The Best Manual Post Hole Diggers of 2022

Thinking about building a fence for your garden? Or maybe you want to install a new mailbox to enhance your home’s curb appeal? For small jobs like these, a manual post hole digger is the perfect solution for your outdoor digging needs.

The digging process in itself is simple enough, right? With a bit of force, you drive the digger into the ground, give it a little twist, and pull out the heap of soil you just bored through. Now, despite the actual digging process being simple for even the most novice of DIY’ers, the hard part is finding the best manual post hole digger.

There are, of course, many different types of diggers out there for you to choose from, and many of them are very close in areas of affordability, quality, and lifetime. Fortunately, we’ve taken all the guesswork out of your decision-making process.

Below, we’ve listed the Best Manual Post Hole Digger of 2022, as well as the top runners-up for the year. On this list, you can rest assured in knowing that each one was carefully handpicked based on quality, ease of use, and longevity. Here are our top picks:

The Overall Best Manual Post Hole Digger

Truper Tru Pro Steel 6in. W x 59.25 in. L Atlas Pattern

With a 5-star Amazon rating, the Truper Tru Pro trailblazes to the number one spot on our list of the Best Manual Post Hole Diggers, and for good reason.

This Truper is a professional-grade post hole digger with lifetime-rated steel handles and 9-inch dual comfort grips. Being that digging post holes can be labor-intensive, the structure and design of this Truper model is not only easy on your body but is also the top choice of professional contractors in the industrial, agricultural, and commercial industry sectors. If this digger works well in those industries, it will do wonders for your personal use.

Pros

  • Design is easy on the back, hands, and arms
  • 5-star Amazon rating
  • Depth inch markings on the handle
  • Heavy for ease of driving into dirt

Cons

  • No Amazon reviews
  • Slightly heavy
  • Slightly expensive

This model is one of the select few manual post hole diggers with a 5-star rating on Amazon and zero negative reviews. From its depth precision to ease of use in comfort, as well as price, we highly recommend this digger for your DIY digging needs. 

Best Manual Post Hole Diggers

True Temper 2704200 48 in.

The True Temper 2704200 48 in. with Fiberglass Handle is the perfect addition to your outdoor equipment. Its steel blades are round in shape but feature a sharp point that make it ideal for digging the perfect hole, whether for fence posts, mailboxes, or flag poles. 

Pros

  • Weather-resistant fiberglass handles
  • Ruler built into handles

Cons

  • Slightly expensive
  • Lightweight, so it ends at hinges easily

AMES 2701600 68-Inch

The AMES 2701600 With Harwood Measurement Handle, 68-Inch is one of the best post hole diggers you’ll get for an extremely reasonable price. This digging tool is constructed of hardwood, has rubber handles, and has sturdy blades with a sharp point for easy penetration of dirt.

Pros

  • Reasonably priced
  • Depth measurement on handles 

Cons

  • Not as durable for rocky/hard soil
  • Wood not as sturdy as metal

Seymour Structron Hercules PD48

The Seymour Structron Hercules PD48 comes in at number four on our list but don’t let the number listing fool you. This post hole digger is a worthwhile investment into any type of DIY yard or landscaping project you take on. 

With the ease and comfort of the fiberglass handles and cushioned grip, this digger is also considered professional grade. The 6 ¼-inch spread of its blades gives it a greater ability to grasp and release a wider load of compacted dirt. 

Pros

  • Fiberglass handle and core insert
  • 6 ¼-inch blade spread

Cons

  • Slightly expensive
  • Not strong enough for rocky soil

Union Tools 78002, 58-Inch

The Union Tools 78002, 58-Inch is a top contender in the fight to the number one spot on our list. The reason being is that it is not only lightweight but it’s the perfect alternative to anyone with heavy lifting restrictions, whether in loose or hard soil.

Pros

  • Blades are constructed of carbon steel
  • Reasonably priced

Cons

  • No cushion grip on handles
  • Constructed of wood

Bully Tools 92382 14-Gauge 5.5-Inch With Fiberglass Handle

Coming in with a 4-star rating, the Bully Tools 92382 14-Gauge 5.5-Inch With Fiberglass Handle is not only a commercial grade digging tool but it also has a limited lifetime warranty to ensure quality of the tool. Its most prominent features include the heavy-duty triple wall construction and its 14-gauge steel blades made for exceptional holes. 

Pros

  • Limited lifetime warranty
  • Extra strong fiberglass handle

Cons

  • Weak hinge mechanism
  • Difficult to twist at times depending on the soil type

Razorback Post Hole Digger 33”

The design alone of the Razorback Post Hole Digger 33” is leaps and bounds ahead of the previous diggers. This model is very sleek with its “x-shaft” design, allowing the handles to not need to be spread as wide to effectively grab dirt. In addition to innovative design, the tool is designed to last for years to come being constructed from the long-lasting fiberglass material.

Pros:

  • Innovative and ergonomic handle design 
  • Prevents knuckle collision

Cons:

  • Heavy (16 pounds)
  • Expensive

The Takeaway

This concludes our list of the Best Manual Post Hole Diggers. From landscaping to building fences, having any of these pole diggers in your repertoire will not only take your project to the next level but will also add much-needed comfort and efficiency as well. Don’t start any digging project without investing in the best manual post hole digger first.