Shoveling dirt can’t be easy without the right tool. You never know the problems until you take any action.
Once was me a while ago digging the earth in my garden with an old shovel. When I hit clay, I was soaking myself with sweat to get the job done.
That was when I knew I needed the best cheap post hold digger.
But searching the market, I was drowned in the sea of options. Though the tool is relatively simple, choosing the quality one can be daunting.
With years using a range of post hole diggers, I’m pretty confident in my experience and ready to tell you here. Don’t skip any part.
Here are the best cheap post hole diggers you can buy in 2024:
- Best Overall: AMES 2701600 Post Hole Digger with Hardwood Measurement Handle
- Best For Installing Fences: Union Tools 78002 Carbon Steel Post Hole Digger
- Best For Heavy Duty: Seymour Structron Hercules Post Hole Digger PD48
- Best For Deep Holes: Seymour Promotional Post Hole Digger with Wood Handle DG-60
- Best For Decks: Razorback Post Hole Digger 33”
- Best For Planting: Bully Tools 92382 14-Gauge 5.5-Inch Post Hole Digger with Fiberglass Handle
| 6 Best Cheap Post Hole Diggers | ||
|---|---|---|
Best Overall | AMES 2701600 Post Hole Digger with Hardwood Measurement Handle | |
Best For Installing Fences | Union Tools 78002 Carbon Steel Post Hole Digger | |
Best For Heavy Duty | Seymour Structron Hercules Post Hole Digger PD48 | |
Best For Deep Holes | Seymour Promotional Post Hole Digger with Wood Handle DG-60 | |
Best For Decks | Razorback Post Hole Digger 33” | |
Best For Planting | Bully Tools 92382 14-Gauge 5.5-Inch Post Hole Digger with Fiberglass Handle | |
Best Overall: AMES 2701600 Post Hole Digger with Hardwood Measurement Handle
- Convenient measurement markings
- Handle supports strength
- Comfortable grips
- Durable hardwood handle
- Numbers on the ruler wear off
- A bit heavy
The first thing I need to mention about this digger is the well-build design that satisfies both quality and aesthetics.
It’s got a solid hardwood handle of 48 inches that gives the right and comfortable fit to the hand. If you worry about hard material hurting your palms, the manufacturer of this unit has treated the wood to be tough and pleasing to the hands.
What’s worth mentioning is the measurement markings that aid digging more accurately. The blades themselves are 9 inches long. So, when you need to know how deep you go, just point the sticks down and look at the numeric marks on the bar
On top of the sticks are padded grips. I once thought these pads are relatively ineffective. But it’s completely different in this unit. The grips are quite soft, feeling like a kind of elastic material. Better yet, it absorbs sweat, leaving my hands dry for the job.
The 6.25-inch point spread on the blades is super useful in scooping the dirt up without leaking lots. It’s also got solid joints with screws which are hard to be loosened.
| AMES 2701600 Post Hole Digger with Hardwood Measurement Handle Specifications | |
|---|---|
Handle Material | Hardwood |
Handle Length | 68 inches |
Head Material | Steel |
Point Spread | 6.25 inches |
Highlight Features | Solid hardwood handle Ruler on the stick Oversized cushion grip |
This tool is a great unit for digging precise holes, ideal for fence posts, and ground supports.
Best For Installing Fences: Union Tools 78002 Carbon Steel Post Hole Digger
- Lightweight
- Easy to use
- Durable handle
- Dig soil with hard rocks
- The wood handle becomes slippery when hands sweat
- Need to tighten the bolts at the joint sometimes
I used this unit for most environments with soil, with rocks around the place I needed to install fences. It appeared to handle the situation well and actually eased down my mission.
Typically, to install fences, you need holes of minimal 2-feet deep. This tool is 58-inch long, allowing you to dig to that depth with ease.
Not only that, but the 5.5-inch point spread is also pretty helpful in creating perfect-round holes. Yet, the diameter is just right for most sizes of fence root.
Speaking about the blades, I highly appreciate the use of high-carbon steel. It reduces lots of weight, making the unit lighter and easier to handle.
The hardwood handle did put a bit of strain on my hands. But using it for a long time, I realized the beveled part near the top is there to make handling less stressful.
When you start digging, the concavity keeps your hands on the sticks. However, I had to add pads to avoid making my hands slippery.
| Union Tools 78002 Carbon Steel Post Hole Digger Specifications | |
|---|---|
Handle Material | Hardwood |
Handle Length | 58 inches |
Head Material | High carbon steel |
Point Spread | 5.5 inches |
Highlight Features | High carbon steel blades Durable hardwood handle 5.5-inch point spread |
You don’t need a lot of action when digging fence holes using this unit.
Best For Heavy Duty: Seymour Structron Hercules Post Hole Digger PD48
- Industrial grade
- Cushioned grip for greater comfort
- Lightweight fiberglass handle
- Easy-to-open joint
- Made in the USA
- Pricy
Heavy works require a digger that is a bit fierce. While most models I have passed are designed for lighter jobs, this one can tackle any hole you assign.
I think this Hercules digger is a digger of the professional who has to dig the earth every day. Anytime I made use of this unit, it busted through rocks without damaging the blades.
First of all, it features fiberglass handles with a fiberglass core that takes away most of the mass. I was quite impressed with the total weight when lifting this unit. And that benefits faster performance.
Seymour also adds cushion to the tips of the sticks. But the comfort it gives is exceptional thanks to the use of foam. It absorbs your sweat, prevents your hands from sliding down when piking the sticks. Not only that, but the foam also provides gripping so that you can use it with or without gloves.
The joint on this unit is unlikely to get stuck even when you work with a lot of dirt in a day. All I did was rinse the head with a hose and leave it dry.
| Seymour Structron Hercules Post Hole Digger PD48 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Handle Material | Fiberglass |
Handle Length | 11 Gauge |
Head Material | 48" Premium Fiberglass |
Point Spread | 6-1/4-inch |
Highlight Features | Handle made from premium fiberglass Wider point spread Double bolt ProGrip™ cushioned grippings |
This unit is a true Hercules digger that not many other models can beat its toughness.
Best For Deep Holes: Seymour Promotional Post Hole Digger with Wood Handle DG-60
- Square handles add strength
- Double bolted to yokes
- Sharpened blades
- Durable carbon steel
- Thin metal doesn’t remain rigid
- Not for heavy-duty work
For deep holes, you do need a heavy-duty digger with tough blades to bite through dirt at less effort.
You can expect this digger to cut through rocks, not the hard ones, but if you encounter hard rocks, they won’t have a tremendous impact on the blades. Why? They are super-durable hard carbon steel.
Yet, these blades are sharpened at the tips to bite through the dirt like butter. It won’t take you much time to dig a 2-feet hole, even deeper.
Speaking about the handles, they are bolted to yokes, which leverages for more strength when you dig. Better, the yokes are thick enough to last you significant time.
Also, these blades can be replaced in case you need a new pair. Unscrewing the bolts doesn’t take much time as well as expertise. That means if you are new to digging tools, using this unit won’t be harsh.
Moreover, the handles are square cut. I actually wondered why the manufacturer chose this shape while most other models are rounded. But in real practice, the rectangular shape lends more strength at point. In other words, you can tuck up more dirt per one scoop.
| Seymour Promotional Post Hole Digger with Wood Handle DG-60 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Handle Material | Hardwood |
Handle Length | 48 inches |
Head Material | Durable carbon steel |
Point Spread | N/A |
Highlight Features | Square shaped handles for added strength Replaceable blades made from durable carbon steel Blades are triple riveted to thick yokes Sharpened head |
The digger does help to dig deeper holes faster than any model I have tried.
Best For Decks: Razorback Post Hole Digger 33”
- Lightweight fiberglass handles
- Pointed shape blades
- Handles designed to reduce knuckle collision
- Easy-to-use X-shaft style
- A bit heavy
Holes for decks are typically deep to ensure firmness for the entire base. With this X-shaft style digger, you can dig holes to build a deck with less effort.
The X-shaft style provides a lever action that is easier, somehow, to handle than bolt cutters.
In which, the handles don’t have to open wide to grab ahold of the dirt. Yet, it lends more holding force to hold the dirt so that you are less likely to drop them.
The handles are made from fiberglass with an innovative design. This design helps eliminate knuckle collision, causing less stress when you have to dig lots of holes.
Blades of this model are also different in shape. They’ve got pointed tips to dig through earth faster.
In the design, it’s got texture from fiberglass that provides a better grip to the dirt. In the end, it’s notched to squeeze to dirt when you transport.
| Razorback Post Hole Digger 33” Specifications | |
|---|---|
Handle Material | Fiberglass |
Handle Length | 33 inches |
Head Material | N/A |
Point Spread | 7 inches |
Highlight Features | X-shaft Handle designed to eliminate knuckle collision Fiberglass handle Pointed blade tips |
Digging holes for decks won’t be as tiring as it sounds if you have this post digger to work with.
Best For Planting: Bully Tools 92382 14-Gauge 5.5-Inch Post Hole Digger with Fiberglass Handle
- Heavy-duty made
- Blades can break through hard soil
- Designed to increase performance
- 100% made in America
- Handle flexes
- The jaws are wide
You need holes for sowing seeds and some other gardening work? Such a light work doesn’t require any heavy-duty digger. All you need is this Bully Tool with the lightest fiberglass handle.
The tool features an extra thick 14 gauge steel blade that eats through the soil quickly. This material is hard enough to break through hard packed soil. Also, it promises timeless blades that you can use for years.
More than that, the design in the heads supports minimum leakage of dirt when transporting.
Though it’s an ideal tool for planting, it doesn’t mean it's cheaply made. The digger features heavy-duty fiberglass handles with triple wall construction. That promises lots of durability as well as longevity.
Besides, the unit is 100% made in the States, which guarantees exclusive quality that comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
| Bully Tools 92382 14-Gauge 5.5-Inch Post Hole Digger with Fiberglass Handle Specifications | |
|---|---|
Handle Material | Fiberglass |
Handle Length | 47 inches |
Head Material | 14-gauge steel |
Point Spread | 5.5 inches |
Highlight Features | Blades made from 14-gauge steel Heavy-duty fiberglass handles Limited lifetime warranty 100% American-made |
This Bully Tool is such an ideal tool for gardening and construction.
How To Choose The Best Cheap Post Hole Digger?
Walking through the list above, you can see that each unit features differently.
So, how to tell if this one or that one is the one for you?
Please consider more factors. They are right below.
Handle
Digging a hole is a thankless task that may leave blisters on your hand if the handle is made from poor material.
Hardwood is fine, but in the long run, it hurts and tires the palm. The material also tends to age and break.
I highly recommend fiberglass handles with the core of fiberglass that is meant to add strength. The kind of handle is relatively comfortable to hold.
Steel handles appear to have the same advantages. Plus, it is a long-lasting material.
Weight
A unit that feels solid in your hands is evidence that the tool is well-made. But it can be the main cause of unnecessary fatigue.
For sporadic use around the house, diggers around 8 to 10 pounds should suffice the need.
But if you really need a heavier unit, try to look for features that offer comforts like padded grips or ergonomic handle placements.
Opening
Make sure the digger’s blades close as much as possible. If the opening is large, loose soil will leak back into the hole as you’re lifting it out.
Depth
In case you need to dig deep holes, consider the screw-in type, which allows you to penetrate deeper.
There are models designed to dig deep holes, while others have the moderate capability. Consider the measurement of the blade.
Which Brands Make The Best Cheap Post Hole Digger?
Seymour Mid West
Seymour is a global brand that provides a range of tools to serve gardening. They’ve been on the market for over 140 years, supplying well-engineered long-handled products to support agriculture, industry, sports fields, gardening, and more. Since the start, the brand defines themselves as toolmakers, not commodity distributors, thus producing only the right and quality diggers to make your life easier.
Razorback
For over 80 years, Razorback has done a vast influence on the market of hand-powered tools. They basically know how to choose the strongest materials and pack the most useful features to their post hole diggers. Not only that, but Razorback is also so confident about their tools that they do not hesitate to offer every product a lifetime warranty.
FAQs
What size post hole digger do I need?
For hand-held diggers, what you want to consider regarding the size is the length of the handle. The longer the post, the deeper your hole can be.
It is also the size of the scoop-shaped blade that matters. Biggers blades let you create a bigger diameter.
However, anything in a larger size can be a burden. Consider how you are going to handle the tool because you don’t want to not be able to even hold it.
How big of a hole do I need for a 6x6 post?
You need a hole with around 12 inches in diameter to fit a 6x6 post; the depth should be around 1/3-1/2 the post height.
Can I use an ice auger to dig post holes?
Well, it’s probably not the best idea but not bad either. Ice augers have the same function as any post hole auger but are less powerful.
Particularly, for digging dirt, the drill has to have a powerhead and components to impact the soil hard. Ice augers may not have sufficient power to get through the earth, or it does but not deep.
So, using an ice auger for soil is possible, but be careful, or you may break your tool.
Is 2 feet deep enough for fence posts?
2-feet deep is the minimum depth for fence post holes. But the deeper the holes are, the more stability the fences will be.
But be careful as your posts may not have enough length when sitting deep in the holes.
Are expensive post hole diggers better?
Expensive doesn’t mean better in many aspects. You just need the digger that has the features to serve your purpose.
The rule of thumb is to stick to your budget and consider what factors matter when buying the device; you’ll be able to pick out the best digger.
Conclusion
If you are reading this part means you know how to pick your own best cheap post hole digger.
Though it’s not my place to tell you the exact unit that fits you, I can give you further help if you leave comments or questions below. I promised to get back to you as soon as possible.
Don’t forget to share this article if you like it. I’ll keep it updated with more penny-worth units. See you soon.
