Fence or hedge on 18 V
You already own an Einhell 18 V pack, or you will buy one, and you want a 150 mm hole for posts or hedging. The GP-EA 18/150 is about £148.45, 4.5 from 752 reviews, at 5.7 kg. The battery and charger are not in the box.
Earth auger comparison 2026
The best earth augers, compared.
Top pick: Einhell GP-EA 18/150 cordless auger – Highest score at 90: 4.5 from 752 reviews, a stated 150 mm bit, about £148.45, battery not included. Best value: LONGRUN manual fence post auger – Best value at about £29.98, score 84, 4.2 from 251 reviews, with a stated 10 cm flight and a 96 cm shaft. Updated October 2026.
An earth auger bores a round hole in soil. On amazon.co.uk it is sold as a manual spiral, a cordless powerhead, or a petrol powerhead. People buy one for fence posts, hedges, small trees, or a few planting holes. Quality is a bit that matches the hole, handles you can hold when the flight hits a stone, and a listing that says whether the battery and the bit are in the box. A hex bit is a different category, covered in the [earth auger drill bit comparison](/hub/digging-tools/earth-auger-drill-bit). The fork between manual, cordless, and petrol is in the [earth auger buying guide](/hub/digging-tools/earth-auger/sub/earth-auger-buying-guide).
An earth auger bores a round hole in soil. On amazon.co.uk it is sold as a manual spiral, a cordless powerhead, or a petrol powerhead. People buy one for fence posts, hedges, small trees, or a few planting holes.
21 products checked · 56 hrs invested · +21,400 readers
6 of 6: Best earth augers compared
Swipe for more
1-2 of 6Best overall
Best value
9.0/10
8.6/10
8.4/10
8.0/10
7.8/10
–/10
∼ £148
∼ £25
∼ £30
∼ £200
∼ £18
∼ £299
4.5(752)
4.3(212)
4.2(251)
4.0(12)
3.9(77)
–
Personal buying guide
Which earth auger fits?
Question 1 of 2
What hole are you boring?
The best earth augers in detail
Our view
The Einhell GP-EA 18/150 cuts a 150 mm hole to a stated depth of 80 cm with an 18 V brushless Power X-Change motor. Across 752 amazon.co.uk reviews it holds 4.5 stars, and reviewers often report more torque than they expected from 18 V, including in clay and on new-build ground. Some finished large hedging and fence runs on one battery or a few batteries. The powerhead weighs 5.7 kg and is listed at £148.45, but the battery and charger are not in the box: you get the tool, the 150 mm auger, and a cotter pin. It offers clockwise ECO and HIGH modes plus an anti-clockwise reverse. UK reviews also say it stops or snatches when the bit meets stone, a hard patch, or a thick root, and some buyers found the handles too narrow for leverage. A small number of reports describe a unit shutting off mid-hole or failing on the second hole, so a long day still needs spare packs and a spade for anything the flight will not take. On rating and review count it is the top pick in this set, and only if you already have an 18 V pack or you plan to buy one.
Pros
- 150 mm auger in the box, with a stated drilling depth of 80 cm
- 4.5 stars from 752 amazon.co.uk reviews
- Brushless 18 V motor with reverse and two clockwise modes
- 5.7 kg, far lighter than the 25 kg petrol kit in this set
- Works on an Einhell Power X-Change pack; some reviewers used other 18 V brands with a separate adaptor
Cons
- Battery and charger are sold separately
- Stops or snatches on stone, hard patches, and thick roots
- Some reviewers found the handles too narrow for leverage
- The included bit is 150 mm, so a wider hole needs a different tool
Best for: You already own an Einhell 18 V battery, or you are willing to buy one, and you want a 150 mm hole for fence posts or hedging rather than a hand-twisted 10 cm flight.
Less suitable: Ground full of rubble, a 200–300 mm hole, or a shed with no 18 V pack and no plan to add one.
Specifications
- Model
- Einhell GP-EA 18/150 cordless auger
- Brand
- Einhell
- Price
- ∼£148
- Customer rating
- 4.5/5(752)
- Power
- Cordless 18 V
- Diameter
- 150 mm
- Weight
- 5.7 kg
- Battery
- No
- Bit in box
- Yes
- Reverse
- Yes
- Jam cut-out
- No
Common questions
Does the Einhell auger include a battery?
No. The amazon.co.uk listing says an 18 V battery and charger are sold separately.
What size hole does the included bit make?
The listing states a 150 mm auger and an 80 cm drilling depth.
Will it keep going in stones?
UK reviews say it works in clay and then stops or snatches when it hits stone, a hard patch, or a thick root.
Our view
This manual carbon-steel auger weighs 1.97 kg and costs £24.99, with 4.3 stars from 212 amazon.co.uk reviews. The title calls it an 8 inch (200 mm) post hole auger, while a bullet on the same listing says a 15 cm digging diameter and a height of 105 cm, so the hole size is not settled until the flight arrives. Reviewers who received the larger flight report a clean wide hole, and they used it for post holes and a greenhouse base in soil, including compacted sandy ground with pebbles and clay. The flight is short, so you lift often to clear spoil, and the tool is of limited use once stones and roots appear. Buyers also say it feels flimsy before first use, and one review says the fastener holes enlarge when the tool is forced. That clash between 200 mm and 15 cm is why it is not the best value here, even though the star line sits slightly above the LONGRUN.
Pros
- 4.3 stars from 212 reviews at £24.99
- Light, at the stated 1.97 kg
- Reviewers cut post and greenhouse holes in soil without heavy stone
- Powder-coated carbon steel with soft-grip handles
Cons
- The title says 200 mm and a bullet on the same listing says 15 cm
- A short flight means you lift often to clear spoil
- Limited once stones and roots are in the hole
- Screw holes can enlarge when the tool is forced
Best for: You want a light hand auger for soil without heavy stone, and you can check the flight diameter when the parcel arrives.
Less suitable: You need a known 200 mm hole before you order, or the ground is full of roots and stone.
Specifications
- Model
- Manual 8 inch post hole auger
- Brand
- AUGER
- Price
- ∼£25
- Customer rating
- 4.3/5(212)
- Power
- Manual
- Diameter
- 200 / 150 mm
- Weight
- 1.97 kg
- Bit in box
- Yes
Common questions
Can it dig fence-post holes?
Reviewers used it for post holes and a greenhouse base in soil. They also say it is of limited use once stones and roots appear.
What is the diameter?
The title says 8 inch (200 mm). A bullet on the same listing says a 15 cm digging diameter. Both figures are on the page.
What is it made of?
The listing says carbon steel with a powder coat, and a weight of 1.97 kg.
Our view
The LONGRUN LR-8240 is a hand auger with a 10 cm flight, a 96 cm shaft, a 50 cm handle, and a stated dig depth of 54 cm, so you supply the turning force yourself. At £29.98 it weighs 3 kg, includes a pair of gloves, and the listing says the three-section nut joint goes together by hand with no extra tools. Across 251 amazon.co.uk reviews it sits at 4.2 stars, with buyers using it for daffodil and tulip bulbs, small post holes, and turning compost. One reviewer reported about 200 holes to 6 inches in heavy clay, and others liked the longer shaft because they bent over less than with a shorter auger. The blade bends or goes blunt once it hits stones, or after a few deep holes in clay, so a long run of drainage holes is where this edge gives up. It remains physical work, and it is not a drill-mounted bit even though some buyers discuss it that way. In this set it is the best value when the holes stay narrow and you do not need a motor.
Pros
- 10 cm flight, 96 cm shaft, and a stated dig depth of 54 cm
- 4.2 stars from 251 reviews at £29.98
- Gloves included, and a three-section joint the listing says you fit by hand
- Used for bulbs, small posts, and turning compost
- Longer shaft than the 60 cm manual listing in this set
Cons
- The blade bends or blunts on stones and after deep holes in clay
- A 10 cm flight is too narrow for a concrete collar around a 100 mm post
- You supply all the torque; it does not replace a powered auger
- Some buyers talk about it as a drill bit, which it is not
Best for: You are planting bulbs or a handful of narrow holes and you want a longer hand shaft than a 60 cm auger.
Less suitable: A fence line that needs a 150 mm or wider hole, or soil packed with stones.
Specifications
- Model
- LONGRUN manual fence post auger
- Brand
- LONGRUN
- Price
- ∼£30
- Customer rating
- 4.2/5(251)
- Power
- Manual
- Diameter
- 100 mm
- Weight
- 3 kg
- Bit in box
- Yes
Common questions
Can this manual auger plant bulbs?
Yes. The listing and UK reviews describe bulb planting, including daffodils and tulips, as well as small post holes.
Does it need tools to assemble?
The listing says a three-section nut connection that you fit by hand, with no extra screws or tools.
How does it cope with stones?
Reviewers report the blade bending or going blunt when it hits stones or after deep holes in clay.
Our view
The WORX WG865E.9 is a 40 V brushless auger listed at up to 80 Nm and 220 rpm, with a 20 cm bit in the box and a stated cut-out that stops the motor if the flight jams. It weighs 13.6 kg, measures 111 x 62.1 x 46.5 cm, and costs £199.99 without batteries or a charger, because it needs two 20 V PowerShare packs to make 40 V. The amazon.co.uk line is 4.0 stars from 12 reviews, and the written reviews are marked France or Germany rather than the United Kingdom, so the comments are a thin base. Those reviews describe the 20 cm bit working in hard clay, reverse helping when the bit sticks, and a slip action if it blocks, with two speeds and no pull-start. They also report handle mounting holes that did not line up, nuts that were not self-locking, and small 2 Ah packs that limited large holes and were linked to heat. Roots and large stones still need a spade. At this price and review count it is a wider cordless option you would only open if you already own the batteries.
Pros
- 20 cm bit included, wider than the 150 mm Einhell auger
- Listing states 80 Nm, reverse, two speeds, and a jam cut-out
- No petrol and no pull-start
- Reviewers describe reverse and a slip action when the bit sticks
Cons
- Batteries and charger are not included
- 4.0 stars from only 12 reviews, and the written reviews are not from the UK
- One reviewer found the handle mounting holes did not line up
- 13.6 kg, and small packs were linked to heat and fewer large holes
Best for: You already own WORX PowerShare batteries and you want a 20 cm hole rather than a 150 mm one.
Less suitable: You have no PowerShare packs, or you want a pick backed by hundreds of UK reviews.
Specifications
- Model
- WORX WG865E.9 40V earth auger
- Brand
- WORX
- Price
- ∼£200
- Customer rating
- 4.0/5(12)
- Power
- Cordless 40 V
- Diameter
- 200 mm
- Weight
- 13.6 kg
- Battery
- No
- Bit in box
- Yes
- Reverse
- Yes
- Jam cut-out
- Yes
Common questions
Does the Worx auger include a battery?
No. The listing says batteries are required and are not included.
What torque does the listing state?
The title and bullets state up to 80 Nm.
Is a 20 cm bit in the box?
Yes. Included components on the listing are one 20 cm earth drill bit.
Our view
The VIDETOL listing is a manual steel auger stated as 10 x 60 cm, with a non-slip handle, a black coating, and a weight of 1.5 kg, priced at £17.99. It has no engine and no battery. Across 77 amazon.co.uk reviews it sits at 3.9 stars, and the written sample includes many one-line comments. Reviewers used it for a clothes-line hole, for fence posts, and, in one case, on paddocks. One buyer still found it about 300 mm shorter than they wanted, and another called it too small for real work. The title also names bulb planting and umbrella holes, which fits a short, narrow flight better than a run of deep posts. It is the cheapest tool in this set, and the weaker rating plus those short-reach complaints are why it is not the best value.
Pros
- Lowest price in this set, at £17.99
- Stated 10 cm size at 1.5 kg, with a non-slip handle
- No battery and no engine to buy or fuel
- Reviewers made a clothes-line hole and some fence-post holes
Cons
- 3.9 stars from 77 reviews, many of them one line
- One buyer found it about 300 mm shorter than they wanted
- Described as too small for serious work
- The stated 60 cm length is shorter than the LONGRUN shaft at 96 cm
Best for: You need a cheap hand auger for bulbs, an umbrella socket, or one shallow hole, and you can live with a 60 cm reach.
Less suitable: Deep fence posts, stony ground, or any job where a short shaft leaves you bent over the hole.
Specifications
- Model
- VIDETOL 10 x 60 cm manual auger
- Brand
- VIDETOL
- Price
- ∼£18
- Customer rating
- 3.9/5(77)
- Power
- Manual
- Diameter
- 100 mm
- Weight
- 1.5 kg
- Bit in box
- Yes
Common questions
Can it be used for bulbs?
The title includes bulb planting, umbrella holes, and small post holes.
How long is it?
The listing says 10 x 60 cm. One reviewer still found it about 300 mm shorter than they wanted.
Is it a powered auger?
No. It is a hand auger with no engine and no battery.
Our view
The Horti Power kit is an 82 cc petrol earth auger listed at £299, with 100 mm, 200 mm, and 300 mm bits, extensions of 40 cm and 60 cm, and a shock-absorbing spring. The stated weight is 25 kg, which makes it the heaviest tool in this comparison by a wide margin. The amazon.co.uk listing has no customer-review line and no written reviews, so there is no star rating to set beside the Einhell’s 752 reviews. The page does not state a jam brake, a vibration figure, or the fuel mix; the named safety part is the spring. Three diameters in one box are the practical reason to look at it, especially if you need a 300 mm hole that the 150 mm and 20 cm cordless bits do not cut. The listing notes that some products cannot be delivered outside mainland UK. With no reviews, it stays an unrated kit rather than a top pick or a best value.
Pros
- Bits at 100 mm, 200 mm, and 300 mm in the box
- Extensions of 40 cm and 60 cm
- Petrol, so runtime is not limited by a battery pack
- Shock-absorbing spring included with the engine and drills
Cons
- No star rating and no reviews on the amazon.co.uk listing
- Stated weight of 25 kg
- No jam brake, vibration figure, or fuel mix is stated
- £299, and the listing notes some products cannot be delivered outside mainland UK
Best for: You want a petrol kit that lists a 300 mm bit and two extensions, and you accept buying it with no amazon.co.uk review line.
Less suitable: You want a rated tool, a light one-person machine, or a battery auger you can run without fuel.
Specifications
- Model
- Horti Power 82 cc petrol earth auger
- Brand
- Horti Power
- Price
- ∼£299
- Power
- Petrol 82 cc
- Diameter
- 100–300 mm
- Weight
- 25 kg
- Bit in box
- Yes
- Jam cut-out
- No
Common questions
Does it come with extensions?
Yes. The listing includes two extensions, 60 cm and 40 cm, plus bits of 100, 200 and 300 mm.
What safety features does the listing name?
A shock-absorbing spring. It does not state a jam brake, a vibration figure, or the fuel mix.
Is there a star rating?
No customer-review line is on the amazon.co.uk listing, so the rating is not available.
How we compared
Scores use the six amazon.co.uk listings kept on 19 October 2026. There is no laboratory test. Weights sum to 100. The highest score is the top pick. Best value is the manual auger with a coherent diameter, a solid rating, and a low price, after the cheaper but weaker and shorter listing is set aside.
1
Amazon evidence
35%Star rating on amazon.co.uk, then a deduction when the count is small, when the written reviews are not from the United Kingdom, or when the listing has no star line at all.
2
Listing fit
25%A stated diameter that does not contradict itself, a bit in the box, and an honest battery-not-included line. A title that says 200 mm while a bullet says 15 cm loses an award even if the star line is strong.
3
Review outcome
25%UK notes of clay, hedging, or finished holes score higher than a bend on the first stone, a snatch, a mid-hole shut-off, or an empty review file.
4
Value
15%Shelf price in GBP against a usable hole. The lowest price does not win when reviewers call the shaft too short. A £299 kit with no reviews does not win on three bit sizes alone.
Independent review
Last updated: October 2026
8 sources checked
Earth auger buying guide
An earth auger is for a round hole in soil, not for a hex bit in a drill chuck. On these six amazon.co.uk listings the shelf price runs from about £17.99 to £299, captured on 19 October 2026. The useful split is the job, the diameter, and whether the battery is in the box. A few bulbs can be a hand flight. A short fence suits a cordless powerhead you already have batteries for. A long run of wide holes points to petrol or a day’s hire. Stones and thick roots stop the bit or snatch the handles.
What is an earth auger?
An earth auger bores a round hole in soil. In the UK it is sold as a manual spiral, a cordless powerhead, or a petrol powerhead. People buy one for fence posts, hedges, small trees, or a few planting holes. A hex drill bit is a different category and is not ranked here. Quality is a bit that matches the hole, handles you can hold when the flight hits a stone, and a listing that says whether the battery and the bit are in the box. Diameter and depth are separate.
Best for
- Gardeners setting posts or shrubs who already own an 18 V or 40 V battery system
- Householders who only need bulbs or one narrow socket and can turn a hand auger
Not ideal for
- Ground full of rubble, thick roots, or buried concrete, where the flight will stop or snatch
- A hex drill bit bought in place of an earth auger, or a body-only kit treated as complete
Mistakes to avoid
- 1
Buying a drill bit instead of an earth auger
A hex bit for a drill chuck is a different category. The LONGRUN is a hand auger even when some buyers discuss it as a drill bit. Match the tool to the chuck, or to a powerhead, before you compare prices.
- 2
Ignoring battery not included
Solo and tool-only mean no battery and no charger. Both cordless listings here are body-only. The Worx needs two 20 V packs to make 40 V. Add that cost before you treat about £148.45 or about £199.99 as the finished kit.
- 3
Matching the bit to the post
The bit is the hole, not the post. A 10 cm flight is too narrow for a concrete collar around a 100 mm post. The three-times-width idea is a rule of thumb, not a statute. Holding the throttle on flint or a root is how the handles snatch.
What to weigh up
Diameter and what is in the box
HighJob size comes first. A few bulbs or one socket can be a manual auger. A short fence or hedge suits a cordless powerhead if you already own the battery system. A long run, or repeated holes at 200–300 mm, points to petrol or a day’s hire. Diameter and depth are separate checks. The bit is the hole, not the post. Trade explainers often suggest a hole about three times the post width and about one third of the post buried, about 600 mm for a 1.8 m fence. That is a rule of thumb, not a statute.
Soil, kickback, and weight
HighAugers cut soil. Stones, thick roots, and buried concrete stop the bit or snatch the handles. UK reviews of the Einhell describe a stop or a snatch on stone, a hard patch, or a thick root, and a small number of shut-offs mid-hole. The LONGRUN blade bends or blunts on stones and after deep holes in clay. A jam cut-out, where the listing states one, still needs both hands and a released throttle. Kickback is reaction torque when the bit stops.
Which option suits you?
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
Bulbs and a few narrow holes
You need bulbs, one socket, or a handful of narrow holes, and you will supply the turning force. The LONGRUN is about £29.98, 4.2 from 251 reviews, with a stated 10 cm flight, a 96 cm shaft, and gloves. It is not a drill bit.
A 300 mm petrol kit
You want bits at 100, 200, and 300 mm plus two extensions, and you accept a 25 kg petrol kit with no amazon.co.uk star line. The Horti Power 82 cc is about £299. It is not the top pick and it is not the best value, because there are no reviews to rank.
Common questions about earth augers
Which earth auger is the top pick in this set?
In this set the top pick is the Einhell GP-EA 18/150, about £148.45. It scores 90 because the amazon.co.uk line is 4.5 from 752 reviews, the largest file here, and the listing states a 150 mm bit with an 80 cm depth. The powerhead weighs 5.7 kg. The battery and charger are not in the box, and UK reviews say it stops or snatches on stone.
How much does an earth auger cost?
On these six amazon.co.uk listings the shelf price runs from about £17.99 to £299. Manual flights sit at about £17.99, £24.99, and £29.98. Cordless powerheads without a battery are about £148.45 for the Einhell and about £199.99 for the Worx. The Horti Power 82 cc kit, with three bits and two extensions, is about £299 and has no star rating. A battery or a charger is extra on both cordless listings.
What should you check before you buy an earth auger?
Check the hole you need before the headline price. Diameter and depth are separate: the bit is the hole, not the post. Then read the box. Solo and tool-only mean no battery and no charger, so confirm the bit is included. Stones, thick roots, and buried concrete stop a flight or snatch the handles. Weight matters too. The Worx listing is 13.6 kg and the Horti Power listing is 25 kg, which is a poor solo buy.
Should you buy a manual, cordless, or petrol earth auger?
A few bulbs or one socket can be a manual auger, such as the LONGRUN at about £29.98 with a stated 10 cm flight. A short fence or hedge suits a cordless powerhead if you already own the battery system. A long run, or repeated holes at 200–300 mm, points to petrol or a day’s hire. A hex drill bit is a different category and is not ranked on this page.
What diameter do you need for a fence post?
Trade explainers often suggest a hole about three times the post width, and about one third of the post buried, around 600 mm for a 1.8 m fence. That is a rule of thumb, not a statute. In this set the Einhell lists 150 mm and the Worx lists 20 cm. The Horti Power kit lists 100, 200, and 300 mm bits. Post diameter and depth are set out in the earth auger fence posts guide.
Do cordless earth augers include a battery?
Not on either cordless listing in this set. The Einhell GP-EA 18/150 and the Worx WG865E.9 are sold without a battery and without a charger. The Worx needs two 20 V PowerShare packs to make 40 V. Manual augers need no pack. The petrol kit needs fuel, and the listing does not state the mix. Compare the tool-only price with the cost of the battery you still have to buy before you treat the headline figure as the job cost.
What should you do before you bore?
Identify buried services before you bore. HSE guidance on excavations says to find services first, and CIS65 says not to use power tools within 0.5 m of a suspected route. Energy Networks Association’s Think before you dig covers plans, scanning, and trial holes. In Great Britain, call 105 for a damaged electricity cable. Kickback is reaction torque when the bit stops: release the drive and do not clear a spinning flight by hand.
Our verdict
The top pick is the Einhell GP-EA 18/150 at about £148.45. It scores 90, with 4.5 from 752 amazon.co.uk reviews, a stated 150 mm bit, and a 5.7 kg powerhead. The battery and charger are not in the box, and reviews report a stop or snatch on stone. The best value is the LONGRUN manual fence post auger at about £29.98, score 84, with 4.2 from 251 reviews, a stated 10 cm flight, and a 96 cm shaft. The cheaper VIDETOL is shorter, and the 8 inch listing also says 15 cm, so neither takes that award. The Horti Power kit lists three bit sizes and has no star line, so it is not ranked on buyer evidence.
Best overallView offer
Einhell GP-EA 18/150 cordless auger
Highest score at 90: 4.5 from 752 reviews, a stated 150 mm bit, about £148.45, battery not included.
Best value
View offer
LONGRUN manual fence post auger
Best value at about £29.98, score 84, 4.2 from 251 reviews, with a stated 10 cm flight and a 96 cm shaft.
Editorial
Editor
Digging toolsEarth augersDIY & tools
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Updated: October 2026
8 sources checked
Guides to earth augers
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Earth auger buying guideManual, cordless, or petrol, before you compare the six listings.Best earth augerTop pick and best value, and who should skip each of them.How to use an earth augerBore, clear spoil, and stop when the flight snatches.Earth auger for fence postsDiameter and depth for posts, as a rule of thumb rather than a statute.Petrol vs cordless earth augerWhen petrol, when battery, with hire as the one-day option.
Related comparisons
Sources
Public UK sources and the amazon.co.uk listing lines saved on 19 October 2026. No laboratory test.
- HSE — PUWER overview (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- HSE — excavations (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- HSE — CIS65, avoiding danger from underground services (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Energy Networks Association — Think before you dig (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Einhell UK — GP-EA 18/150 Li BL-Solo (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Worx UK — WG865E.9 40 V earth auger (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008, Schedule 2 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars, and review counts are the UK listing lines. We did not run a lab test.