The 7 Best Garden Shovels

Fiskars 96685935J LNG Hndl Digging Shovel

The Fiskars Digging Shovel is the perfect tool for digging on soft and sturdy soil. The sharp blade of the shovel ensures a more comfortable and more convenient digging experience.

Measuring 57.7 inches long, the well-built handle of the shovel allows users the luxury of digging without straining their back. It is welded with a 14-gauge hardened steel blade, and 18-gauge steel shaft to provide durability that far outlives wood-handled tools and won’t flex like fiberglass. The blade also offers enough foot space to bear it into the ground powerfully. The perfectly shaped tear-drop shaft complements the unique design, which enables the shovel's sharp and narrowed edge to sink deep into any soil.

This product got lots of raves online is among the most popular shovel out there. Because of its durable steel construction and sharpened blade for any soil penetration, it is perfect for heavy digging in your garden.

Despite having high ratings, some users point out that the shovel is very heavy and may not be fitting for smaller people to use.

SOG Folding Shovel

Many serious gardeners use their hands almost of the time. When the trowel is too small, and the shovel too big, it's time for the SOG Folding Shovel to step in. This product is also the best garden shovel for big jobs.

This award-winning and modern shovel is based on a classic three-way folding design. It features a slightly cupped blade, which makes the shovel becomes the best choice for working in clay and rocky soils. This shovel is bigger than your hands, like a size of an Entrenching Tool, especially when it’s folded.

It is also known for its high-carbon steel construction that also comes with a carry case that you may carry out as backpack or for belts. This shovel is made to last, so you don’t have to worry about heavy tasks because it will surely carry on.

This shovel features four times the gripping surface of traditional tools, with room for both hands and gives extra leverage and lessens hand stress.

The heat-treated carbon steel blade should be wiped clean after each use to maintain quality and performance.

ROOT ASSASSIN RA-002 Carbon Steel Shovel

The ROOT ASSASSIN RA-002 Carbon Steel Shovel is specially designed for landscaping, gardening, and home improvement to make your life easier.

The Root Assassin Shovel/Saw features an enhanced “bone structure” and a curved tip that is excellent for cutting into roots and weeds. This tool is designed to relieve back, arm, and hand stress. The expertly-designed shovel handle is sturdy and has a rubber-coated metal handle that is bright red for comfort.

It also has a compact structural carbon steel blade and 16 serrated teeth on every side of the shovelhead.

This product is a combination of the precise amount of quality, utility, durability style, ergonomics, and affordability.

Some of the negative things about this product are that the blade breaks off easily after a few uses, and the shovel is perfect for short people but not suitable for tall people.

The Ames Companies, Inc 43106 UnionTools Poly D-Grip Round Point Shovel

The Ames D-Grip Round Point shovel is meant for practical moving and lifting.

This product features a high-quality shovel design for efficient moving and lifting, which makes it one of the best garden shovel in the market. It also has a durable carbon steel blade with a forward turned-step for a secured foot placement. The Ames D-Grip Round Point shovel has a strong D-grip and hardwood handle for durability.

The D-shaped handle provides an ergonomic fit, and the wood handle gives you a non-slip grip. The sharp tip and wide blade make this an excellent shovel for digging or hauling. This shovel is made for small to medium jobs.

Tall people may have a difficult time using this product as it best fits short people and not suitable for tall users. Also, the shovel is too heavy.

SE Prospector's Choice 12" Serrated Edge Digger

The SE Prospector's Choice 12" Serrated Edge Digger is a handy garden shovel made of heat-treated carbon steel, which provides this tool with straight and serrated edges to break through concrete, hard soil, and roots easily.

This SE Prospector's Choice 12" Serrated Edge Digger has an oversized comfortable grip and handguard that helps in lessening accidental injuries. It comes with a sheath so you can always keep the tool with you. The multipurpose serrated edge digger is helpful for various tasks, including cutting clean and deep plugs, excavating, loosening soil, planting, digging, transplanting, weeding, and many more. The length of the shovel is 7-1/2," and the overall length is 12".

There are a lot of good things to say about this handy product. One, this tool has an oversized comfortable grip and handguard to help minimize accidents. The serrated edge digger is also multifunctional that can do plenty of your gardening tasks.

Aside from being blunt and cannot cut through hard roots, some users pointed out that the quality of the shovel is not as good compared to other tools of the same category.

Bully Tools 82515 14-Gauge Round Point Shovel with Fiberglass Long Handle

The Bully Tools fiberglass shovel uses triple wall fiberglass, and wood reinforced handle design that's great for homeowners and contractors alike.

This Bully Tools fiberglass shovel is just as powerful and sturdy as a wood shovel, with the added convenience of a fiberglass handle. It is 100% American made with a pure 14-Gauge Steel and a closed backhead design. All fiberglass handle features triple wall construction, and the welded I-Beam construction inhibits bending along ferrule. The tool measures 59.25-inches long.

The Bully Tools 82515 Round Point Shovel highlights all the components of a well-built and affordable American tool. With a closed-back design to reduce debris build-up, this 14-gauge steel shovel is created to last. The augmented fiberglass handle is built with triple wall construction, which features a reinforced wood core, 25% thicker fiberglass, and an extended steel ferrule to withstand bending.

This is a sturdy and relatively heavy shovel that probably surpasses the requirements of most homeowners and gardeners. But unless you are thinking of hand-mixing a lot of concrete, this one will do just fine. However, several reviewers have noted that their shovel arrived with significant dings and scratches. 

AMES 2535700 Tempered Steel Transfer Shovel with Hardwood Handle

The AMES 2535700 Long Handle Square Point Shovel is perfect for transporting dirt, mulch, or gravel during landscaping or gardening. It highlights a tempered steel blade with an easy step and a robust and durable hardwood handle with an oversized cushion grip.

This shovel features a long handle that is suitable for tall gardeners and a non-slip grip for those who are shorter. The grip tip reaches 10 inches down the hardwood handle. The tool features a tempered steel blade with an easy step for secure foot placement and a hardwood handle for strength and durability.

This Ames Long Handle Square Point Shovel can do several different jobs around your yard. If you want to deal with snow on your porch or stairs during winter, this could do an excellent job of quickly cutting through the ice with its squared-off blade. For garden jobs, this tool is perfect for moving soil, mulch, and other materials, and it can also be used to edge garden beds, too. Or you could likewise use this shovel for trenching.

Despite its affordable price, the wooden handle is a hit or miss with most people. Many users reported that the handle came looking a bit rough, which made them worried about splinters. Also, the handle is untreated, so it’s unlikely to last long without breaking and has a short warranty period.