Soil moisture plays a big role in allowing certain types of plants to thrive. Determining proper moisture level in soil, therefore, is one of the biggest secrets to a bountiful garden. To that end, you’ll definitely need a moisture meter.
By measuring the moisture levels in soil, you will be able to choose which plants to cultivate. You will also be able to adjust your watering process to either add or reduce moisture.
Moisture meters for garden soils are also used to measure other things like light and pH levels. These are important considerations when growing plants and need to be measured accurately. This is where the five moisture meters featured here come in.
Our team of gardening and farming experts specifically reviewed these moisture meters themselves. They are reliable, precise, and highly useful for cultivating any kind of plant. So be sure to check them out.
Once you are ready and have found the best choice, be sure to click the buttons below to see their best deals on Amazon! With that, here are five of the best options that we rounded up especially for you.
Best Moisture Testers Comparison & Rating
1. SURENSHY Soil PH Meter and 3-in-1 Gardening Tester
Dimensions | 9.8 x 2 x 1.3 inches |
Weight | 2.71 ounces |
Color | Green |
Function | Moisture, Light, pH |
This is a practical, reliable, and useful moisture meter for any soil. It’s easy to use, comes with comprehensive details, and does not need to be charged. Repeated measurements come with roughly similar results for accurate measuring. The meter works for liquid substances like water or vinegar as well.
2. Kensizer 3-in-1 Soil Moisture Tester
Dimensions | 11.93 x 2.2 x 1.73 inches |
Weight | 3.52 ounces |
Color | Dark Green |
Function | Moisture, Light, pH |
This is a good moisture meter to have if you are new to gardening. It doesn’t take long to understand how it works. The readings are displayed clearly and it works on any kind of soil and environment. Hot surfaces due to scorching heat from the sun won’t damage the pins. Once the device has been stuck into the ground, the results are shown immediately.
3. Dr. Meter Hygrometer Moisture Sensor Meter
![[2pack Soil Moisture Meter ] Dr.meter Hygrometer Moisture Sensor Meter for Garden, Farm, Lawn Plants Indoor & Outdoor(No Battery needed)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41vCAmmw63L.jpg "[2pack Soil Moisture Meter ] Dr.meter Hygrometer Moisture Sensor Meter for Garden, Farm, Lawn Plants Indoor & Outdoor(No Battery needed)")
Dimensions | 3 x 2 x 3 inches |
Weight | 8.8 ounces |
Color | Green |
Function | Moisture |
This is actually one of the most reasonable moisture meters that comes at an affordable price available. It works exactly as intended and will provide results fast. You could use this for both moist and dry soils for accurate readings. With two included in the package, breaking one won’t be that big of an issue. You can use these meters in different kinds of environments, as well, from arid deserts to humid marshes.
4. Gouevn Soil Moisture Meter
Dimensions | 11.4 x 2 x 1.2 inches |
Weight | 2.82 ounces |
Color | Dark Green |
Function | Moisture |
You could not ask for a simpler moisture meter than this one. It is highly reliable and can provide you with accurate readings almost as soon as you put it in the ground. It also works with many types of soil, including sandy, clumpy, moist, and mixed. This will help you decide which plants to grow and which parts of your garden to use. This will also tell you when you need to water your plants for efficiency.
5. Hackerdom 3-in-1 Soil Moisture Meter
Dimensions | 12.68 x 4.06 x 2.13 inches |
Weight | 3.41 ounces |
Color | Black |
Function | Moisture, Light, pH |
Accurate and reliable, you will find that this moisture meter is perfect for your needs. You can easily find the best plants to grow in the soil that you have using this device. You don’t even need to use a battery with it so you can use it any time. The probes themselves are quite tough, so they won’t bend or break easily. The readings are easy to see and understand for gathering details, too.
Best Moisture Meters - Buyer's Guide
There are two general types of moisture meters, with one being pinned and the other being pinless. For measuring soil moisture in gardens, the pinned versions are typically more reliable. They can provide more accurate feeds and the details you can measure are more consistent. You can also drive the pins deeper into the soil for more information.
Solid moisture meters can be reliable tools for knowing what the moisture levels of dirt is. However, they can also be used to detect other things like light and pH levels. This does not apply to all moisture meters, but when it does, it can be quite helpful. Knowing such information is how you can make your cultivation of plants much easier.
It’s extremely important that the moisture meter’s readings are as accurate and as precise as possible. This will have a major impact on how well the plants will grow. More importantly, it will affect the kinds of fertilizers, supplements, and other protocols that will be used. Errors could lead to reduced effectiveness of certain measures, which could lead to dead plants, pests, or worse.
Aside from accuracy, it would be for the best if the moisture meter you have can actually be used to repeat results. That is to say, when you measure it the first time, you should get the same readings the second, third, or however many times you use it. This is how you can tell that the moisture meter is actually doing its job.
The more detailed the moisture meter is, the easier it is to adopt the information that you get. If you are committed to growing the best vegetables, flowers, shrubs, and more, this is simply something that you will need to get a handle on. More importantly, having more details lets you bring the best out of the plants you are growing.
Best Moisture Meters - FAQs
Generally speaking, moisture meters simply measure the moisture level of any surface it was designed for. The most common of these is wood, concrete, and soil, with the former being for fabricated wood and furniture. The latter is typically intended to be used in gardens, farms, and hydroponics sheds. Both types are used for different things but they work much the same way.
With regard to moisture meters for the soil, it provides you with the necessary information as to whether or not the soil is ready for use. Certain strains and species of plants require a certain level of moisture to thrive. If the soil is too wet or too dry, the plant could die or will be hampered in its growth. This is particularly helpful for gardens and farms.
Yes, they are, and it generally comes down to form and function. While both can come with pins for the actual measuring of moisture levels, they can vastly differ and shape and size. For the garden soil moisture meter, the pins are longer and pointier. Wood moisture meters simply look like nubs. The garden variety can also detect light and pH levels if they have the available functions.
It would depend on what you are working with. Different surfaces, materials, and purposes require different moisture levels. With garden soils, for example, different plants require different moisture levels to thrive. As for wood, moisture meters can be used to detect rot, pest infestations, and more. Structural integrities can also be measured using this method.
