# What is a bats (concrete shovel)?
**A bats is a flat shovel with a wide, rectangular blade and no upturned edges, used for scooping and moving loose materials such as sand, gravel, mortar, and cement.** It is one of the most basic tools found on a building site, particularly in the Netherlands and Belgium.
## Characteristics
– **Wide, flat blade** — wider than a standard shovel, without a pointed tip
– **Short handle** — usually with a D-grip for a firm hold
– **No upturned edges** — so material slides off easily
– **Heavy-duty steel** — the blade is made from thick steel to resist wear
## Application
The bats is used on site for:
– **Scooping mortar** — from a wheelbarrow or mortar tub onto the wall
– **Moving sand and gravel** — when filling wheelbarrows or concrete mixers
– **Mixing cement** — when mixing by hand on a flat surface
– **Loading loose material** — such as chippings, soil, or rubble
### Difference from a spade
A spade has a narrow, pointed blade designed to cut into the ground. A bats is wider and flatter, designed to scoop loose material rather than dig.
## Related terms
– Mortar
– Concrete
– Bricklaying
– Wheelbarrow
– Building site
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