How to Find Beach Glass!

Have you ever went to the beach in hopes that you might find beach glass and left empty-handed? With the latest craze of beach glass finders combing the sands, you better get there early in the morning, especially on the weekends! As a third generation beach glass hunter, I walk to shores daily and want to share with you some tips on where exactly to look for these rare treasures!

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Let's start...

With a locational point of view. Once you get to the beach and reach the shoreline, you need to on the lookout for a few things.

• Which directions are the waves hitting the tide lines in the sand? Higher to lower or lower to higher? From a right slant or a left slant?
• This is going to determine which direction the most likely areas to find beach glass will soon appear or are already present.
• What time of day is it?
• High tides usually occur when the sun and the moon are the direct opposite of each other. For example, from Spring to late Autumn in NE Ohio, US it was usually around 1:00pm-1:30pm EST. Other factors also contribute to the tides, however, from personal experience, I believe this theory to be the most reliable.

In the video, I'm actually making a mental note of everything while watching the waves as they were beautiful that day! Since the waves were going from right to left and started on the right side (reference point from me looking straight ahead) I began my search walking that direction against the waves. Not literally in the water as its January and the water is very cold here right now.

Embarking on my mission towards that direction I came upon the first area that I felt would probably have smaller pieces but I wanted to show you the terrain. These two photos show what the rocks look like and this was on the high tide line further back to where the tide line almost meets the sand.

Second, beach glass or sea glass can be found not only from the waves crashing in but also in pebble areas and medium-sized rocky beds along the sand. If the winds have been gusty and the waves really tall, pieces further back away from the shores might be more common. All depends on the latest weather conditions, phase the moon is in according to the calendar, what time of day, and the season. I've found pieces even as far away from the shore as in the sand by the playground with no explanation as to how or why?


Medium sized rocky beds and especially inside ridges that the waters have formed are great hiding spots for larger chunks of beach glass and beach glass marbles. I've never been a "beach digger". I prefer to use a grazing technique combined with bending down and getting a closer look scanning with "frosty glass-o-vision" before moving to the next area.

Once, you get further down the shore where the waves begin to stop and look out at the water again.

Notice where the first wave starts and the location of where it's hitting the sand.

Search the area where it's hitting the sand, if there are not any pebbles in that area where its hitting stand facing the sand opposite of the water and look further back. Guaranteed spot!

Third, while you are facing opposite of the water (in the photo here I know I'm still facing the water but wanted to show the location) start lightly grazing in a pattern kind of like a rainbow in the direction that the waves are making that day. For instance, if the waves are going from left to right then start lightly grazing with your hand opposite of this while facing opposite of the shore. 

Sometimes finding a needle in the haystack you have to go against the grain!

Even when it's a cloudy condition outdoors or the waves don't seem to be moving much it's still very possible to find some of the best pieces. My favorite time of day to go is right before the high tide arrives as the waves always pick up (some days more than others). Its somewhat of a rush if you've noticed this before! 

As for going on a hunt during a storm, I've never been a fan of this. Not that I mind getting rained on or not to mention the safety factor but because as the waves get stronger during and right after stormy conditions they need time to settle back down a bit before coughing up the gems they are busy tumbling. Its relatable to when someone keeps bugging you when you're trying to get work done...don't bother the shores when they are working to produce those beautiful beach gems! 



When the sun arrives (or forgets to show up) after about 1.5-2 hours after a storm is the best time in this circumstance. It's like the waters have had a chance to kick up their feet and debrief their workday before sharing their day with the world. In warmer weather, some of the spots and pieces are even a bit dried off already if the location has been through a dry spell.

In the photos on the right and below, this piece was just hanging out much further back from the high tide line in a land of rubble. Not exactly pebbles and also not medium rocks. This was found 2 hours after a storm had passed in September 2017. As you can see this beauty is completely dried off and the surrounding ground also.

As for finding super rare pieces such as beach glass marbles, I'm a thorough believer that the more you know about the history of each beach that you visit, karma pays you back in treasure hunting ways!


The first time I found a beach glass marble I found another further down the shore not far from where I found the first following the same method that I will reveal in my next post. When I found my third beach glass marble a few months later visiting the same beach but following the method I figured out, I was positive that when knowing what weather and terrain conditions to watch out for and where to look exactly it's a high chance of finding what you've always been looking for.

I will share this secret in my next beach glass post soon. I hope this was helpful, and feel free to leave me a comment on what you would like to know more about pertaining to beach glass!