Along with a good spade, a shovel is a very useful piece of kit to have in the garden. It is often tempting to use a spade for moving soil and other loose materials around the garden, but you'll be amazed at how more efficiently you can work with a good shovel.
The best garden shovels are hard-wearing, weather resistant and durable - many come with a lifetime guarantee. Certain models are better suited to specific jobs, so it’s worth considering your upcoming tasks before buying one.
Take a look at our list of our favourite shovels that you can buy online. You can also browse our top garden tools, hand trowels and ergonomic tools.
What is a shovel used for?
You can use a shovel to move loose material such as topsoil, mulch, manure, compost, earth, gravel, sand, snow, cement or garden waste around the garden.
The difference between a spade and a shovel
Spades and shovels are both essential tools for a gardener. If you need to dig precise holes or work in tight spaces, such as a border, a spade is best. If you need to move large quantities of soil or other materials from one place to another, a shovel is the better choice.
Spades have a narrow, flat blade with a sharp edge and an often pointed tip, and are ideal for digging borders, veg patches, trenches or turf. They also often have a foot plate that you can tread on. Shovels have a wider pan that is often turned up at the sides, so they can scoop up and transport large quantities of loose materials such as soil, compost, mulch and so on more easily without spilling them.
Spades usually have long straight handles so that they are comfortable to dig with, while shovels often have shorter curved handles that give better leverage when scooping or pushing materials.
The best shovels to buy in 2024
JCB Professional Yard Shovel
This sturdy yet lightweight professional shovel is ergonomically designed for ease of use and is a great all-rounder, useful for all kinds of jobs. It has a deep pan that prevent spillages, and is made of hardened and tempered carbon steel. The blade has been forged rather than pressed, making it stronger and more durable. JCB Professional Tools have been developed to be used in the toughest conditions and only gain the JCB logo once they have surpassed British Standard Load Tests. Weight: 2.1kg. Dimensions: 99cm x 30cm x 20cm
Spear & Jackson 2000AC MYD Steel Taper Shovel
The Spear & Jackson 2000AC MYD Steel Taper Shovel is a an excellent all rounder, ideal for a range of gardening tasks including digging and transferring soil. The tapered blade design makes it easy to move earth around without creating too much disturbance to the surrounding area. The shovel blade is made from high-quality carbon steel that is strong enough to handle even the toughest of gardening tasks and is epoxy coated for reduced soil adhesion and rust resistance. The shovel handle offers a comfortable grip and is made from high-quality ash wood.
Dimensions: 98.5cm x 24.5cm x 17cm. Weight: 2.73kg.
Bulldog 5SM2AM All Steel Square Shovel
Bulldog are known for their strong, durable and heavy duty tools. Made from high-quality steel, the Bulldog 5SM2AM All Steel Square Shovel is an excellent tool for heavy-duty digging, trench work, concrete mixing and other landscaping jobs. It has a square-shaped blade that is perfect for cutting into hard, compacted soil, and is specifically designed to maximise the amount that can be moved with each scoop. It has a comfortable, non-slip handle that allows for a secure grip, even when working in wet or slippery conditions.
Magnusson Square Shovel
The Magnusson Square Shovel is an ergonomically designed and durable shovel that is perfect for a range of landscaping jobs. The square-shaped, high-strength, carbon steel head will not bend or snap, and it has a lightweight Nylite shaft to reduce fatigue and strain in use. The wide D-shaped handle is made of hardwood that offers excellent grip and allows for a push-pull action with extra leverage.
Dimensions: 115cm 24.6cm. Weight 2.3kg
DeWit lightweight compost/soil shovel
Lighter and smaller than a traditional soil shovel, this compact DeWit shovel is ideal for shifting soil or compost.
The head is forged from tough carbon steel with no welded joints to break or bend, so it is very strong. The sharp serrated 'teeth' on the leading edge help break up compacted soil and cut also cut through tree roots. It has an FSC-certified solid ash handle, oiled to provide protection against the elements.
Dimensions: Pan 22cm x 27cm wide; total length 1.3m. Weight: 1.4kg.