Door frame metal detector buying guide: zones, sensitivity, power

Updated November 2026. A door frame metal detector, also called a DFMD, walk-through metal detector or WTMD, is the arch that visitors walk through at the entrance of malls, hotels, offices, hospitals, factories, event venues and places of worship. This guide explains what actually separates one model from another, using the ZKTeco walk-through metal detectors we list, so you can match the arch to your entry point instead of paying for features you will not use. Prices shown are current catalogue prices including 18% GST.

What a DFMD does, and what it cannot do

A DFMD creates a low-frequency electromagnetic field between its two side panels. When a person carries a metal object through the arch, the field is disturbed and the unit sounds an alarm and lights its indicators. It detects metal only. It will not find ceramic blades, liquids or plastics, and it does not tell the guard what the object is. That is why most screened entrances pair the arch with a hand-held detector for secondary checks and, where bags are carried, an X-ray baggage scanner.

The ZKTeco arches in our range list detection of ferrous and non-ferrous metal weapons, and their working frequencies sit in the low kHz band, for example 5.7 kHz to 9.6 kHz on the ZK-D1065, ZK-D2110 and ZK-D2180, and 3 kHz to 8 kHz on the ZK-D1010L.

Single zone vs multi-zone detection

A single-zone arch tells you only that metal passed through somewhere. A multi-zone arch divides the panels into stacked detection areas and lights the zone where metal was sensed, so the guard knows whether to check the ankle, the waist or the shoulder. That saves time on every alarm and cuts down the full-body pat-downs that slow a queue.

Zone counts stated in our ZKTeco product data:

• ZKTeco ZK-D1090: 3, 6 or 9 zone modes, adjustable, at ₹55,972.
• ZKTeco ZK-D2110: 11 zones, at ₹161,359.
• ZKTeco ZK-D2180: 18 zones, from ₹78,865 to ₹98,832 depending on the option you pick.
• ZKTeco ZK-D3180V: 18 zones plus a built-in camera, at ₹145,225.

The ZK-D1010L, ZK-D1065, ZK-D1065L and AMD1800 Pro listings do not state a zone count in our product data. If pinpointing matters at your site, confirm the zone layout from the datasheet before you shortlist one of them.

Sensitivity settings and why they matter

Every arch needs tuning for its site. Set it too high and belt buckles, keys and shoe shanks trigger constant alarms, and guards start waving people through. Set it too low and a real threat walks past. The useful question is how finely you can adjust it.

• The ZK-D2180 offers 256 adjustable sensitivity levels per zone. That lets you, for example, ease off the floor-level zones where footwear causes nuisance alarms while keeping the upper body zones strict.
• The ZK-D1090 lists a sensitivity level figure of 500 in its specs, alongside its adjustable zone modes.
• Alarm volume matters in noisy lobbies: the ZK-D1090 has 0 to 6 volume levels (80 dB maximum), the ZK-D1065 and ZK-D1065L list an 85 dB alarm, and the ZK-D3180V offers 16 selectable alarm tones.

Placement affects performance as much as the setting itself. Keep the arch clear of large moving metal such as lift doors, rolling shutters and turnstile arms, away from electric motors and heavy cabling, and check for interference before placing two arches side by side. A self-diagnosis program, listed on the ZK-D1090 and ZK-D2110, helps the operator spot a fault before it turns into missed detections.

Throughput, people counting and integration

Throughput is how many people can walk through per minute while still being screened. The ZK-D1090 states a throughput rate of more than 40 persons per minute. In practice, flow depends more on your process than on the arch: how fast people empty their pockets, whether there is a tray table, and how many guards handle secondary checks. For shift changes at factories, morning rush at offices or gates at events, plan two or more lanes rather than one arch running flat out.

Features to look for if you need data or linkage:

• People and alarm counting: the ZK-D2180 counts both passes and alarms, useful for footfall reports and for checking how often alarms are being resolved.
• Network and remote control: the ZK-D2180 lists TCP/IP communication, remote control and app connection, and the ZK-D2110 has a 10M/100M network interface.
• Gate or turnstile linkage: the ZK-D2110 has a relay output for an entrance gate and the ZK-D2180 supports turnstile linkage, so an alarm can hold the barrier until a guard clears the person. Our turnstile buying guide covers the barrier side of a controlled lane.
• Alarm photos: the ZK-D3180V has an embedded 2MP camera and a 7-inch colour screen on its overhead unit. It captures up to 6 alarm-linked photos and shows live video, pass count and alarm count.

Indoor vs outdoor installation

Most arches are built for sheltered indoor entrances. The ZK-D2110 and ZK-D3180V use medium-density fibreboard in their housings, and MDF does not tolerate rain or standing water, so keep them under a roof and off wet floors. The ZK-D1010L and ZK-D1065L list working humidity below 95%, non-condensing.

For a gate canopy, a semi-open lobby or a temporary event entry, check these two against your site:

• ZKTeco AMD1800 Pro: IP65 protection level and 60 kg net weight, at ₹150,065.
• ZKTeco ZK-D2180: the manufacturer lists a waterproof base, fire-retardant materials and an operating temperature range of -20°C to 55°C.

Check the exact protection rating and permitted installation environment. A protected base does not establish that the whole detector is suitable for outdoor exposure.

Even a weather-rated arch should stand on a level, firm floor, be shielded from direct monsoon rain where possible, and be secured so that wind or a pushing crowd cannot tip it.

Power supply and battery backup

All the priced ZKTeco arches run from ordinary mains. Their specs list AC 100V to 240V input with a DC 12V supply to the electronics, and running power between 16 W (ZK-D1065) and 20 W (ZK-D1065L). That low draw makes backup easy to plan.

• The ZK-D3180V’s overhead control unit includes a battery status indicator.
• For the other models our product data lists mains power only. If the entrance must stay screened during power cuts, feed the arch from a UPS or inverter circuit and size the battery for your longest usual outage.
• Give the control unit its own earthed socket and avoid sharing the circuit with motors or lift equipment, since electrical noise can cause false alarms.

When a hand-held metal detector is enough

A DFMD earns its cost where many people must be screened quickly and consistently. A hand-held metal detector (HHMD) is often enough when:

• visitor numbers are low, such as a small office reception, a clinic or a residential society gate;
• screening is occasional, for example a monthly event or a visiting dignitary;
• you need portable checks at several points, or secondary checks after an arch alarms.

The ZKTeco ZK-D160 handheld metal detector costs ₹2,596, runs on two AA batteries, weighs 280 g and offers either sound and light or vibration and light alarms. Vibration mode is handy in noisy places or where you want discreet checks. The ZK-D100S (IP31: protected against dripping water, not rated for rain) and the ZK-D180 are also in our hand-held metal detector range on a price-on-request basis. Sites with an arch should still keep at least one hand-held unit per lane for resolving alarms.

ZKTeco walk-through metal detectors compared

The ZK-D1065S is also listed, with pricing on request.

Where to go next

Compare every arch side by side in our door frame metal detector category, or browse the full security inspection range for hand-held detectors and baggage scanners. If you are equipping several entrances, a campus or an event, send us the number of lanes, expected peak footfall and any turnstile linkage you need through our request a quote form for project or bulk pricing.