How big of a hole do I need for a 4×4 fence post?

12 inches

The diameter of your post hole should be three times the diameter of your post. So, if you’re planning on using a four-inch round or 4×4-inch square post, your post hole will need to be 12 inches in diameter.

What size auger do I need for fence posts? A 12-inch auger, best attached to a heavy machine, will create a hole large enough for a 6×6 or 4×6 post and plenty of concrete. Smaller augers, like 4- or 6-inch options, are appropriate for light-duty work (like mailboxes) as well as metal fence posts for chain-link fences.

Can I use an auger for fence posts? When it comes to digging fence post holes for a new pasture, augers are the way to go. Whether you’re using a handheld auger or (better yet) a tractor-mounted model, augers significantly speed up and simplify the process compared to manual post-hole diggers.

Are auger post hole diggers any good? If you want to do some serious post hole digging and buy the best tool at a great price, the GardenTrax 43CC Earth Auger is the one for you. Not only is it large and powerful, but it costs at least 20 percent less than most similarly powerful units.

What is a fence auger? Augers may be used for boring into the ground to create holes for fence posts. A post hole auger is a piece of equipment that drills into soil to create an exact, vertical hole. This type of device is often used by landscaping professionals and general contractors.

How deep should a fence post hole be?

Dig post hole so diameter of the hole is 3 times the width of the post (i.e., the hole for a 4” wood post should be about 12 inches wide). The depth of the hole should be 1/3-1/2 the post height above ground (i.e., a 6-foot tall fence would require a hole depth of at least 2 feet).

How big of a hole do I need for a 4×4 fence post? – Related Questions

How deep should a 7 foot fence post be?

How Deep Should a Fence Post Be? For an average fence post, about 6 to 8 feet tall, prepare to dig a post hole about 2 feet deep. To install a fence post, you’ll need a shovel or post digger, a 6-foot level, soil, and gravel or crushed stone.

How long does it take to dig holes with an auger?

Power augers can dig as many holes in an hour as a post hole digger can dig in eight hours, with hole sizes ranging from 6” diameter holes and up.

How deep can an auger dig?

An auger can drill holes as deep as 95 feet and as shallow as 3 feet. However, once the depth goes beyond 95 feet, you can add an extension rod to the auger.

Is it hard to use an auger?

How hard is it to use a one-man auger? Harder than you might think, especially if the soil is rocky or made of heavy clay. Ergonomic handlebars designed to reduce vibration and fatigue help. But even when using a one-man auger, you may want a partner to help.

Will an auger cut through roots?

The most effective method of installing a post through a root is to drill through it. There is a power tool available known as an auger that will drill through the root, and allow you to put the post right where you need it.

What is the easiest way to dig post holes?

What is the best tool for digging holes?

What is the difference between a post hole digger and an auger?

Post hole diggers focus on one task – they dig holes for posts, whereas a hole auger is suited for a wide variety of tasks around the garden. Post hole diggers rely on more work than a hole auger, these heavy hand tools are basically thrown hard into the soil with force then lifted out.

How do you dig holes for fence posts?

In general, the post hole should be one third as deep as the fence is tall. So, if you’re installing a 6-foot tall fence, your post hole should be at least two feet deep. You’ll also want to be sure the bottom of the post sits below the frost line.

Should fence posts be set in concrete?

Concrete provides a strong foundation for wooden fence posts, but can rot them more quickly. Setting them in dirt, with or without gravel or crushed rock depending on your soil type, can help the posts last longer before going rotten. You can also use metal fence post anchors to prolong their life.

Why do fence posts rot at ground level?

Wood fence posts will rot due to prolonged exposure to moisture in the soil.

How far apart do you set fence posts?

Most fence posts can be spaced 8 to 12 feet apart. While this is a general criteria, it doesn’t cover all scenarios. For instance, high tensile fence can have larger spacing, requiring line posts every 15 to 20 feet for field fence styles, and as much as 20-30 feet for high tensile barbed and smooth wire.

Can you set a post with dry concrete?

Fast-setting concrete is ideal for setting posts because there’s no mixing—you simply pour the dry concrete from the bag right into the hole, then add water.

How do I keep my post level while concrete dries?

You need to level it in two directions with a 4-foot level. After getting it straight in the first direction, hold one of the braces against the post and drive a single screw to connect the brace to the post. You can then level and brace the post in the other direction and begin filling the hole.

How many bags of cement do I need for a fence post?

1 – 4 bags of concrete per fence post are typically what’s needed. This depends on the type of soil, fence design, height, post size and bag weight. In general the depth of the post’s hole needs to be 1/3 to 1/2 of the above ground height of the post.

Do augers work in rocky soil?

For drilling in rocky soils, always recommend heavy-duty augers to avoid damage. These augers are equipped with a more durable tooth and side cutting blades as well as heavy-duty flighting.

Do manual post hole diggers work?

For long swathes of new fencing, manual post hole diggers are a lot of work, but they are much more efficient than digging holes out with a spade and also give you neater edges so if you decide to use cement to set your fence posts, you’ll have a better set a the base as a result with less soil dilution on the edges.

Can an auger go through clay?

Augers are also great for soil that is tough to dig. Heavy clay soils, which tend to clump and stick to shovels, are no problem with an auger.

Is clay easier to dig wet or dry?

Wet clay isn’t much easier to work with, because it’s dense, sticky and difficult to dig out without the shovel becoming stuck. The best way to dig in clay requires loosening it first so you can remove clods of clay from the hole without it sticking to your tools.

How do you get a stuck auger out of the ground?

How heavy is a one man auger?

Why isn’t my auger digging?

Augers can dig aggressively when their teeth are in good shape, but if not, the auger flighting must pick up the slack and absorb unnecessary wear. Worn teeth can also decrease digging capacity and force the auger to become stuck in the ground.

How long does it take to dig a fence post hole?

Post Hole Digging Tools In such soil, it can dig a 4-foot-deep hole that is the perfect size for a fence post in a matter of minutes.

Which way do you turn an auger?

Certain stoves need the auger motor to be set up for clockwise rotation (CW) while other need to be set up for counterclockwise rotation (CCW). If you turn the auger by hand without the auger motor, then you can tell which direction to set the motor in order to push pellets into the auger chute then the burn pot.

Is an 8 inch hole big enough for 4×4 fence post?

The diameter of your post hole should be three times the diameter of your post. So, if you’re planning on using a four-inch round or 4×4-inch square post, your post hole will need to be 12 inches in diameter. For a six-foot-high fence post, we would need a hole that’s 36 inches deep and 12 inches in diameter.

What size auger do I need?

To choose the auger that best fits your needs, consider how you’ll use it. If you plan on only using your auger to plant plugs, for instance, then a 2- or 3-inch auger will fit your needs. If you anticipate the need to bury stakes or set small posts, then you may prefer a 4-inch auger or another, larger size.

How big of a hole do I need for a 6×6 post?

A 6×6 post requires a 10″-diameter hole. Shovel a 6″ layer of gravel into the hole to provide drainage.

How big of a hole do I need for a 4×6 post?

For a six-foot-tall post, therefore, you would dig a hole two feet deep. The ideal diameter, meanwhile, should measure three times the width of the post. So, for a standard 4×4, the ideal hole would span twelve inches across.