Leupold Scopes Explained (2026): Every Riflescope Series From VX-Freedom to Mark 5HD

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Leupold has trimmed and renamed more of its riflescope range in the last few years than most hunters realize. The VX-3i became the VX-3HD, the VX-5HD and VX-6HD are now Gen 2, a VX-4HD sits between the VX-3HD and VX-5HD, and the Mark line splits into 4HD and 5HD. This is the whole range of Leupold scopes explained series by series, from the $399.99 VX-Freedom to the $3,299.99 Mark 5HD.

I went through every riflescope on Leupold’s own series pages, 113 products in 8 series, and pulled the price, focal plane, tube, dial and weight from each one. Then I priced one model per series at our dealers, because some Leupold rifle scopes sell well under the maker’s price and some don’t move at all. I’ve hunted behind most of these, so you’ll get my take as well.

Last updated October 16, 2026

Table of Contents

The 2026 Leupold Scope Lineup at a Glance

The Leupold scope lineup is eight series: five VX hunting lines, two Mark precision lines and the Patrol 6HD, and only the Mark 5HD is first focal plane on every model. The table below doubles as a Leupold scopes price list, one row per series, cheapest Leupold price first.

Series	Magnifications	Plane	Tube	Leupold price	Street, one model
VX-Freedom	3-9x, 4-12x	SFP	1-inch	$399.99 to $499.99	about $375 at one dealer, $400 at most
VX-3HD	1.5-5x, 2.5-8x, 3.5-10x, 4.5-14x	SFP	1-inch, 30mm	$599.99 to $899.99	about $500
VX-4HD	3-12x, 4-16x	SFP	30mm	$799.99 to $1,199.99	about $1,000
Mark 4HD	1-4.5x, 2.5-10x, 4.5-18x, 6-24x, 8-32x	FFP/SFP	30mm, 34mm	$1,099.99 to $1,899.99	about $1,400 at one dealer, $1,500 at most
VX-5HD Gen 2	1-5x, 2-10x, 3-15x, 4-20x	SFP	30mm, 34mm	$1,399.99 to $1,999.99	about $1,100
Patrol 6HD Gen 2	1-6x	SFP	30mm	$1,599.99 to $1,799.99	about $1,600
VX-6HD Gen 2	1-6x, 2-12x, 3-18x, 4-24x	SFP	30mm, 34mm	$1,999.99 to $2,699.99	about $2,300
Mark 5HD	2-10x, 3.6-18x, 5-25x, 7-35x	FFP	35mm	$1,999.99 to $3,299.99	about $2,200

Leupold prices are what its own store lists for each model. Street prices are the lowest new prices on the cards further down, one model per series, and they change daily; where one dealer sits well under the rest, I give both numbers.

Quick Answer: Which Leupold Scope Series Fits Your Rifle

Buy a VX-Freedom or VX-3HD for a deer rifle, a VX-5HD Gen 2 for western hunting with a dial, a Mark 4HD or Mark 5HD for precision and long range, and the Patrol 6HD for a fast 1-6x carbine. Prices below are what most dealers charge.

• Deer rifle on a budget: VX-Freedom 3-9x40 at about $400, or the VX-3HD 3.5-10x40 at about $500 if you want the locking CDS dial.
• All-around hunting with a dial: VX-4HD 4-16x50 at about $1,000 or VX-5HD Gen 2 3-15x44 at about $1,100.
• Best Leupold glass for hunting: VX-6HD Gen 2 3-18x44 at about $2,300.
• First precision rifle: Mark 4HD 4.5-18x52 at about $1,500.
• PRS and long range: Mark 5HD 5-25x56 at about $2,200.
• Carbine or driven hunts: Patrol 6HD Gen 2 1-6x24 at about $1,600 or the Mark 4HD 1-4.5x24 at about $1,100.

How the Leupold Lines Are Organized

Leupold splits its riflescopes three ways: the VX series for hunting, with second focal plane reticles and CDS dials, the Mark series for precision with exposed M1C3 or M5C3 turrets, and the Patrol 6HD for close work. Inside the VX family the number climbs with zoom range and price.

The VX number is close to the zoom ratio. A VX-3HD runs about 3x from bottom to top, the VX-5HD Gen 2 runs 5x, and the VX-6HD Gen 2 runs 6x, so a 3-18x44 VX-6HD covers what takes two VX-3HDs. The VX-4HD sits between at 4x, and the VX-Freedom 3-9x40 and 4-12x40 are the 3x entry scopes.

Turret names tell you how a scope adjusts. CDS-ZL, CDS-ZL2 and CDS-SZL2 are Leupold’s Custom Dial System hunting dials with a zero lock; M1C3 is a quarter-MOA exposed precision turret and M5C3 the 0.1 mil version. Side Focus, FireDot and Twilight Hunter in a name mean a parallax knob, an illuminated dot and Leupold’s low-light reticle.

Take the VX-5HD Gen 2 3-15x44 CDS-SZL2 Side Focus Illum. FireDot Duplex as an example. That’s the second generation of the 5x VX series, 3x to 15x zoom, a 44mm objective, the zero-lock custom dial, a parallax knob, and a lit dot in the middle of a Duplex crosshair. Once you can read that, the menu gets much shorter.

What Changed in the Leupold Lineup

The VX-3HD replaced the VX-3i, the VX-5HD, VX-6HD and Patrol 6HD are all on their Gen 2 versions now, and a VX-4HD fills the gap between the VX-3HD and VX-5HD. Older names like VX-3i, VX-5HD Gen 1 and Mark 3HD are not on the riflescope menu.

The VX-Freedom is the other big change. Leupold’s series page now lists only 3-9x40 and 4-12x40 versions, 9 products in all, with special reticles for rimfire, muzzleloaders, .450 Bushmaster, 350 Legend and straight-wall cartridges. If you see a VX-Freedom 2-7x33 or 1.5-4x28 Scout, it’s an older listing or dealer stock, not a current menu item.

Everything here comes from the eight series pages as they read on October 16, 2026. The count of 113 matches the “Products” total on Leupold’s main riflescope page.

Which Leupold Scopes Sell Under the Leupold Price

At our dealers, the VX-3HD and VX-5HD Gen 2 sell well under Leupold’s store price, while the other six series sell at or close to it, with one dealer under on the VX-Freedom and Mark 4HD. Prices move daily, so check the cards.

The VX-3HD 3.5-10x40 runs about $500 against Leupold’s $599.99, the 4.5-14x40 runs about $600 against $699.99, and the VX-5HD Gen 2 3-15x44 Duplex runs about $1,100 against $1,399.99. That’s $300 off the VX-5HD.

The VX-Freedom 3-9x40 and Mark 4HD 4.5-18x52 each have a single dealer under the rest, at about $375 and about $1,400; most dealers ask Leupold’s price for both.

Most Leupold rifle scopes in the other six series sell at or within a few dollars of what Leupold charges. On a VX-3HD or VX-5HD Gen 2, I’d never pay the store price; on the rest, buy where the service suits you.

Leupold VX-Freedom

The VX-Freedom is the entry Leupold: a 1-inch, second focal plane hunting scope in 3-9x40 or 4-12x40, with no illumination, listed from $399.99 to $499.99. The 3-9x40 runs about $375 at one dealer; most dealers ask about $400.

Every 3-9x40 weighs 12.2 ounces and gives 60 MOA of elevation at 15 MOA a turn. The 4-12x40 is 13.1 ounces. Most versions use finger-click adjustments; the CDS versions add Leupold’s custom dial.

I had a VX-Freedom 3-9x40 on a .243 youth rifle for three deer seasons. It’s light, it holds zero, and the glass is better than the price suggests. If you want a dial that locks, step up a series.

The special versions share that 3-9x40 body and the $399.99 price: Rimfire MOA, Muzzleloader UltimateSlam, Straight-Wall Duplex, 350 Legend and .450 Bushmaster reticles, each with holdover marks for its cartridge.

Leupold VX-3HD

The VX-3HD is the classic Leupold hunting scope: eleven models from 1.5-5x20 to 4.5-14x50, every one with the CDS-ZL zero-lock dial, listed from $599.99 to $899.99. Dealers have the 3.5-10x40 at around $500.

Most VX-3HDs ride a 1-inch tube; the illuminated FireDot models and the side-focus 4.5-14x40 use 30mm. Weights run from 11.9 ounces on the 2.5-8x36 to 17.7 ounces on the illuminated 3.5-10x50. Leupold says the line, like all its riflescopes, is “designed, machined, and assembled in the USA and guaranteed for life.”

My elk rifle wore a VX-3HD 4.5-14x40 for years, and the CDS-ZL dial cut for my load did exactly what it should out to 500 yards. Expect to pay about $600 for the 4.5-14x40.

Leupold VX-4HD

The VX-4HD is the 4x-zoom middle of the VX range: seven 30mm, second focal plane models in 3-12x40, 3-12x50 and 4-16x50, most with the CDS-ZL2 dial and side focus, listed from $799.99 to $1,199.99. The 4-16x50 goes for about $1,000 new.

It moves to 20 MOA per turn of the dial against 15 on the VX-3HD, so long dials need fewer spins. The 4-16x50 Side Focus weighs 20.5 ounces and gives 65 MOA of elevation. The 3-12x40 Hunt-Plex is the light one at 14.6 ounces.

Leupold VX-5HD Gen 2

The VX-5HD Gen 2 is Leupold’s 5x-zoom western hunting line: twelve models from 1-5x24 to 4-20x52 on 30mm or 34mm tubes, with the CDS-SZL2 dial on the hunting sizes, listed from $1,399.99 to $1,999.99. The 3-15x44 Duplex sells for about $1,100.

The 3-15x44 weighs 19.9 ounces and gives 85 MOA of elevation at 20 MOA a turn, with a side focus knob. The 4-20x52 moves to a 34mm tube. The 1-5x24 is the light carbine and driven-hunt model at 15 ounces.

I’d call the 3-15x44 the most useful scope Leupold makes for a western hunter. It’s light enough for a sheep rifle, the side focus sharpens the image at long range, and 85 MOA of travel covers any shot I’d take on game.

Leupold VX-6HD Gen 2

The VX-6HD Gen 2 is the top VX: nine models from 1-6x24 to 4-24x52, all illuminated, with 6x zoom and the CDS-SZL2 dial, listed from $1,999.99 to $2,699.99. The 3-18x44 goes for about $2,300 new.

Every VX-6HD title on Leupold’s menu carries an illuminated reticle. The 1-6x24 is the light one at 17.4 ounces, the 2-12x42 weighs 21 ounces, and the 4-24x52 moves to a 34mm tube at 26.2 ounces. Every size uses the CDS-SZL2 dial at 20 MOA a turn.

Leupold Mark 4HD

The Mark 4HD is Leupold’s value precision line: twenty-three models from a 1-4.5x24 to an 8-32x56, first focal plane on the long-range sizes and second focal plane on the 1-4.5x24, listed from $1,099.99 to $1,899.99. The 4.5-18x52 PR2-MOA runs about $1,400 at one dealer; most dealers ask about $1,500.

The 4.5-18x52 and bigger use a 34mm tube with an M1C3 or M5C3 exposed turret and side focus; the 4.5-18x52 M1C3 gives 125 MOA of elevation at 25 MOA a turn and weighs 27.5 ounces. The 2.5-10x42 comes in both planes, and that size is my pick for a hunting rifle that also shoots steel.

The Mark 4HD 1-4.5x24 is the LPVO of the family, second focal plane with an illuminated FireDot on most versions, at 18 ounces. Expect to pay about $1,100 for the 1-4.5x24.

Leupold Mark 5HD

The Mark 5HD is Leupold’s flagship precision line: forty models in 2-10x30, 3.6-18x44, 5-25x56 and 7-35x56, every one first focal plane on a 35mm tube, listed from $1,999.99 to $3,299.99. Dealers have the 5-25x56 at around $2,200.

The 5-25x56 M1C3 weighs 30 ounces and gives 120 MOA of elevation at 25 MOA a turn. The 3.6-18x44 drops to 26 ounces and a length of 12.1 inches, which makes it the Mark 5HD I would put on a precision hunting rifle.

Most of the forty listings are reticle and color choices: PR1, PR2, TMR, Tremor 3, Impact 60 or CMR, black or a darker earth tone, plain or illuminated. Pick the size first, then the reticle that matches your turrets.

Leupold Patrol 6HD Gen 2

The Patrol 6HD Gen 2 is a two-model 1-6x24 line built for carbines and close hunting: second focal plane, 30mm tube, an illuminated reticle and either a pop-up rezero or CDS-ZL2 dial, listed from $1,599.99 to $1,799.99. The FireDot Duplex version sells for about $1,600.

It weighs 15.7 ounces. Next to the VX-6HD Gen 2 1-6x24 at $1,999.99 and 17.4 ounces, the Patrol is the lighter, cheaper 1-6x. Next to the Mark 4HD 1-4.5x24 at 18 ounces, it’s lighter and has more zoom but costs more.

Focal Plane, Tube and Dials by Series

Second focal plane runs through all five VX series and the Patrol, first focal plane lives in the Mark line, and 34mm and 35mm tubes only show up on the bigger VX-5HD, VX-6HD and Mark models. Dial names come straight off each Leupold product page.

Series	Plane	Tube	Dial or turret types Leupold lists	Illumination	Weight range
VX-Freedom	SFP	1-inch	CDS, Exposed Finger Click, Finger Click	No	12.2 to 13.1 ounces
VX-3HD	SFP	1-inch, 30mm	CDS-ZL	Yes, on some	11.9 to 17.7 ounces
VX-4HD	SFP	30mm	CDS-ZL2, Pop-Up Rezero	Yes, on some	14.6 to 20.8 ounces
Mark 4HD	FFP/SFP	30mm, 34mm	Capped, M1C3, M5C3	Yes, on some	18 to 30 ounces
VX-5HD Gen 2	SFP	30mm, 34mm	CDS-SZL2, Pop-Up Rezero	Yes, on some	15 to 24 ounces
Patrol 6HD Gen 2	SFP	30mm	CDS-ZL2, Pop-Up Rezero	Every model	15.7 to 16 ounces
VX-6HD Gen 2	SFP	30mm, 34mm	CDS-SZL2	Every model	17.4 to 26.2 ounces
Mark 5HD	FFP	35mm	M1C3, M5C3	Yes, on some	23 to 33 ounces

Not sure which plane you need? Our first vs second focal plane guide settles it, and the MOA vs MRAD guide explains the units on every M1C3 and M5C3 turret.

Leupold VX-Freedom vs VX-3HD

Leupold VX-Freedom vs VX-3HD comes down to the dial and the glass: on the nearest sizes, the 3-9x40 and 3.5-10x40, the VX-3HD adds the locking CDS-ZL dial for $200 more at Leupold’s price. Weight is almost the same.

	VX-Freedom 3-9x40 Hunt-Plex	VX-3HD 3.5-10x40 CDS-ZL
Leupold price	$399.99	$599.99
Weight	12.2 ounces	13.1 ounces
Elevation range	60 MOA	55 MOA
Dial	Finger click	CDS-ZL, locking
Street, one model	about $375 at one dealer, $400 at most	about $500

If you hold for distance or shoot inside 300 yards, the VX-Freedom is enough. If you want to dial a custom turret cut for your load, the VX-3HD is worth it.

Leupold VX-3HD vs VX-5HD

Leupold VX-3HD vs VX-5HD on the nearest sizes, the 4.5-14x40 and the 3-15x44, is a 1-inch hunting scope against a 30mm side-focus scope with more dial travel, at twice the Leupold price. $699.99 against $1,399.99.

	VX-3HD 4.5-14x40 CDS-ZL Duplex	VX-5HD Gen 2 3-15x44 CDS-SZL2 Duplex
Leupold price	$699.99	$1,399.99
Tube	1-inch	30mm
Weight	13.3 ounces	19.9 ounces
Elevation range	70 MOA	85 MOA
Per dial turn	15 MOA	20 MOA
Street, one model	about $600	about $1,100

For a mountain rifle you dial past 500 yards, the VX-5HD earns its weight. For a deer rifle that rarely shoots past 300, the VX-3HD saves $700 and more than six ounces.

Leupold VX-5HD vs VX-6HD

Leupold VX-5HD vs VX-6HD on matching FireDot Duplex models, the 3-15x44 and 3-18x44, is 5x zoom against 6x on the same 30mm tube, CDS-SZL2 dial and side focus, for $800 more at Leupold. The VX-6HD is the heavier scope.

	VX-5HD Gen 2 3-15x44 FireDot Duplex	VX-6HD Gen 2 3-18x44 FireDot Duplex
Leupold price	$1,499.99	$2,299.99
Weight	20.1 ounces	22.1 ounces
Elevation range	85 MOA	85 MOA
Length	13.5 inches	13.5 inches
Per dial turn	20 MOA	20 MOA

Both give the same elevation and length, so the money buys 18x on top and a little more low-light reach. For most western hunts, I’d take the VX-5HD Gen 2 and spend the difference on ammo and range time.

Leupold Mark 4HD vs Mark 5HD

Leupold Mark 4HD vs Mark 5HD at the same 18x top end, the 4.5-18x52 and the 3.6-18x44, both M1C3 and PR2-MOA, puts a 34mm tube against a 35mm tube, and the Mark 5HD is the lighter and shorter scope. $1,499.99 against $1,999.99 at Leupold.

	Mark 4HD 4.5-18x52 M1C3 PR2-MOA	Mark 5HD 3.6-18x44 M1C3 PR2-MOA
Leupold price	$1,499.99	$1,999.99
Tube	34mm	35mm
Weight	27.5 ounces	26 ounces
Length	14.6 inches	12.1 inches
Elevation range	125 MOA	100 MOA
Street, one model	about $1,400 at one dealer, $1,500 at most	about $2,000

The Mark 4HD gives more elevation for less money. The Mark 5HD is the one to carry. For a bench or barricade rifle, the Mark 4HD makes sense; for a precision hunting rifle, the Mark 5HD does.

Leupold LPVO Scopes Compared

Leupold makes four 1x low-power variable optics, all second focal plane on 30mm tubes and 10.7 inches long: the Mark 4HD 1-4.5x24, VX-5HD Gen 2 1-5x24, Patrol 6HD Gen 2 1-6x24 and VX-6HD Gen 2 1-6x24. They differ in zoom, dial and price.

	Mark 4HD 1-4.5x24 FireDot TMR	VX-5HD Gen 2 1-5x24 FireDot 4 Fine	Patrol 6HD Gen 2 1-6x24 FireDot Duplex	VX-6HD Gen 2 1-6x24 FireDot Duplex
Leupold price	$1,099.99	$1,499.99	$1,599.99	$1,999.99
Weight	18 ounces	15 ounces	15.7 ounces	17.4 ounces
Top zoom	4.5x	5x	6x	6x
Adjustment	M5C3	Pop-Up Rezero	Pop-Up Rezero	CDS-SZL2
Per dial turn	10 mil	80 cm at 100 m	20 MOA	20 MOA

For an AR-15, the Mark 4HD 1-4.5x24 is the value pick at $1,099.99 with a locking M5C3 turret, and the Patrol gives 6x for $400 less than the VX-6HD. Our AR-15 LPVO guide ranks them against other makers.

The only VX-5HD Gen 2 1-5x24 on Leupold’s menu is a metric FireDot 4 Fine model that adjusts 80 centimeters per turn at 100 meters, so it suits a hunter who already thinks in metric.

The Leupold Lifetime Guarantee vs the Vortex VIP

Every Leupold riflescope carries the Leupold Lifetime Guarantee, which follows the scope to any owner with no paperwork, but unlike the Vortex VIP Warranty it excludes accident damage. Leupold sums it up as “While other companies warranty failure, we guarantee performance for life.”

In Leupold’s words, “if at any time your Leupold riflescope, mounts, red dot, binocular, or spotting scope doesn’t perform, we will repair or replace it for free”, and it says that holds whether you’re the original owner or not. And: “You don’t need proof of ownership or a warranty card, and there’s no time limit.”

The exclusion matters: “These warranties do not apply if the product has been modified, misused, or has been damaged by accident, abuse, or misapplication.” Vortex’s VIP Warranty, which we cover in our Vortex scopes explained guide, repairs damage no matter how it happened. If you drop scopes off cliffs, that difference is real; if you don’t, both companies stand behind the glass.

Which Leupold Scope Should You Buy

Pick by the rifle and the job: VX-Freedom or VX-3HD for deer, VX-4HD or VX-5HD Gen 2 for western hunting, VX-6HD Gen 2 for the best hunting glass, Mark 4HD or Mark 5HD for precision, Patrol 6HD for a carbine. Our picks by rifle and job:

• Whitetail inside 300 yards: VX-Freedom 3-9x40 or VX-3HD 3.5-10x40. See our scopes under $500 for more.
• Elk and mule deer: VX-5HD Gen 2 3-15x44 or VX-4HD 4-16x50.
• Precision and PRS: Mark 5HD 5-25x56 or the Mark 4HD 4.5-18x52; our PRS scope picks ranks them against other makers.
• AR-15 or driven hunts: Patrol 6HD Gen 2 or Mark 4HD 1-4.5x24; compare them in our LPVO rankings.

Weighing Leupold against Vortex? Our Vortex vs Leupold comparison and Vortex lineup guide break that down, and our best rifle scopes covers every maker. Once it arrives, put it in good scope rings and follow our sight-in steps.

Leupold scopes are only part of the catalog. For rings, bases and red dots, the Leupold brand page lists the parts and accessories.

FAQ: Leupold Scopes

Short answers to the questions we get most about the Leupold range.