Best Ice Augers (2026): 7 Electric, Gas, Drill and Hand Picks

Best ice auger overall

Sportsman's Warehouse: $569.99 for the 8-inch (checked October 9, 2026; 10-inch $669.99) · Weight: 14.3 lb listed

"Best electric ice auger" just broke out in searches, and for most anglers the answer starts here. ION calls the Alpha Pro its lightest and fastest-cutting auger yet, and the listed numbers back that up: the 8-inch model weighs 14.3 pounds and cuts up to 3.8 inches of ice per second, with up to 2,000 inches of ice per charge from the included 4Ah, 40V battery. That's enough for a lot of holes on a typical day of hole-hopping for panfish or walleye.

Battery augers have taken over for good reasons: no mixing gas, no pull-starts at 10 below, no fumes in a shelter, and they're quiet. The Alpha Pro adds the features that matter on the ice: a variable-speed trigger so you can ease into a cut (and keep the mess down in a wheelhouse), a reverse to flush slush down the hole, LED drilling lights, a centering point and a composite bit that ION says stays tough and flexible in the cold. The fast charger refills the battery in about 1.5 hours, and ION backs the auger and battery with 3-year limited warranties.

At about $570, it's an investment, but it's the one we'd buy if you fish hard water every weekend. The 8-inch showed Ship To Home with delivery by October 21 when we checked on October 9. The speed and per-charge numbers are ION's claims; cold, thick or dirty ice will cut into them.

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Lightest 40V electric auger

Sportsman's Warehouse: $549.99 for the 8-inch (10-inch $569.99) · Weight: 13.5 lb listed

Eskimo has made ice augers since 1960, and its E40 Composite is the main rival to the ION. Eskimo calls it the lightest auger in its class at 13.5 pounds, a little lighter than the Alpha Pro. It runs on a full-power 40V motor with a 4 amp-hour lithium battery designed for cold weather, and the included 2-amp charger refills it in about 2 hours.

The features line up closely with the ION: a variable-speed trigger for finesse at the top of the hole and less mess in a shelter, a reverse toggle to flush slush, an LED drilling light under the powerhead, and Eskimo's Turbo multi-edge blades for fast, smooth cutting on new holes and re-drills. Where it stands out is the warranty: Eskimo lists 5 years on the auger and powerhead and 3 years on the battery.

The 8-inch was about $550 on October 9, showed 4.9 stars from 15 reviews on the Sportsman's listing, and offered Ship To Home with delivery by October 20. Eskimo doesn't list a holes-per-charge figure on the page, so if runtime matters most to you, the ION's published number is easier to plan around.

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Best StrikeMaster electric auger

Amazon: $579.99 for the 8-inch (only 2 left when checked) · Motor: 40V brushless

StrikeMaster is the most-searched auger brand by name, and "Maven ice auger" is a breakout search this month. The Lithium 40V Maven is StrikeMaster's newer battery auger, and the Amazon listing highlights a high-torque 40V brushless motor, a lightweight composite design and a 40V lithium-ion battery built to drill multiple holes per charge.

It comes with StrikeMaster's 8-inch Lazer steel drill assembly with premium stainless-steel blades, plus a reverse function for flushing slush. The listing photos also show an LED light on the powerhead.

We have less verified detail on this one than on the ION and Eskimo: the Amazon page didn't list a weight, cutting speed or holes-per-charge figure on October 9, and it was sold and shipped by a third-party store (Al's Sporting Goods) with only two left. It was about $580. If you're loyal to StrikeMaster or already own Lazer drills, it's the one to look at; otherwise the ION and Eskimo give you more published numbers for the money.

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Best gas ice auger

Sportsman's Warehouse: $299.99 · Engine: 43cc Viper 2-cycle · Hole: 10 in

"Gas powered ice auger" is a breakout search, and gas still makes sense for some anglers: you can drill all day as long as you have fuel, there's no battery to keep warm, and a 10-inch hole is a cheap upgrade. The Mako M43 is Eskimo's value gas auger. Eskimo says it offers many of the features of high-end augers in a more economical package.

It runs Eskimo's 43cc Viper 2-cycle engine with a mitten-grip recoil rope, a see-through gas tank, a muffler guard, a ball-bearing transmission and a toggle switch. It drills 10-inch holes with Eskimo's dual stainless Quantum blades and a centering ring, and comes with a blade protector. The 10-inch hole is big enough for larger walleye, pike and lake trout.

At about $300, it costs about half as much as the 40V electrics, and it showed Ship To Home with delivery by October 20. The trade-offs are the usual gas ones: mixing 2-cycle fuel, noise, fumes (never run it inside a shelter), and more maintenance. Eskimo doesn't list a weight on this page, and gas augers are generally heavier than the newest electrics.

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Best drill ice auger (budget)

Sportsman's Warehouse: $149.99 · Hole: 8 in · Shaft: 39 in

"Drill ice auger" and "ice auger for drill" are two of the biggest searches in this category, and it's easy to see why. If you already own a strong cordless drill, a drill-driven auger bit costs a fraction of a complete electric auger. This kit from Sportsman's Warehouse's own line is an 8-inch nylon-flighted bit with an aluminum stem and a 39-inch shaft, so the drill stays upright and does the work.

The cutting head has dual flat blades and a center-point blade to stop skipping on the first bite, and Sportsman's says the nylon flighting stays flexible and impact-resistant in the cold. The included top plate gives you a stable mount for the drill and is designed to keep the auger or drill from going down the hole.

It was about $150 on October 9 with Ship To Home available. The catch is the drill. Sportsman's says to use a high-torque 18V cordless drill with a 1/2-inch chuck, and a weak drill or small battery will struggle on thick ice. Factor in a second battery, and keep batteries warm in an inside pocket.

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Best budget electric auger (panfish)

Amazon: $299.99 for the 6-inch · Power: 24V lithium

"StrikeMaster 24V ice auger" is another breakout search, and the Lite-Flite is the reason. It's a smaller, simpler battery auger for anglers who mostly chase panfish and don't need a 40V powerhead. StrikeMaster describes it as the lightest, most compact performer in its class, with more power, more holes and steadier handling than a standard handheld cordless drill.

The linked version drills a 6-inch hole, which is plenty for crappie, bluegill and perch and cuts faster than a bigger hole on the same battery. One note from StrikeMaster's own description: the 24V powerhead only pairs with Lite-Flite Lazer drills, so you can't swap it onto other StrikeMaster bits.

It was about $300 on October 9, sold and shipped by Reeds Family Outdoor Outfitters through Amazon with 10 left. Owner feedback was mixed, at 3.9 out of 5 from 17 ratings, and the listing doesn't give a reliable weight or runtime. Buy it as a light panfish auger, not as a replacement for a 40V machine.

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Best manual ice auger

Amazon: $72.26 · Hole: 6 in · Weight: 6 lb listed

"Manual ice auger" broke out in searches too, and every ice angler should own one. A hand auger is light, cheap, never needs a charge, and is all you need on early ice, which is usually thin and the safest time to drill by hand. It's also a backup when a battery dies.

The Mora is one of StrikeMaster's long-running hand augers. The listing describes high-alloy carbon-steel blades, powder-coated paint to reduce ice build-up, soft rubber grips and an ergonomic two-piece handle that adjusts from 48 to 57 inches. It weighs a listed 6 pounds and drills a 6-inch hole, which is the easiest size to turn by hand.

It was about $72 on Amazon on October 14, with 10 left in stock. Drilling by hand gets hard fast once the ice is a foot or more thick, so pair it with a powered auger for midwinter. (Sportsman's Warehouse lists Eskimo and HT hand augers too, but they were out of stock when we checked.)

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