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DFMD vs HHMD — What's the Difference?
Last updated: 6 Jul 2026Reviewed by Ms. Rubab Nizami, Lead AVSEC Faculty
In short
A DFMD (Door Frame Metal Detector) is the walk-through archway that alarms when a person carries metal. An HHMD (Hand-Held Metal Detector) is the wand a screener passes over the body to pinpoint that metal. The DFMD detects; the HHMD locates.
DFMD vs HHMD — side by side
| DFMD | HHMD | |
|---|---|---|
| Form | Walk-through archway | Hand-held wand |
| Job | Detects metal on a person | Pinpoints where the metal is |
| When used | Everyone passing the checkpoint | After a DFMD alarm or a random check |
Which should you use?
You walk through the DFMD; if it alarms, a screener uses the HHMD to find the metal. They work together.
Quick answers
Is a DFMD the same as an HHMD?
No — the DFMD is the walk-through archway; the HHMD is the hand-held wand used after it alarms.