Top 6 Best Electric Ice Augers 2020

Are you looking for an electric ice auger for ice fishing? Having trouble finding one that meets your needs?

That’s where this article will help. I have hand-selected the best electric ice augers on the market. And each auger is right for specific uses. For instance, there are budget ice augers, feature-rich ice augers, and mid-range ice augers.

Just about everything is included. I’ve even included a buying guide that tells you what to look for in an ice auger.

Here are the best electric ice augers for ice fishing.

Best Electric Ice Augers – Reviews

ION 39350 8″ G2 – Best Overall Electric Ice Auger

ION has a reputation for making excellent ice augers, and the ION 39450 is my favorite of all the electric augers on the list. It has a long fairly long battery life, deep drilling, slush-removing reverse, LED lights, and smooth cutting.

First, the battery life on this auger is pretty good. It can cut through 2000” of ice in ideal conditions. If it’s extremely cold (or the ice is very thick), you should expect less battery life. The auger can also drill over 36”, so you don’t have to worry about running out of auger. In my experience, you won’t find many lakes with over three feet of ice.

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The features that really set this auger apart are the slush-removing reverse and the two bright LED lights. A reverse that actually removes slush is so nice. You don’t need even need an ice scoop. The LED lights are also nice if you want to ice fish at night. If you’re a day fisher, then the LED lights won’t be of much use.

One other thing that I like is the 3-year warranty on the battery and cutting system, which is the best warranty in the industry.

The only downside of this ice auger is that it doesn’t work well if you want to move around a lot on thick size – it just doesn’t have the battery life. That said, no electric ice auger works great for going through a lot of thick ice in cold weather. It’s more suited for stationary fishermen.

Positives

• It has a long battery life of 2000” of ice.
• LED lights make it great for use at night.
• Reverse means you don’t need an ice scoop.
• 3-year limited warranty on the battery and cutting system.
• It leaves a smooth hole.
• Lightweight at only 21 pounds.

Negatives

• It doesn’t work well for moving around a lot, but that’s common for an electric ice auger.
• It’s a little more expensive than other electric ice augers. However, it does have some extra features that make the cost worth it.

Final Verdict

This is my favorite electric ice auger on the list because of the long battery life, extra features, and excellent 3-year limited warranty. If you’re looking for an electric ice auger that has all the features, then this is the choice for you.

I recommend this ice auger to someone with a bigger budget that is looking for the best product. This is the type of ice auger that you shouldn’t need to replace for a long time.

ION X 29250 – Best Lightweight Electric Ice Auger

Next on the list is the IOX X 29250, which isn’t that different from the ION 39350. In fact, the only real difference is that this particular ice auger has a slightly lower battery life than the 39350. Everything else is pretty much the same. This auger has the LED lights, 3-year warranty, and slush removing reverse.

You can expect about 1600” of ice drilling per charge with this auger, which is pretty good. It will definitely last you a fishing trip if you don’t move around too much. I also like the aluminum plate at the bottom – it really makes the drilling so much smoother and cleaner. I just wish it was a little sturdier.

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As I mentioned earlier, this auger has two LED lights on the bottom for nighttime use and a 3-year warranty. My favorite part is the lightweight of 21 pounds. You can carry this in your hand without getting exhausted, which can’t be said about many other augers.

The only downside of this auger is the higher than average price. And that’s expected from an ION. The good thing is that you definitely get your money’s worth with this auger. The price is also a little less than the 39350.

Positives

• The battery life is fairly long at 1600” of ice.
• The aluminum plate at the bottom makes drilling much smoother.
• Slush-removing reverse.
• 3-year limited warranty.
• Lightweight at only 21 pounds.

Negatives

• It’s expensive, but not nearly as expensive as the 39350. It’s also worth the price if you have the budget.

Final Verdict

ION makes really good electric ice augers. The 29350 X is just another one them. Personally, I like the 39350 a little better just because it has a little more life expectancy, but you can’t really go wrong with either choice.

I recommend the 29350 X for someone that has a bigger budget and does not do much drilling while ice fishing. Quite frankly, you don’t want an electric auger if you’re the type of ice fisherman that drills 100 holes on an ice fishing trip.

SuperHandy Ice Auger Power Head – Best Budget Electric Ice Auger

SuperHandy has a reputation for excellent customer service, which is part of the reason that they earned a high spot on the list. Of course, the auger is great, but the customer service is what sets them apart.

Anyway, this auger has everything that you would want in an electric ice auger. A 39” bit for deep drilling, a 2Ah battery (with the option for a 4Ah battery), a fairly lightweight design, two LED lights, and a reverse capability. In fact, this auger is actually a gardening auger that can also cut through ice, so you can comfortably use it for your garden in the summer.

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The charger on this is quick, too. That’s nice if you have a generator with your while ice fishing, and it’s just good in general to have a fast charge. Reverse is another feature that you don’t see on gas augers, but you will see on most ice augers. It’s super useful when drilling through ice since flipping it in reverse removes all the shavings from the bit.

Finally, this auger is affordable. It’s a much better price than the StrikeMaster or ION. However, you do have to deal with a little less battery life than the name brand. With that said, it’s not a bad option if you don’t have the budget for a name brand ice auger.

Positives

• Very affordable with most of the features you would want in an ice auger.
• The battery should last for an ice fishing trip.
• The 39” drill bit is long enough for almost all lakes and ponds.
• It has reverse and LED lights, which are very convenient.
• SuperHandy has very good customer service. They will help you with any problems that you have.

Negatives

• The battery life isn’t the best compared to the name brands.

Final Verdict

The SuperHandy is the type of electric ice auger that you buy when you can’t afford a StrikeMaster or ION. Don’t let that scare you off, this ice auger will work fine for casual ice fishing. And the customer service from StrikeMaster definitely helps.

I recommend this auger for the casual ice fishermen that doesn’t want to use a gas auger. But that doesn’t want to shell out the money for a more expensive name brand. This ice auger works well in the garden, too.

StrikeMaster Lithium 40v 8″ Ice Auger – Fastest Electric Ice Auger

StrikeMaster is the other major company in the ice auger industry (both gas and electric). Most people rank ION a little higher than StrikeMaster because of the ION warranty, but StrikeMaster still makes an excellent electric ice auger. They also give you a respectable 2-year warranty on the auger.

The StrikeMaster makes up for the warranty with its power – this auger is strong and fast. Some reviewers have even mentioned that it’s faster than a gas auger. The battery life is good, too. You can expect around 100 holes in 16” ice, which is impressive. The length of the drill bit is 39”, and that’s more enough for ice fishing. I doubt most ice fishermen go deeper than 30”.

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The handles on the StrikeMaster are a little more comfortable than other augers. You can tell StrikeMaster spent a lot of time developing an ergonomic handle. That’s nice to see.

I will say that this auger costs quite a bit of money, which might cause some customers to balk. The power and speed make up for the price. And the bit and powerhead should last you years.

Positives

• Extremely powerful for an electric auger.
• It has a 2-year warranty.
• The battery life is good. You can realistically expect about 100 16” holes per charge.

Negatives

• It’s a few pounds heavier than other augers. It’s still light at 25 pounds, though.

Final Verdict

I really like the power in this auger. It’s comparable to a gas auger, and it has reverse, which you won’t find in any gas auger. It’s a shame that it doesn’t have LED lights, but that shouldn’t scare you off.

I recommend this auger to someone that wants a powerful ice auger with a long-lasting battery. If you’re after speed, then this is most certainly the ice auger for you.

Landworks Ice Auger Power Head – Best Electric Ice Auger for Drilling Deep

The Landworks ice auger is another budget choice. In fact, it’s one of the most affordable augers on the list. As usual, affordable does not necessarily mean low quality. This auger has a 2 amp lithium-ion battery, reverse, LED surface lights, and a bigger sized bit (39”).

The 2Ah lithium-ion is nice. Landworks claims it drills 2340” of ice per charge, which is very optimistic in ice fishing conditions. 1600” of ice per charge is more realistic, and it will be lower in weather below 0F. All things considered, it’s pretty good for a 2Ah battery.

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Landworks included standard features such as LED surface lights and reverse on the auger, which are both convenient. You can drill holes about 40” deep with this auger. As I’ve mentioned before, that is plenty deep for most ice fishermen.

I will admit that this ice auger is fairly standard. The main benefit is the low price. Now, the control switch feels a little flimsier than the more expensive models on the list, but it still performs fine in temperatures above 0. Once the temperature drops below 0, then you might start having problems.

Positives

• Very affordable for an electric ice auger.
• 39” drill bit is long enough for almost all conditions.
• It has reverse for clearing slush.
• The 2Ah battery should drill 2340” of ice per charge, which is great.

Negatives

• The control switch is a little flimsy. The auger feels lower quality, but it works perfectly fine.

Final Verdict

This is another budget electric ice auger. It will get the job done for drilling holes in weather above 0. Just don’t expect it to drill hundreds of holes in cold weather because that isn’t going to happen.

All things considered, this isn’t that bad of an ice auger for the price. I recommend for someone on a budget that doesn’t want to lug around a propane auger. However, do keep in mind the negatives of this auger.

Trophy Strike 107309 Ice Auger – Most Powerful Electric Ice Auger

Trophy Strike is another brand that makes excellent ice augers. They don’t have the recognition of ION or StrikeMaster, but the performance certainly matches those augers.

First, this auger has 120V of power, which is crazy powerful. All the other augers on the list have 40V of power. This extra power makes the drilling process super fast, and that’s really convenient when you’re on the ice. It even has five gears, rather than three, for super-smooth drilling.

The battery life on this is auger is good, too. You can expect about 1800” of ice with this on one charge. That is pretty good considering the power of this auger.

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In my opinion, the only major downside is the fairly shallow drilling depth of 31.5 inches. However, it’s still deep enough for most ice fishing applications. Another downside that isn’t too big of a deal, but some might find problematic, is that the auger weighs 38 pounds. Yes, that is heavy for an electric auger, but it is three times as powerful as the average electric ice auger.

Positives

• It has 120V of power, which means you can quickly clear through ice.
• The five gears make drilling much smoother.
• Decent battery life of 1800” of ice.

Negatives

• It’s priced similarly to the StrikeMaster electric ice auger.
• Heavy at 38 pounds.

Final Verdict

If you’re after power, then this is the ice auger that you want. The 120V motor will easily drill through the ice on your fishing trips. And the five gears really do make the drilling process so much smoother. Just don’t expect this much power at a bargain price.

I recommend the Trophy Strike for serious ice fishermen that want an electric auger. The extra power makes it comparable to a gas-powered ice auger. It’s also lighter than a gas auger.

Electric Ice Augers – Buying Guide

It’s always good to know what exactly to look for in an electric ice auger. These machines aren’t too much different from a gas auger, but there are some differences. This section will cover the important features to look for when choosing an electric ice auger.

Battery Life

Battery life is probably the most important feature in an electric ice auger. Battery life on ice augers is generally stated in terms of inches of ice per charge. A good battery should drill 2000 inches of ice in ideal conditions. The more affordable augers will usually have a battery life in the 1600 inch range.

However, the importance of battery life does depend on the amount of drilling you plan on doing. If you’re the type of ice fisherman that drills four holes and opens a beer, then battery life isn’t too important to you. In that case, an auger with a shorter battery life is perfectly fine.

On the other hand, if you plan on chasing schools around the lake or river, then you need an auger with a long battery life.

You should know what type of fisherman you are, so use that knowledge when making your purchase.

Drilling Depth

All the electric ice augers on the list can drill holes over 30 inches. Some of them can even drill holes up to 48 inches.

If you live in Minnesota, Canada, or a very cold area, then you will probably have to drill holes over 24 inches. But it’s not that common to drill holes over 36 inches.

Personally, I wouldn’t worry about drilling depth too much because most ice augers will work in the vast majority of ice fishing conditions (under 30 inches).

Battery Size

Battery size is another important factor in ice augers because it determines the battery life. Most electric ice augers come with a 2Ah battery, which will last you for 1600” of ice. You can either purchase an extra 2Ah battery or a 4Ah battery.

The 4Ah battery will increase the battery life and power. But it will also weigh significantly more than a 2Ah.

With that in mind, I recommend extra battery capacity if you plan on drilling a lot of holes. If you’re the type of fisherman that drill six holes, then you don’t really need the extra battery life.

Weight

Weight is another important factor to consider. Electric ice augers are fairly light and easy to carry, which makes them much more convenient than a gas-powered auger. Most electric ice augers weigh under 25 pounds, so you can easily take them out to the lake.

Just keep the weight in mind before making the purchase if you need a lightweight auger.

Electric Ice Augers vs Gas-Powered Ice Augers

Ice fishermen have debated whether electric ice augers or gas ice augers are better ever since electric ice augers burst on the scene. This section will clear the air on that debate.

Type of Ice Fishing

The type of ice fishing that you do will greatly affect the type of auger that you use.

If you drill a lot of holes, don’t use a shelter, or live in a very cold climate, then you will probably want a gas-powered ice auger. There isn’t anything wrong with electric augers, but the use for them just isn’t ideal for those conditions.

Electric augers work best for ice fishermen that don’t drill a lot of holes, live in a cooler climate (ex. not Minnesota), and/or use an ice fishing hut. In fact, you shouldn’t use a gas-powered ice auger in an enclosed area.

Maintenance

Electric augers are far superior to gas augers in terms of maintenance. Gas motors can, and will, have all the typical problems you find in a gas engine. This includes leaking gas, difficulty starting, and oil changes. The maintenance can definitely get annoying on gas-powered ice augers, but they will last a very long time if you properly maintain them.

As you may have guessed, electric ice augers don’t have many maintenance issues. The biggest maintenance you will face is keeping the battery charged. And the battery should last 2-3 years, but that depends on how frequently you use it. The main thing is you don’t generally have to worry about your electric ice auger breaking down in the middle of a fishing trip. Sure, the battery will run out, but that’s predictable.

All things considered, an electric ice auger will require less maintenance than a gas-powered auger, but the battery replacement will still get you.

Efficiency

There is a huge gap in efficiency between electric ice augers and gas-powered augers. I’ll be blunt, if you’re looking for the most efficient ice auger (‘fuel’ to holes drilled), then you will want a gas-powered auger.

Don’t let that scare you off, though. Electric augers have made great improvements with the invention of lithium-ion batteries, and many of the top electric augers do give the gas-powered augers a run for their money. Some of the electric augers listed can drill up to 100 holes per charge, which is impressive.

In the end, this mostly comes down to the type of ice fishing that you do. I recommend an electric ice auger for stationary and near-stationary ice fishing. You really don’t need the extra efficiency that a gas-powered auger provides unless you do a lot of moving around.

Speed

Speed is another difference, albeit minor, between gas-powered ice augers and electric ones. Gas-powered augers will generally be a little faster and more powerful than an electric ice auger, but the difference isn’t that huge. In fact, the speed difference between the higher-end electric augers and gas augers is not that great.

For speed, gas-powered augers are better, but it’s not by much. You get practically the same speed with the ION or StrikeMaster augers.

Benefits of an Electric Ice Auger

There are some major benefits of using an electric ice auger rather than a gas one. This section will cover these benefits.

No Exhaust

My favorite part of using an electric ice auger is the complete lack of exhaust. The lack of exhaust makes these augers perfect for use in an enclosed area. It’s also great for those of us that want to reduce our carbon footprint.

Plus, these don’t smell like burning oil, which is a major complaint about gas-powered ice augers.

Quiet

As you probably guessed, an electric auger is much quieter than a 2-stroke motor or even a propane motor. Obviously, this makes it much more pleasant to use for you and those around you. There’s another benefit of the quietness, though.

You don’t scare the fish. That’s right, the fish might get spooked if they feel the vibrations coming from a loud engine. An electric ice auger is perfect for preventing that.

Light

Electric ice augers are usually 20-25 pounds, which is extremely light. This makes them perfect if you can’t drive to your ice fishing spot. It’s also just so much easier to move around than a 70-pound gas auger.

Now, there are some heavy electric augers, such as the Trophy Strike, but most of them are fairly light. The heavy electric augers tend to have as much power as a gas-powered auger, and that makes up for the extra weight.

Low Maintenance

I won’t say that electric ice augers require no maintenance, but they definitely require less maintenance than a gas-powered auger. Just remember that you will need to replace the battery at some point. And that can get quite expensive.

Electric Ice Augers – FAQ

Will an electric ice auger work in very cold weather?

This depends on the electric ice auger. The ION and StrikeMaster should work in below 0F weather, but the battery life will be greatly decreased in that weather. An electric ice auger is almost unusable in weather under -30F because the battery just doesn’t hold a charge.

Can I use an electric ice auger in my yard?

Yes. You can use an electric ice auger in your yard. In fact, an ice auger is much more powerful than a typical auger, so it will work quite nicely.

How many holes can I drill with an electric ice auger?

The amount of holes you can drill with an electric ice auger (per charge) varies quite a bit based on the depth of the holes, the thickness of the ice, and the outside temperature. A good general estimate is that you can drill 50 to 100 holes on a single charge.

Is the reverse feature really on electric ice augers really that useful?

Yes. Reversing on an electric ice auger is extremely convenient because it will clear out the slush. It’s actually one of my favorite parts of using an electric ice auger.

Can I redrill holes with an electric ice auger?

Yes, you can redrill holes with some electric ice augers. The ice on a refrozen hole is much thicker than fresh ice, so it does take a little more power. But the higher-end electric ice augers can handle it.

The more affordable ice augers can redrill holes, too. It just takes longer.

How wide should an ice fishing hole be?

I recommend an ice fishing hole that is 8-10 inches wide. You really don’t need a hole much larger than 12 inches.

Trust me, 99% of the fish you catch will fit through a 10 inch hole. A hole larger than 12 inches is quite dangerous for you and other fishermen, so please don’t drill wide holes. All the drill bits on the list are under 10 inches wide.

How long does it take to charge an electric ice auger?

This depends on the ice auger, but it usually takes about 1-3 hours to fully charge.

How long does the battery on an electric ice auger last before it needs replacing?

The battery on your electric ice auger will probably last 2-4 seasons. This really depends on how frequently you use it and the weather.

Infrequent use and/or above 0F weather will lengthen the life of the battery. It also helps if the battery is stored in a cool, dry place in the summer. Storing the battery in the heat in the summer will greatly reduce the lifespan.

Final Thoughts

Well, that’s about everything you need to know about purchasing an electric ice auger. They really have improved over the past 10 years. The lithium-ion batteries are really what have brought them up to the level of some of the gas-powered ice augers.

I’ll put it this way – these aren’t the same electric ice augers that you saw in the early 2010s. In fact, you can almost comparable performance with the ION or StrikeMaster augers. The budget ones aren’t bad, either. And they don’t result in smelly exhaust or sound pollution.

That’s a win for me.