On chilly nights, the crackling logs of brightly lit fireplaces add to the ambiance of our living rooms or outdoor patios. These traditional hearths at the base of the chimney are where we cozy up together and listen to legendary stories. It’s where we enjoy hot chocolate, s’mores, and each other’s company. Nothing can truly replace the fun of a traditional fireplace. Whether you’re teaching your child how to build a fire or lighting it to keep your family warm on a snowy night, these household fixtures are indispensable. But maintaining them isn’t always as easy as it sounds. You need to keep the ash layers controlled for a better-burning fire and a cleaner home. To do that, it’s important to have a trusty fireplace shovel that won’t let you down. Our team of experts has researched the top fireplace shovels of 2025 so you don’t have to. Plus, they’ve gathered useful tips and tricks to help you purchase one without a hitch. Let’s take a look!
The Rocky Mountain Goods Fireplace Shovel is an all-in-one solution for scooping ashes. Featuring a long 17-inch build with a small flat scoop, this versatile shovel can be used in a variety of different places, whether that be in a fireplace or a barbeque.
Made of premium alloy steel that ensures high durability, this shovel won’t bend or break regardless of how often it’s used. What’s more, its heat-resistant paint and finish keep this shovel’s exterior from chipping, making this a long-lasting and durable option. The manufacturer even offers a lifetime warranty to back up the top quality. Plus, this lightweight shovel makes scooping and lifting ashes a breeze. As an added bonus, this fireplace shovel has a leather strap so you can hang it near the fireplace for easy access and storage. These incredible features make this simple, easy-to-use shovel our best overall pick.
The Imperial Group Ash Shovel works perfectly for small fireplaces. This shovel is 20 inches long with a handle-to-head ratio that’s nearly even, making this shovel perfect for small and narrow areas. Featuring a head with a deep scoop, angled sides, and ridges at the back, this shovel can lift plenty of ashes at once. Plus, it’s a useful tool for barbecues and traditional wood-burning ovens.
What’s more, it has an attractive black matte finished body made from 26-gauge steel, which is sure to be long-lasting. While this multi-purpose shovel does not have a dedicated hole or strap for storage, you can easily stow it away in an organization bucket or tool rack.
As the name suggests, this fireplace shovel by Fire Beauty is indeed a beauty in terms of functionality. Featuring an angled handle with a large, deep scoop, its 15-inch ergonomic design is ideal for picking up ashes from any fireplace. Thanks to these features, you won’t have a mess while scooping out mounds of ash at once.
This fireplace shovel has a thin iron build that makes it both lightweight and durable. Plus, the shovel will not crack or break despite how thin it appears. What’s more, it has a water-resistant, paint-treated exterior so you can use it indoors and outdoors without worrying about rust; this shovel will maintain a like-new look for years to come.
If you don’t mind getting a bit fancy, the Minuteman International Fireplace Shovel is an amazing choice. It features a traditional handmade shovel with a long handle and a slightly angled head. The shovel is 28 inches in length, which is the classic standard size for scraping out ashes from the depths of the fireplace. There is also a mini and an extra-long version to suit your personal preference.
This particular fireplace shovel features a wrought-iron build that can withstand extensive wear and tear. While it’s a high-quality shovel, keep in mind that you cannot use it to transfer hot coals and ashes as the metal will become too hot and may start to smolder. But for ashes that have cooled down, this shovel is ideal. Plus, it features an attractive twisted rope-style handle that forms a large hole at the end for hanging beside the fireplace.
The Aboniris Coal Shovel Set is the perfect match for those who want to make the fireplace maintenance job quick and simple. This set includes a high-quality, 16-inch shovel with an angled, rectangular head and a cleaning brush. With this set, you can easily lift shovelfuls of ashes and coals.
What’s more, its steelhead can withstand repeated use and last a long time. Both the shovel and the brush have natural wooden handles, which prevent heat transfer so that you can hold them without getting burned. Featuring coco bristles, the brush helps sweep ash and coal dust away after cleaning out the fireplace. Overall, this is a unique, handy set to have next to your fireplace for the chilly winter months.
A fireplace shovel is an essential tool for maintaining your fireplace. Usually, it has a long handle with a flat head to scoop the ashes up. Here are some reasons why you should invest in a fireplace shovel:
It’s important to have control over the ash layers for a bright and evenly-burning fire. Ash accumulates when wood burns inside the fireplace. Too much ash can mean that the fire can’t access the needed oxygen to burn the wood.
Without oxygen, the fire is inefficient and will die out. To prevent this, you should clean out your fireplace regularly to remove the ash. Keep in mind that the fire requires some insulation between the cold fireplace floor and itself. Be sure to leave approximately one inch of ash in the fireplace.
If you don’t remove the ash from the fireplace, you run the risk of several safety hazards. Poisonous gases, like carbon monoxide, can rise and permeate the surroundings. Inhaling these fumes can result in serious illnesses or even death.
Anybody who has a fireplace knows that ashes tend to spread. Ash can easily float up from the fireplace and settle on the floor or furniture. It’s important to shovel out the excess ash layers if you want to keep the area near your fireplace clean.
Ash layers can also accumulate and form dangerous buildups that block the fireplace. If this happens, you’ll need to hire a professional to clear the blockage. These services cost way more than buying a fireplace shovel and using it to clear the ash out once in a while.
To avoid this, use your fireplace shovel to remove the ashes completely or partially. You can also smooth the ash out, remove hot coals, and lift out any unwanted char from the fireplace. Some people also use these shovels for barbecues, ovens, and outdoor cooking.
There are three main types of fireplace shovels based on their decorative style and design:
Typically, English fireplace shovels have a long handle and a short head. One can easily identify them due to the length ratio and beautiful craftsmanship as the shovel head often features decorative patterns.
Dutch fireplace shovels are available in all sizes and weights. What sets them apart are their elongated, deep shovel heads, which can pick up large amounts of ash at once and are suitable for heavy use.
French fireplace shovels are luxurious and intricate, often featuring engraved and carved patterns. These shovels tend to have rustic builds made from wrought iron.
If you’ve shopped online before, you know that there are thousands of different vendors offering thousands of different products. Sifting through all of them is impossible. To simplify your search, filter the products based on these key features:
Three measurements hold immense value when choosing a fireplace shovel: overall length, handle length, and head depth. Let’s take a closer look at each:
The length of your shovel depends on the size of your fireplace. A bigger fireplace leads to a bigger fire and more ash accumulation. In this case, it’s best to have a large shovel to tackle everything. Ideally, your shovel should have a length between 15 to 18 inches. You may find shorter shovels (10 inches) and extra-long versions (25 inches) work too.
Fireplace shovels feature different head-to-handle ratios. Some feature a long handle with a short head, while others have a short handle with a long head. Other shovels have equal lengths.
This doesn’t mean you can choose just any shovel. The handle length affects how easy the shovel is to use. For instance, if you’re tall, a long handle makes it easier to reach the inside of the fireplace.
The shovel head is the part that picks up the ashes. The deeper the shovel head is, the more ashes you can remove in one go. Always compare the shovel’s head depth to your fireplace and overall needs.
A fireplace shovel withstands a lot of stress and temperature changes. Because of this, it should have a high-quality build to last at least a couple of years. Choosing a shovel made of durable material is essential. Typically, shovels have a solid structure made entirely of metal. Popular metal choices include iron, steel, brass, and aluminum. Some shovels may include other materials, for instance, a wooden handle.
We highly recommend steel fireplace shovels because these have the most resistance against wear and tear, and they tend to be non-corrosive and rust-proof.
Weight may appear to be an insignificant factor, but it can make or break a shovel. A heavier shovel will be very difficult to repeatedly lift, triggering muscle pain and soreness. We recommend choosing a fireplace shovel between 1 and 2 pounds. If you have a medical condition, opt for an even lighter shovel, such as one made of aluminum.
It’s important to select a fireplace shovel that is comfortable to hold and has an ergonomic handle. Look for one with a slightly angled, wooden end, which will ensure a firm grip and maximum safety when lifting hot ashes.
How you store your fireplace shovel depends on its design. Some shovels feature a large loop or hole at one end so you can hang it on a rack near the fireplace. Some fireplace shovels come with a hanging strap instead of a hole in the handle. If your shovel doesn’t have a storage-oriented feature, we recommend storing it in a bucket or a dedicated fireplace tool holder.
There are several fireplace tools that you should have at all times. These include a shovel, tongs, poker, brush, and blow poke. You can find complete fireplace tool sets available online.
A good-quality fireplace shovel costs between $13 to $15. When buying antique style shovels or complete sets, the cost could increase to as much as $50.
Using a fireplace shovel is pretty simple. Hold it by the handle, dig into the ashes, and scoop them up. Tap the backside of the shovel down against the ashes to smooth them out.