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Soil moisture sensors for your soil are widely available. The basic concept of a soil moisture sensor is to measure the amount of moisture in your soil. Once the soil moisture sensor has a reading on the moisture levels in your soil, it will send those readings to you through your controller or some other reporting module. Some soil moisture sensors will work with your irrigation system to automatically shut off the system, while others work independently of your irrigation system.
This article is looking at sensors from leading brands that (theoretically) are supposed to work with your full irrigation system. Some of these sensors are meant for commercial use only, and some are used for both commercial and residential use. We will clarify that in this article in order to inform you of the best irrigation soil moisture sensors. See our rankings below for the most in-depth coverage of the best irrigation soil moisture sensors.
In 2023, Smart Rain announced the launch of their NEW Smart Rain SoilSensor. This sensor is meant to make smart irrigation more accurate and efficient. After all, Smart Rain makes the best smart irrigation controller in the irrigation market with their SmartController. Smart Rain makes irrigation products exclusively for commercial properties. The SoilSensor is no different. Here are the stats for the SoilSensor:
The SoilSensor is one of the only soil moisture sensors on the market that provides wireless pairing with your irrigation system*. It’s also the only sensor that has a range up to 1 mile. That means no trenching on your property.
Built-in dual moisture sensors are able to detect moisture levels at different soil depths.
Temperature gauge is able to sense changes in temperature that can help your system water more efficiently.
Equipped with a water depletion calculator, you are able to see how much moisture your property is losing.
pH monitor gives you peace of mind if you’re worrying about pollutants on your property.
*must have a Smart Rain SmartController.
Rain Bird SMRT-Y
The main idea of the Rain Bird SMRT-Y is that of any other soil moisture sensor. The sensor is a very simple sensor that doesn’t have some of the benefits of others. But with some work (and a lot of trial and error) it may be able to work for you. Here’s what you need to know.
The Rain Bird SMRT-Y is not wireless but needs to be connected through wires.
The Rain Bird SMRT-Y does not have the ability to detect moisture levels in different soil depths.
Does not have the ability to read temperature.
It has no ability to detect water depletion.
No pH monitor.
Hunter SOIL-CLIK
The Hunter SOIL-CLIK is very similar in function to the Rain Bird SMRT-Y. With this similarity, there are some things to consider:
The Hunter SOIL-CLIK is wired, but has a reach of 1000 feet, which may require you to trench on your property.
The Hunter SOIL-CLIK is meant to reach down to the root level of your plants, detecting the soil to the root of your plant.
Another product is required to measure the temperature on your property.
Manual adjustments is required at times to adjust your watering levels.
No pH monitor.
Hydropoint Baseline biSensor
The Hydropoint Baseline biSensor is one of the more popular offerings for soil moisture sensors on the market. It does have many more features than the Rain Bird SMRT-Y and the Hunter SOIL-CLIK, but not as many features as the Smart Rain SoilSensor. Here’s an overview:
Not wireless. You will need to trench on your property.
The Baseline Bisensor isn’t built to sense moisture levels at different soil depths.
The Baseline Bisensor does have the ability to monitor temperature.
If you have a Hydropoint smart irrigation controller, you may be able to automate some of the watering features.
No pH monitor.
MOEN Smart Wireless Soil Sensor
MOEN Smart Wireless Soil Sensor is probably the most advanced soil moisture sensor behind the Smart Rain SoilSensor. There are some downsides. The MOEN Smart Wireless Soil Sensor is meant for residential properties as opposed to commercial use, which may draw some users away from the product. Here’s how MOEN Smart Wireless Soil Sensor measures up:
The MOEN Smart Wireless Soil Sensor is wireless, but only up to 245 ft., which may be a drawback for some bigger properties.
It will be able to detect soil moisture up to 1-, 3-, and 5-inches in the soil.
The MOEN Smart Wireless Soil Sensor does have the ability to detect temperature.
It is not able to detect water depletion in the soil.
