We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Shopping Gardening Reviews Gardening Tool Product Reviews The 7 Best Garden Forks of 2024 Our top picks for garden forks can help you get all your garden chores done quickly and efficiently. By Renee Freemon Mulvihill Renee Freemon Mulvihill Renee Freemon Mulvihill has been writing for Better Homes & Gardens for more than a year, where she has focused on gardening and outdoor products. Her work has also appeared in Secrets of Getting Organized, Dream Kitchens & Baths, Houseplants, Halloween Tricks & Treats, Living the Country Life, and several of the Real Simple Special Interest Publications. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on March 12, 2024 In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Our top picks Reviews Key Terms to Know The Bottom Line What to Know Before Shopping Your Questions, Answered Who We Are Better Homes & Gardens / Kristin Kempa Garden forks can help you with a wide range of gardening chores, including digging, aerating soil and lawns, moving mulch, turning compost, and transplanting perennials. Because of their design, which features several tines rather than one broad blade, they often can dig into soils that are too hard to penetrate with a shovel. The tines also do a better job of loosening the soil than the blade of a shovel or spade, and they can dig up root vegetables like potatoes without as much risk of damaging the underground crops. Many garden forks will work for multiple tasks, but some help with specific jobs better than others. That’s why it’s important to choose the right one for the job. “A digging fork is ideal for heavy-duty tasks, while a spading fork is better for lighter tasks,” says Bill Freimuth, VP of sales for Centurion Brands. “A border fork is designed for working in tight spaces, while a compost fork is for lifting and turning compost.” When you are shopping for garden forks, consider what type of garden tasks you will be doing and make sure the garden fork is well suited for that specific task. You’ll also want to consider what materials are used for both the handle and head, as various materials can affect the durability of the tool as well as the weight. Be sure to check out the length of the garden fork to ensure it will be comfortable for you to hold and use. What We Researched Material: We considered the type of material the garden forks were made of, from stainless steel, and other metals to plastic and wood, and looked at their durability and weight.Handle Length and Shape: The comfort of using a garden fork is dependent on the length of the handle, and its shape. So we researched the best shapes and lengths to provide different options available and included T-, D- and O-shaped handles and their lengths. Type: Since the type of garden fork you use depends on the kind of garden work being done, we picked out several kinds, including digging forks, border forks, hand forks, and more. Key Terms to Know FSC-certified: This means that the product is from forests that have been responsibly managed to ensure that forests continue to thrive and grow. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Roamwild Multi-Digger Garden Fork at Amazon ($65) Jump to Review Best Splurge: A.M. Leonard Forged Steel Scoop Fork at Amazon ($148) Jump to Review Best Handheld: DeWit Welldone Hand Fork at Amazon ($41) Jump to Review Best Ergonomic: Radius Garden Pro Ergonomic Digging Fork at Amazon ($61) Jump to Review Best Heavy Duty: Hoss Tools Garden Digging Fork at Amazon ($110) Jump to Review Best for Digging: Speak & Jackson Neverbend Professional Digging Fork at Amazon ($47) Jump to Review Best for Aeration: Bully Tools Broadfork With Fiberglass Handles at Amazon ($120) Jump to Review Best Overall Roamwild Multi-Digger Garden Fork Amazon View On Amazon $65 View On Walmart $75 View On Roamwildproducts.com Why You Should Get It This digging fork features an innovative head to help break up soil clumps and a dual handle that gives you a better grip and more control. Keep in Mind It doesn’t work as well for chores other than digging, such as turning over soil or transplanting. If you need to dig into hard soil, this is one of the best garden forks for the job. The steel head features a wedge design with pointed tines that more easily breaks clumps of soil than traditionally designed garden fork heads. The handle on this fork features a dual handle that gives you more places to grip, increasing comfort and providing more leverage and control when digging. There is a grip on the shaft of the tool as well, to offer additional flexibility and comfort. A tapered, ergonomic design helps you get more power without exerting more effort and the wide footpads on the head help you easily push the garden fork into the soil. However, the design of the head that makes the tool work so well for digging, also increases the space between the tines and makes other garden tasks, such as transplanting perennials or turning over soil slightly more difficult. That’s because the soil or plants have more space to fall between the tines. Overall, this garden fork is a great option—especially for people on the shorter side, as it’s only 40 inches long (slightly shorter than many other garden forks on the market). Featuring a handle made of lightweight fiberglass, it only weighs 3.5 pounds so it’s easy to work with and carry around while completing your garden chores. Innovative air-cut holes around the edge of the handle also help to make this garden fork lighter than many on the market. Product Details: Type: Digging fork | Handle Material: Fiberglass | Head Material: Steel | Length: 40 inches | Weight: 3.5 pounds Best Splurge A.M. Leonard Forged Steel Scoop Fork Amazon View On Amazon $148 View On Amleo.com Why You Should Get It This heavy-duty garden fork features curved tines, which make it ideal for scooping up large loads of compost, manure, or mulch. Keep in Mind At 8 pounds, this tool weighs considerably more than many other garden forks. This garden fork will cost you more than some, but it’s a durable, heavy-duty choice that will stand up to frequent use. Featuring a generously sized forged steel head (15.5 inches long and 15 inches wide), the curved tines work well for picking up large loads of compost, manure, straw, mulch, or other materials. It features 10 tines on the head which are positioned closely together so that material doesn’t fall through the openings between the tines. The handle, made of ash wood that’s comfortable to hold, is 48 inches long. Considerably longer than many other garden forks, it provides good leverage when you are picking up a load of compost or mulch—but its length may also make it more difficult for people of shorter stature to use. The straight-handled garden fork is also heavier than many other forks at 8 pounds. It may be too heavy for some users. If you can handle the length and weight, though, it will last for a good long time, thanks to a head that’s made from a single piece of steel to give it extra strength. The manufacturer backs the tool with a lifetime warranty. Of course, the curved tines that make this garden fork a great choice for moving compost and mulch do not work as well for digging into hard soil. Because of that fact, it’s not as versatile as some garden forks on the market. Product Details: Type: Compost fork | Handle Material: Ash wood | Head Material: Forged Steel | Length: 63.5 inches | Weight: 8 pounds Best Handheld DeWit Welldone Hand Fork Amazon View On Amazon $41 View On Home Depot $44 View On Parkseed.com Why You Should Get It This hand fork is built tough with strong, high-quality materials, so it will last a long time. Keep in Mind It’s more expensive than many hand forks and is relatively short—so it might not provide quite as much leverage when digging into hard soil. If you need to work in a small area, one of the best garden forks you can choose is a handheld garden fork. The DeWit Welldone Hand Fork is strong, durable, and lightweight, making it perfect for digging in your garden bed. Its tempered boron steel head with three sharp tines is tough enough to aerate clay soil, dig into rocky ground, and help you with all your weeding chores. The handle, made from sustainably sourced and FSC-certified European ash, features some elasticity, so it can bend a little as you work in hard soil without breaking. The wood also gives the hand fork a stylish look, making it a good gift for a fellow gardener if you’re not keeping the garden fork for yourself. You can also purchase this garden fork as part of a set that comes with a hand cultivator and trowel, as well as the garden fork. Because the hand fork is made of high-quality materials, it does cost more than many other hand forks. But it’s designed to last many years, and the company offers a lifetime warranty. At 11.4 inches long, it’s shorter than some other hand forks so it won’t let you reach quite as far when you’re working in a garden bed. But if you’re looking for a quality tool that will last a long time, this is a great pick. Product Details: Type: Hand fork | Handle Material: European ash | Head Material: Boron steel | Length: 11.4 inches | Weight: 0.5 pounds Best Ergonomic Radius Garden Pro Ergonomic Digging Fork Amazon View On Amazon $61 View On Walmart $70 View On Home Depot $69 Why You Should Get It An O-shape handle offers more grip area and helps reduce strain on the hands and wrist. Keep in Mind The steel shaft that makes it stronger also makes it heavier than some other forks with a wood or fiberglass shaft. This garden fork is technically a digging fork, but it can be used for a wide variety of garden tasks, including aerating soil, turning soil, digging up potatoes or bulbs, transplanting perennials, and moving mulch. It features a traditional design with four tines that are sharp enough to dig into compacted soil easily. An O-shape handle—a relatively new innovation in the world of garden forks—makes this model an ergonomic choice. The O-shape design offers more grip area than traditional T- or D-style handles and helps reduce stress on your hands and wrists as you work. The top of the head is extra wide at 7 inches (compared to 5.5 inches on the Worth Garden 42-inch Spading Fork, our top budget pick). This extra width allows you to cover more ground faster and improve your leverage and balance. Several features help increase strength and durability, including a resin-encased carbon steel shaft and stainless steel tines on the fork’s head. If a tine does break during normal use, the manufacturer offers a lifetime warranty in the United States. Because the fork features a steel shaft, rather than wood or fiberglass, it is a little heavier than some garden forks—however, this one is still under 5 pounds so it can easily be used by many gardeners. At 42.9 inches long, it’s a comfortable length for most gardeners as well. Product Details: Type: Digging fork | Handle Material: Polypropylene | Head Material: Stainless steel | Length: 42.9 inches | Weight: 4.85 pounds Best Heavy Duty Hoss Tools Garden Digging Fork Amazon View On Amazon $110 View On Hosstools.com Why You Should Get It This tool is built to last with high-quality materials and a smart design that lets you dig deep into the soil with less effort. Keep in Mind It's heavier than other garden forks on our list. If you need a garden fork that will stand up well to regular use and you don’t mind paying a bit more for a higher-quality tool, consider the Hoss Tools Garden Digging Fork. With long 11-inch tines, it’s a great fork to use for aerating soil or mixing in compost into deep, raised beds. The heat-treated steel tines are durable and the D-shaped handle and shaft are made of aircraft-quality tubing, which is strong enough to stand up to regular use and also helps to distribute the weight equally so you can do more with less effort. This garden fork also comes with a rubber foot pad that provides a wide surface to place your foot and push the tines into the dirt. The foot pad can be put on either the left or right side of the garden fork, which adds versatility—although a pad on both sides would undeniably make it even more convenient. It is easy to change the foot pad from the left to the right side—you just loosen and fasten two bolts with lock nuts. At 42 inches, this tool is a great height for a wide range of people, but at 7 pounds, it may be heavier than some people want to lift for an extended period of time. Product Details: Type: Digging fork | Handle Material: Steel | Head Material: Heat-treated steel | Length: 42 inches | Weight: 7 pounds Best for Digging Speak & Jackson Neverbend Professional Digging Fork Amazon View On Amazon $47 Why You Should Get It Designed for professionals, this digging fork is durable and strong enough to hold up well to all your toughest gardening tasks. Keep in Mind At just over 39 inches long, it’s relatively short for a garden fork and may be too short for some gardeners. Designed for landscape professionals and contractors, this garden fork is built using quality materials and construction so that it can stand up to heavy use. Like many other digging forks, it features four straight tines with pointed ends—this design helps it more easily pierce compact soil and makes it especially well suited for digging. The carbon steel head on the garden fork is strong, so it can dig into hard soil without breaking. It’s also coated with epoxy to help it resist rust, scratches, and alkalis in the soil that can damage the head over time. The garden fork features a wood shaft that has been weatherproofed to enhance durability. A metal and wood handle improves the garden fork’s strength as well. Although this hand fork is very strong, it’s on the shorter side when compared with other garden forks. Measuring just over 39 inches, it will be a great choice if you’re on the shorter side, but the short length may result in too much bending if you’re on the taller side. Either way, the reach will be shorter than some other garden forks that are longer. At just over 5 pounds, it’s not super lightweight, but not heavy either, and it should be manageable for most gardeners. The D-shape handle makes it comfortable to hold while you’re working. Product Details: Type: Digging fork | Handle Material: Steel and wood | Head Material: Carbon steel | Length: 39.17 inches | Weight: 5.39 pounds Best for Aeration Bully Tools Broadfork With Fiberglass Handles Amazon View On Amazon $120 View On Walmart $121 View On Lowe's $120 Why You Should Get It Five tines and two handles on this broad fork help you get more leverage and cover more ground quickly. Keep in Mind This tool is both heavy and long, so it might be difficult for some gardeners to use this tool and carry it around the yard or garden. A broad fork is one of the best garden forks for lawn aeration. Because it’s bigger than other types of garden forks, a broad fork can help you cover a lot of ground quickly. Broad forks generally include two handles, rather than one, for better leverage. The handles on this model are made of fiberglass, which are encased in steel and include a wood core to maximize durability. We like the fact that both handles are detachable to make storage easier. Rubber grips on the handles add comfort and decrease hand fatigue as you work. The steel head is 20 x 11 inches (much larger than other types of garden forks) and features five steel tines (rather than the four on traditional garden forks) that are sharp enough to easily break through hard-packed soil. Because of its size and dual handles, this broad fork weighs more than other styles of garden forks. At 13.4 pounds, it may be too heavy for some gardeners, but if you can handle the extra weight, it works well for not only aeration, but also for loosening the soil to harvest root vegetables. Product Details: Type: Broad fork | Handle Material: Fiberglass | Head Material: Steel | Length: 54.5 inches | Weight: 13.4 pounds The Bottom Line After researching a variety of garden forks for different gardening tasks, we chose the Roamwild Multi-Digger Spading Fork as the overall best garden fork because it features an innovative head that helps break up clumps of soil and a dual handle that gives you more places to grip and better control. What to Know About Garden Forks Before Shopping Ergonomics Because you may be using the garden fork for extended periods of time as you work in the garden, the best garden forks are comfortable to hold for long periods of time and can help decrease the amount of force you need to use as you work. D- and O-shape handles, such as the handle seen on the Radius Garden PRO Ergonomic Stainless Steel Digging Fork, are easier to hold than T-shape handles and can help reduce wrist strain. Many garden forks are designed with shafts that have a slight bend to provide more leverage and help you exert less effort. “A cushioned grip, lightweight design, and a well-balanced head are other key features that make a garden fork more ergonomic and will help reduce the effort required to use the fork,” Freimuth says. Material When it comes to choosing the best garden forks, high-quality materials can make a big difference. “The quality of your handles and blades plays a crucial role in how durable your tools remain,” says Kristen Reser, watering and tools merchant at The Home Depot. Steel or stainless steel is the most durable option for the head (and tines) of the garden fork. Several materials are available for the shaft and handle of the garden fork. Steel is strong and durable, but it may not be as comfortable as wood. “I recommend wood or fiberglass for the shaft and handle of a garden fork,” Freimuth says. “Wood and fiberglass are lightweight and extremely strong, making them comfortable for long days in the garden.” Plastic handles are also available—these are lightweight, but not as durable as other options. Length The best garden forks can be a variety of lengths, depending on your height and how you plan to use the tool in your garden. Some garden forks are less than 40 inches, while some broad forks on our list are more than 54 inches. The shortest garden fork on our list of best garden forks is the Spear & Jackson Neverbend Professional Digging Fork, which is only 39.17 inches long. The A.M. Leonard Forged Steel Scoop Fork is the longest on our list at 63.5 inches. In general, most garden forks are around 40 inches in length. Longer garden forks can help you avoid bending over if you are tall, but they may be too difficult to handle if you are short. You should consider how the garden fork’s length will impact your work in the garden. "If you plan to use the fork for heavy-duty tasks, you will need a longer fork to provide more leverage,” Freimuth says. “If you plan to use the fork for lighter tasks, you may prefer a shorter fork for more control.” Handle Type You’ll primarily find T- and D-shaped handles on garden forks, although O-shaped handles are becoming more popular as well. T-shape handles can be good for tasks that involve pushing or pulling motions, such as spreading mulch, Reser says. However, D-shaped handles, such as the handle on the Hoss Tools Garden Digging Fork, are considered more ergonomic than T-shaped handles because they allow you to have a more comfortable grip which can reduce hand fatigue. O-shaped handles, as seen on the Radius Garden PRO Ergonomic Stainless Steel Digging Fork, are touted as being even more ergonomic because they have more grip surface than D-shaped handles. Type There are several different types of garden forks, and the best garden fork for you will depend on what kind of work you will be doing in your garden. Digging forks, such as the Spear & Jackson Neverbend Professional Digging Fork, can help you dig into hard soil to prepare garden beds. Spading forks are often used for lifting and turning soil. These two terms are often used interchangeably depending on the brand, so it’s best to read the intended use on the label, Reser advises. Border forks are usually smaller and are designed to work in smaller spaces, like flower borders. Broad forks, meanwhile, are larger with two handles. They can cover more ground because of their size and are often used for aerating soil or lawns. Hand forks, like the DeWit Welldone Hand Fork, are handheld tools that are useful when you are working in small areas and need more precise control. You don’t necessarily need to have one of each type of garden fork, but having more than one garden fork can come in handy. Compost or manure forks, such as the A.M. Leonard Forged Steel Scoop Fork, generally have long handles (to provide good leverage) and are designed for scooping up compost, manure, mulch, and other materials. The tines are often thinner and curved to make scooping up materials easier. “While many garden forks can be used for various tasks, having several different types of forks specializing in unique jobs and environments is often helpful,” Freimuth says. Your Questions, Answered How much does a garden fork cost? The price of garden forks can range quite a bit. Our top budget pick, the Worth Garden 42-inch Spading Fork, will only set you back $39, but the A.M. Leonard Forged Steel Scoop Fork currently is about $150. In general, expect to pay at least $30 for a long-handled garden fork. Hand forks can cost less, of course, because they are quite a bit smaller. Some garden forks made of high-quality materials can cost $100 or more. Broad forks, with their larger size and dual handles, can sometimes cost upwards of $200. As with most products, you should expect to pay more for the best garden forks that are made of high-quality materials and that are likely to last longer and hold up to heavy use. How long does a garden fork last? You can expect the best garden forks to last several years, but in general, their life span depends on several different factors. “The lifespan of a typical garden fork can vary widely depending on the quality of materials, the frequency and intensity of use, and how well it’s maintained,” Reser says. The best garden forks for durability and longevity are made from strong materials, such as steel. That said, even if the tools are made from the toughest materials, they’re likely not to last quite as long if they are used for heavy-duty tasks every day. Proper maintenance can help them last longer, though. “Regular cleaning, oiling of metal parts to prevent rust, and proper storage can extend your garden fork’s lifespan,” Reser says. What can you use garden forks for? Garden forks can help you with a variety of garden chores, including aerating soil and lawns, breaking up ground for planting, incorporating compost into raised garden beds, moving mulch or yard debris, transplanting perennials, turning over your compost pile, digging up potatoes or other root crops, and more. Who We Are Renee Freemon Mulvihill is a freelance writer specializing in home and garden topics. To write this article, she researched garden forks online and talked with Kristen Reser, watering and tools Merchant at The Home Depot and Bill Freimuth, VP of sales at Centurion Brands, to learn more about features and materials to look for when shopping for the best garden forks. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit