Whether you're a newbie gardener or a seasoned green thumb, a trowel is a must-have. They're smaller than spades and easier to maneuver, with a sharp edge and curved blade. Their shape makes them the ideal partner for a variety of jobs, from digging up weeds to planting bulbs to transplanting seedlings.
For a solid well-rounded trowel, we recommend the Bend-Proof Garden Trowel from Edward Tools. The wide blade makes for easy scooping and digging, and the stainless steel construction is super sturdy. If you're looking for more options, check out the rest of our 10 best list below and see our buying guide reviewed by a master gardener and homestead blogger for tips on how to choose the best trowel for your gardening needs.
Quick List - Top Garden Trowels
Gardening and wildcrafting food for her family, Amy grows in a variety of gardens including hydroponic, raised beds, containers, and in the ground. As a master gardener, she has successfully gardened across the country.
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Table of Contents
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Gardening trowels break down into two main components: the blade and the handle. When choosing a trowel, take the type of tasks you'll be using it for into account and choose a size, shape, and material accordingly.
Trowels come in a variety of designs that are ideal for different types of gardening work. Whether you’re weeding, digging in gravel, or transplanting seedlings, the shape of the trowel blade can help make your job easier.
The traditional trowel has a wide, triangular-shaped blade with a rounded tip. The sides curve up, creating a scoop. If you want a trowel that can be used for a range of tasks, this is a good option.
The wide, curved blade can be used for scooping dirt and planting flowers, while the tip works for digging and breaking up soil. Some trowels have a ruler engraved on the blade to help you measure depth while planting.
If you want to use your trowel primarily for transplanting seedlings, bulbs, and small plants, look for one with a narrower blade. Transplanting trowels are longer and thinner than traditional trowels, with a pointed tip. Their unique shape allows you to easily maneuver small plants into tight spaces and handle delicate seedlings with more care.
While traditional trowels work fine for soft soil, compacted, weedy, or rocky soil might require a more specialized tool. Trowels made specifically for digging have a thin blade and pointed tip. They may feature sharpened or beveled edges as well.
This shape helps you punch through hard soil and gives you leverage so you can easily pry it up. These trowels may also have wing-like protrusions near the handle to help pull out weeds and roots.
Trowel blades can be made from metal, fiberglass, or even plastic. When choosing a material, look for the right balance between strength and weight.
Stainless steel is a popular option that’s both durable and affordable, if a bit heavy. It makes strong, heavy-duty trowels that work well for compacted soil and rocky dirt.
In addition, the surface resists rust and corrosion, so your trowel won’t get ruined by wet soil or weather. Because stainless steel maintains its shiny surface, it’s a good choice for trowels with engraved rulers.
Carbon steel is sturdier than stainless steel and can hold a sharp edge for longer, making it a good material for pointy trowels or trowels with beveled edges. Carbon steel is often coated since it has a tendency to oxidize. Instead of a shiny finish, it will have a dark, matte appearance.
Aluminum is another metal used to make trowels. It’s not as strong or durable as stainless steel and carbon steel, but it’s much lighter and rust-resistant. It’s a good choice for tasks that require more maneuverability, or for people whose hands and wrists tire out quickly.
Plastic trowels are super lightweight but aren’t nearly as strong or durable as metal. They’re most popular among backpackers, but can also be a good inexpensive option for light gardening work with soft soil. They're also great for container gardens where the soil isn't as compacted!
The trowel’s handle will determine how comfortable it is to use. When it comes to the material, wooden and synthetic handles help absorb some shock, while metal handles are more sturdy. If you wear gloves when you garden, a soft handle may not be necessary.
In addition to the material, look for an ergonomically shaped handle that’s molded to fit in the palm of your hand. Some even have grips for your fingers. This will help prevent strains and related injuries to your hands.
There’s also the length of the handle to consider. Short handles are ideal for planting in pots, as they allow you to maneuver around small spaces. On the other hand, long-handled trowels are great for digging as they provide more leverage.
As with other garden tools, trowels should be cleaned and stored properly to maintain their quality. Many come with a hole or strap at the end so you can easily hang them up and keep them off the moist ground.
If your trowel needs to fit into a small space, make sure to check the dimensions. You can even find foldable trowels that are super portable.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Edward Tools Bend-Proof Garden Trowel | ![]() | Versatile and Ergonomically-Designed | |
2 | Wilcox All-Pro 14" Stainless Steel Garden Trowel|202S | ![]() | This Pointed End Makes Digging a Breeze | |
3 | Tierra Garden DeWit Forged Hand Trowel|31-3000 | ![]() | A Handmade Trowel With a Sharp Blade | |
4 | Edward Tools Heavy Duty Carbon Steel Garden Trowel | ![]() | Carbon Steel With Depth Markings | |
5 | Garden Guru Lawn & Garden Tools Super Strong Garden Trowel | ![]() | A Comfortable Handle to Reduce Fatigue | |
6 | Radius Garden Root Slayer|16011 | ![]() | Serrated Edges for Slicing Through Roots | |
7 | Fiskars Garden Transplanter|79796931J | ![]() | A Lightweight Trowel With a Narrow Blade | |
8 | CFCT Bend-Proof Garden Trowel | ![]() | Constructed From One Piece of Sturdy Aluminum | |
9 | SE Stainless Steel Mini Folding Trowel|8794SP | ![]() | A Mini Trowel That Folds Down to Save Space | |
10 | Corona Comfort Trowel|CT 3010I | ![]() | A Traditional Shape for All Your Gardening Needs |
This Bend-Proof Garden Trowel is designed to withstand rocky or heavy clay soils. It's made from one piece of stainless steel with an oversized blade that can move plenty of soil at once. The handle features an ergonomic rubber grip that's contoured to fit your palm and fingers. A lifetime warranty is also included.
A handful of reviewers reported that their trowel broke. Some also said that it can be heavy or large for people with small hands. Still, most reviewers praised this trowel's comfortable handle and sturdy build. They said it's a great heavy-duty option that can be used for a variety of gardening tasks.
Made from a single piece of stainless steel, this trowel from Wilcox All-Pro is a heavy-duty digger. The pointed end is ideal for planting bulbs or breaking up compacted soil and dirt clods. Markings on the blade help you gauge depth and a strap on the end makes for easy storage. This trowel also comes with a lifetime warranty!
A few reviewers wished the handle was offset or longer, but the large majority of reviewers said this trowel is a workhorse. They were impressed by how well made it is and how easily it pierces through hard dirt. They used it for everything from digging up plants to prying out rocks, and said it's virtually indestructible.
This trowel is both beautiful and functional, with a hand-forged boron steel head and a classic ash hardwood handle. The wood is sourced from eco-friendly forests so you can feel good about your purchase. The blade has curved and sharpened edges, making this trowel ideal for planting, weeding, digging, and cutting through roots.
A couple of reviewers said their trowel bent during use. However, the majority of users reported that it's a high-quality tool that makes gardening easier. They said the blade is super sharp and were pleased with how many different things they could use it for. They recommended wiping it down after use to maintain its quality.
Made from carbon steel, this trowel from Edward Tools is designed for durability. It has a generously sized blade with depth markers for easy measuring. The pointed tip helps you dig in all types of soil, including rocky dirt and clay. The blade has a rust-proof coating and it comes with a lifetime warranty.
The main complaint reviewers had was that this trowel bent when they put a lot of pressure on it. Based on this, it may be better suited to softer soils. But for the most part, reviewers liked the handle and said it fit comfortably in their hands. They also said the trowel feels solidly built and has a good weight to it.
The Super Strong Garden Trowel is ideal for a range of tasks, including planting, weeding, mixing soil, and scooping dirt. It's made from rust-resistant stainless steel. The handle has an ergonomically designed thumb rest and finger grooves to minimize hand strain. And there's a hole at the end of the handle for easy hanging.
A handful of reviewers reported that the blade broke at the weld when they used this trowel. On the other hand, many others found it to be strong and lightweight. They liked the comfortable handle and said this trowel is great for planting bulbs and seedlings, repotting flowers, and more!
If you need to cut through matted roots, try out Radius Garden's Root Slayer. It features a powder-coated carbon steel blade with serrated teeth on either side and an inverted V-shaped tip, letting you cut through nearly anything in your way. The thermoplastic grip is latex-free and gives you plenty of leverage.
Overall, reviewers were impressed by this trowel, saying that it's high-quality and easy to use. They said it destroys roots with no problem and makes digging much easier. They used it for all kinds of things with great results, including weeding, digging out plants in crowded areas, and digging in heavy clay soil.
Instead of a metal blade, this transplanting trowel from Fiskars is made from a single piece of FiberComp, a mixture of fiberglass and plastic. It's lightweight yet strong and won't rust. A narrow pointed blade helps you transplant flowers and small plants, and gradation marks help you measure depth. A hanging hole makes for easy storage.
Reviewers who used this trowel for compacted soil found that it wasn't strong enough for the job. Some also warned that the sticker leaves a residue on the handle. However, many reviewers said it's a great tool for soft soil, sandy soil, and pots. They found it to be lightweight, easy to maneuver, and ideal for getting into narrow spaces.
CFCT's Bend-Proof Garden Trowel is made from a single piece of aluminum, so it's lightweight, strong, and rust-proof. It features a soft grip with a thumb pad to help reduce hand strain. The scoop shape is good for moving soil, while the sharp blade aids with digging. There are depth measurements and a hole for hanging as well.
Reviewers loved using this trowel for a variety of tasks, including potting, transplanting, and weeding. They said it worked well in clay soil and felt comfortable in their hand. They appreciated its solid construction and found it to be very strong yet lightweight.
If having a compact trowel is a priority, this mini folding trowel just might do the trick! Made from stainless steel, it measures just under nine inches long when extended and just under six inches when folded up. And it comes with a nylon canvas case that you can attach to your belt loop for easy carrying.
Some reviewers found this trowel to be too flimsy for their needs and said the handle doesn't lock into place well. On the other hand, many reviewers appreciated its small size and ability to fold down. They said it worked well for small pots, indoor gardening, and light tasks. And many also brought it with them on camping trips!
The Comfort Trowel is perfect for a range of gardening tasks, with a three-inch wide blade that you can use for digging, scooping, and transplanting. The blade is made from lightweight polished aluminum alloy that will resist rust and is easy to wipe clean. And the cushioned grip helps keep your hands comfortable.
One or two reviewers didn't like the feel of this trowel, but for the most part, people found it to be sturdy and comfortable. They praised this brand's quality tools and said they last for a long time. Reviewers used it for both light work and heavier work and said it holds up well.
Having the right gardening tools can make it easier to dig, weed, plant, and water. Check out some more of our favorite gardening gear below!
This expert reviewed the contents of the buying guide for accuracy and provided factual corrections when necessary. They did not participate in the product selection process, nor are they affiliated with any of our choices unless explicitly stated so.
No. 1: Edward Tools|Bend-Proof Garden Trowel
No. 2: Wilcox All-Pro| 14" Stainless Steel Garden Trowel|202S
No. 3: Tierra Garden|DeWit Forged Hand Trowel|31-3000
No. 4: Edward Tools|Heavy Duty Carbon Steel Garden Trowel
No. 5: Garden Guru Lawn & Garden Tools|Super Strong Garden Trowel
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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