Spear Head Spade 30" Mini Garden Shovel Model SHMini
- The lightest Spear Head spade. Small and light enough to carry one-handed and work with while kneeling, for bulbs, containers, and raised beds.
- Gets into tight spaces a full shovel cannot. The narrow 6-inch blade slips between established plants to weed, divide, and plant without disturbing the neighbors.
- Cuts clay and roots, not just loose soil. The same spearhead, sharpened blade as the full-size Spear Head Spade, scaled down.
- Arrives sharpened, ready to dig. A 35 degree bevel runs down both curved edges, straight out of the box.
- Backed by our family. If you are not satisfied, we will do whatever we can to make you happy.
- Ships in 1 to 2 business days. Flat $18 shipping in the contiguous US, however many spades you add. Orders with the Long Handle ship for a flat $25.
A precision tool, on purpose
Sometimes a full-size spade is more than the job needs. The 30-inch mini is built for close work: slipping between established perennials, planting bulbs, digging in a raised bed, or weeding a tight border without disturbing the roots around it. One owner put it best, it is for when a spade is not quite enough but a shovel is too big.
The same blade, scaled down and built to last
The mini uses the same spearhead, sharpened blade design as the full-size Spear Head Spade, in hardened high carbon manganese steel, 33 percent thicker and 25 percent harder than standard shovel stock, with an epoxy powder coat. The handle is steel-reinforced fiberglass with a cushioned D-grip: lighter than wood, and it resists rotting, splintering, and cracking.
Which Spear Head spade is right for you
Three sizes, same blade design. This is the 30-inch mini. Pick by your height and the job.
The lightest in the family. Bulbs, small containers, raised beds, and close work.
The all-rounder for gardeners roughly 5 foot 6 to 6 foot. Transplanting shrubs, dividing perennials, and precise digging.
The most reach and leverage with the least bending, best for taller gardeners over about 6 foot.
How it compares to a standard spade
| Spear Head Spade | Standard spade | |
|---|---|---|
| Blade edge | Pointed, sharpened tip to tail | Straight and unsharpened |
| Cuts roots | Yes, slices through root mats | A flat, unsharpened blade tends to bruise roots rather than slice them |
| Tight spaces and close work | Built for it, narrow 6-inch blade | A full-size shovel is too big for close work |
| Handle | Steel-reinforced fiberglass D-grip | Usually wood, can splinter |
| Recognition | Spear Head Spade named Best Shovel/Spade, Better Homes and Gardens 2025 | None |
What owners say
The mini Spear Head Spade is very useful for when a spade is not quite enough to do the job but a shovel is too big.
Love this little shovel and it's sharpness. Perfect for those tight areas and for smaller folks like myself.
I literally carry this spade at my side for all of my gardening needs. It’s great to loosen soil, dig for planting, even while seated, and so much more.
It is great for weeding and digging in tight spaces between plants, which is what I wanted it for.
This is my second, my second small version.. It is the best shovel for a dirt gardener. who is female and 80 plus.
At the estate I work on, we call this "the miracle shovel"! After buying one for myself to use at home, I have bought or ordered four more for friends. It's the best!
I’m a landscaper and my guys really like that mini for small digging jobs. Jobs too small for a shovel and close to having to use a hand trowel- they use the mini. It’s a winner
I have owned and used a mini for the last 3 years, I love it. But it didn’t have the spear head spade. But now!!!!! Wow! It’s the best damn little shovel ever!!!! Prefect for digging😊🫶🌺💛
Hi Jacqueline,
We call it our MIni but Mighty! Glad you love it!
Happy Gardening,
Hugh
I have been gardening for 40 years and still in the yard nearly every day. At age 60 this has been truly helpful. The mini is great for moving perennials and small enough to carry around easily in a big country garden.
Hi JT:
We call it our 'hand trowel on steroids'. It may be Mini, but sure is Mighty!
Glad you enjoy using it!
Keep Diggin' It!
Hugh
I got this a week and half ago and have used it 7-8 times now. Planted all the mums for my front yard as well as a ton of fall perennials. Not sure how I lived without it
Hi Andrea,
We call it our 'hand trowel on steroids'. It may be Mini, but sure is Mighty!
Glad you enjoy using it!
Keep Diggin' It!
Hugh
Very nice shovel. Very well built and works awesome in my perennial beds!
Hi Jen,
The Spear Head Spade and perennials are Perfect Together!
Keep Diggin' It!
Hugh
Don’t know how I lived without these. The long handled version makes work so easy on my back and the short one is invaluable for digging in small perineals. The spear pointed shovels are a must have for any gardener. Throw out your old ones.
Hi Andrew,
We appreciate your humor 'throw out your old ones'....made our day!
The old shovels sure do get lonely once someone uses their Spear Head Spade!
Keep Diggin' It!
Hugh
I love everything about it. I havent had much time to get out and use it much, but when I have, its worked very well. I live the size and the sharpness! Thankyou!
Hi Mary,
We're glad you love your Mini. It may be Mini, but sure is Mighty!
Happy Gardening,
Hugh
Shoveling is hard work, but made so much easier with your shovels!! I have your standard shovel and the mini as well. Both are stars! Thank you.
Hi Carol,
Our objective has always been to make the toughest tasks like shoveling or transplanting perennials up to 80% easier. Mission accomplished!
Thanks so much for purchasing our shovel!
Happy Gardening,
Hugh
It provides great leverage! Size is perfect
Hi Mary,
We call it our Mini but Mighty! Enjoy your new favorite gardening tool!
Warm regards,
Hugh
How did I ever garden without this mini shovel?! It amazing to use while in a kneeling position. Great quality and I highly recommend purchasing! You won’t regret it!
Thanks once again, Michelle.
Hugh
Liked the size.
Hi Rebecca,
We call it our "Mini but Mighty"....Is there any way we can earn a 5, rather than a 2? Please let us know!
Happy Gardening,
Hugh
Such a great shovel--I didn't think I needed another shovel but this has replaced my other heavy, large, clunky shovel. So useful and helpful and cuts into my soil and sod deftly and easily.
Hi Aimee,
I love your adjectives: Their shovel: 'heavy, large, clunky'
Our shovel: 'Useful and helpful', cutting into soil and sod 'deftly and easily'...(are those adverbs?)
Happy Gardening,
Hugh
I heard about this from Powers Plants on Instagram. I have clay soil and a lot of roots. So every time I try to split a hosta or dig any kind of hole, it can be a bit of a challenge. I love the size of this, perfect for the size plants I’m working with. And the blade went in nice and smooth. Thanks so much!
Hi Julie,
So glad the Mini is helping you conquer the clay and roots in your garden. The more you use it, the sharper it will get as the coating comes off the sharpened edge along the back.
Happy Gardening!
Hugh
I like it a lot. It’s perfect for my garden.
Hi Kitty,
We're glad you like it a lot! It will make gardening up to 80% easier.
Happy Gardening,
Hugh
Worked perfectly. Plan on using to divide perennials this week. Prone to rust, so you must clean, dry & store.
Hi Julianne,
We chose the hardest steel for the toughest digging....carbon manganese steel....As you noted, it's not stainless, which is too soft for a shovel, but it is tough! It's 33% thicker and 25% harder than any shovel sold in stores, so it will last your lifetime with the proper care.
Thanks so much,
Hugh
Great little shovel…I’ve already used it to transplant several mature Lenten Roses. Easily cuts right down through most of the roots encountered. Also, an excellent size and weight for mixing amendments into the original clay soil before backfilling.
Hi Reed,
One secret: the more you use it, the sharper it gets. The back edge is presharpened. As the epoxy power coat wears off, the edge is exposed, and it cuts better than ever.
Keep Diggin' It!
Hugh
Perfect size, great quality!
We call it our Mini but Mighty! Glad you find the size ideal!
All the best,
Hugh
This is an ideal tool for gardeners working in established beds where a full size shovel or spade would damage existing plants as one introduces a new plant or removes an existing one. The D handle gives good leverage and the spear head navigates tight spaces easily, all while the gardener is kneeling. Terrific design yields a new garden essential.
Hi Rich,
Thanks for your thoughtful review. The narrow profile and the spear shape truly allows the gardener to dig with precision. I'm glad you found it helpful.
Keep Diggin' It!
Hugh
I have used this mini head spade for numerous plantings so far and I love it! It makes everything so much easier! Not sure how I lived without it…
Hi Debra,
We call it the 'Mini but Mighty'! Glad you found us!
Happy Gardening,
Hugh
It’s the perfect size! Well made and shipped fast!
Hi Judith,
We think so too! Thanks so much for the positive review!
All the best,
Hugh
I have health issues that limit me physically. This is the first spade I've ever tried that let's me dig my own holes instead of having to wait for someone else to do it for me. I appreciate that it comes in 2 sizes. I now own both.
I'm 5'3", overweight and in my early 60s. These spades are made for everyone.
Hi Melanie,
We are so happy our Spear Head Spade allows you to dig your own holes. Julien, the Founder, used to say it is the ultimate empowerment tool. His father, Daniel, was 85 with 2 hip and 2 knee replacements when he invented it. He refused to give up gardening and couldn't use a round shovel anymore. He invented a better one, and gardened until he was 94.
Keep Diggin' It!
Hugh
This spade is a wonderful tool to have. I divided perennials with ease and dug in rather rocky soil with the spear head spade. I believe these jobs would have been difficult with an ordinary shovel. Great tool!
Hi Michelle,
Thanks so much for your positive review. The Spear Head Spade excels at dividing and transplanting perennials. It was born in the rocky soil of Windsor, CT, so it tackles it with ease.
Our motto is 'Spear Head Spade: When a regular shovel just won't do!'
Happy Gardening,
Hugh
Second item purchased from Spear Head. These were for family who love to garden .
Hi Wayne,
Thanks so much for your second purchase. It will be a perfect gift for someone who loves to garden!
Keep Diggin' It!
Hugh
Perfect for tight spaces in the garden.
It gets into the nooks and crannies, doesn't it?
Glad you love it!
Hugh
EXCELLENT !!!! EASY TO USE IN HARD SOIL !!!! WELL MADE !!!!
Hi Helen,
We're glad it's made your life in the garden easier. Mission Accomplished!
Happy Gardening,
Hugh
I havent used it yet but it is in my garden cart ready to go. Way too hot to be outside here right now. I also bot 2 for gifts. I know they will love them!!!
Hi Marlene,
Thanks so much for buying yours and the extra ones for gifts! We know they'll love them, too!
Happy Gardening,
Hugh
Wonderful !!!
We think so too! Thanks so much for the 5 STARS!
Great little shovel!
Hi Debbie,
We call it the Mini but Mighty!
Specifications
| Model | SHMini |
|---|---|
| Overall length | 30 in |
| Blade size | 6 in wide by 8 in long |
| Blade shape | Spearhead, outward-curved edges with forward-bent foot rests |
| Blade material | High carbon manganese steel, epoxy powder-coated |
| Handle | Steel-reinforced fiberglass with a cushioned, UV-resistant D-grip |
| Edge | Sharpened bevel, 35 degrees, tip to tail |
| Weight | The lightest Spear Head spade, easy to carry and use one-handed |
| Best for | Bulbs, containers, raised beds, weeding, and close precision work |
| Color | Yellow |
| Care | Rinse and dry after use and store out of standing water. The blade never needs sharpening; digging keeps exposing the factory edge. |
Questions gardeners ask
Is the mini meant to be my only garden shovel?
No, and we would rather be honest about that. The 30-inch Spear Head Spade SHMini is a precision tool for close work: bulbs, containers, raised beds, and weeding in tight spots. For heavy transplanting or moving a lot of soil, the 40-inch or 58-inch Spear Head Spade is the better tool.
Will the mini still cut through roots and clay?
Yes. The Spear Head Spade SHMini has the same spearhead, sharpened blade as the full-size models, just smaller. It slices through roots and works into clay and rocky soil far better than a flat trowel or hand shovel.
How big and heavy is the mini?
The Spear Head Spade SHMini is 30 inches long overall with a 6 by 8 inch blade. It is the lightest spade in the family, easy to carry one-handed and to use while kneeling, which is why gardeners keep it within reach all day.
Does it have a D-grip?
Yes. The Spear Head Spade SHMini has a cushioned, UV-resistant D-grip on a steel-reinforced fiberglass handle, sized for gloved hands. The D-grip gives you a controlled two-hand hold for precise, close-in digging.
Which size should I choose, the 30-inch mini, the 40-inch, or the 58-inch?
The 30-inch SHMini is the lightest, for bulbs, containers, raised beds, and close work. The 40-inch SHFD3 D-grip is the all-rounder for most gardeners. The 58-inch SHLF2 long handle gives taller gardeners more reach with less bending.
Is it good for gardeners with less strength, or for kneeling?
Yes. The Spear Head Spade SHMini is light and short enough to use one-handed and while kneeling, which suits gardeners who want less weight and more control in a raised bed or a tight border.
Does it come sharpened?
Yes, and you should never need to sharpen it. The Spear Head Spade SHMini arrives pre-sharpened at the factory to a 35 degree bevel along the entire edge, tip to tail. The powder coating wears away gradually at the edge as you dig, continually exposing that factory edge, so the more you use it, the sharper it gets. The steel is tempered carbon manganese, 33 percent thicker and 25 percent harder than standard shovel stock. A regular file or grinder will not touch it, and it should never be needed.
Backed by a limited lifetime warranty, a one-time replacement if your tool ever breaks.
- Covers
- Breakage and defects in material or workmanship, under normal residential use.
- Does not cover
- The powder coat wearing away, commercial use, or willful abuse.
- Who and where
- The original purchaser, in the United States. If you bought outside the US, the retailer you bought from handles the claim.
- How it works
- Send us a photo that clearly shows where the tool is broken. We replace it directly at no cost to you, apart from shipping and handling. One replacement per tool purchased.
Need to make a claim? Contact us.
Hugh and Harry
Our promise to you
If you are not satisfied, contact us and we will do whatever we can to make you happy.
No forms, no runaround. Every order comes from our family business in New Jersey and ships in 1 to 2 business days.
The Spear Head Spade family
Questions before you dig in? Contact us.
