Fewer holes and light travel, or all-day power drilling -- pick the type first
Electric augers are lighter and mess-free; gas augers keep drilling as long as you have fuel. Here's how our reviewed 2026 picks split along that line.
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Quick answer: Our top pick for electric vs. gas ice augers is the StrikeMaster Lithium 40V Ice Auger (Best Electric Overall). If you're looking for best electric for battery life, the ION X Electric Ice Auger is a strong alternative.
Every auger in our main comparison runs on one of two power types: rechargeable lithium battery, or 2-cycle gas. Both will get you through a foot or more of ice, but they trade off differently on speed, weight, mess, and how they perform once you're several hours into a full day on the ice.
Gas augers drill slightly faster -- roughly 45 seconds per hole against about a minute for a battery auger -- and don't slow down as fuel burns off the way a battery's output can taper near empty. That makes gas the better fit for hole-hopping, where you're drilling well over a hundred holes in a day chasing fish. The trade-off is 2-cycle oil-gas mixing, fuel odor, pull-starting, and more weight and noise than an electric auger.
Electric augers skip all of that: no mixing, no fumes, and a simple charge-and-go routine, plus they're generally lighter to carry out onto the ice. The ION X's roughly 1,600-inch-per-charge rating covers a full day of moderate drilling for most anglers, while the StrikeMaster trades some of that runtime for a lower price. The real weak point is cold-weather battery performance -- keep the battery insulated or warm between uses, especially in sub-zero conditions.
For most anglers who drill a handful of holes around a shelter or a few tip-up spots, either electric auger here is the simpler, lower-maintenance choice. For anglers who hole-hop all day searching for fish, the Eskimo Mako's continuous gas power is the safer bet.
| Product | Best For | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| StrikeMaster Lithium 40V Ice Auger | Best Electric Overall | $280 - $330 | 4.3/5 |
| ION X Electric Ice Auger | Best Electric for Battery Life | $450 - $500 | 4.4/5 |
| Eskimo Mako M43 Gas Ice Auger | Best Gas | $300 - $330 | 4.5/5 |
A cordless 40V/5Ah lithium auger rated for roughly 70-100 holes through 16 inches of ice per charge, with torque reviewers compare favorably to gas models and none of the fuel mixing or fumes.
A premium 40V electric auger rated for roughly 1,600 inches of ice per charge -- well above typical battery augers -- with built-in LED lights for early morning and after-dark drilling.
A 43cc 2-cycle gas auger with dual stainless steel blades that drills 75+ holes through 12+ inches of ice on a single tank, with continuous power that doesn't taper off like a draining battery.
The Eskimo Mako gas auger drills at roughly 45 seconds per hole versus about a minute for a battery auger like the StrikeMaster -- a real but not huge difference per hole. It adds up over a high-volume hole-hopping day, though, and gas power doesn't taper the way a draining battery's output can near the end of a charge.
It can -- battery-powered tools generally lose some torque and speed as charge gets low, which is part of why gas augers stay the preferred choice for anglers drilling well over a hundred holes in a day. For a handful of holes around a shelter or a few tip-up spots, that tapering effect is rarely noticeable enough to matter.
There's no single hard threshold, but performance measurably drops in sustained sub-zero conditions if the battery isn't kept warm between uses -- insulating it in a jacket or a warm bag helps significantly. Gas augers like the Eskimo Mako don't have this issue at all since they run on fuel rather than a temperature-sensitive battery.
Yes -- the electric augers in this comparison run about 22-25 lbs while the gas Eskimo Mako comes in over 30 lbs. That roughly 8-10 lb gap is noticeable over a long walk onto the ice, especially combined with a sled, shelter, and the rest of a day's gear.
A 2-cycle engine requires mixing gasoline with 2-cycle oil at a specific ratio (check your owner's manual for the exact spec) before fueling, rather than running on straight gas like most modern 4-stroke engines. It's not difficult once you've done it, but it's an extra prep step, a fuel odor, and a spill risk that electric augers skip entirely.
It can tip the scale toward electric -- a cold gas engine that needs several pulls to start is a shared annoyance with company but a bigger time cost solo, and electric augers here start with a simple trigger or button instead.