Measuring the soil pH in your garden can be a very helpful exercise. Determining how acidic or alkaline your soil is means you can choose plants that will grow best for you – some plants grow best on acidic soil, while some do best on alkaline soil.
You can also use the right kind of mulch and soil conditioner to enhance your soil health. It's also possible to try to adjust your pH, to make it less or more acidic, depending on what you needs for the plants you are planting, but as a rule it's best to work with what you've got.
Most soils are naturally between 3.5 and 10 pH. A pH of 7 is neutral. Anything less than 7 is acidic, and a number higher than 7 means your soil is alkaline.
Taking into account your soil's acidity, how well it drains and the aspect (full sun, semi-shade or shade) is the best way to grow plants, as you can be confident that you are growing the plants that best suit your garden.
The best soil pH testers to buy for your garden
Garden Pack 3-in-1 Plant Meter
Pros: 3-in-1 function, no batteries needed
Cons: not as clear as a digital display
Not only does this clever device measure the soil's pH; it also tracks its moisture level and the amount of sunlight it's getting. Use the toggle on the front to switch between the three functions. There's no need to worry about changing batteries over time, so you can carry on using it without interruption.
Customer review: "This soil meter is highly effective and lives up to its promises. Used it for my indoor plants to adjust the soil acidity. It’s convenient to switch between moisture and pH level readings, which takes the guesswork out of watering. I’m planning to use it for more outdoor plants as well."
Soil pH tester 3-in-1
Pros: large digital display, 3-in-1 function
Cons: needs batteries, more expensive than other options
This nifty, 3-in1 digital soil pH tester is clear and easy to use. We particularly like the large LCD display, which makes it very easy to take a reading. The tester measures temperature, soil pH as well as humidity and it needs two AAA batteries.
This single probe soil pH tester needs to go into the soil around 10cm and for 10 seconds. You can also use this tester inside and outside, which means you can use it for your houseplants too!
Customer review: "I'm very happy with this beautifully simple no nonsense PH tester. Just make sure you don't wound the prod pushing it into hard dried soil."
Soil pH tester strips kit
Pros: inexpensive, good number of test strips, don't need to maintain like a metal probe
Cons: need purified water for soil sample, up to an hour wait time, need to buy more once you've used them all
This is a pH tester kit that doesn't rely on digital technology, but uses old fashioned test tubes and strips. You need purified water - which doesn't come with the test - but once you have that, all you need to do is pop soil in the test tubes and use droppers to drip water on the test strips provided.
Included in the pack are 200 test strips, three plastic test tubes, six plastic droppers and one guide.
Customer review: "Good instructions. Easy to use. Enough strips to cover different parts of the garden. Did the job."
Sonkir Soil pH Meter
Pros: 3-in-1 function, no batteries needed
Cons: not as clear as a digital display
Another popular option is this tester from Sonkir. Fitted with two probes, it measures soil moisture and pH, but you can also use it to track light levels too. Switch between the three modes using the single button on the front.
Customer review: "This is a great little gadget. I bought it initially to test the pH of my soil but find it extremely useful for testing the compost in the pots of both indoor and outdoor plants. Much better than sticking your finger into the top!"
Garden Tutor Soil pH Test Kit
Pros: inexpensive, don't need to maintain like a metal probe
Cons: need to collect soil sample, 20-min wait time, need to buy more once you've used them all
These paper test strips from Garden Tutor are an Amazon bestseller and have earned a good star review score. Dip a strip into your soil sample and use the colour-coded results to check its pH. You get enough in a pack to do 100 tests.
Customer review: "[If] you have time, good eyesight and already a bit of a hunch where your soil is at then this kit is a good option to consider for the price."
5-in-1 Digital Plant Soil pH Tester
Pros: 5-in-1 function, backlit screen
Cons: needs batteries
This remarkably nifty device is able to take five different measurements in one. As well as a soil pH tester, it also monitors soil moisture and temperature, plus the environment's humidity and light intensity.
Unlike many other pH soil testers, this one has a backlit LCD screen, which makes it easy to read even in the dark, and should come up with results in just 10 seconds. Switch between °C/°F on the temperature scale.
Remember to buy four AAA batteries if you choose this product.
Customer review: "The sensor and digital display is a little bigger than I imagined but that makes it easy to read, and the build quality feels sturdy. Highly recommended for anyone serious about maintaining healthy plants!"
Soil pH meter and moisture meter
Buy from Crocus (£12.99) and Waitrose Garden (£12.99)
Pros: 2-in-1 function, no batteries needed
Cons: can find alternatives with more functions
This soil pH tester tests the soil pH as well as the moisture, and you flick between readings using a single switch. It's sold at Crocus and Waitrose Garden, and is a popular choice.
This meter comes with two probes and you don’t need any batteries to get started.
Verve Multi-Tester
Buy from B&Q (£7.00)
Pros: 2-in-1 function, no batteries needed, inexpensive
Cons: can find alternatives with more functions
For a quick and inexpensive solution, you can find this multi-tester at B&Q. Either order to your home address or collect it at your nearest store. This one tests soil pH and moisture levels, and you don't need any batteries to make it work.
Customer review: "The meter is very easy to use and to read the results. The meter is cheap in price and is well worth the money! It gives peace of mind and it helps you to not overwater, nor underwater, the plants."
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How to use soil pH testers
There are several ways to test the pH of your soil, but these days the most accurate and easy is buying a soil pH meter or tester. Soil pH testers are usually a little probe that you push into the soil, or soil sample.
You need to look at the manufacturer's guidance for exactly how deep it needs to be and whether you need to do anything specific according to the one you have bought, but mostly you then just wait for the probe to offer up an answer.
There are also soil pH testers that double up as moisture meters and other things.
If you're looking for a more traditional way of checking your soil pH, you can also use soil testing kits, which have pH strips and use a chemical solution that will change colour according to the pH in your soil. You can only use the strip once.
Do soil pH meters work?
In short, yes: generally the technology behind pH soil testers is reliable and you can trust a soil pH meter, although we'd always recommend doing a few tests, to make sure your tester is offering up the same answer each time.
Looking for soil moisture meters? We've found our favourites.
