Best Budget Golf Rangefinders 2023

Best Budget Golf Rangefinders

If you’re a golfer and don’t have a rangefinder in the bag, you’re missing out on a chance to improve your game. The best golf rangefinders offer significant advantages on the course by helping you hit shots with more confidence, improving your course management, and learning the distances you hit each of your clubs, all of which will lead to lower scores.

For some golfers, cost can be an obstacle when it comes to purchasing a rangefinder, but that shouldn’t be the case, as there are plenty of quality, affordable options to be found. In this guide, we break down our picks for the best budget golf rangefinders currently on the market, all of which can be had for less than $275 and many for significantly less. If you’ve been on the fence about getting a rangefinder or need to replace an old device without breaking this bank, use the information below to make a great choice for your game. (Also take a look at our guides on the best golf watches or best golf GPS devices if rangefinders aren't for you). 

Before we list the models for this guide, Christmas is nearly here and there are lots of deals on equipment like this. Additionally it is a gifting time of year so take a look at our best golf gifts for Christmas page as well.

The Quick List

Best Budget Golf Rangefinders

Best overall

The TecTecTec KLYR rangefinder has been one of the standout products we tested back in 2022 and it's one of the best golf rangefinders regardless of price. It has a compact, lightweight design that makes it easy to handle, and it excelled on the course in terms of speed and accuracy when retrieving yardages. It has incredibly vibrant display optics and comes with a magnet that you can use to attach the device to a golf cart during play or to a belt clip that is provided. 

The KLYR also has slope functionality that can be turned off for tournament play and a scan mode that allows players to shoot multiple targets at one time. The device is not waterproof but it comes with a sturdy carrying case for protection, and it’s available in yellow, black, and white.

• Read our full TecTecTec KLYR Laser Rangefinder Review

Best value

As our other equipment guides have proven, we have become fans of Inesis gear of late and the same can be said of this rangefinder. Competitively priced, this device boasts slope functionality and a slope switch to easily turn the feature off for tournament play. We also tested the Inesis Golf 900 rangefinder against a more expensive device (the Bushnell Tour V5 Shift) and we found it more than kept up in terns of accuracy and ease of use. 

Also of note, First Target technology isolates the flag and measurements are confirmed by vibration. The device is accurate to +/- 1 yard and can measure in yards or meters. The display optics are also impressive and a sturdy carrying case is included for added protection.

• Read our full Inesis Golf 900 Laser Rangefinder Review

Best color choice

Blue Tees hasn’t been around for all that long but in a short time the company has made a nice splash in the rangefinder market. The Series 3 Max rangefinder in particular has been a highly successful product by offering golfers all of the functionality that they would expect from a top rangefinder at a price point that’s significantly lower than some competitors. 

In fact, it's one of the best golf rangefinders with slope on the market price point aside. In our testing, the Series 3 Max provided incredibly clear optics in all light conditions and returned yardages instantaneously. The device’s slope functionality can also be turned on and off easily using a switch, making it legal for tournament play, and for the money this rangefinder, which is available in navy, pink, and black, looks especially sharp.

• Read our full Blue Tees Series 3 Max Laser Rangefinder Review

Best lightweight

The original Laser Lite was arguably the leading choice among the best budget golf rangefinders given the features and accuracy on offer. Its replacement, the Laser Lite 2, claims to offer an even better experience. For starters, it’s three grams lighter, which means it accentuates that lightweight feel many golfers like, and it is also thinner and a little more compact, which we definitely noticed.

In terms of accuracy, the Laser Lite 2 produced similar numbers to the Bushnell Tour V6. The non slope numbers were pretty much identical and when going uphill the numbers compared closely, it was only on shots that played downhill where the differences got bigger.

Other features include a Scan mode, where you hold down the main button and scan the surroundings - the distance changing as you do so, which we found useful when assessing what lies ahead off the tee. There’s also a new Pin Finder mode, which is automatically employed when you press and hold the measurement button when not in Scan mode. Finally it is IPX4 water resistant, which should keep light showers at bay.

• Read our full GolfBuddy Laser Lite 2 Review

Best simplicity

When we initially tested the Voice Caddie L5 rangefinder, what stood out most was its simplicity, and we mean that in a good way. This device is just very easy to understand and use on the golf course, which we believe most golfers would appreciate. That’s not to say that the Voice Caddie L5 doesn’t have ample functionality, however. 

Included among its features are two modes, Normal and Pin, to help you get the correct yardage, as well as slope functionality to give you actual and adjusted yardages. We were also impressed with the clarity of this device’s display, and its compact size makes it easy to handle while playing. One downside to the L5 is that yardages are not offered in meters, but otherwise this is a great product and a great value. 

• Read our full Voice Caddie L5 Laser Rangefinder Review

Best display

One of the first things we noticed when testing the Nikon Coolshot 20 GII was its lightweight, compact design, which makes the device easy to operate on the golf course. It also proved to be very quick in displaying yardages, and the display optics were quite clear, exceeding our expectations for a device at this price point. 

The Nikon Coolshot 20 GII also features a proprietary algorithm that measures the distance to the closest of overlapping subjects to pick out the flag and other targets more easily, and it can also measure continuously for up to eight seconds when scanning the terrain, both of which were excellent attributes during our testing. In terms of its aesthetics, this Nikon rangefinder also looks quite sharp with its contrasting white and black colors.

• Read our full Nikon Coolshot 20 GII Laser Rangefinder Review 

Specifications table

How we test for the best budget golf rangefinders

At Golf Monthly we have a comprehensive testing procedure around all laser rangefinders. As you would expect, this involves using different models out on the course over a number of rounds and in different conditions, as this gives us an idea about how particular models deal with sunlight, rain, and wind. 

As the entire review team is comprised of avid golfers, rangefinders usually get a thorough testing and often get compared to one another side by side for things like accuracy, waterproofing, durability, and other features. That way we can give honest and insightful feedback to you, the reader. The final thing we wanted to mention in this section is no manufacturer can buy a good review. Our testing team reviews golf equipment and provides its own opinion as it relates to a product's merits. 

How to choose the best budget golf rangefinder

So you have decided you want a laser rangefinder that falls into the budget category, but what are some of the things you should be aware of before buying? Let's take a look.

Accuracy 

This is the most important factor when buying a laser. If it isn't accurate, it is pointless because it will provide misinformation which could lead to you playing the wrong club and a bogey or two may ensue. Accuracy is what usually separates the models we have selected above, and the ones you can find on Amazon, so be wary of how inconsistent and unreliable some very cheap models can be.

Slope

Do you want your model to offer slope measurements too? If so check out the technical specifications of certain models. Always be careful here though, because if a model is not clear on whether it is in slope mode or not, if you use it in competition you could be in trouble. 

Waterproofing

A good laser will work just as well in the rain as it will in the sun, which makes waterproofing important. Here we would recommend doing research on which models offer full waterproof protection, and those that are only water-resistant as that can be a big difference especially if you play a lot of golf in the rain.

Strength

Linking with the above point, good lasers have to be able to sustain a drop or two because we all drop things every now and again. Here, check out which models have some degree of impact resistance, and be sure to check if the laser comes with a case because lots of models come with strong cases that conveniently clip onto your golf bag now.

Convenience

Speaking of convenience, lasers have to be quick and easy to use. Get it out, measure the flag, put it away in its case. If a laser is complicated or takes a while to display a measurement, then it adds time rather than saves it. To work this out, we would often recommend trying out some models in retailers and pro shops.

FAQs

If you want more golf tech buying advice, check out our guides on the best golf launch monitors, best golf simulator, or the best value golf watches.