Shovel vs Spade: What's the Difference and When to Use Each?
By Nate Sawyer, Editor · Updated July 2026
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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 |
Fiskars Steel D-Handle Garden Spade (396670)
A spade is a cutting and edging tool, not a digging-hole tool. This Fiskars flat-blade D-handle model is the go-to for crisp bed edges, sod removal and root slicing where a round-point shovel just tears.
| Type | Flat garden spade |
|---|---|
| Blade | Welded 14-gauge hardened, sharpened steel, flat face |
| Handle | 18-gauge steel shaft, 46 in overall |
| Grip | Large D-grip (two-handed control) |
| Best for | Edging beds, slicing sod, clean straight cuts |
Our verdict
The difference comes down to cutting versus scooping. A spade has a flat blade nearly in line with the handle, made to slice straight down for edging beds, cutting sod and severing roots with a clean vertical wall. A shovel has a curved, usually pointed blade angled to scoop and lift, so it excels at digging holes and moving loose soil. If you are shaping edges and cutting turf, reach for the spade; if you are digging holes and lifting material, reach for the round-point shovel. Serious gardeners keep both because neither does the other's job well.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the difference between a shovel and a spade?
- Cutting versus scooping. A spade has a flat blade nearly in line with the handle, made to slice straight down - edging beds, cutting sod, severing roots, leaving a clean vertical wall. A shovel has a curved, usually pointed blade angled to scoop and lift, which is what you want for digging holes and moving loose soil.
- If you can only own one, which should it be?
- A round-point digging shovel, because digging holes and moving material is the more common job. Buy the spade second, when you start caring about clean bed edges and cutting turf - a shovel does that badly, and no amount of technique fixes it.
- Why choose a D-handle over a long handle?
- Control at close range. The 46 in D-grip spade gives precise two-handed control for close bed work, while the 57.5 in long-handle shovel gives leverage and reach for deep holes but is awkward for low, close work like bulb planting. The trade-off on the short D-handle is that it forces more bending over a large area.
- Is an all-steel garden tool better than wood or fiberglass?
- Stronger, but not free of downsides. One-piece welded steel will not snap at the collar like wood or flex like fiberglass, which is what usually kills a shovel under prying loads. In exchange it is heavier than a comparable wood or fiberglass tool and transmits more shock to your hands in frozen or rocky ground.