You can buy a shovel both online and in local stores, and the best option depends on whether you want it fast and cheap, or more specialized.

Quick answer

  • Local hardware / DIY stores
  • Big-box and garden centers
  • Online marketplaces and outdoor or military-gear shops

Local in‑person options

If you want a shovel today, go to:

  • Hardware stores (e.g., typical neighborhood DIY or builder’s merchants).
  • Big general retailers with a home & garden section.
  • Garden centers and farm supply stores for digging, snow, and stable shovels.
  • Construction supply yards if you want heavy-duty or contractor-grade tools.

An example: if you walk into a garden center, you’ll usually see digging shovels, spades, snow shovels, and small hand shovels grouped together, often near soil or plant sections, so you can quickly compare handle length, blade shape, and weight.

Online options

If you’re okay waiting for shipping and want more variety:

  • Large online marketplaces (search “garden shovel”, “snow shovel”, or “folding shovel”).
  • Specialist tool and garden e‑shops that sell many shovel types (digging, coal, snow, stable, universal, small hand shovels).
  • Outdoor and military-style stores for folding or entrenching shovels, sometimes with pouches and multi‑tool features.

These sites usually let you filter by use (snow vs digging), handle length, material, and price, so you can match the shovel to your task and budget.

How to choose the right shovel

Think about:

  • Purpose:
    • Digging soil or planting: round-mouth or pointed digging shovel.
* Moving loose material (coal, gravel, manure): wide “coal” or stable shovel.

* Clearing snow: broad, lightweight snow shovel.
  • Handle: Shorter handles give more control in tight spaces; longer ones are better for leverage and your back.
  • Material: Steel for durability, aluminum or plastic for light snow work.

A simple rule of thumb: if you’re unsure, start with a standard digging shovel with a medium-long wooden or fiberglass handle and a rounded blade; it will cover most everyday yard and garden jobs.