8 BEST Bird Feeder Poles of 2025! (ALL price ranges)
Your bird feeder pole is the true unsung hero in your backyard.
It’s not glamorous, or exciting. It will never be the center of attention (even though it’s located at the center of your backyard feeding station).
But your bird feeder pole system could be the most important investment you make in your bird-feeding hobby!
Remember that your bird feeders are only as sturdy as the place you choose to hang them. If you don’t have a good backbone for your bird feeding station, you could end up with feeders (and seed) all over the ground! Choosing the correct bird feeder pole is also incredibly important if you want to keep squirrels off your feeders. 🙂
- RELATED: 7 Things to Consider When Buying a Bird Feeder Pole! (Helpful to read this article before purchasing)
To help you choose the best option for your setup, I have listed a range of bird feeder poles for every situation and price range. And, keep reading to the end for advice on a TRULY customized setup!
8 BEST Bird Feeder Poles:
- Listed from the most expensive to the cheapest!
#1: Squirrel Stopper Pole and Baffle Set
Compare Prices of the Squirrel Stopper Pole!
- JCS Wildlife *Save 10% automatically by clicking this link*
- Amazon
The Squirrel Stopper is very popular and definitely one of the BEST bird feeding poles available. It is one of the ONLY poles currently available that is built straight from the factory specifically to STOP squirrels. Scott, the creator of Bird Watching HQ, owns this pole and has successfully used it for many years.
Here are the best features of this bird feeder pole:
- To accomplish the almost impossible feat of stopping squirrels, a spring-loaded baffle is attached directly to the pole. The baffle has incredible flexibility and can move up, down, and side to side. I’ve never seen squirrels get past the baffle, nor have heard of it happening to anyone else!
- PRESS PLAY below to see how the baffle works!
- The pole can hold up to eight bird feeders (or hanging plants, wind chimes, etc.) from the metal arms. The Squirrel Stopper can handle just about any bird feeder, except for ones that are incredibly heavy. I would not put any hopper-style bird feeders on the Squirrel Stopper, due to their weight.
- The installation of this bird feeder pole is relatively simple. It took about half an hour from opening the box to having the Squirrel Stopper installed and in the ground. The instructions in the box are not great, but luckily building this pole is not rocket science. Thankfully, no tools are required; everything you need comes in the box. View a PDF of the instructions here!
- Screwing the pole into the ground is surprisingly easy. An auger attaches to the bottom of the pole, and then you use one of the cross tubes to screw it down into the ground. It took less than a minute to get the pole almost two feet underground! But if your ground is dry and hard, it will definitely be more difficult. 🙂
- The construction of the Squirrel Stopper is sturdy. The pole is 16 gauge steel and includes a black powder coat finish. The vertical pole has a diameter of 2 inches (5 cm). The horizontal cross tubes at the top have a diameter of 1 inch (2.5 cm).
*Here’s a video of the Squirrel Stopper in action!*
You can see a decent close-up view of the pole, along with plenty of feeders and birds!
Some people have complained that this pole rusts over time. Rust can be prevented by periodically spraying on a rust preventer like Rust-Oleum (Clear).
The Squirrel Stopper is easily one of the BEST purchases you can make for backyard bird feeding.
#2: Squirrel Stopper Sequoia Squirrel-Proof Pole System
Compare Prices of the Squirrel Stopper Sequoia!
- JCS Wildlife *Save 10% automatically by clicking this link*
- Amazon
Another option made by Squirrel Stopper is the Sequoia Squirrel-Proof Pole System. It uses the same universal squirrel baffle that moves up, down, and side-to-side to make it impossible for squirrels to climb up!
Instead of a cross-post, the Sequoia has four hooks at the top of the pole to hang feeders, birdhouses, or plant baskets. This versatile system is easy to assemble and has an auger-style base that screws directly into the ground for sturdy support of your feeders.
#3. Advanced Pole System
The Advanced Pole System is ONLY available at Wild Birds Unlimited (WBU), which is a chain of retail stores found in North America that specializes in bird feeding. The staff is always knowledgeable and helpful, and they only sell quality products.
The APS is entirely customizable, which is one reason why I love it! You can start with just a simple shepherd’s hook design, or you can mount your hopper at the top and platform feeder in the middle of the pole. From there, it’s easy to add extra arms for additional feeders, suet cages, or small dish feeders. If you can dream of a design, you can probably make it happen with this bird feeder pole system.
My current setup is a hook on each side for a tube feeder, with a tray in the middle and a suet cage above the tray. I also have a large baffle below the tray feeder to stop squirrels. Make sure to look at the pictures above, which were taken in my backyard. 🙂
The following video is a quick introduction to the Advanced Pole System.
Does this bird feeder pole stop squirrels?
The Advanced Pole System does not come with a squirrel baffle permanently mounted like the Squirrel Stopper pole. But it’s easy to add a baffle to prevent squirrels from climbing up. Wild Birds Unlimited offers a few options tailored specifically to this pole system, or you can check out this article that gives lots of options for squirrel baffles!
#4: Squirrel Stopper Universal Mounting Kit
Compare Prices!
- JCS Wildlife *Save 10% automatically by clicking this link*
- Amazon
The Universal Mounting Kit by Squirrel Stopper is a great bird feeder pole if you use a large hopper feeder or a tray bird feeder. It comes with everything you need to install the pole and attach the feeder to the top.
Within 10 minutes of receiving this product, you can have it in the ground feeding birds as it’s SO easy to set up. And it’s also easy to move around your yard to test different areas. We are constantly moving this pole around the yard to see which spots work the best!
Its sturdy threaded-join design, powder-coat finish, and auger ground anchor mean it will stand straight and hold up to extreme weather conditions. This bird feeder pole is great for heavy hopper feeders as the top-mounted design means you don’t have to worry about the pole leaning.
You should be aware that this pole does not come with a built-in squirrel baffle like the pole and baffle set. But, you can buy stand-alone baffles to attach to the pole. In addition, this pole will not work if you want to use a bird feeder that needs to hang, like a tube feeder.
#5: Bolite Adjustable Bird Feeding Pole
If you want an inexpensive bird feeding pole system that gives you flexibility, the Bolite Bird Feeding Station might be the best option for you. It’s rated highly because it’s easy to put together and durable.
The design is threaded sections of metal tubing with a stake-type base. The base has three stabilizer arms, which protect it from leaning under the weight of the feeders. Another feature of this station is that it has plenty of hooks to customize your setup and two small dishes for seed, water, or other treats.
One of the main drawbacks to this system is that it can be flimsy in high winds, with heavy feeders, or if larger animals try to climb it. The prongs at the bottom are only 6 inches (15 cm) long, so there isn’t much support. Most of the higher quality poles above have an auger that goes down 18 – 24 inches (46 – 61 cm) into the ground.
#6: Gray Bunny Deck Mount Bird Feeding Pole
The Gray Bunny Deck Mount Bird Feeding Pole is a great option for anyone who wants to mount a bird feeding pole right on their deck!
It’s made of heavy-duty steel with a powder-coat finish to prevent rust and comes with a bracket that attaches directly to a deck railing. The pole fits into the bracket and can easily be swiveled to fill the feeder.
A word of caution if you choose this pole: according to most reviewers, the screws provided aren’t strong enough to hold the bracket in place. Using longer, heavier screws for installing should solve any issues though.
#7: EXCMARK Shepherd Hook
If your main concern is cost, you may be happy with a simple shepherd’s hook for hanging a single feeder. You can purchase one for under $15.
A tube feeder or small hanging tray would work perfectly with this hook. You wouldn’t want to hang a large or heavy feeder on this type of pole, but in terms of price, you couldn’t do better!
#8: Make your own bird feeder pole!
If you’ve reached the end of this list and haven’t found a bird feeder pole system that fits your needs, consider a DIY Setup!
You have limitless options when it comes to how many feeders, accessories, and extras you include. And you can make your pole system as sturdy as you wish! Many people sink a pole, such as a 4×4, into the ground surrounded by concrete.
With a DIY setup, you also have complete control over the aesthetics – you can go rustic with unfinished wood and exposed nails or create a beautiful conversation piece with finished wood and specialty feeders. It’s really up to you!
Check out Scott and his dad building his custom bird feeder pole: (Video sped up!)
To ensure your bird feeding pole system is sturdy enough to last a lifetime, I recommend starting with a few basic materials. A 4″x4″ post sunk at least two feet into the ground will ensure you have a great base for as many feeders as you want. For extra support, you can pour concrete around the post. Once the post is placed, you can nail in bracket hooks or shepherd’s crook arms to hang your feeders. You can even attach suet cages and tray feeders directly to the post! And to make the pole squirrel proof, you can place a stove pipe over top of the pole!
Do you have a bird feeder pole system you love?
Let us know how it works in the comments!
