How to choose the best hand auger

Width and diameter of the blade

First off you need to choose between a small, medium, or wide blade depending on the types of tasks you’ll be attempting to do. Anything smaller than 4 inches in diameter is typically used for planting seeds, bulbs and smaller plants, with mid-sized blades up to the 9-inch diameter more suited for larger plants, shrubs and small trees. An auger blade larger than 9 inches is most suited for structural work such as digging holes for fence posts.

It may be possible to purchase a hole auger supplied with different sizes of removable blades giving you the choice to dig different sized holes.

Length of blade

This will dictate how deep you will be able to dig, a longer blade will dig deeper whereas a shorter blade can only dig a shallower hole. Our advice when choosing the right auger is to pick the longest one possible as you can not only dig deeper holes, but still dig shallow holes just by stopping turning when reaching the desired depth.

Durability

A hole auger is a heavy-duty tool which is subject to a lot of stress and pressure during use, therefore always look for a model which is durable and does not bend or break if it encounters an obstacle in the ground.

Collapsible hole augers might have a point of failure between the shaft and removable handle – therefore look for joints which can be locked securely rather than flimsy screws which could snap under stress.

Material

Always look for a steel construction with the blade and if possible either a solid wooden or hollow steel shaft and handle. Hadfield steel and manganese steel are perfect for augers due to their resistance to abrasion and high impact strength, carbide blades can be sharpened making them suitable for slicing through tree roots.

Finish

The type of finish found on a hole auger can prolong the life span of the tool provided that you clean the auger after every use. A coating of paint, carbon or epoxy over the blade will protect it from rust and decay but remember if the coating is scratched it will lose protection in that area.

Height of shaft

Operating an auger involves turning a handle repeatedly then lifting out a heavy tool made of steel containing soil out of a deep hole in the ground, this type of work can take its toll on your back. Therefore, you should use an auger where the handles sit comfortably at waist height to avoid stretching and bending down constantly.

Width of handles

The longer auger handles are, the less effort is required to turn the auger into the ground. An auger with short handles might look compact and easier to store however is a lot hard to turn, especially in denser soil.

Types of handles

Thinner hollow handles are more likely to bend or break than a handle made of a thick solid material, and a square shaped handle without grips will feel uncomfortable after prolonged use unless wearing padded gloves.

Grips

You will need to grab the auger handle tightly with your hands, so we suggest that you look for an auger where the handles have rubberised grips on the ends. Not only is this more comfortable for prolonged periods of use, but grips also prevent sweaty hands or the smooth fabric of gloves from slipping on a shiny painted handle. Loosing your grip suddenly on an object that you are leaning your entire bodyweight on can be a painful and dangerous experience.

Collapsible

As with most tools you will need to consider where you will be storing them when not in use, the large T shape of a hole auger may not be easy too slot into a small tool-shed. Therefore, you might want to buy an auger with a removable handle that can be taken off the shaft for storing, then safely attach it back to operate.

Check how the handle attaches to shaft, a flimsy bendable pin or loose-fitting bolt could be a point of failure – does the handle wobble around or feel safe and secure? Also check if the shaft can be attached to more than the central location on the handle – this might be useful when digging a hole next to an obstacle such a wall. If you can attach the shaft to one end of the handle rather than the middle, then this gives you the option to perform 180 degree turns of the auger.

Replaceable parts

Check that it is possible to replace the blade, shaft, and handle on the auger you plan to buy. Auger parts are available separately in a wide variety of different sizes and should work out cheaper than having to replace an all-in-one hole auger.

Type of soil

Some augers simply aren’t suitable for some terrains, if there is a chance you’ll encounter tough rocky soil then you should invest in a quality hole auger with robust build quality.

Value for money

As with any tool – buying the cheapest is not always the best option; especially with a tool subjected to repeated stress. You could end up snapping a cheap flimsy hole auger midway through a job forcing you to purchase a replacement.

Remember that an auger can be used for multiple tasks around the garden, so it can make sense to have a good quality tool to hand ready for any unforeseen digging task in the future.