Binoculars under $100
Shop 9 budget binoculars and choose by size, prism type and weather sealing. Most are 8x to 10x pairs for walks, the garden and a first look at birds. Prices change often, so check the current price on the product page before you buy.
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Card specs come from each maker's published specs, and some cards carry fewer facts than others. One series name can cover several sizes, so match the size and model number on the product page before checkout. The Celestron SkyMaster 25x70 here is a big pair, 52 oz by Celestron's figures, that works best on a tripod.
- 9 models
- 8 with our score out of 10
- 7 with maker-listed specs
Our picks under $100
Celestron Nature DX 8x32
- Size
- 8x32
- Eye relief
- 17.5mm (.69")
- Field of view
- 388 ft (129 m) at 1,000 yds/m; 7.4°
Maker specs: Celestron Nature DX 8x32
Celestron Outland X 10x42 Binoculars
- Size
- 10x42
- Eye relief
- 18.2mm (.72")
- Field of view
- 288.9 ft (96.3 m) at 1,000 yds/m; 5.5°
Maker specs: Celestron Outland X 10x42
Bushnell PowerView 10x50
- Size
- 10x50
- Eye relief
- 10 mm
- Field of view
- 341 ft at 1,000 yd / 114 m at 1,000 m
Maker specs: Bushnell PowerView 10x50
Celestron SkyMaster 25x70
- Size
- 25x70
- Eye relief
- 13mm (.51")
- Field of view
- 141 ft (47 m) at 1,000 yds/m; 2.7°
Maker specs: Celestron SkyMaster 25x70
Nikon Aculon A211 8x42
- Size
- 8x42
- Eye relief
- 12mm
- Field of view
- 420 ft. at 1000 yds (8° real)
Maker specs: Nikon ACULON A211 8x42
Wingspan Optics Voyager 10x42
- Size
- 10x42
- Eye relief
- 14.8mm
- Field of view
- 283 Ft/ 1000 Yds
Maker specs: Wingspan Optics Voyager 10x42
Vortex Optics Porro Prism 8.5x32
- Size
- 8.5x32
- Eye relief
- 14 mm
- Field of view
- 390 feet/1000 yards (7.4 degrees)
Maker specs: Vortex Raptor 8.5x32 Porro Prism
Also in our guides: Leupold BX-1 Rogue Compact Binocular
The full ranked list
The full lists these picks come from, with our notes on every pair.
- The Best Binoculars under $100
9 picksHighest score: Bushnell H2O 10x42
Compare binoculars under $100
Scroll sideways to see every comparison field and Shopping action.
| Model | Magnification | Objective (mm) | Eye relief | Field of view | Maker’s model | Shopping action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Celestron Nature DX 8x32 | 8x | 32 | 17.5mm (.69") | 388 ft (129 m) at 1,000 yds/m; 7.4° | Celestron Nature DX 8x32 | |
| Celestron Outland X 10x42 Binoculars | 10x | 42 | 18.2mm (.72") | 288.9 ft (96.3 m) at 1,000 yds/m; 5.5° | Celestron Outland X 10x42 | |
| Bushnell PowerView 10x50 | 10x | 50 | 10 mm | 341 ft at 1,000 yd / 114 m at 1,000 m | Bushnell PowerView 10x50 | |
| Celestron SkyMaster 25x70 | 25x | 70 | 13mm (.51") | 141 ft (47 m) at 1,000 yds/m; 2.7° | Celestron SkyMaster 25x70 | |
| Nikon Aculon A211 8x42 | 8x | 42 | 12mm | 420 ft. at 1000 yds (8° real) | Nikon ACULON A211 8x42 | |
| Wingspan Optics Voyager 10x42 | 10x | 42 | 14.8mm | 283 Ft/ 1000 Yds | Wingspan Optics Voyager 10x42 | |
| Vortex Optics Porro Prism 8.5x32 | 8.5x | 32 | 14 mm | 390 feet/1000 yards (7.4 degrees) | Vortex Raptor 8.5x32 Porro Prism |
2 models without a maker’s figure record are listed in the picks above.
Budget binocular questions
Can a budget pair be a good pair?
Yes. Celestron, for one, lists the Nature DX 8x32 in this grid as waterproof and nitrogen filled with phase-coated BaK-4 roof prisms.
Specs vary at this level, though: Bushnell lists the PowerView 10x50 as not waterproof with BK-7 Porro prisms. Our guide on why some binoculars cost more explains where the extra money goes.
What are the best cheap and powerful binoculars?
For power you can hold steady, pick a 10x pair such as the Celestron Outland X 10x42, which Celestron lists as waterproof and nitrogen filled. Nikon notes that the higher the magnification, the more unstable the image from hand movement, and recommends up to 12x for general use.
The SkyMaster 25x70 in this grid weighs 52 oz by Celestron's figures, so plan on a tripod. For more reach, see long range binoculars.
Are Porro prism binoculars a good budget choice?
Yes, if you can live with a bulkier body. Nikon explains that Porro prisms lose no light at their reflecting surfaces and are easy to produce, but the Z-shaped light path makes the binocular larger.
Celestron adds that their widely spaced objective lenses give a richer three-dimensional image, and they need none of the phase coating a roof prism relies on.
Is a budget pair fine for a beginner or a child?
Yes, a light 8x pair from this grid makes a sensible first pair for casual use. By the makers' figures, the Vortex 8.5x32 Porro weighs 17.3 oz and the Celestron Nature DX 8x32 18 oz, against 21 to 26.8 oz for the 42 mm pairs here that list a weight.
For pairs picked with younger users in mind, browse kids binoculars.
Does water resistant mean waterproof?
No. Celestron lists the SkyMaster 25x70 as water resistant and not nitrogen filled, and the Nature DX 8x32 as waterproof and nitrogen filled.
Vortex says its Diamondback HD is gas purged and O-ring sealed for fogproof and waterproof performance. If you will use the pair in rain or near water, choose one the maker calls waterproof.
How to choose budget binoculars
Choose Porro or roof for your budget
Pick Porro if a larger body suits you and roof for a slim, compact pair. Nikon puts the difference down to the light path: Z-shaped in a Porro, straight in a roof, which is why roof pairs are slim and compact.
| Design | Examples here | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Porro | Vortex 8.5x32, Nikon Aculon A211 8x42, Bushnell PowerView 10x50 | Larger body; no phase coating needed |
| Roof | Celestron Nature DX 8x32, Celestron Outland X 10x42 | Slim and compact; needs phase coating to avoid a low-contrast image |
Check the prism glass and the coatings
Look for BaK-4 prisms and "fully multi-coated" on the spec sheet. Celestron says it uses BaK-4 glass in its Ultima prisms so that more light reflects off their internal faces and passes through to the eye.
Coating words are graded. Celestron defines multi-coated as multiple layers on at least one surface, and fully multi-coated as multiple layers on every glass surface. The Nature DX 8x32 here is fully multi-coated; the Outland X 10x42 and SkyMaster 25x70 are listed as multi-coated.
Sizes of the binoculars in this grid
The table counts each size in the grid with its exit pupil, the objective divided by the magnification. Nikon gives the eye's pupil as about 2 mm in daylight and 7 mm in the dark, so a bigger exit pupil matters most at dusk.
| Size | Models | Exit pupil, calculated |
|---|---|---|
| 10x42 | 2 | 4.2 mm |
| 8x32 | 1 | 4.0 mm |
| 8x42 | 1 | 5.3 mm |
| 8.5x32 | 1 | 3.8 mm |
| 10x50 | 1 | 5.0 mm |
| 25x70 | 1 | 2.8 mm |
Match the exact model at the retailer
Check the size and model number on the product page against the card before you pay. Nikon's Aculon A211 name covers an 8x42, a 10x42 and a 10-22x50, and Nikon lists their eye relief as 12 mm, 11.6 mm and 8.6 mm at 10x.
Read the seller name and the total at checkout as well.
When to look at the Under $200 collection
Step up if you want a 10x42 roof pair that is phase coated, waterproof and nitrogen filled. Celestron lists all three for the Nature DX 10x42 in our Under $200 collection, where the Nikon Prostaff 7S 10x42 is also listed as waterproof and fogproof.
Other price bands
