Best Soil Moisture Meter Find the right Moisture, pH, and Light

best moisture meter

Best Soil Moisture Meter

After taking a close look at several options for moisture meters, we’ve found that the best is the iPower Soil 3-in-1 Soil Meter for Moisture, Light, & pH. It’s the most accurate and precise of the lot, and also happens to be compact and inexpensive. The tips of the probes (needles) don’t break easily, and the entire meter is easy to use and read. Gardeners and other landowners who would like something simple but reliable would be well-suited to choosing the iPower.

To find out more about the iPower Moisture Meter, see the Product Reviews section below.

The runner-up meter is the Jellas 3-in-1 Soil Moisture Meter. The Jellas is similar to the iPower 3-in-1 but does have a slight issue when it comes to testing pH. The probe can be a bit finicky, but the entire product is accurate overall and easy to read. The color-coded results are simple and the product offers a reasonable warranty without being overpriced.

For more information on the Jellas Meter, see the Product Reviews section below.

Soil Moisture Meter Buyer’s Tips

Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing your soil moisture meter. If you’re just starting out getting information on your lawn and plants, you may want to pick up a soil test kit as well!

Types of Information Displayed

Some soil moisture meters only test the moisture of the soil, while most of them can test moisture, light, and pH levels of the soil. If you’re really only looking for moisture, then you may want to consider a meter that is only for moisture. Most, however, will want to be able to test all three, and will likely want a combination meter.

Moisture

This one is the obvious one, the tester will tell you how moist the soil is. Depending on if you’re using this indoors or outdoors, you can tweak your watering needs in order to ensure you’re not wasting water, drowning plants, or dehydrating them. Of course, different plants require different water needs. If you have a smart watering system, automated gardening irrigation system, or the like, a moisture meter can be quite helpful for your system to ensure everything is functioning optimally.

Light

It can be helpful to get a sense of the amount of light coming through an area, especially when it comes to indoor plants. If your plant isn’t getting enough light, you can move it to a better location, or add some shading if it’s getting cooked.

pH Balance

It’s not just for conditioner! Knowing the pH of the soil will help ensure that the soil is as healthy as possible for the type of plant you’re looking to grow. You can try to modify the soil pH to match the plants you’re growing (easier with potted plants than with lawns), or you can choose the plants based on the pH of the soil you’ll be planting in. Unfortunately, the pH is generally a little harder for these meters to measure, and the readings are most likely to be questionable on pH. The pH readings generally get a little more accurate as the moisture of the soil is increased, and are less accurate in really dry soils.

Tips for Using a Soil Moisture Meter

1. Do NOT leave the meter in the soil. The tip will corrode.
2. Always wipe off the probes when finished.
3. Do NOT place the meter in plain water. The device will provide an inaccurate reading because it is expecting the alkalinity of soil.

With these in mind, good luck, and enjoy easier gardening!

Soil Moisture Meter Reviews

Soil meters are specific devices designed to measure the qualities of soil. Many can only check for one characteristic, but more manufacturers are now making 3-in-1 meters capable of checking soil moisture, light availability, and pH. It can be difficult to make an accurate meter that is compact and works from home. Gardeners might not be getting a product that works, which is a major problem for those who take their plants seriously. Here we will look at five different popular soil moisture meters. We’ll start with a comparison table to get the lay of the land, and then go into individual reviews. We’ll conclude with our favorites.

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1. Dr. Meter Hygrometer Moisture Sensor for Garden

Key Points at a Glance

• No Battery Required
• Only Senses Moisture
• Color-Coded
• Available in Green
• Compact
• 10 Scales of Moisture
• No Electricity Required
• Includes Instructions and Watering Tips
• Includes an 18-Month Warranty
• Includes a 30-Day Money Back Guarantee

Dimensions and Specs

7.7 in. Needle

Product Dimensions3 x 3 x 3 in.

Weighs 3 oz.

The Dr. Meter Hygrometer Moisture Sensor for Garden, Farm, Lawn Plants (Dr. Meter Hygrometer) is a sensor designed to test how wet soil is. It features a molded plastic chamber for the meter and a 7.7 in. long metal needle with a sensor in the tip. The meter provides readings at 10 different scales of moisture divided between three separate colors - red, green, and blue. The Dr. Meter Hygrometer operates without any sort of battery or electricity. The package comes with instructions for product use as well as a detailed explanation of what plants work best at different moisture levels. For example, a cactus grows ideally in soils that read at the first three levels on the Dr. Meter Hygrometer. This product additionally includes an 18-month product warranty as well as a 30-day money back guarantee.

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2. Sonkir Soil pH Meter, MS02 3-in-1 Soil Moisture/Light/pH Tester

Key Points at a Glance

• Available in Green, Black, Blue, or Purple
• Warranty Included
• No Electricity Required
• Lightweight
• Portable
• Measures Moisture, Light, and pH
• Color-Coded
• Instructions Included
• Compact
• Includes Special Needle Tips

Dimensions and Specs

Includes Two Needles

Includes Two Sensors

Weighs 2 oz.

Product Dimensions11.5 x 2.0 x 1.5 in.

Needle Length7.9 in.

The Sonkir Soil MS02 3-in-1 Soil Moisture/Light/pH Tester (Sonkir Soil Tester) is a compact soil meter designed to test moisture, light, and pH. The meter possesses two separate needles with sensors at the tips. Each needle is 7.9 in. in length and works best when placed in slightly damp ground. The Sonkir Soil Tester is available in a variety of colors, including green, black, blue, and purple. The sensor readout is color-coded and can be switched to show any of the three categories (moisture, light, or pH). The three meter readings are all presented on the same display, and the system may get a little confusing if you’re not careful which position the switch is in. The User Interface isn’t ideal, but it is functional. No electricity is required for the soil meter to work, and instructions are included for best use. Two lithium-ion batteries are included to power the soil meter. The entire product is portable and lightweight. A 12-month warranty is available upon purchase for either a full refund or the replacement of a faulty meter.

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3. Yoyomax Soil Test Kit pH Moisture Meter

Key Points at a Glance

• Measures Moisture, Light, and pH
• Green
• Color-Coded
• Adjustable
• Compact
• Warranty Included
• Money Back Guarantee Included
• Portable
• No Electricity Required
• Batteries Included

Dimensions and Specs

Product Dimensions10.7 x 3.9 x 0.3 in.

Weighs 2.4 oz.

Includes Two Needles (Probes)

The Yoyomax Soil Test Kit/pH and Moisture Meter (Yoyomax Meter) is a top of the line soil meter that measures moisture, available light, and pH. The product is green, compact, and portable. It features two separate silver probes that work best when inserted into slightly damp, soft soil. No electricity is required to get the meter to work and the required lithium ion battery is included upon purchase. The Yoyomax Meter features a color-coded readout that is adjustable. Similar to the Sonkir, the Yoyomax meter has all three readings on a single display, with a switch to choose between information types. The UI is a bit confusing, but it does work. A 12-month warranty is available upon purchase, and the meter also includes a 30-day money back guarantee in case there is something wrong with the initial product. The meter takes about 10 minutes after being inserted in the soil to provide the most accurate results. It should be wiped down after use. Some instructions are included with the meter and are written on the back of the cardboard package.

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4. iPower 3-in-1 Soil Tester Meter, Moisture, pH, Light Meter

Key Points at a Glance

• No Batteries Needed
• No Electricity Needed
• Lightweight
• Portable
• Tests Moisture, Light, and pH
• Green
• Compact
• Color-Coded
• Easy to Read
• Warranty Included

Dimensions and Specs

Includes Two Probes (Needles)

Probe Length7.1 in.

Product Dimensions2.36 x 11 x 2 in.

Weighs Less 4.8 oz.

The iPower Soil 3-in-1 Soil Meter for Moisture, Light, & pH (iPower Meter) is a small, durable, and compact soil meter. It is capable of testing soil for moisture, light availability, and pH. Like other meters on our list, it measures pH best when placed in moist soil. The product is green and requires no batteries or electricity to work. Instead, it can be put directly in the soil and left for 10 minutes to generate results. The readout is color-coded and easy to understand, though again, all of the readings are on the same display. The iPower Meter includes two probes, one white and one silver. A 12-month warranty is included with purchase and entails either a full refund or the sending of a replacement product should something happen to the original.

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5. Jellas 3-in-1 Soil Moisture Meter

Key Points at a Glance

• No Batteries Required
• Includes a 12-Month Warranty
• Includes 30-Day Money Back Guarantee
• Double Needle Design
• Available in Green, Silver, Brown, or Olive
• Tests pH, Light, Moisture
• Detailed Readout
• Adjustable
• Color-Coded

Dimensions and Specs

Product Dimensions11 x 3.2 x 1.5 in.

Weighs 8 oz.

Two Separate Needles (Probes)

Each Needle is 7 in. Long

The Jellas 3-in-1 Soil Moisture Meter (Jellas Meter) is a patented soil meter which measures moisture, available light, and pH. It consists of a color-coded readout and two separate needles (probes) that can be placed in the soil. The meter works best when left for 10 minutes in soft, slightly damp earth. Each of the needles is 7 in. long, and the full product possesses dimensions of 11 x 3.2 x 1.5 in. The meter weighs roughly 8 oz. The Jellas Meter is available in four colors: Green, silver, brown, and olive. Instructions are included in the packaging and no batteries are required after purchase. Each meter comes with a 12-month warranty to cover manufacturer error as well as a 30-day money back guarantee. The entire product is portable and adjustable. Customer service is easy to contact and the meter itself is simple to read – just be sure to remember what piece of information you’re testing! Many users find it to be compact yet durable.

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Conclusion

Finding an accurate soil meter for home testing is difficult to find and tricky to make. Out of the options currently available, the best is the iPower with Jellas a close second. What this review did find is that soil pH testing is almost always somewhat inaccurate with home instruments, so gardeners might want to seek higher accuracy soil testing if superior information is needed. However, a home meter is still a valuable addition to any garden, especially for new gardeners who have trouble determining when flowers and succulents should be watered.

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