard to use
• With so many different modes and features, there’s a learning curve to using it efficiently without frustration

The Caddie Talk Cube looks different than most other rangefinders, and it performs differently as well, offering one of the coolest features we’ve seen on a rangefinder, triangulation.

What exactly is triangulation? It’s a feature that allows you to shoot two different targets, and get the distance from on to the other. On the course, you might use this to determine how far it is from a layup point to the flag. Or, when you aren’t standing at your ball (cart path only days, for example) you can find out how far it is from your ball to the flag from afar. There aren’t a ton of breakthroughs in rangefinders these days, but this certainly counts as a rangefinder breakthrough.

The Cube – which you’ll be happy to know is technically a rectangular prism, because a literal cube would not function well as a rangefinder – also has a digital display on the side which indicates which mode the rangefinder is in, and displays the distance you just shot.

The unit itself is noticeably smaller than most rangefiners, which can be good but it can also make it a little more difficult to use. Pair that with the fact that between three different slope modes, triangulation (which is called caddy mode) and just the basic rangefinder option, there is a learning curve to figuring out how to be efficient with this rangefinder. 

Pros:

• Pairs with Precision Pro app to incorporate GPS distances into viewfinder
• Ability to get personalized slope-adjusted distances based on your own club speed, ball speed, and launch angle
• Find My Rangefinder feature helps ensure you never lose the unit
• Waterproof and dustproof build

Cons:

• Must input your club speed, ball speed, and launch angle data for each club to get personalized slope-adjusted distances, which most players don’t have access to
• Black-only display, no option for lower-light conditions

If you want a GPS-enabled rangefinder under $400, this Precision Pro Titan Elite, without question, is the one for you.

Sync the Titan Elite with the Precision Pro app and get GPS distances right in the viewfinder with the push of a button, which helps you navigate the course as best as possible with a single device. The built-in GPS also ensures you never lose your rangefinder, which is a growing problem now that players can easily slap most units onto the golf cart and easily forget about it when the round is over.

It goes without saying that the Titan Elite has slope functionality, but there’s more. You can actually input your club speed, ball speed, and launch angle data into the Precision Pro app and get personalized slope-adjusted distances that account for how you hit each club. This is definitely a next-level feature, but you have to have accurate data to give the app, which means spending some time on a reliable launch monitor which not everybody can or will do.

The Titan Elite is waterproof and dustproof, which is less common than you may think for a product designed to be used outdoors.

Pros:

• Relatively compact unit
• Premium optics you would expect from Nikon
• 8 second scan mode to shoot multiple targets
• First target priority helps lock flag rather than objects behind it

Cons:

• Depending on your preference, the lack of a rechargeable battery may be a turn off
• No magnetic strip to mount it to golf cart

Premium optics are often a feature that separate the highest-priced rangefinders, which range from $500 to $600, from those in the sweet spot of the market, the $200-$350 options. However, the Nikon Coolshot 20i GIII delivers high-end optics and a low, $199, price, making it a great value buy.

The Coolshot 20i GIII doesn’t have any GPS integrations, but with the 8 second scan mode, you can easily scan various points around the green, and get a vibration when you hit the flag, so you have a complete lay of the land before you hit a shot.

The first target priority feature delivers the distance to the flag instead of whatever is behind the flag, so you can have confidence you’re getting the number you need.

There is no magnetic mount on the Coolshot 20i GIII, which is a bit surprising for a modern rangefinder, but it is compact enough to fit into a pocket, and if you’re hesitant to use a magnetic rangefinder for fear of forgetting it on the cart after your round, you won’t miss that feature.

Pros:

• Magnetic mount
• Soft outer provides a nice feel 
• Quality optics
• Industry-leading warranty

Cons:

• Must use digital menu to toggle slope on or off
• Inventory is scarce

Many rangefinders with built-in GPS have a system for ensuring you don’t lose your rangefinder. Vortex protects your investment in another way. Vortex’s industry-leading lifetime warranty ensures you can have your rangefinder fixed or replaced no matter what – as long as you can produce some part of the unit. In other words, unless your rangefinder is lost or stolen, Vortex will always cover it.

That’s a persuasive reason to favor Vortex rangefinders, and the Blade Slope is a great option to consider. 

I’ve tested the entire three-unit line of Vortex golf rangefinders, and the Blade Slope sits comfortably in the middle. It gives you everything you would expect from a rangefinder – slope adjusted distances, magnetic mount, quick and easy to use, and quality optics – at a reasonable price. 

It doesn’t have the image stabilization or optional red optics that the highest end unit – the Anarch – offers, but I never really needed those features while using the Blade Slope, yet wouldn’t roll with a slopeless unit (the Blade), making the Blade Slope the easy pick for me from the three.

The only frustration I had with the Blade Slope is that there is no toggle on the outside of the unit to turn the slope on or off, meaning you have to navigate the digital menu to do that, which I found to be a chore.