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Spade vs. shovel—what’s the difference? Although these two tools have a similar look and we often use them interchangeably in the garden, a gardening shovel and garden spade are actually totally different tools, each with its own specific uses and strengths. Shovels and spades can both have plastic, wood, or fiber-glass handles, and their blades are usually made of tempered steel. However, it’s the blade shape that really sets spades and shovels apart.
While gardening shovels and garden spades both vary in shape and size, garden shovel blades have more of a bowl-shape for digging and moving materials, while spades are flatter and work well for cutting and scraping. If you’re still not sure when to use a spade or a shovel, here’s a basic rundown on the similarities and differences between these two tools, and tips on how to pick the best gardening tools for the job.
What is a shovel?
Although the top shovels have different handle lengths and blade shapes, they usually feature long handles and blades that have a curved or somewhat bowl-shaped form. This blade shape is good for digging through loose dirt, and it’s particularly helpful for moving mulch, soil, gravel, concrete, and other loose garden debris from one place to another.
“Shovels are most effective at moving loose soil or dirt,” says Ward Dilmore of Petrus Landscaping in the San Francisco, California, bay area. “They are ideal for moving piles of dirt to and from wheelbarrows, and other work involving loose material. They can also be used like spades for digging, though digging with a shovel may be more time consuming and require more work than digging with a spade.”
Today, gardeners can choose from among lots of different types of shovels for various uses, but they can grab all shovel types for digging and scooping. Some common types of shovels include:
- Garden shovel. Garden shovels are multipurpose tools that can help homeowners perform a wide variety of tasks, like digging, scooping, and moving soil from one place to another. If you just want to invest in one type of shovel, opt for a quality garden shovel.
- Digging shovel or trenching shovel. These shovels have narrow and pointed blades that are perfect for cutting through tough earth and digging narrow holes and trenches for planting or irrigation.
- Small garden shovel. This shovel is used just like a standard gardening shovel, although its small size and shorter handle (about 28 inches) makes it even better for tight spaces. Gardening trowels can also be used for small areas and digging in bulbs, seedlings, and new transplants.
- Landscaping shovel. The terms “landscaping shovels” and “gardening shovels” can be used interchangeably. However, true landscaping shovels are usually a little sturdier than gardening shovels.
- Flat-edged shovel. To make things a little confusing, a flat shovel is a shovel shaped like a spade with a notably flat bottom. That said, this shovel type still has a more bowl-shaped blade than true spades do, so it works well for scooping and carrying items but not so well for digging.
- Scoop shovel. There are various types of scoop shovels, but most have exaggerated, bowl-shaped blades that are even better for lifting and scooping than standard shovels. A snow shovel is a good example of a specialized scoop-type shovel.
What is a spade?
“Spades have a more sharp and narrow head,” says Dilmore. “This makes them more useful for digging in hard soil and cutting roots. They are also great for shaving and shaping a tree’s root ball.”
Compared to shovels, spade blades are also flatter and more specialized, and less useful for lifting and moving materials around. But that flattened shape makes them better for cutting through turf and compact soil, edging garden bed borders, and digging precisely shaped planting holes.
Here are just a few common types of spades you may find from gardening tool suppliers:
- Garden or digging spade. This is your standard garden spade with a flat, rectangular blade. It’s an ideal choice for digging through hard soil, scraping, and cutting turf.
- Transplanting or long-handled spade. These spades have longer handles and are often used to minimize root disturbance when digging planting holes and transplanting trees.
- Border spade. The smaller blade of this spade is the perfect size for cleaning up and edging garden bed borders.
Differences Between Shovels and Spades
If you inherited old garden tools or just aren’t sure what tools are in your gardening shed, don’t stress. Here are some easy ways to differentiate shovels from spades on sight, plus the best ways to use each tool in your garden.
Shovels and spades have different blade shapes.
Shovel blades are usually more curved or bowl-shaped than spades. However, spade and shovel blades can both have rounded, pointed, or squared-off shapes, depending on their intended use.
Their handle design can vary.
Spade handles often have a D-shaped, metal, or wooden grip at the top for more precise digging. Shovel handles, on the other hand, are more likely to be smooth without any grip at all.
They have different primary uses.
Shovels and spades are both used for digging, but shovels are the best choice for scooping and moving dirt and other debris. Spades are preferred for cutting, scraping, and edging.
Similarities Between Spades and Shovels
By now, it’s clear that shovels and spades are different garden tools. But spades and shovels have enough similarities that you can potentially use them interchangeably for certain gardening tasks.
They’re both used for digging.
In a pinch, you can use either a spade or shovel to dig holes. Still, shovels are the better choice if you need to relocate soil, while spades are recommended to dig into soil that is dense and compact.
They’re made with the same materials.
Spades and shovels usually have tempered steel blades and fiberglass, wood, or metal handles. However, specialized shovels and spades can be made of different materials too. For example, snow shovels usually have scoop-shaped blades made from sturdy plastic since they don’t need to dig through hard soil.
Spades and shovels have the same basic maintenance needs.
Properly caring for garden tools helps extend their life—and that’s definitely true of spades and shovels. Clean both tools regularly with water, soap, and a stiff brush and allow them to dry fully before they’re stored away in a dry area where rain won’t make them rust.
If spades or shovels get rusty, soak the blades in diluted vinegar and water, and then scrub the rust away with a stiff brush or steel wool before storage. If desired, wipe the blades down with mineral oil to keep rust from re-forming. Remember to disinfect tools regularly with 10 percent bleach or rubbing alcohol. This is especially important after working with diseased plants.
