5 Best Soil Moisture Meters for Plants | Honest Reviews & Buying Guide
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Soil moisture meters can become your new best friend. They can save you a lot of work and overtime will pay for themselves in saved water! Gardening is one of the most popular pastimes today. Walk into any garden store, and there’s a vast array of exotic plants to buy – both for indoors and outdoors – each with their instruction manual and care plan!
Watering the garden can often be a chore, especially after a long day at work it’s the last thing you want to do! But do you need to? There’s a tool you can buy called a soil moisture meter, and it does precisely that; it tells you when to water the plants.
Professional agriculture workers have been using these for years, and they’re now available to the general public, and there’s a lot to choose from. Not only do you need one, but you need a reliable one. Otherwise, there’s no point in using it.
Our best advice is to buy a high-quality soil moisture meter from the outset to give your plants the best chance of growing healthier and living longer. We know soil moisture sensors aren’t the most exciting things to research, and a lot of people will blind you with science so, we’ve put together this comprehensive, easy-to-read buyers guide to help you make your decision.
Here’s a quick guide about what we cover in this best soil moisture meters article:
- First, we compare our top 5 picks in an easy-to-follow comparison table. Perfect if you have little time.
- Next, we reveal each model’s best features and benefits you’ll find useful
- Then, we tell you about their drawbacks we think you should know about
- And finally, our buying guide will give you greater insight into the product range
Sound good? Let’s begin!
Buy on AmazonComparison of Our Favorite Soil Moisture Meters:
CLICK any image to see Ratings & Reviews on Amazon
| Image | Model | Price | Walts Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
Top  | Reotemp Garden and Compost Moisture Meter | Check Price | 4.8 / 5 (Best Overall) |
  | Dr Meter Soil Moisture Sensor Meter | Check Price | 4.5 / 5 (Best Value) |
  | Sonkir Soil pH Meter MS02 | Check Price | 4.3 / 5 |
  | Yoyomax Soil Tester Kit | Check Price | 4.1 / 5 |
  | Atree 3-in-1 Soil Tester Kit | Check Price | 4.0 / 5 |
5 Best Soil Moisture Meters | Reviews
- Our Best Overall pick is the Reotemp Garden and Compost Moisture Meter. You have the option of buying different length probes, with their range between 15” to 48”. We tested the 15” model, which is suitable for most plants.
- Its built from rugged stainless steel, and the stem is 5/16” thick. It is the only one we found that can be calibrated to test moisture in soil and compost and this allows you to adjust the meter for specific plants.
- It comes with easy to understand calibration instructions, 1AAA battery, and 1-year warranty. The dial is very easy to understand and ranges between 1 (dry) to 10 (wet).
- The Reotemp is not recommended in situations where salt content varies drastically between testing samples.
- Reviews of this were really positive with many complimenting build quality, robustness, accuracy, and reliability. The price is a little higher than the others, but you get what you pay for.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
- A lot of the models we reviewed tried to do everything and some clearly weren’t up to scratch. If you want a soil moisture meter reader why not just buy one that does just that, does it better and more reliably?
- Enter Dr. Meter. This is compact and portable for both indoor and outdoor use. It can be used right out of the box with no batteries or power supply required.
- Unlike other models that measure pH and sunlight with two probes, Dr. Meter only has one 7.7” probe, and that makes it gentle to plant roots. This is important when moving it around the garden to established plants.
- We tested it against the others and it’s very accurate and fast. The moisture reading display is measured 1-10 and is very easy to read. It also comes with a really handy brief guide for many plants.
- However, this can’t be left in the soil and must be cleaned after each use. We have graded this our Best Value as it’s reasonably priced, is accurate, and does what it says it will. It’s also sturdy and appears long-lasting.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
- It tests sunlight, pH water and moisture levels with 2 needles that Sonkir claims can enhance test results, both in speed and accuracy. This device is really easy to use. No batteries are needed so you can simply unpack it and place it in the soil and it’ll do its job.
- There are a couple of issues we noticed when we tested it. Firstly, the device is not that sturdy and the 7.9” prongs do bend when being inserted into soil. Care will be needed when moving this around the garden as it’ll be easy to damage them over time. However, it does come with a 12-month warranty but it may not cover damaged prongs.
- Secondly, a lot of buyers commented on its reliability with the pH levels being difficult to read and question marks over the moisture reading.
- This is a problem that not every buyer will encounter and we don’t like that as it points to a manufacturing issue. Appears it’ll be hit and miss whether you buy a well made one or not!
- Even so, when it’s working well it’s a good model, it won’t break the bank and is a good option if you didn’t like our best option.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
- The reason this one has made our list is because of its low price. It measures sunlight, moisture, and pH levels with its 3 in 1 design. The Yoyomax is ready to use right out of the box with no battery or power source needed, it is compact and portable for both indoor and outdoor use.
- It comes with an incredible 12-month warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Yoyomax also provides customers with 24 hours customer service, so if you need help at 3 am they’ve got you covered!
- All this being said, there were some issues we uncovered in our testing. Firstly, we found the model was only really good for moisture readings, with the pH measurements inaccurate or missing.
- There’s a problem with the reliability of this model with several complaints stating it didn’t work. That customer service has been put to the test and it passed! Yoyomax has been true to their word with working replacements dispatched.
- The Yoyomax is an option because of its price and customer care although it does seem a lottery as to whether it’ll work. If you can stomach dealing with returns then this could be a good deal.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
- This model is an all in one kit testing sunlight, moisture, and pH levels in the soil. Simply insert the 6.7” probes 2/3rds into the soil and it’ll begin to give you readings. No battery or power supply is needed.
- The display is very easy to understand. Relative light intensity is measured between 0-2000lux, moisture measured between 1-10 with the higher numbers indicating wetter soil and pH is measured between 3.5 - 8.
- All this is really good. However, there are a couple of issues we found when testing this one.
- Firstly, it seemed to take an age to give a reading! Now, this unit is portable and we wanted to test more than one plant quickly, which we couldn’t do. Secondly, it’s flimsy. It’s not to be used on hard soil for the risk of snapping the probes.
- There’s also a lot of complaining about the inaccurate pH readings with it not being reliable. Because this is so easy to use it cannot be user error and rather the model itself. If you have soft (ish) soil, and treat it gently, then this will be a great piece of kit for you. It’s great value for money.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Video: How to Use a Soil Moisture Meter
Best Soil Moisture Meter Buyers’ Guide
We discovered many options when purchasing a soil moisture meter and reader, so we have compiled this short guide on what to look for.
Power.
We have reviewed meters that either need a battery or not, and there are pros and cons to either. Battery-operated models will be quicker to provide readings, which will help you if you have many plants. However, they will be more expensive to purchase and maintain though. If opting for a non-battery-operated model, then one that only reads soil moisture level is best.
Moisture / Sunlight / pH?
Many products on the market will measure more than just the moisture in the soil, which comes with its problems. We found it took a long time for the device to give readings on all 3, and some were just inaccurate, especially the pH measurement.
Our advice is to ask yourself what you need it for? Most people want to know the moisture level in their soil, so buying a device specifically for that purpose seems best. A device that measures pH and sunlight is hit and miss for accuracy, especially at the entry-level price point, and so you’ll need to decide if they’re that important to you.
Usability
We tested all of the models ‘plug and play’ and don’t require you to have any technical knowledge. The instructions were clear to read and understand.
Price
You don’t need to spend a fortune to get accurate and reliable moisture readings. However, you will have to pay a bit more to get fast and responsive pH level readings though, but it depends on your situation whether that’s entirely necessary.
For example, if you’re a farmer whose livelihood depends on it, then spending more to get a better piece of kit seems sensible—if, like us, you’re a keen gardener, then choosing a soil moisture meter that has all the options you need within your budget is best.
Soil Moisture Meters Bottom Line
We tested 5 of the best soil moisture meters currently on the market and found pros and cons with all of them. While making a purchasing decision can be complicated, we’ve narrowed it down to our two best picks.
If you want just a moisture meter and nothing else, Reotemp Garden and Compost Soil Moisture Meter are your best choice. It’s built to last and gives quick and accurate results.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on: Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
A close second is Dr. Meter Soil Moisture Sensor Meter, as its price point, coupled with its accuracy, means it gets our Best Value medal.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on: Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Having read this article, the great news is that you’re now in a much stronger position to decide on which soil moisture meter is suitable for you and your gardening needs.
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CLICK any image to see Ratings & Reviews on Amazon
| Image | Model | Price | Walts Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
Top  | Field King Professional 190328 | Check Price | 4.8 / 5 (Best Overall) |
  | Roundup 190314 | Check Price | 4.7 / 5 (Best Value) |
  | Scotts 190567 | Check Price | 4.7 / 5 |
  | Chapin 61502 | Check Price | 4.2 / 5 |
  | Chapin International 61500 | Check Price | 4.3 / 5 |
Walts DIY is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you.
When I’m not testing and reviewing tools, you’ll find me in front of a hot BBQ, cold drink in hand, cooking up something big, and spending quality time with my wife and two boys. I’m also often found in my workshop working on my next project!
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