Post Hole Digger & Auger Rental

Renting a post hole digger turns a day of shovel work into an hour or two, boring clean holes for fence posts, deck footings and plantings. Choose a one-person, two-person, towable or skid steer-mounted auger based on hole count, diameter and soil.

What a Post Hole Auger Is Used For

A post hole auger spins a spiral steel bit into the ground and lifts the soil out as it goes. It is the standard tool for fence lines, deck and porch footings, pergolas, sign posts, tree and shrub planting, and pier holes for sheds. If you only need two or three shallow holes in soft soil, a manual clamshell digger may be enough. Once you are into a full fence line, or the ground is packed clay, an auger rental pays for itself in time and sore shoulders.

Types of Augers You Can Rent

Bits are swapped by diameter. Common sizes run from a few inches for small posts up to a foot or more for footings and tree planting. Ask the supplier which bit sizes are available with the powerhead you are renting.

How to Choose the Right Auger

Start with the hole spec your project calls for. Fence posts are usually set in holes about three times the post width, and depth is often around a third of the post's above-ground height or below your local frost line, so check your local building requirements for footings. Then match the machine to the job:

- A few holes in loose or sandy soil: a one-person auger is usually fine. - Dozens of holes or bits larger than about eight inches: step up to a two-person, towable or hydraulic unit. - Clay, roots or rock: a hydraulic auger or skid steer attachment handles the resistance far better, and a rock or carbide-tipped bit helps. - Tight backyard access: measure gate widths before booking anything towable.

When you rent an auger for a long fence line, plan the layout with string and stakes first so every hole is marked before the machine arrives.

Tips Before You Rent

- Call 811 a few days before you dig. Utility locating is free, it is required in most areas, and striking a gas or electric line with an auger is extremely dangerous. - Walk the line and pull up sprinkler heads, landscape lighting wire and large stones. - Wear gloves, eye protection, hearing protection and sturdy boots. Avoid loose clothing that can catch on a spinning bit. - Handheld augers can twist hard when the bit binds on a root or rock. Keep a firm stance, let off the throttle immediately if it grabs, and never wrap the cord or your arm around the handle. - Lift the bit out every few inches to clear soil rather than drilling the full depth in one pass. - Confirm fuel type, how the bit attaches, and whether the supplier includes an extension for deeper holes. - Towable units need a hitch and safety chains on your vehicle; ask about the coupler size.

How to Find Post Hole Digger Rental Near You

Use the Browse equipment button to search post hole digger rental by city and rental dates. You will see live inventory from local and regional rental suppliers on the Derental marketplace, so you can compare a few options side by side. Look at what is included, such as the bit sizes, extensions and whether delivery is available, along with each supplier's terms and pickup hours.

Rates are set by each supplier and vary with the auger type, bit diameter, rental length, location and delivery. Half-day and daily options are common for small fence jobs, while weekly terms can make sense for long runs or multiple projects. Once you have picked an auger rental near me that fits the job, you can request it online and confirm the details directly with the supplier.