Best binoculars by price — Find the perfect pair for your budget

Want to bring the world closer? The best telescopes are one option but you shouldn’t underestimate the power and portability of binoculars. With many night sky phenomena happening this week alongside Amazon Prime Day, such as Saturn making it’s return to the night sky and the full moon, known as the buck moon, there couldn’t be a better time to find the right pair of binoculars.

That’s why, with the help of our expert reviewers, we have rounded up the best binoculars by price. Our guide covers a range of budgets from $50 through to full-on premium-priced models. However, you don’t have to break the bank to get a quality pair of binoculars — even the lower-priced models we’ve chosen are excellent quality, all from brands you can rely on.

In our guide, we explore who and what each pair is best suited to and delve into their pros and cons. So read on and let us help you pick the best pair of binoculars to suit your pocket.

The quick list

Best premium

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Best under $300

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Best under $200

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Best under $100

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Best under $50

Best binoculars by price 2025

Best premium for image quality

If you’re after superb image quality, you really can’t go wrong with the Nikon Monarch HG 10×42 binoculars. In our guide to the best binoculars we rank them as top for optical performance. Nikon is known for its top quality optics, and these binos are well up to their usual standard.

In our review of the Nikon Monarch HG 10x42s, we called them “Possibly the best we’ve ever tested: insane optical quality in a slim, polished package,” and that still stands. These binoculars offer sharp views edge-to-edge and all but eliminate chromatic abberation. Despite their quality, they’re lightweight that you can hold them steady without needing a tripod.

Ideally, you’d want 50mm objective lenses for stargazing, but you shouldn’t completely rule these out if that’s what you have in mind. They boast solid construction with some serious waterproofing, and the premium feel extends to the bundled accessories, including a carry case, objective lens caps and cushioned neckstrap. Unless you absolutely have to have image stabilization, the Nikon Monarch HG 10x42s are an amazing pair of premium binoculars.

Best compact premium

Leica is one of the most trusted names in the optics industry and while the Leica Trinovid 10x25s command a premium price, you’re getting what you pay for. They boast premium glass and Leica’s own HDC multi-layer coatings, designed to offer improved optical performance and durability.

With just 25mm objective lenses, we wouldn’t recommend the Leica Trinovid 10×25 for low-light use, but these binos should otherwise deliver superb image quality, with the added bonus that you can easily slip them into your pocket. Glasses wearers will appreciate the adjustable eye-relief, too.

User reviews:

We’ve yet to go hands on with the Leica Trinovid 10x25s, but those who’ve purchased them sing their praises. They’re impressed with the Leica Trinovid 10×25’s build and image quality and their overall performance for bird-watching and nature watching. Many reviews praise these binos’ compactness, including the way they fold up via a double hinge.

Best for stargazing under $300

These Celestron SkyMaster Pro ED 15×70 binoculars prove that you don’t absolutely have to have a telescope to go stargazing. Thanks to their excellent low-light performance, they’re superb for moon watching, planet spotting and surveying the night sky.

In our review of the Celestron SkyMaster Pro 15×70, we said that they offer an “Amazing stargazing experience, with a good combination of magnification, aperture and portability.”

This model is essentially the same except that Celestron has added extra low dispersion, or “ED” glass for even better image quality. They’re impressively well-built too, so what’s not to like, especially at this price?

The only snag is their weight. At just over 2kg, they can be hard to hold steady for extended periods of time and we’d recommend you take advantage of the slightly fiddly tripod adapter for long stargazing sessions.

Best all-rounder under $300

The Celestron Nature DX 12×56 are an excellent pair of binoculars, capable of handling most tasks. In our guide to the best binoculars, we rate them as the best for affordable stargazing.

With their 56mm objective lenses, they’re excellent in low-light conditions. In our review of the Celestron Nature DX 12×56, we called them “A good quality, inexpensive pair of binoculars that we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend”.

We were particularly impressed how they handled and, in particular, the ease at which the focus knob turned. Though we thought images could be slightly sharper, we were still impressed by the image quality. Couple that with their excellent build quality and weatherproofing and you’ve got a great pair of all-round binoculars.

Best all-weather under $200

Want a pair of binoculars that can withstand torrential rain? If you’re out in all weathers, the Nikon Prostaff P3 8×42 binoculars are for you. They’re water-sealed up to 1m and fog-proof with it, a serious step up from just splash-resistant.

But there’s more to these binos than just their ability to handle a downpour. We rank them as the best binoculars for beginners. And, in our review of the Nikon Prostaff P3 8×42, we were especially impressed that Nikon hadn’t cut any corners when it came to optical quality.

After a quick set-up, we were treated to sharp and bright views, thanks in part to their superior BAK-4 glass. We found that they featured the lowest chromatic aberration of any similarly-priced binoculars we’d tested.

These aren’t astro-specialists so don’t buy them exclusively for stargazing. But they’re lightweight enough to hang around your neck and are excellent for most other purposes.

Best value for money under $200

With BaK-4 glass optics and FoV-enhancing Porro prisms, these Nikon 10×50 Aculon A211 binoculars offers quality and performance well above their price tag.

In our best binoculars guide, we ranked them as the best for entry-level astronomy, thanks to its 50mm objective lenses and excellent quality.

Reviewing the Nikon 10×50 Aculon A211 we found they were a delight to use, especially the smooth and resistant focus wheel. And while they’re not technically waterproof, its easy-to-grip rubber armor should grant them some water resistance.

There’s some chromatic aberration at the edge of their 6.5 degree field of view. But, even taking that into consideration, the Nikon 10×50 Aculon A211 binoculars represent excellent value for money.

Best for low light under $100

Celestron is one of the leading names in astro-optics, and the Celestron SkyMaster 12×60 binoculars are everything you’d expect from the company. We rank them as the best binoculars for long distance for beginners.

Boasting a generous lifetime warranty, these well-built binos let in enough light through their 60mm objectives to excel in low-light conditions. Their optics are multi-coated, top-quality glass and you’re all but guaranteed bright, clear images.

The one snag is that, like some of the other Celestrons in this guide, they’re quite heavy. You may find it tricky to hold them motionless, and they’re too large for children to use.

Reviewing the Celestron SkyMaster 12×60 binoculars, we were impressed by just how useful they were for stargazing. With a tripod, we were easily able to make out the Jupiter and the four four Galilean moons. Their daytime performance was nearly as impressive. For this asking price, weight aside, you can’t go wrong.

Best for outdoors under $100

Given that Vortex Optics caters to heavily to hunters, it’s not surprising that the Vortex Optics Copperhead HD 10×42 are built to stand up to heavy duty use.

Fogproof, shockproof and waterproof, they feature in our best budget binoculars guide as the best for adventurers. Vortex Optics seems willing to back that up, offering a lifetime warranty on these binos.

Durability aside, the Vortex Optics Copperhead HD 10×42 aren’t dedicated astronomy binoculars, but their 42mm objective should let in enough light for stargazing.

They’re also ideal for terrestrial use, though with a close focus of just over 15 feet, they’re best suited to mid to longer-range viewing. Their compact size makes them easy to pack away.

User reviews:

We’ve yet to review the Vortex Optics Copperhead HD 10x42s, but purchasers have plenty of positive things to say about it. They’re happy with the image quality and their ease of storage.

Best for beginners under $50

At under $50, the Celestron UpClose G2 10×50 binoculars are an excellent pair of entry-level binoculars, ideal for beginners or hobbyists on a budget. We ranked them as the best budget binoculars in our best binoculars guide.

This pair offers great image quality, considering its price band. In our review of the Celestron UpClose G2 10×50 we said that “They’re the perfect entry-level product, though they come with caveats.” Those caveats include poor eye relief, so those wearing glasses may want to think carefully.

However, they’re pleasingly lightweight, especially compared to some of the other Celestron models in this guide. If you’re a beginner looking to get into stargazing or nature watching, these Celestron UpClose G2 10×50 binoculars are a great place to start

Best for kids under $50

If you’re buying binoculars for children, you might balk at spending $200 on a pair. That’s where the Celestron Cometron 7×50 binoculars come in, which we rank as the best family binoculars.

They’re lightweight enough that children can carry them, and while they’re not technically drop or water proof, they’re reasonably sturdy.

In our review of the Celestron Cometron 7×50 binoculars we explained that they “Offer excellent views and remarkable value for money, all tied up in a lightweight package.”

Their 50mm objectives are large enough to make them useful for stargazing and they’re equally suited to daytime observations. It’s also work keeping an out for binocular deals as we’ve even seen these drop past $25.

Best binoculars by price FAQs

What budget binoculars are actually good for stargazing?

While there are plenty of premium binocular options that are great for stargazing, there are also budget models that offer strong skywatching ability.

The Celestron Skymaster 12×60 binoculars offer a strong 12x magnification and 60mm objective lenses which allows plenty of light to be collected during viewing of faint celestial objects like galaxies and star clusters. They usually retail just over $100 but can be found over 20% cheaper during sales events.

Another budget pair that are great for beginner skywatching are the Celestron Cometron 7×50 binoculars, which offer 7x magnification but have relatively large objective lenses of 50mm. These binoculars are good for getting a wider view of all the night sky has to offer. The Celestron UpClose 10×50 binoculars offer more magnification for closer views and both pairs usually retail under $50.

What are the best value binoculars

The best value binoculars are going to be the models that balance premium optical quality and features without asking for a price tag near to $1000.

We think the Celestron Nature DX 12×56 binoculars offer excellent value for under $300, with extra savings during deals events. They have 12x magnification, 56mm objective lens and are weather sealed so you can take them anywhere.

Similarly, the Nikon Prostaff P3 8×42 binoculars offer top-quality Nikon lenses with a good mid-range of magnification and objective lens diameters. They retail under $150.

Do I need expensive binoculars?

In short, it depends. First, you need to ask yourself what you will be using the binoculars for and what benefits you might get from top-tier perks like almost-zero chromatic aberration, image stabilisation and premium optics.

Nikon 10×42 Monarch binoculars have extra-low-dispersion glass and fully multi-coated lenses to ensure the sharpest views from edge-to-edge but they retail close to $1000. If you prioritise detail and the most realistic views, then these would be worth paying the premium for.

Assess your needs for a pair of binoculars and then look for certain models that may be worth the extra budget for premium features like AI recognition, image stabilization or the most advanced glass. We cover more of these features in our best binoculars and best smart binoculars guides.

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