
Digging fence post holes is easy when you have the right tools. Whether you’re replacing an old fence post or putting up a whole new fence line, here are six tools you can use to dig the holes for your fence posts.
1. Shovel or Spade
If you’re in a pinch and have no better tools available, a simple shovel or spade can be used for digging fence post holes. Just be aware it’s not the easiest or fastest way to complete the job, and you may have to dig a wider hole than ideal to get down deep enough.
2. Manual Post Hole Diggers
Manual post hole diggers are a solid step up from a shovel or spade. They’re basically two digging/scooping blades hinged together and operated with long handles. Using post hole diggers, you can dig a narrow hole straight down to suit your post.
The manual nature of post hole diggers does make them slower and harder to use than powered machines. But if you’re digging fence post holes only occasionally, they’re an effective and relatively inexpensive option.
3. Handheld Manual Auger
A handheld manual auger can drill narrow, vertical holes into the ground by rotating handles at the top of the auger. It generates much the same result as manual post hole diggers, but with a different approach. If you’re able to put in time and effort, a handheld manual auger is another satisfactory option for occasionally digging fence post holes.
4. Handheld Powered Auger
If you want to reduce the time you spend digging fence post holes, consider using a handheld powered auger. They operate in much the same way as a manual auger, but replace human muscle power with a small gasoline engine or electric motor to turn the auger.
You’ll still need strength to guide and steady the auger while it does its drilling—some are even designed to be operated by two people—but the speed and power boost shouldn’t be underestimated if you have a lot of holes to dig.
5. Tractor-Mounted Auger
An awesome tool for farmers digging fence post holes is a tractor-mounted auger. While designs can vary, they typically mount on the three-point hitch and are powered via the PTO.
Tractor-mounted augers offer many benefits. They’re fast and can quickly drill a large number of holes. They’re easy to use because the tractor does all the work. And since tractors are strong, you can dig deep or wide-diameter holes more easily than with other options.
The one downside is price, as tractor-mounted augers can be a bit pricey compared to manual tools. But buying or renting one may be worth the investment if you have dozens of holes to dig.
6. Towable Auger
If you don’t have a tractor with a three-point hitch, but you want the benefits of a large, powered auger, consider using a towable auger. Hook it up to any vehicle with a suitable hitch (your ATV or UTV, perhaps) and you can tow it wherever you need it.
A typical towable auger uses hydraulics powered by an onboard gasoline engine to operate, so it doesn’t need to borrow power from a tractor. Large models are strong and capable of digging wide, deep holes. They don’t come cheap—they’re generally the most expensive option we’ve outlined—but a towable auger makes digging fence post holes fast and easy.
This article about digging fence post holes was written for Hobby Farms magazine. Click here to subscribe.