The 8 Best Plant Moisture Meters for 2023

Best Overall

XLUX Soil Moisture Meter

4.8

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For a reliable moisture meter that doesn’t require any upkeep or special care, this tool from XLUX is perfect. It measures the moisture in the soil continuously, displaying the results on a 1 to 10 analog scale. The needle moves from red (dry) through the green zone (moist) to blue (wet). You should only use it for an hour at a time to check soil rather than monitor it all of the time.

The 7-inch probe is not made for extreme conditions, but this is rarely an issue since most plants that you monitor aren’t made for extreme conditions, either. Just be sure to maintain a gentle touch when you first put it into the soil, or it may become damaged.

This moisture meter doesn’t have any special features but is the best at doing exactly what it is designed to do: measure moisture.

Price at time of publish: $25

_{Moisture Range: 1 to 10 | pH Range: Not applicable | Frequency: Intermittent use (up to one hour) | Update Rate: Continuous}

Best Budget

Dr. Meter Soil Moisture Meter 2-Pack

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For less money than some of the individually sold moisture meters, this twin-pack from Dr. Meter is a budget-friendly garden tool that provides a reliable reading. Because it comes in a 2-pack, you can test multiple plants at once (or keep a spare to use in case one gets lost).

It measures the water level using a single probe and displays it from 1 to 10. The color coding helps make the entire process very simple and intuitive. 

While this product doesn’t include any special features and only measures moisture, if you're looking for something simple that will get the job done, this meter is for you.

Price at time of publish: $28

_{Moisture Range: 1 to 10 | pH Range: Not applicable | Frequency: Intermittent use | Update Rate: Continuous}

Best Digital Display

ECOWITT Soil Moisture Meter with LCD Display

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This moisture meter includes an intuitive digital display that helps keep your soil’s moisture levels right where they need to be. Simply put the probe into your soil and use the separate digital display unit to track moisture from up to 300 feet away. You need two AA batteries (not included) to use this meter.

We especially like the flower pot icon, which provides a great visual representation of the moisture in the soil as a percentage of the overall pot.

The probe itself is not particularly long, just 3 inches, so this doesn't work well for large plants whose roots go down into a deep pot. However, it’s perfect for small plants, seedlings, and seeds, which are all sensitive to growing conditions.

Price at time of publish: $37

_{Moisture Range: 0 to 100 percent | pH Range: N/A | Frequency: Continuous | Update Rate: 72 seconds}

Best for Outdoors

Kensizer Soil Tester

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This moisture meter does more than just monitor water. It also tests pH and light, using its two probes and light sensor to provide readings to the analog display. The probes are 7.9 inches long, making the Kensizer Soil Tester a good option for larger outdoor plants that have bigger root structures and are often placed within larger planters or in-ground.

The Kensizer is available with a small 2-inch display or a medium 2.8-inch display. This can help growers keep track of their testing, even in larger garden beds or fields.

It does have two probes, one to measure pH and one to measure moisture, so be careful when inserting it near sensitive roots.

Price at time of publish: $21

_{Moisture Range: 1 to 10 | pH Range: 3 to 10 pH | Frequency: Intermittent use | Update Rate: Continuous}

Best for Monitoring

Mosser Lee Soil Master Moisture, Light, & pH Meter

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To test everything under the sun (actually, including the sun) in your garden, the Mosser Lee Soil Master Moisture, Light, & pH Meter is a great choice. It monitors water, sunlight, and pH to ensure that your growing conditions are ideal.

The probes measure pH and moisture level within the soil, while a light sensor on the display unit measures sunlight in the environment. Simply toggle between the three options to get your reading.

This meter is a good value, considering the many features it includes. It does have two probes to measure pH and water separately. While this increases the product's accuracy, it also is more likely to damage sensitive root structures than a single-probe moisture meter.

Price at time of publish: $13

_{Moisture Range: 1 to 10 | pH Range: 3.5 to 8 pH | Frequency: Intermittent use | Update Rate: 60 seconds}

Best with Long Probe

TEKCOPLUS Long Soil Tester

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This moisture meter's 11.6-inch-long probe gets deep into the soil for a highly accurate reading for outdoor spaces or large pots. It can measure moisture and pH. One of the best features is the dial face, which makes it easy to see the reading, even when the probe is deep in the ground.

Like most long-probe moisture meters, this is a more expensive option, so make sure that you need this kind of monitoring before investing in this larger garden tool.

Price at time of publish: $58

_{Moisture Range: 1 to 8 | pH Range: 3 to 8 pH | Frequency: Intermittent use | Update Rate: Continuous}

Best for Compost

REOTEMP Garden and Compost Meter

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Compost has its own unique moisture needs, and a simple garden meter may not be enough to accurately track moisture in a compost environment. The REOTEMP stainless steel Garden and Compost Meter has a robust 15-inch probe, with a diameter of 5/16 inches—perfect for reaching into a compost pile to get a good reading.

The manufacturer notes that this product measures moisture only at the tip of the probe. However, we note that this hasn't affected its performance when used to check composting.

It includes no special features or tracking beyond providing a moisture reading on a 0 to 10 scale. You'll need one AAA battery to use this moisture meter, which is included.

Price at time of publish: $38

_{Moisture Range: 0 to 10 | pH Range: Not Applicable | Frequency: Continuous | Update Rate: Continuous}