Caught choosing between a spade vs shovel for your gardening and landscaping needs? In this guide, we break down the essential features to consider when deciding between a spade and a shovel.
Our recommendations explore the nuances of each tool and their practical applications in various tasks. With years of experience in gardening and landscaping, our insights are grounded in hands-on testing, ensuring you select the right tool for your outdoor projects.
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Best Garden Shovels and Spades for 2024
Product | Our Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Spear & Jackson Microround Round Mouth Fibre Glass Shaft |  | ||
2. Spear & Jackson Garden Spade - Stainless Steel Blade SJ-1190EL |  | ||
3. Draper 83754 Extra Long Stainless Steel Garden Spade |  | ||
4. Spear & Jackson Colours Garden Spade - Green SJ-CDSG |  |
Spade vs Shovel - What is the Difference?
The fundamental difference between the two is that each tool is designed to do something entirely different. Although the terms are often inter-changed as the same, their structure and design are quite noticeable different once you know what to look for.
Before we look at what makes them different, let’s consider their similarities first. Both shovels and spades are made up of similar parts, which are:
- The Handle/ Shaft
- The Step
- The Blade
However, when you look closely you’ll notice subtle differences in each. In general, shovels are longer, more angled and come with a curved blade. Whereas, a spade is far shorter and has a flatter, spear-head shaped blade.
What Does A Spade Look Like?
To understand the difference in appearance, let’s consider the three main parts of a spade.
The Handle
- Spades usually have a far shorter, straight handle.
- At the top, you will have a grip which is in a “D” or “T” shape so as to help you when working with the tool.
The Step
- As spades are used for more heavy-duty work, you’ll notice a small ledge at the top of the blade on which you can place your foot.
The Blade
- Spades have a flat blade, which is often square shaped at the end.
- These blades are usually smaller than those on a shovel.
What is a Garden Spade used For?
Garden spades, being sharper, are used for edging, digging trenches or even slicing roots. Spades help to loosen and break apart big lumps within the soil.
In general, spades can be said to be used for light cultivation and not necessarily for soil moving. Spades are often used in flower beds or vegetable gardens and to keep the borders of your beds neat and clean.
What Does a Shovel Look Like?
Shovels are a little more heavy duty as opposed to a spade. Again, we’ll consider the three main features:
The Handle
- Shovels have a long upward handle that usually sits at an angle to the blade.
- Some shovels may come with some padding at the top of the handle to help make garden work less strenuous on the hands.
The Step
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- Shovels will have little to no step as the intended work doesn’t need as much downward force.
The Blade
- Shovels will have a longer blade that is often bowl-shaped or curved.
What Is a Garden Shovel Used For?
A garden shovel has the primary purpose of being used for digging, lifting soil and moving loose materials. Due to its bowl-shape it can hold soil or other matter making it easier to move materials.
While spades may have sharper edges, a garden shovel has blunt edges as it does not need to cut through matter, but rather scoop it. Just make sure you know how to use your shovel safely.
Choosing Between Shovel vs Spade
Now that you know which tool you’ll need for which gardening task, it’s time to choose the right shovels and spades.
The key factor for consideration will be what kind of material you want. Classic shovels and spades are usually made up of a solid steel blade with a wooden handle. However, there are now a wide range of options available on the market.
When it comes to materials you’ll want to choose between:
- Wood. Wood is a classic option as it's strong and quite durable. However, wood does tend to splinter with age.
- Steel. Steel is a strong and solid option which is why many gardeners go for it. However, it can become quite heavy quite quickly.
- Fiberglass. Fiberglass is always a great option as it’s far more resistant to wear and tear. Fiberglass shovels and spades do tend to be a little more pricey.
- Aluminium. Aluminium is the cheapest option on market so it works for those on a budget, but don’t expect it to last too long as aluminium tends to bend.
Best Garden Shovel Review
When it comes to choosing a garden shovel, you’ll want to ensure a quality blade and an ergonomic handle to make your gardening a breeze. Here’s our top pick:
1. Spear & Jackson Microround Round Mouth Fibre Glass Shaft with Micro Shovel, Blue
For those looking for something a little more compact, this shovel is an ideal option.
With a tough fiberglass shaft, this handy tool is great for smaller gardens and compact spaces.
Plus, with a pressed carbon steel blade, it packs the same punch as any of its bigger counterparts.
Best Garden Spade Reviews
As with a garden shovel, when it comes to choosing the best garden spade it’s all about finding one with a quality blade and a re-enforced handle. Here’s our top picks:
2. Spear & Jackson Garden Spade - Stainless Steel Blade, Ergonomic Shaft & D-Handles SJ-1190EL
This is a fantastic spade with a stunning, stainless steel blade and an ergonomic, maximum comfort broad handle.
This spade is ideal for digging and cultivating and has incredible rust resistance.
3. Draper 83754 Extra Long Stainless Steel Garden Spade with Soft Grip
Another amazing stainless steel option, this fantastic garden spade offers a soft grip but an incredibly durable blade and handle.
Hardened, tempered and polished, you can’t go wrong with this spade.
4. Spear & Jackson Colours Garden Spade - Green SJ-CDSG
Want something with a bit of colour? This is another great option from Spear & Jackson and comes with a carbon steel blade and a soft, angled grip.
Spade Vs Shove Frequently Asked Questions
Do you dig with a shovel or a spade?
Spades are designed for digging, shovels are for moving earth, manure, snow, or any other surface material. Spades have sharp edges and are routinely used to dig holes in garden soil, or slice through root balls on mature plants.
Is a shovel called a spade in the US?
In some parts of the world, there is confusion between a shovel and a spade, but they are the same in all countries, including the US. Spades are cutting tools, shovels are digging tools, and they are not interchangeable.
What is a Cornish shovel?
Cornish shovels have long straight handles and pointed faces. They are ideal for quickly working through loose manure, and moving coal but should not be used for any compacted soil work, or digging.
What is different about a snow shovel?
Snow shovels are wide-mouthed, often with serrated bases, and a plastic shovel blade that connects securely to a reinforced handle. They are designed to dig sharply through compacted snow, as well as taking the pressure of moving snow around in large quantities without breaking.
What is a military shovel called?
Trenching tools are shovels, used to drag earth while working low to the ground. They were designed to be used while staying out of the line of fire and out of sight, but are actually pretty useful for creating mounds and drills in loose garden soil while kneeling too.
What is a snow sled shovel?
Snow sled shovels are manual tools with exceptionally wide blades, designed to be used by one or two people without the need for large machinery, making quick work of clearing paths of snow. They are not useful for lifting and shifting snow but work well for pushing it around.
Is there such a thing as a power shovel?
Power shovels or ride-on snow shovels are common around the world, and all traditional ploughs are technically shovels, moving and pushing earth out of their way to great rills and drills in fields more effectively than digging out with a spade.
For more tools to help you work on your garden, check out our list below:
Wrapping Up Our Spade vs Shovel Guide
Whichever garden spade or garden shovel you choose, always make sure you consider quality over cost. A good shovel or spade can last a lifetime when taken care of correctly.
Always be sure to store your shovels and spades indoors, whether in a shed or within your garage. Take care to always wear the right clothing when using these tools.
Consider wearing hard, closed shoes rather than something like flip-flops. To avoid hand strain consider wearing some gardening gloves or choosing a spade or shovel with re-enforced handle.
There you have it, the next time you're torn between using a garden spade vs shovel, you can easily pick which one is best based on your needs.
Published on January 24, 2023 by Aussie Green Thumb
Last Updated on October 17, 2024
Nice explanation and I agree many people don’t know the difference.
I agree with Anne. I have always gotten very confused between spades and shovels and it doesn’t help when some people say spade but they really mean shovel. Thanks for that post.
Oddly enough when I bought my shovel and fork a couple of years ago, for each I was torn between two good sturdy choices. One had a metal and wooden handle, the other a solid plastic handle. In the end I chose the plastic handles because the other was very slightly wobbly, and the shop dude said they make the plastic handles sturdy these days – especially in the good brand I was choosing from (is this blog like the ABC – no brand names mentioned?).
I’ve had no complaints so far, but I’ve not had them all that long. Time will tell how well the plastic ages, although as a very casual gardener I don’t spend hours out in the sun so hopefully they won’t become UV damaged and crack on me.
I truly hope they are improving the plastics they use because obviously that would make them cheaper, I’ve just never had any luck with them! Hope you do 🙂