February 24, 2026

Knowing the depth beneath your boat could be the difference between catching your limit or getting skunked. It could also prevent the headaches of running aground or a prop strike.

Depth finders are a valuable feature for anyone hitting the water, but which one is best for your small boat? Keep reading to learn more about Garmin chartplotters and fishfinders that can show you the depth — and a whole lot more.

Why choose a Garmin chartplotter or fishfinder?

Most boat owners want more than just depth data. That’s where Garmin comes in. If you’re looking for a depth finder, Garmin has incorporated the depth-finding feature into all chartplotters and fishfinders.

Fishfinders are most helpful for locating fish and seeing bottom structure. Chartplotters display a visual map of the body of water you’re on with topographic lines that show bottom contours. You can use this to home in on certain fishing depths or know which areas of the lake you want to avoid entirely due to shallow water.

Plus, Garmin chartplotters and fishfinders are designed with the modern boat owner in mind. From johnboats to bass boats, they blend seamlessly into every helm style and are available in different sizes to accommodate all layouts.

Take into consideration where you’ll be fishing and what other features you need, such as sonar, when deciding which Garmin chartplotter or fishfinder will suit your needs. 

Chartplotters and fishfinders with depth finders

Between our compact and portable STRIKER™ fishfinders and feature-heavy GPSMAP^® or ECHOMAP™ chartplotters, there is a device fit for every need, every adventure and every skill level.

Good

If you just want to know depth, the Garmin STRIKER 4 is a great start. Beyond depth, you also get an easy-to-use 3.5” color screen with traditional sonar and a high-sensitivity GPS to help you navigate. Built-in CHIRP sonar provides clear images of fish and bottom structure, so you’ll have a better idea of where to cast your line. Plus, use this fishfinder year round to see what’s near your line when you’re ice fishing.

Better

For even more features or a bigger display, the Garmin STRIKER Vivid series offers displays from 4” to 9”. In addition to showing you the depth, this fishfinder supports ClearVü™, SideVü™ and traditional sonar technology for an enhanced view of what’s beneath the water.

Best

Packed with features and preloaded Navionics^® mapping on select units, the ECHOMAP Ultra 2 series is a great choice. See fish and structure on an even bigger screen with display options ranging from 10” to 16”. Select models have built-in CHIRP traditional sonar as well as ClearVü and SideVü. Plus, this ECHOMAP series supports LiveScope™ live-scanning sonar for anglers who need the best fish-finding technology.

For better fishing, explore our full lineup of Garmin chartplotters and fishfinders.