A number of techniques to improve the sensitivity of helium resonance magnetometers is explored. Using a mathematical model of the helium cell discharge and optical pumping process, calculations indicate that substantial gains in sensitivity of a He4magnetometer are possible. The improvements are obtained by use of larger cells and the replacement of the lamp with a laser as the source of pump radiation. A large cell (2 in. diameter×6 in. long) magnetometer with lamp pumping is calculated to have a sensitivity of 3×10−4&ggr;/(Hz)1/2, a value which has been experimentally verified. The projected sensitivity of a laser‐pumped magnetometer varies between 2×10−5and 4×10−6&ggr;/(Hz)1/2, depending on cell size.