Best Grounding Rods

Updated January 2020
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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Read more  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.Read more 
Bottom Line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Erico 611380UPC Bonded Ground Rod, 1/2-Inch by 8-Feet
Erico
611380UPC Bonded Ground Rod, 1/2-Inch by 8-Feet
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Bottom Line

This 8' carbon rod sports a uniform electrolytic copper coating that makes it appropriate for many applications.

Pros

Uniform electrolytic copper on steel core. Minimum copper depth 10 Mils. Measures 8' long by 1/2" outside diameter. UL Listed. High quality. Easy to install in the ground.

Cons

Moderately strong, although not as strong as a carbon rod or other options.

Best Bang for the Buck
CableRanch 4' ft Foot Copper Coated Steel Ground Rod 3/8" For Electric Fences
CableRanch
4' ft Foot Copper Coated Steel Ground Rod 3/8" For Electric Fences
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Bottom Line

This 4' copper-coated rod is a great choice for use with electric fences, antennae, and travel generators.

Pros

Copper-coated steel ground. Measures 4' long with 3/8" outside diameter. Comes with ground wire binding clamp. Pointed end makes it easy to drive into the ground.

Cons

Copper coating is relatively thin, so be sure of the thickness you need to suit your purposes.

CableRanch 4ft Ground Rod 3/8" with Grounding Clamp PVGR4 Copper Clad Steel
CableRanch
4ft Ground Rod 3/8" with Grounding Clamp PVGR4 Copper Clad Steel
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Bottom Line

This 4' rod is best used to ground off-air antennas and satellite dishes.

Pros

Copper-coated steel ground rod. Measures 4' long with 3/8" outer diameter. Comes with a ground wire binding clamp. Easy to drive into the soil. Creates a good grounding connection.

Cons

Clamp could be higher in quality.

Erico 815860UPC Galvanized Ground Rod
Erico
815860UPC Galvanized Ground Rod
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Bottom Line

The exteriors of this zinc-coated rod are hot-dipped and galvanized for protection against corrosion.

Pros

Galvanized 5/8" x 6' galvanized ground rod. Zinc-coated high strength steel. Minimum thickness of 3.9 Mils. Meets NEMA & ANSI Standards. Non UL listed.

Cons

Standalone rod not cupped to accept the point of another rod.

Fi-Shock A-21 5/8-Inch Six Foot Galvanized Ground Rod
Fi-Shock
A-21 5/8-Inch Six Foot Galvanized Ground Rod
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Bottom Line

This galvanized grounding rod is designed to properly ground electric fence energizers.

Pros

Six-foot galvanized grounding rod. Outer diameter measures 5/8". Easy to install into the ground. Works with electric fences.

Cons

Doesn't come with clamp.

Why trust BestReviews?
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Read more  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Read more  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.Read more 
How we decided

We purchase every product we review with our own funds — we never accept anything from product manufacturers.

11 Models Considered
6 Hours Researched
1 Experts Interviewed
223 Consumers Consulted
Zero products received from manufacturers.

We purchase every product we review with our own funds — we never accept anything from product manufacturers.

A ground rod safely diverts electricity to the ground where it can dissipate harmlessly. There are different types of rods for specific jobs and soil types. Most ground rods are copper-coated or galvanized, with copper-bonded rods coming in at a lower price. Most rods are 8 feet long and are safer and more likely to be legal in your area than 6- or 4-foot rods. However, longer rods can be difficult or even dangerous to install. Most rods have a diameter of 5/8 inches, but ¾ inch diameter rods are easier to drive into the ground at the cost of higher resistance. Some rods may include a clamp to attach the rod to wires.

The team that worked on this review
  • Kristin
    Kristin
    Writer
  • Melinda
    Melinda
    Web Producer
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CableRanch

4' ft Foot Copper Coated Steel Ground Rod 3/8" For Electric Fences

CableRanch

4' ft Foot Copper Coated Steel Ground Rod 3/8" For Electric Fences

This 4' copper-coated rod is a great choice for use with electric fences, antennae, and travel generators.

$20
×

Erico

611380UPC Bonded Ground Rod, 1/2-Inch by 8-Feet

Erico

611380UPC Bonded Ground Rod, 1/2-Inch by 8-Feet

This 8' carbon rod sports a uniform electrolytic copper coating that makes it appropriate for many applications.

$25
×

CableRanch

4ft Ground Rod 3/8" with Grounding Clamp PVGR4 Copper Clad Steel

CableRanch

4ft Ground Rod 3/8" with Grounding Clamp PVGR4 Copper Clad Steel

This 4' rod is best used to ground off-air antennas and satellite dishes.
$20
×

Erico

815860UPC Galvanized Ground Rod

Erico

815860UPC Galvanized Ground Rod

The exteriors of this zinc-coated rod are hot-dipped and galvanized for protection against corrosion.

$23
×

Fi-Shock

A-21 5/8-Inch Six Foot Galvanized Ground Rod

Fi-Shock

A-21 5/8-Inch Six Foot Galvanized Ground Rod

This galvanized grounding rod is designed to properly ground electric fence energizers.

$29

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