The best garden spades in 2024

In every review we award the outstanding products our coveted Best Buy award. To see these and the others we recommend, browse our pick of the best spades below:

Digging spades - Buyer's Guide video

Best garden spades at a glance

• Best mid-range digging spade: Kent and Stowe Stainless Steel Digging Spade
• Best premium digging spade: DeWit Solid Socket Spade
• Best border spade: Greenman Half Brite Border Spade
• Best spade for clearing ground: Sneeboer Pointed Spade with Steps
• Best ergonomic spade : Wilkinson Sword Ultralight Pointed Digging Spade
• Best border spade for ease of use: Ames carbon steel border spade

Jump to:

• Best garden spades
• The best of the rest
• What's the difference between a digging spade and a border spade
• Choosing the best garden spade
• How to prevent back injuries when digging
• Looking after your garden spade
• How we tested garden spades

Best garden spades

Kent and Stowe stainless steel digging spade

RRP: £37.99

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from Marshalls Garden and B&Q

Pros:

• Balanced weight
• Good length shaft
• Smooth socket
• Feels robust
• Sturdy foot treads

Cons:

• Feels heavy in use

This beautiful, handmade spade has a stainless steel blade with an integral FSC ash shaft and Y handle. It has a long, double riveted socket and wide foot treads. Awarded the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy badge, it's well designed and extremely comfortable to use.

Read the full Kent and Stowe Stainless Steel Digging Spade review.

DeWit Solid Socket Spade

RRP: £69.99

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from Waitrose Garden and Crocus

Pros:

• Comfortable design
• Solid forged carbon blade
• Long socket
• Feels robust and built to last
• Sturdy T grip handle

Cons:

• No treads

This Dutch made, hand crafted spade has a solid forged carbon steel blade and socket, and an oiled hardwood ash handle and shaft. It has a sturdy, T-shaped handle with a long socket, and a solid forged blade. It's a high quality, great value tool.

Read the full DeWit Solid Socket Spade review.

Greenman Half Brite Border Spade

RRP: £38.95

Our rating: 4.75/5

Available from Greenman Garden Tools

Pros:

• Strong and hard wearing
• Long socket for strength
• Comfortable and well balanced

Cons:

• Rivets catch on hands
• Small for taller gardens

If you’re looking for a border spade, we judged this our Best Buy. The shaft is long which helps prevent back strain and the long socket feels robust. The lower part of the carbon-steel blade is uncoated so it can be sharpened and it comes with a lifetime guarantee. The only slight draw-back are the rivets, which can catch on your hands while working.

Read the full Greenman Half Brite Border Spade review.

Sneeboer Pointed Spade with Steps

RRP: £124.35

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from Sneeboer

Pros:

• Strong, wide treads
• Long handle
• Sharp, sturdy blade
• Easy to use

Cons:

• T-grip unusual
• Expensive

This traditional-style spade has a short, wide stainless steel blade that has been sharpened to a point. It makes light work of tough roots and the wide, flat treads are strong and help you gain purchase. The long, wooden shaft eases back strain and absorbs shock. Our testers awarded this a Best Buy for clearing ground.

Read the full Sneeboer Pointed Spade with Steps review.

Wilkinson Sword Ultralight pointed digging spade

RRP: £34.99

Our rating: 4.75/5

Available from Amazon and Charlies

Pros:

• Substantial but light
• Comfortable to use
• Good for the less able
• Cuts through soil and root easily

Cons:

• Only as strong as the rivets

This spade has a stainless-steel blade with a serrated edge which cuts through the soil easily. It’s a lightweight tool which is easy to use and comes with a 10 year guarantee. The ergonomic shaft has a rubber covering and there’s a grip insert within the D handle. Our testers judged this a Best Buy as an ergonomic spade.

Read the full Wilkinson Sword Ultralight Pointed Digging Spade review.

Ames carbon steel border spade

RRP: £29.99

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from Ames

Pros

• Light and comfortable
• Handle has a good grip, even for larger hands
• Easy to use standing and kneeling
• Sharp and penetrates ground well

Cons

• Shorter than some, especially if you’re tall
• Handle looks cheap

First impressions of this border spade were mixed – the tempered carbon blade looked sharp and strong, with a lacquered finish to protect against rust, but the green rubber handle looked cheap and was a little offputting.
However, this spade really impressed in use. It’s light, at 1.35 kg, so it’s easy to carry and use, even when you're on your knees, when any extra weight would be felt in your back. And although its overall length is a little on the short side it’s well balanced and not unwieldy at all. The blade slices easily through the soil and the handle, despite looking cheap is very well judged in terms of thickness, particularly for larger hands, and feels sturdy and substantial. This spade is ideal for lifting plants, creating planting holes, splitting perennials and working in tight spots amongst plants. It feels reasonably strong with a double riveted socket and is excellent value for the price with a 15 year warranty. We awarded it a BBC Gardeners’ World magazine Best Buy for ease of use.

The best of the rest

Although some models didn't quite achieve a Best Buy award, they still have features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest on test.

Wilkinson Sword Carbon Steel Border Spade

RRP: £24.99

Our rating: 4.5 /5

Available from Robert Dyas and Amazon

Pros:

• Strong and robust
• Wide treads
• Good value

Cons:

• Rivets on shaft snag hands
• Heavy

The Wilkinson Sword Carbon Steel Border Spade has a long socket to prevent snapping, a rustproof coating and weatherproofed shaft and handle. The handle is comfortable and the wide treads stop the feet from slipping and protect boot soles from splitting on the blade.

Read the full Wilkinson Sword Carbon Steel Border Spade review.

Burgon and Ball RHS Endorsed border spade with steps

RRP: £42.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from B & Q and Amazon

Pros:

• Easy clean blade
• Light and comfortable
• Handles well
• Long strapped socket

Cons:

• Rivets snag hands

This border spade has good balance and handles well. The shaft and YD handle are crafted from FSC hardwood but the strapped socket and the rivets that attach it to the shaft catch on the handle occasionally when lifting plants or soil. However, it does feel sturdy and the stainless steel blade and socket are rust resistant.

Read the full Burgon and Ball RHS Endorsed Border Spade with Steps review.

Wolf Garten Straight Spade (ASD)

RRP: £69.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Pros:

• Balanced weight
• Robust
• Non-slip handle and tread

Cons:

• Not for short users
• Ergonomics take some getting used to

This is a great, comfortable, hard-working spade. Sturdy treads help make hard digging easier and the handle is spacious and comfortable. The shaft has a simple non-slip sleeve. However, shorter gardeners will struggle with its length and design.

Read the full Wolf Garten Straight Spade (ASD) review.

Burgon and Ball RHS Endorsed Digging Spade

Our rating: 4.3/5

RRP: £42.99

Pros:

• Good leverage
• Comfortable to use
• Feels robust

Cons:

• Socket snags on hands
• Narrow foot tread

This is a nicely designed spade that feels well balanced, digs sharply and has a comfortable handle and good length shaft. However, the strapped socket and raised rivets on the shaft snag on hands when lifting and turning the earth, and testers felt the treads were too narrow to stop slipping on wet muddy digs.

Read the full review: Burgon and Ball RHS Endorsed Digging Spade review

Pedigree Stainless Steel Treaded Border Spade

Our rating: 4.3/5

RRP: £49.99

• Buy now from Marshalls Garden (£49.99)

Pros:

• Digs well
• Comfortable and light
• Well made

Cons:

• Rivets and strap snag
• Handle rivets catch on gloves

This Pedigree border spade is made with a rust-proof stainless steel blade and a long, strapped socket to prevent snapping. The ash shaft and handle are made from one continuous piece of wood and the YD handle is capped with stainless steel to make it even more robust. Our testers found this spade to be comfortable, light and great for anyone who needs to dig in raised beds and other confined spaces.

Read the full Pedigree Stainless Steel Treaded Border Spade review.

Bulldog Tools Premier Border Spade

Our rating: 4.3/5

RRP: £46.30

Pros:

• Substantial and strong
• Performs well
• Well made
• Lifetime warranty

Cons:

• Heavy
• No tread
• Expensive

Made by an English family firm, this border spade has a solid-forged, carbon steel blade that’s coated with resin for extra protection. It has no treads but our testers did find it comfortable to use. The rivets are smooth in the socket and the spade is built for working in small spaces.

Read the full Bulldog Tools Premier Border Spade review.

What's the difference between a digging spade and a border spade

Border spades are smaller and lighter than a digging spade. The blade is the same shape on both, but a border spade’s blade is smaller and flatter to dig straight down into the soil.

A border spade is ideal for working in any small space where ease and manoeuvrability is key, such as in raised beds or among plants in borders. It can also be a good option for anyone who wants to work for longer than a heavy digging spade would allow or for those who simply
prefer to work with a shorter, lighter tool.

In comparison, a digging spade is wider than a border spade and designed to move and turn the earth and slice through soil and roots. It’s also a good tool for edging lawns and skimming off weeds.

Choosing the best garden spade

Choosing the best garden spade for you and your garden will depend on the tasks you are looking to tackle. We have put to the test four types of spades – digging, border, pointed and transplanting – and each is designed with a specific set of jobs in mind.

Other considerations will include value for money, along with the weight, length, shaft and the materials the garden spade is made from. These variants will affect the garden spades handling, strength and durability.

Choosing the right weight and length for your garden spade

Heavy digging spades are favoured by some because their weight helps the blade cut through the soil more easily. However if you have back problems or can only dig for short periods, you should consider looking for a spade made from lighter materials like aluminium or that’s more ergonomically designed.

Longer and angled shafts help you bend less and will take the strain off of your back but it can take a while to adjust to the unusual digging angle. You should also ensure that the garden spade is tall enough. Too short a shaft for your height will put extra strain on the back.

Choosing the right material for your garden spade

Made from stainless steel or carbon, the right blade depends on your soil type and the job you are undertaking.

Stainless steel blades are shiny and cut cleanly through soil, in particular clay, so these are a good option if you are digging over heavy ground. Stainless steel garden spades are also easy to clean and won’t rust.

However, they are heavy so they’re not ideal for the less-able gardener. Stainless steel blades are also always welded onto the socket, which creates a weak spot vulnerable to breaking under pressure.

Carbon steel blades are a little lighter, tougher and can be solid forged – where the blade and socket are made from one continuous piece of metal – so there is less chance of snapping. A carbon steel blade can start to rust after a while so will need maintenance, but if looked after, it should last forever.

Choosing the right garden spade shaft

Spade shafts can be wooden, plastic, metal or fibreglass. Traditional wood is strong, heavy and absorbs shock and vibrations but it does not like the wet unless weatherproofed. It can splinter but it’s usually easy to replace. Look for FSC hardwoods and as, which is stronger than oak or beech.

Metal shafts are strong but they don’t absorb shock well and can be uncomfortable in hot weather. In comparison, fibreglass and plastic are light, durable and absorb vibrations well. However, they can snap under pressure and are hard to replace.

When it comes to handles, the YD design offers good grip and versatility but can be uncomfortable for small or larger hands. The T-grip is suitable for all hand sizes and is good for applying force to the spade but if you’re not used to the shape, they can feel flimsy.

Traditional wooden handles are comfortable but plastic is also popular. If you’re interested in buying a plastic-handled spade, look for one with added grip to make them less slippery in wet weather.

The final consideration is the socket, which is where the handle attaches to the blade. Longer sockets are stronger and offer better flex than shorter ones. They are often attached to the shaft with rivets. Make sure these rivets are sunk or flush with the handle so that they don’t snag on your hands when turning the soil.

How to prevent back injuries when digging

To prevent back injury, it’s important to dig with the correct technique. The spade should be held close to your body for control and to limit the amount you have to lean towards it to dig.

One foot should be positioned on the spade before digging so that your weight levers it into the ground. To lift the soil, bend deeply with your knees, so that they take the weight rather than your back. Don’t fill the spade too heavily to ensure you always have control over the load.

Be aware of the weight you’re lifting when replanting. Plants with their root balls still intact can be heavy if the soil is wet so lift slowly and carefully, keeping the spade close to your body.

Finally, don’t twist and turn your body at the hips. Instead, use your feet and move your whole body. For a visual demonstration of this technique, watch our experts in the Digging Spades Buyer’s Guide video above.

Looking after your garden spade

If you want to look after your spade and ensure you don't have to come back to this guide you'll have to look after it well. By taking a few precautionary measures you can ensure your spade lasts a long time and save you money in the long run.

After each use, clean soil off the blade and handle as it can cause carbon steel to rust and wood to rot. This should be done first with a stiff brush, followed by warm, soapy water. Don't worry if you don't do this every time but make sure that if you're storing the spade for a long period of time (over a week) you give it a clean.

At the end of the gardening season give the blade a sharpen with a sharpening stone. When the season is over it's also worth checking the wooden handle and shaft for any rough patches and smoothing these down with sandpaper.

Before hanging up your spade for winter, oil the blade, along with any wooden elements, wiping off excess oil with a cloth. Finally, make sure the spade is kept away in a cool, dark place, and most importantly, make sure it stays dry,

How we tested garden spades

The BBC Gardeners' World Magazine reviews team tested different spades across a range of garden situations – lifting plants, digging over borders and planting. The following criteria were used to calculate the scores, with equal weight given to each:

• Handling and Performance: Assessed how comfortable the spade was, its weight, shaft length and handle shape, plus how well it dug over different soil types.
• Blade and shaft: Looked at the materials these were made of and how they were put together
• Strength: Focussed on how well-built and robust the spade was, the strength of the shaft and blade, socket length and overall sturdiness.
• Value for money: Considered all of the above, plus quality and design, the RRP and the length of warranty.

This product roundup was last updated in July 2024. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.