First‐, second‐, and third‐order gradiometers used in detecting biomagnetic signals are analyzed as spatial filters. Their transfer functions independent of the source to be measured are presented and both the magnitude and phase characteristics of the transfer functions are analyzed. The distortion introduced by the gradiometer can be estimated from these characteristics. In order to treat the signal in that approach, the spatial Fourier transform of a magnetic signal produced by a current dipole at a given distance is discussed.