6 Great Binoculars Under $100 for Stargazing in 2023
When you first get started stargazing, you might have a lot of questions. What am I seeing? Is that a planet or a star? Will a telescope or binoculars help me see even more? Plus loads of others too! But as someone who’s new to astronomy, you might not want to shell out a ton right away – after all, some binoculars and telescopes cost upwards of $1000! But don’t worry – they don’t all cost that much; here are the best binoculars under $100.
If you’re budget-conscious and/or brand new to stargazing and just want to get started without spending a lot, this post is for you. There are some decent options when it comes to astronomy binoculars under $100, though you need to pay attention to the brand, objective lens, and magnification to ensure you buy something that’s powerful and well-built.
If you’re not familiar with how binoculars work, there are two numbers provided for each product. The first is the magnification offered by the binoculars; the second refers to the size of the objective lens in millimeters. So for 7×50 binoculars – for example – they offer 7x magnification, and the objective lens is 50mm in diameter. The larger the objective lens, the more light is let into the lens – creating brighter and potentially clearer views. However, larger lenses weigh more which can be uncomfortable when stargazing – that’s something to keep in mind as you choose a pair of astronomy binoculars under $100 from this list.
Short on Time?
The best binoculars under $100 are SkyGenius 10×50 Powerful Binoculars
Now that you have the basics down, take a look at my list of the best binoculars under $100 for stargazing. You can certainly find one to start unlocking greater mysteries of the night sky without breaking the bank.
Note: Lens and binocular prices have been very volatile in the past two years due to supply chain issues. Note that prices might vary widely from the prices I reported when this post was last updated.
This post was originally published in August 2021, and was re-ranked and updated in February 2023.
The Best Binoculars Under $100 (Ranked)
When it comes to choosing astronomy binoculars, you want to keep a number of factors in mind, including price, (magnification) power, binocular style, and quality. This can be hard to compare on your own, so I put together a ranked list. To come up with this ranking, I considered price, popularity, and review scores from Amazon.com. Here’s the list I came up with, using updated data for 2023.
| Rank (2023) | Product | Change (from 2022) | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Celestron SkyMaster 12×60 Binocular | – | ~$70 | Link |
| 2 | Celestron SkyMaster 15×70 Binoculars | – | ~$70 | Link |
| 3 | Gosky 10×42 Roof Prism Binoculars | – | ~$80 | Link |
| 4 | Orion Scenix 7×50 Binoculars | – | ~$100 | Link |
| 5 | STELLARH 12X50 Full Size Binocular | New! | ~$60 | Link |
| 6 | ESSLNB 13-39×70 Giant Astronomy Binoculars | ↓1 | ~$90 | Link |
Read on to discover more of the details about each one and choose the pair of binoculars under $100 that’s best for you.
1. Celestron SkyMaster 12×60 Binocular
- Type: Porro Prism
- Price: ~$70
You can’t go wrong with the Celestron SkyMaster 12×60 Binoculars since they truly are one of the best binoculars under $100. Celestron has especially designed and engineered this larger Sky Master model to meet the special demands of extended astronomical viewing sessions. So, not only are these binoculars affordable but also of extremely high quality for stargazers.
The large 60mm objective lenses and powerful 12x magnification ensure a clear, crisp view of the star-studded sky, while their multicoated lenses and BaK-4 prisms deliver excellent light transmission even when you’re viewing in the dimmest conditions.
2. Celestron SkyMaster 15×70 Binoculars
- Type: Porro Prism
- Price: ~$70
The Celestron 15×70 SkyMaster binoculars are also one of the best stargazing binoculars under $100 in the market. In fact, the SkyMasters are leaders in the low-price giant binocular arena. With their large aperture 70 mm objective lenses, they ensure maximum image brightness in low light and long-range conditions – like when stargazing!
Thanks to their multi-coated optics and BaK-4 internal prisms, you’ll see spectacular views of the moon and larger deep-sky objects like the Andromeda galaxy and the Orion nebula.
Beware that, given their 3.28 lbs and 15X magnification, these binoculars are comfortable to hold for short periods of time only, so buyers would be well advised to mount them on a sturdy tripod.
3. Gosky 10×42 Roof Prism Binoculars
- Type: Roof Prism
- Price: ~$80
The Gosky 10×42 is another great pair of binoculars if you want to capture the beauty of the moon and other celestial bodies. They come with a smartphone adapter that allows stargazes to take photos or videos of the night sky.
Thanks to their 42mm fully multi-coated optics and perfect 10x magnification, the starry sky feels closer than ever and doesn’t suffer from distortion. The Gosky 10×42 are also great to cover long distances with their light and trail-tough design.
4. Orion Scenix 7×50 Binoculars
- Type: Porro Prism
- Price: ~$100
The Orion Scenix 7×50 is wonderful for astronomical as well as for daytime terrestrial viewing. With their high-quality BAK-4 Porro prisms and multi-coated binocular objective lenses, stargazers can enjoy bright, crisp images of the sky with no distortion.
They also feature a wide 7.1-degree field of view angle, which allows seeing more of the sky and having less wobble. These binoculars weigh 28 oz., so they’re great to carry around. If you’re just getting started in the art of stargazing, the Orion Scenix 7×50 would be perfect for you!
5. STELLARH 12×50 Full Size Binocular
The STELLARH 12×50 is another tricky case. These binoculars perform well, but there are better options on the list for the same or a better price.
The binoculars seem to have decent optics and come with 12x magnification and 50mm objective lens. They also have a 1000m field of view. I’d say the highlight of the STELLARH is the accessories. The kit includes a carrying case, neck-straps, lens covers, a universal smartphone adapter, a remote shutter, and a professional tripod suitable for cameras and smartphones.
Again, I’d advise you to check out recent reviews if you’re considering purchasing the STELLARH, just to make sure you get the best option with your budget.
6. ESSLNB 13-39×70 Giant Astronomy Binoculars
- Type: Porro Prism
- Price: ~$90
Yes, there are great astronomy binoculars under $100 that don’t belong to the Celestron family. The ESSLNB 13-39×70 binoculars are great if you want to capture the distant beauty of the sky and save it to watch later as they come with an adjustable phone adapter.
As for the specs, the ESSLNB has 13-39X zoom magnification and 70mm fully multi-coated lenses, so there’s no doubt they’ll offer higher brightness and crystal clear images in low-light and long-range conditions. Just perfect for stargazing, right?
Their powerful magnification also works wonders if you’re into birdwatching!
Do you know of other great astronomy binoculars under $100? Or have questions about these ones I recommend? Let me know in the comments!
Valerie Stimac
Valerie is the founder and editor of Space Tourism Guide. She grew up in Alaska, has lived across the U.S., and traveled around the world to enjoy the night sky from many different perspectives. Join her on this journey to explore space right here on earth.
One Comment
Brandi Whitt
Hey. I’m looking for a pair of binoculars for a Christmas gift. I need to find a pair that is great for spotting craft in the night sky. If you have a recommendation under 100 that would be amazing! Thank you for this list. It certain narrowed down the choices for me.