for a small fence in reasonable soil, a handheld petrol post hole digger is faster overall, because there’s no float, no unloading and no machine setup. Once you’re past roughly 15 to 20 holes, or you hit Queensland clay, an excavator-mounted auger drive wins decisively — it bores holes in seconds rather than minutes and doesn’t tire. The honest answer depends on three things: post count, soil, and site access.
Before going further, a terminology note that trips up a lot of first-time hirers.
“Auger” and “post hole digger” often mean the same thing
A post hole digger is an auger. The confusion comes from how the auger is powered:
- Handheld or two-person petrol post hole digger — a petrol engine driving an auger bit, carried and controlled by the operator. This is what most people mean by “post hole digger”.
- Machine-mounted auger drive — a hydraulic auger attachment fitted to an excavator or skid steer. This is what most people mean when they say “auger” on a job site.
So the real question is not auger versus post hole digger. It’s handheld auger versus machine-mounted auger, and that’s where the speed difference lives. Both are available through equipment hire, so the choice is yours to make per job.
Where the handheld post hole digger is faster
For a short run of posts — a gate, a pergola, a small side fence, a few clothesline or sign footings — the handheld unit usually finishes first. You collect it in a ute, carry it through a side gate, start it and dig. There’s no trailer, no ramps, no machine walk-in, no ground protection.
It also works where a machine simply can’t go: narrow side access, established gardens, courtyards, sloping ground, and anywhere you’d rather not leave track marks across a finished lawn.
The Stihl BT 131 and the 75cc Baumr-AG units in the Flourish Hire range take bits in common sizes — typically 100mm, 200mm and 300mm — with extensions available for deeper corner and strainer posts. For a weekend fence project, that’s often all the equipment you need.
The catch is physical. Handheld augers are hard work in heavy soil, they kick back when the bit catches a root or rock, and operator fatigue is real by hole number twelve. Speed per hole is only impressive while you’re fresh.
Where the excavator auger drive is faster
Mount an auger drive on a mini excavator and the arithmetic changes completely. Hydraulic torque does the work rather than your shoulders, so hole number forty takes the same time as hole number one. Depth and plumb are easier to hold consistently, and the machine repositions between holes in seconds.
Flourish Hire stocks Auger Torque Earth Drill attachments — the X2000 for 1.7 tonne excavators and the X3000 for 2.6 tonne machines — paired with the matching Bobcat and Kobelco mini excavators in the fleet. That combination handles long boundary fences, rural fencing, deck footings and retaining wall posts far more efficiently than any handheld unit.
The trade-off is setup. You need transport or delivery, room to position the machine, and enough holes to justify the mobilisation. For four post holes, the machine spends more time arriving than digging.
Soil is the deciding factor most people underestimate
Around Greenbank, Logan and the southern Brisbane corridor, heavy clay is common. Clay changes everything.
Dry, compacted clay grabs the auger bit and stalls handheld units repeatedly. Wet clay packs into the flights so the bit stops cutting and starts polishing the hole wall. Add rock or old tree roots — frequent on established blocks — and a handheld digger can turn a one-day job into a two-day one.
If you’ve tried to dig a test hole with a shovel and struggled, that’s your answer. Hire the machine.
A practical rule of thumb
| Situation | Faster option |
|---|---|
| Under 10 holes, loose or sandy soil | Handheld post hole digger |
| Tight access, finished lawns or gardens | Handheld post hole digger |
| 15 or more holes | Excavator auger drive |
| Heavy clay, rock or root-affected ground | Excavator auger drive |
| Larger diameter or deeper footings | Excavator auger drive |
| Rural fence lines and long boundaries | Excavator auger drive |
Unsure which side of the line you sit on? That’s exactly the conversation the Flourish Hire team would rather have before you book, rather than after you’ve hired the wrong machine.
Equipment hire options at Flourish Hire
Flourish Hire operates from 122–128 Teviot Road, Greenbank QLD 4124, serving Greenbank, Logan, Brisbane’s southern suburbs and surrounds, with delivery available within approximately 50 km. The yard is open 6:30am to 6:00pm, seven days a week including public holidays, with flat rates across the week — no weekend premium on a Saturday fencing job.
Relevant gear for fencing work includes the Stihl BT 131 and 75cc power post hole diggers, Auger Torque X2000 and X3000 auger drives, 1.7 to 2.6 tonne Bobcat and Kobelco mini excavators, and the irrigation trencher and compaction gear you may want for the same project. Dry hire and wet hire are both available, so you can take the machine alone or book an operator.
Frequently asked questions
1. Is an auger faster than a post hole digger for fence posts?
A machine-mounted auger drive is faster per hole and doesn’t fatigue, so it wins on larger fences and hard ground. A handheld post hole digger is faster overall on small jobs because there’s no transport or setup time.
2. How many posts justify hiring an excavator with an auger drive?
As a guide, around 15 to 20 holes. Below that, a handheld unit is usually quicker door to door — unless the soil is heavy clay or rocky, in which case the machine pays off sooner.
3. Can one person operate a petrol post hole digger?
Single-operator units exist and are common for smaller bits. Larger diameters and harder soils are safer and faster with two people. Ask about the specific unit when you book.
4. What auger bit size do I need for fence posts?
Bit diameter should suit your post size and concrete allowance — 100mm to 300mm bits cover most domestic fencing. Tell the team your post dimensions and they’ll match the bit.
5. Do I need an excavator licence to hire a mini excavator?
Licensing and competency requirements vary by machine and work context. Discuss your project when booking, and consider wet hire with an operator if you’d rather not operate the machine yourself.
6. How long is the minimum hire period?
The minimum hire is generally 24 hours, with longer periods available subject to equipment availability. Bond and ID requirements are listed on each equipment page.
The bottom line
Small fence, decent soil, tight access — take the handheld post hole digger. Long fence, clay, or a deadline — take the excavator and auger drive. Call Flourish Hire on 0455 494 558 or request your hire online with your post count, soil type and site access, and the right machine gets matched to the job.
Flourish Hire
+61455494558
122-128 Teviot Rd, Greenbank QLD 4124, Australia