Round-Point vs Square Shovel: Which Do You Need?
By Nate Sawyer, Editor · Updated July 2026
DIYPicks is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate and affiliate of home-improvement retailers, we may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site — at no extra cost to you. This never affects our recommendations.
Fiskars 57.5" Long-Handled Steel Digging Shovel (396680)
An all-steel round-point workhorse for the single most common garden job: digging and planting holes. The welded one-piece build removes the wood-handle failure point, so it's the safe default if you dig often and hate replacing broken handles.
| Type | Round-point digging shovel |
|---|---|
| Blade | Welded 14-gauge hardened, sharpened steel |
| Handle | 18-gauge welded steel shaft, 57.5 in overall |
| Grip | Long straight, padded ergonomic top |
| Best for | Digging & planting holes in dense soil |
Bully Tools 82525 14-Gauge Square Point Shovel, Fiberglass Long Handle
The right tool when the job is moving material, not breaking ground: mulch, gravel, compost, snow and cleanup. Buy this alongside a round point rather than instead of one, because the flat tip won't dig a hole.
| Type | Square (flat) point transfer shovel |
|---|---|
| Blade | 14-gauge USA steel, ~11 in L x 9.5 in W flat face |
| Handle | Triple-wall fiberglass, ~60 in long |
| Grip | Long straight with rubber end |
| Best for | Scooping & moving loose material, not digging |
Our verdict
These are not competitors, they are two different jobs. The round-point Fiskars has a pointed, curved blade that penetrates undug ground, so it is the tool for digging and planting holes, breaking soil and lifting from a hole. The square Bully Tools shovel has a flat, wide face that cannot bite into hard ground but scoops far more mulch, gravel or compost per lift. Buy the round point first as your everyday digger; add the square shovel when you regularly move piles of material. Most gardeners eventually own both.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why can't a square shovel dig a hole?
- Its flat tip cannot penetrate undug ground — there is no point to concentrate force. A round point with a sharpened curved blade bites into hard clay, which is what starting a hole requires.
- What is a square shovel best at?
- Moving loose material. The wide flat face scoops far more mulch, gravel or soil per lift than a round point, which is why it is called a transfer shovel.
- Is a wider blade always better for moving material?
- No — a wider blade means a heavier loaded scoop, which gets tiring on a long job. Match blade size to how far and how long you are moving material, not just to volume per lift.
- Steel or fiberglass handle?
- One-piece welded steel will not snap at the collar and survives prying, but transmits more shock in frozen or rocky ground and weighs more. Triple-wall fiberglass absorbs more shock at similar strength — the Bully square shovel uses it on a 60 in handle.