10 Best Soil Moisture Meters of 2023

Photo: THZY

One major challenge that faces all gardeners knows when to water your plants and what else they may need. The best soil moisture meters solve these problems with ease.

There are different designs with different features out there, but they all have the goal of helping you to grow healthier plants with optimal moisture, pH, and sunlight levels.

In this soil moisture meter review, you’ll get a list of the best products out there, plus a buying guide that makes it easy for you to make the right choice.

10 Best Soil Moisture Meters – Review

IMAGE	PRODUCT	FEATURES
	1. XLUX T10 (Single Probe Analog Design)	Easy-to-use soil moisture meter Works no batteries Features a single-probe design Comes with an 18-month warranty
	2. New Resources Group MS-810 (Color-coded Display)	A sturdy soil humidity meter Features a 1 to 10 color-coded display Works both indoors and outdoors Comes with a 1-year warranty
	3. Alotpower (Super-cheap)	Low-priced and reliable soil moisture meter Features a single-probe design Highly accurate results Works without batteries
	4. Reotemp MM15 (Heavy-duty With 15″ Probe)	Features a rugged metal construction Easy to calibrate and use Comes with a 15-inch long probe Backed by a 1-year warranty
	5. Yoyomax (Affordable 3-in-1 Analog Meter)	3-in-1 meter measures moisture, pH, and Light Works without battery or electricity Offered at an attractive price Backed by a 1-year warranty
	6. Sonkir MS02 (3-in-1 with 8-inch Probes)	3-in-1 soil meter for moisture, light, & pH This simple design uses no batteries Works for indoor and outdoor tests Offered with a 12-month warranty
	7. Luster Leaf Rapitest 1810 (Simple & Cheap)	Simple and cheap soil moisture meter Needs no battery to run Simple single-probe design Covered by a 1-year warranty
	8. Gain Express ZD-06 (Highly Accurate Soil pH & Moisture Meter)	Very accurate meter with +/-0.2 pH variance Works for soil moisture and pH Ideal for home and commercial use Backed by a 1-year warranty
	9. A.M. Leonard (Accurate with Brass Probe)	Soil moisture meter designed for accuracy Features a 24-inch long brass probe Sturdy construction for durability Easy to calibrate for accuracy on any soil
	10. THZY I042093 (Sturdy & Easy to Use)	Simple and effective design Sturdy design. Built to last Comes with a 1-year manufacturer warranty

1. XLUX T10 – Single Probe Analog Soil Moisture Meter

Photo: XLUX

• Measuring Range: 1-10
• Power Source: Battery not needed

This offer is great for any gardener that needs the best garden moisture meter that’s dependable and easy to use. It features a single-probe design and an easy to read color-coded display.

You get a 1-to-10 scale, plus three simple ranges of dry, moist, and wet. And unless you are a professional gardener, this is enough to know what your plants need.

The downside is a lack of extra features and that you can get a cheaper soil moisture meter elsewhere. It’s also not advised to leave the probe in the soil for extended periods.

Asides from these issues, the single-probe design means less damage to your soil and plant roots. XLUX also backs the offer with an 18-month warranty.

Pros:

• Simple and easy-to-use meter
• Needs no batteries to work
• Single probe design
• Comes with an 18-month warranty

Cons:

• Measures only moisture
• You can get cheaper soil moisture meters

2. New Resources Group MS-810 – Color-coded Soil Moisture Meter

Photo: New Resources Group

• Measuring Range: 1 to 10
• Power Source: Battery not needed

Here’s another great offer for those who want something simple and reliable. This New Resources Group MS-810 offers a 1 to 10 soil moisture scale and it does it well.

You get a large display with the 10-level scale and it includes color-coding to make reading easy. There’s Red for dry, Green for moist, and Blue for wet.

It’s also a single-probe device, meaning less harm to your plants’ roots. It works without batteries, is good for indoor and outdoor use, and comes with a 1-year warranty backing to make it one of the best soil moisture testers in the market.

Pros:

• Easy to use soil humidity meter
• Features a 1 to 10 color-coded display
• Works both indoors and outdoors
• Backed by a 1-year manufacturer warranty

Cons:

• You can get cheaper offers
• It doesn’t offer any extra feature

3. Alotpower – Super-cheap Soil Moisture Meter

Photo: Alotpower

• Measuring Range: 1 to 10
• Power Source: Batteries not needed

Alotpower presents an offer here for those who want to save as much as possible. This low-priced soil moisture meter still measures accurately, and it works well indoors and outdoors.

Also featuring a single-probe design, you just stick it inside the soil and get the results in a few minutes. There are 10-grades on the display, and it’s color-coded into three regions.

From 1-3 means dry, 4-7 means normal, and 8-10 means wet. For downsides, there are no extra features and the probe also seems prone to easy corrosion.

It works without a battery, however, and as long as you clean the probe regularly, it will last longer and keep up its accurate readings.

Pros:

• Low-priced soil moisture meter
• Features a single-probe design
• Produces highly accurate readings
• This meter needs no battery to work

Cons:

• You can’t stick it in water
• It doesn’t come with extra features

4. Reotemp MM15 – Heavy-duty Soil Moisture Meter with 15″ Probe

Photo: Reotemp

• Measuring Range: 1-10, user calibrate-able
• Power Source: 1x AAA battery

If you work with a wider range of soils and compost, then you may want to consider a heavier-duty moisture meter such as this one from Reotemp.

If features sturdy stainless steel construction, which is tougher than most other soil moisture meters offer. It comes with a 15-inch long probe, which is also longer than what most other meters offer.

Unlike most other meters, this one uses a battery and includes one in the package as well. This makes it able to offer faster readings than the other battery-less units.

For cons, it’s costlier than most other offers on this list, and it doesn’t include sunlight or pH testing.

For simple gardening and composting, it’s still one of the best professional soil moisture meters you’ll find anyway, it’s available with longer probes, and Reotemp backs it with a 1-year warranty.

Pros:

• A rugged stainless steel construction
• Easy to calibrate and use
• Includes a 15-inch long probe
• Backed by a 1-year warranty

Cons:

• It’s costlier than most others
• Doesn’t include pH or sunlight testing

5. Yoyomax – Affordable 3-in-1 Analog Soil Moisture Meter

Photo: Yoyomax

• Measuring Range: 1-10 moisture, 3.5-8 pH, 0-2,000 Lux for light
• Power Source: Need no battery

Most of the offers on this list have been solely soil moisture meters. So, if you wanted a device that gives you extra features, then check out this offer from Yoyomax.

It offers a moisture meter, pH, and light metering as well. The soil moisture meter ranges from 1 to 10 and has three divisions of dry, moist, and wet. The pH meter ranges from 3.5 to 8, while the light meter ranges from 0 to 2,000 lux.

One issue here knows how reliable the meter is since there are surely fluctuations because it doesn’t need a battery to measure three different values.

On the positive side, using this meter is easy, it comes at a good, money-saving price, and Yoyomax backs it with a 3-year warranty.

Pros:

• 3-in-1 device for moisture, pH, and Light
• Needs no battery to work
• Has a low and attractive price
• Comes with a 1-year warranty

Cons:

• Its accuracy without a battery is doubtful
• You need up to 10 minutes to get a reading

6. Sonkir MS02 – 3-in-1 Soil Moisture Meter with 8-inch Probes

Photo: Sonkir

• Measuring Range: 1-10 moisture, 3.5-8 pH, 0-2,000 Lux for light
• Power Source: No batteries needed

If you like the 3-in-1 offer above but want it a little cheaper, this Sonkir MS02 3-in-1 soil meter can do just that for you. It includes moisture, light, and pH sensors, all selectable with a simple button.

Just like the offer above, you stick it into the soil, select the feature that you want, and then wait a few minutes for the readout.

One downside, however, is that the display looks a little over-crowded. So, you don’t even get the figures for pH reading on it, although you get light and moisture figures. In the end, it costs less. So, that’s still a good trade-off.

Pros:

• 3-in-1 soil moisture, light, & pH meter
• Easy to use switch design needs no batteries
• Works for indoor and outdoor tests
• Backed by a 12-month warranty

Cons:

• The display is a little crowded
• You can’t use it for liquids

7. Luster Leaf Rapitest 1810 – Simple & Cheap Soil Moisture Meter

Photo: Luster Leaf

• Measuring Range: 1 to 4
• Power Source: Needs no batteries

Luster Leaf Rapitest is a popular brand when it comes to soil testing, so, understandably, it should offer one of the best soil moisture meters in the market.

This meter is just very simple. It features a single probe and a 1-4 moisture range. The meter needs no batteries, and it comes with easy to understand instructions.

If you’re not concerned about professional results, and just want a simple and affordable way to check your plant’s moisture levels, then this is a great offer to check out.

Pros:

• Simple and cheap soil moisture meter
• Runs without a battery
• Has a single-probe design
• Covered by a 1-year warranty

Cons:

• The dial is a bit too simple
• It measures only soil moisture

8. Gain Express ZD-06 – Highly Accurate Soil pH & Moisture Meter

Photo: Gain Express

• Measuring Range: 1 – 8 moisture, 3 – 8 pH
• Accuracy: 0.2 pH
• Power Source: Needs no battery

If you’re concerned about accuracy in your measurements, then consider a meter like this Gain Express ZD-06. It offers you both a professional look and a 0.2 pH accuracy.

You get a clean and easy to understand dial, with clearly marked and colored markings. Then there’s a simple button on the side that you press for moisture and release for pH.

It measures from 3 – 8 pH and soil moisture levels from 1 – 8. This meter also passed strict quality and safety standards to make it one of the best plant moisture meters in the market.

Pros:

• Very accurate meter with +/-0.2 pH variance
• Easy to use and needs no batteries
• Good for home and commercial use
• Comes with a 1-year warranty

Cons:

• It’s costlier than most other offers
• There’s no sunlight measuring feature

9. A.M. Leonard – Accurate Soil Moisture Meter with Brass Probe

Photo: A.M. Leonard

• Power Source: AA battery

Here’s one of the best soil moisture meters. This one uses an AA battery and produces highly accurate results. It comes with a 24-inch probe made from brass.

A.M. Leonard makes this meter specifically for soil moisture levels. This makes it a very specialized and exact device, although this means that it lacks sunlight and pH metering capabilities.

Another issue is its high price since this is the costliest soil moisture meter on this list.

For further benefits, you get a meter that you can calibrate for any type of soil to improve accuracy. It’s also well-built to last longer than most others.

Pros:

• Soil moisture meter designed for accuracy
• Long, 24-inch brass probe
• Designed to last a long time
• Easy to calibrate for accuracy on any soil

Cons:

• It’s the costliest meter on this list
• The manufacturer warranty is only 90 days long

10. THZY I042093 – Sturdy & Easy to Use Soil Moisture Meter

Photo: THZY

• Measuring Range: 1 to 10
• Power Source: Needs no battery

This THZY I042093 is a well-built and highly accurate device, making it one of the best moisture meters for plants. It comes with a 7.7-inch long single probe and works well outdoors and indoors.

The scale is easy to read and features three color-coded zones, which are dry, moist and wet. There’s also a 1-10 scale for those who prefer more specific numbers.

It works without a battery, but you’re advised to protect the probe from rocks and other hard materials that may damage it. Water and prolonged exposure in the soil can also corrode and damage the probe.

Another downside is that it doesn’t offer pH and sunlight metering. THZY, however, offers good customer service and covers the meter with a 12-month warranty.

Pros:

• Simple and effective design
• Produces accurate results without a battery
• Sturdy design that’s built to last
• Comes with a 1-year manufacturer warranty

Cons:

• It doesn’t offer pH and sunlight metering
• The probe will get damaged if left in the soil for long

How to Buy the Best Soil Moisture Meters

Photo: Gain Express

Getting the best soil moisture meter for your plant is important, but this means that you need to understand their underlying features and technologies, so you can make the best choice.

The next paragraphs list these features that matter the most, so you can make an informed decision.

1. Types of Soil Moisture Meters

The first concern is the type of soil meter that you need. There are different types out there and they use different technologies to work. So, you must know these differences, so you can make a good choice. They are as follows:

Analog Soil Moisture Meters. These are very simple but effective meters. Analog soil moisture meters often have a dial display to show the level of water in any particular soil.They often don’t need batteries as well because they feature two probes with different conductive materials, which interact with the soil’s water level to produce readings.

Digital Soil Moisture Meters. As their name suggests, this type of soil moisture meter gives readings on a digital display. And this often means better precision because you get concrete figures.The downside with these digital meters is that they may cost more, but on the other hand, they often come with features that you won’t get on an analog soil moisture meter.

Wicking Soil Moisture Meters. This is an older type of soil metering and it uses a color-changing fabric to show the soil’s water level.This type works best indoors and is usually designed to stay in place, where a glance lets you know when it’s time for watering.

Hybrid Soil Moisture Meters. Hybrids combine many features into one device. A hybrid meter can come as analog or digital and can have any desired features such as pH reading, moisture level, light level, and even temperature.As you can imagine, even the best digital soil moisture meter can’t measure up to an analog meter with many extra features.

2. Functions

You’ll need to decide if all you want is a soil moisture meter, or if you wouldn’t mind a few extra features to go with it. If you want extras, then you’ll be needing a hybrid device as stated above.

There are no fixed features here, so you’ll just need to select a device that comes with the feature-combinations that you need.

3. Accuracy

Most soil moisture meters will give you readings with an acceptable level of accuracy. You’ll need to properly keep up the meter, however, so it can last longer and stay correct.

Issues such as a broken or rusted pin can affect the meter’s accuracy, as well as other damages to the meter or even a low battery.

4. Design & Ease of Use

This one is a personal decision as it’s left for you to choose what suits you best. You’ll find soil moisture meters with all types of designs and ease of use levels.

There are digital displays, LED indicators, and analog display dials with varying levels of clarity. Simply choose what you can live with and move on.

5. Budget

Soil moisture meters come in different designs, qualities, and prices. You can get a meter for as little as $10 or less and another meter for hundreds of dollars. What matters here are the features that you need.

The best solution, however, is to simply set a budget and stick to it.

Conclusion

We’ve reached the end of this soil moisture meter review and you’ve seen all the great offers out there. From simple meters to those with multiple functions, you can see that there’s something for each person and budget.

It’s up to you, however, to make this last decision and choose the soil moisture meter that best suits you and your plants.