A soil sampling probe is the fastest way to pull a small, repeatable soil core by hand. Choose it by what the lab will analyze: an open end or step probe for quick shallow slices, a liner-type recovery probe when the core must stay intact, and a turf probe for lawns. Then match the length, diameter and steel to the soil and the depth you must reach.
In this guide
- Which type of soil sampling probe do you need?
- Probe, auger or corer: which tool fits?
- Which probe suits VOC and PFAS sampling?
- What sizes and steels does ERE list?
- What if the ground is too hard for a hand probe?
- How do you choose a soil sampling probe, step by step?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Which Type of Soil Sampling Probe Do You Need?
It depends on the sample you must deliver. Open end and step probes cut a core or slice quickly and suit routine shallow work. Replaceable tip and recovery probes carry a clear plastic liner so the core arrives intact. A turf probe takes a small plug without wrecking a lawn. The table maps each probe to its job, using the product records.
| Probe | Best for | Key feature from the record |
|---|---|---|
| Open End Soil Probes | Shallow agricultural-type sampling | 15 in. slot cut to the end of the body so the sample empties easily; 10 in. cross handle |
| Step Probes (AMS) | Firmer ground where hand pressure is not enough | Built-in step for foot pressure; 4130 chrome molybdenum steel; 10 in. cross handle |
| Replaceable Tip Soil Probes (AMS) | Heavy-duty repeat sampling | Replaceable coring tip, liner and end caps included; 12 in. or 24 in. body, 1 1/4 in. wide |
| Soil Recovery Probes (AMS) | Intact cores in a liner | Reach-&-Grab liner system; 5/8 in. threaded top for slide hammers |
| Dual Purpose Soil Recovery Probes (AMS) | Sampling into the body or into a liner | 7 in. sample window slot; same threaded top as the recovery probe |
| AMS One-Piece Plated Turf Probe | Lawns, sod and grassed areas | 1/2 in. probe, 20 in. long, takes a 5/8 in. x 7 in. sample; built-in 10 in. cross handle |
ERE also lists a general Soil Probes range in the AM-401 series, in 7/8 in. x 33 in. and 1 1/8 in. x 24 in. sizes, nickel plated, unplated or stainless steel, with a plain handle or a hammer handle.
Probe, Auger or Corer: Which Tool Fits?
A probe is for shallow, quick, repeat sampling. A hand auger reaches deeper and handles harder ground. A core sampler is the choice when you need a longer, undisturbed core. The rule of thumb: start with the lightest tool that reaches your depth in your soil, and move up only when it stops.
US EPA Region 4 notes that the practical depth of a hand auger depends on the soil. In sand, augering is easy, but collection is limited to the depth at which the sand starts to flow or collapse, and the deeper the attempt, the harder it is to recover a sample (US EPA Region 4, Soil Sampling operating procedure). The same logic applies to a probe: length sets the maximum reach, and the soil sets how much of it you can actually use.
For augers, core samplers and split spoons, see our soil sampling equipment guide. For the whole sampling kit on a Phase II job, see the Phase II ESA equipment checklist.
Which Probe Suits VOC and PFAS Sampling?
For volatiles, use a probe that lets you see and reach undisturbed soil, such as a liner-type recovery probe or a dual purpose probe with a sample window. The reason is the method. US EPA Region 4 summarizes SW-846 Method 5035 this way: samples for VOC analysis should be collected in a way that minimizes disturbance, the sample goes into an En Core Sampler or another Method 5035 compatible container, and VOC samples are not homogenized.
The method itself is described on the US EPA page for Method 5035A, closed-system purge-and-trap and extraction for volatile organics. Always confirm container and preservation requirements with your laboratory, because they vary with the method variation.
For PFAS, the same US EPA Region 4 procedure says guidance documents recommend equipment made of stainless steel, HDPE, polypropylene or silicone, that stainless-steel spoons, hand augers and direct push samplers with PFAS-free liners can be used, and that direct-contact tools must be decontaminated. That points to the stainless steel recovery probes, but check the liner and cap material against the lab's PFAS protocol before you order.
What Sizes and Steels Does ERE List?
Lengths run from 12 in. to 40 in., diameters from 1/2 in. to 1 1/4 in., and the body steel is nickel-plated chromoly, carbon steel or stainless. The table collects the figures from the records. Metric values are our unit conversion, not a manufacturer figure.
| Probe | Part numbers | Size and length | Material |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open End Soil Probes | AM-401.21, AM-401.10 | 7/8 in. or 1 1/8 in. x 33 in. (about 84 cm) | Nickel-plated chromoly |
| Step Probes | AM-401.40, AM-401.42 | 33 in. two-piece; 40 in. one-piece (about 84 cm and 102 cm) | 4130 chromoly, plated |
| Replaceable Tip Soil Probes | AM-425.45, AM-425.47 | 12 in. or 24 in. x 1 1/4 in. (about 30 cm or 61 cm) | Nickel-plated chromoly |
| Soil Recovery Probes | 424.03 to 424.47 (8 models) | 7/8 in. or 1 1/8 in.; 12 in. or 24 in. | Nickel-plated or stainless steel |
| Dual Purpose Soil Recovery Probes | AM-424.19 to AM-424.55 (8 models) | 7/8 in. or 1 1/8 in.; 12 in. or 24 in.; 7 in. window | Nickel-plated or stainless steel |
| Turf Probe | AM-427.24 | 1/2 in. x 20 in. (about 51 cm) | Nickel-plated carbon steel |
One detail on liners: per the record, the liners for the recovery probes are 1/8 in. smaller in diameter than the probe and 1 3/4 in. longer than the sampler length. Order the liners to match the probe you pick.
What If the Ground Is Too Hard for a Hand Probe?
Add leverage or change the tool. The step probe lets you use foot pressure. The recovery probes thread onto 5/8 in. slide hammers and the hammer head cross handle, as the records state. If stones or dense clay still stop the probe, move to an auger or a core sampler and log the refusal depth.
Soil gas is a different job. A soil gas probe draws vapour from the ground and is not a soil core tool, so it follows its own method. ERE lists the "Original" Gas Vapor Probe for that work. For the wider range, browse the soil sampling collection.
After sampling, describe the soil you recovered. Our Munsell soil colour chart guide covers logging colour, and the environmental sampling equipment guide shows how soil, water and air tools fit one program.
How Do You Choose a Soil Sampling Probe, Step by Step?
- Name the analysis. Metals and nutrients tolerate a mixed core. Volatiles need minimally disturbed soil. PFAS needs approved materials.
- Set the depth. Add up the deepest interval you must sample and pick a probe length that reaches it, or plan for an auger.
- Check the soil. Sand, loam and turf suit a hand probe. Stones, dry clay and gravel call for a slide hammer or an auger.
- Pick the probe type. Open end for fast shallow slices, step for firmer ground, liner-type recovery for intact cores, turf for lawns and greens.
- Choose the material. Nickel-plated chromoly for general work. Stainless steel where metal contamination or corrosion matters.
- Plan decontamination and spares. Bring enough clean probes or a wash plan between locations, plus liners and caps for each sample.
Need help choosing a soil sampling probe?
ERE Inc. has been Canada's environmental equipment specialist for 30+ years. Tell us the soil, the depth and the analysis, and we will match the probe.
→ Request a Quote | 1-888-287-EREC | Browse Soil Sampling | sales@ereinc.com
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a soil sampling probe?
A soil sampling probe is a hand-driven steel tube that cuts a small core or slice of soil and brings it to the surface. It is the lightest tool for shallow sampling, and it can hold a plastic liner so the core stays intact.
What is the difference between a soil probe and a soil auger?
A probe pushes a tube into the soil and pulls out a core. A hand auger turns a bucket or screw into the soil and brings up loosened material in layers. The probe is faster for shallow, repeat samples. The auger reaches deeper and suits harder ground.
Which soil probe should I use for VOC samples?
Use a liner-type recovery probe or a probe with a sample window, so you can take the VOC portion from minimally disturbed soil and fill a Method 5035 compatible container right away. US EPA guidance says VOC samples are not homogenized.
Can a soil probe be used for PFAS sampling?
US EPA Region 4 says standard equipment such as stainless-steel spoons, hand augers and direct push samplers with PFAS-free liners can be used, and that direct-contact tools must be decontaminated. Confirm the liner and cap materials with your laboratory before you buy.
How deep can a hand soil probe sample?
Reach is set by the tool length. The ERE probes listed here run from 12 in. (about 30 cm) to 40 in. (about 102 cm). Stones, dry clay and dense gravel stop a hand probe sooner, so a slide hammer or an auger is the next step.
Related articles
- Soil Sampling Equipment in Canada: Augers, Core Samplers and Split Spoons
- Environmental Sampling Equipment Guide for Canada
- Phase II ESA Equipment Checklist for Canadian Consultants
- Munsell Soil Color Chart: A Field Guide
Lire en français : Sonde d'échantillonnage de sol : sondes ouvertes, à pas, de récupération et à gazon au Canada