What is the difference between shovel and spade?
A shovel is longer, angled and its blade is curved into more of a scoop, whereas a spade is shorter (even longer lengths are available) and has a flat blade with a square-shaped end.
A spade is best for cutting and digging heavy soil, digging straight-sided flat bottomed trenches, or removing a layer of sod, whereas a shovel is best for digging, lifting, and moving material.
With a shovel, you push slightly forward into the ground at an angle for digging, and with a spade, you push vertically into the ground for digging.
Shovels and spades come in a variety of shapes and forms, each designed for a specific purpose like edging, creating trenches, scooping and transfer materials, digging, to dig a narrow hole.
You should also consider the tool characteristics like weight, length, type of handle, blade size and shape, and angle before choosing the tool.