Chances are, neither you nor your clients will appreciate unintended impressionist art in their freshly poured concrete. For smaller projects, a reliable, handheld concrete trowel allows you to cleanly finish concrete before it sets. Finding the best concrete trowel involves finding one that will prevent rust, has comfortable and tight handles, and features thin, flexible, and lightweight blades. These trowels must strike the perfect balance between being small enough to fit into tight spaces, such as behind pipes, and large enough to reduce unnecessary work and fatigue.
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- Marshalltown - Rounded Front Finishing Trowel
- OX Pro - Ultra Flex Finishing Trowel
- Dixiang - Stainless Steel Flat Finishing Trowel
- Kraft Tool - Blue Steel Pool Trowel with ProForm Handle L-Shank
- Marshalltown - Concrete Finishing Trowel Gold Permashape
1. Marshalltown - Rounded Front Finishing Trowel
In the process of working with freshly laid concrete, the most important aspect is to prevent any lasting lines from forming. When choosing trowels, one can opt for those with square ends, which are beneficial for troweling into corners, or round ends, which are effective in reducing sweep marks. Or, you can get the benefits of both in one! Marshalltown's solid steel finishing trowel with its rounded edge significantly reduces the risk of unintentionally creating grooves in wet concrete.
Notable features:
- A rounded edge decreases the chance of leaving a groove
- Comfortable handle
- High-carbon steel trowels
- Aluminium alloy with an Xtralite mounting
- Made in the USA.
2. OX Pro - Ultra Flex Finishing Trowel
Since 1974, Ox Pro has been providing high-quality professional tools to the general construction, masonry, and tiling trades. Their easy-to-use trowel has gained an increasingly positive reputation among both professionals and DIY enthusiasts alike. The trowel's ultra-flexible, double-blade stainless steel design makes it ideal for smoothing concrete. Additionally, its lightweight, fully fastened shank significantly reduces the possibility of the handle becoming loose during use. 
Notable features:
- Unique twin-blade technology
- Rounded corners
- Ergonomic soft grip handle
- 0.3 mm ultra flexible stainless steel blade
3. Dixiang - Stainless Steel Flat Finishing Trowel
This trowel has become one of Amazon's top-selling items, largely due to its affordability. It's an ideal choice for those who frequently replace trowels or need a quick, budget-friendly option. Crafted from 0.7mm polished stainless steel and equipped with a handle, it offers everything you could need in a trowel. At roughly a fifth of the cost of other items on this list, it's an economical and reliable choice.
Notable features:
- Polished stainless steel
- 0.7mm thick
- Ergonomically designed handle
- Aluminium shank
- No-rivets construction
4. Kraft Tool - Blue Steel Pool Trowel with ProForm Handle L-Shank
Made from blue steel, these larger pool trowels are a specialised type of trowel ideal for bigger surface areas. While they share similarities in size with finishing trowels, pool trowels are more flexible and are specifically used in applying finish coats with an extra smooth look. The rounded ends of pool trowels help achieve this by minimising the lines or sweep marks produced with each stroke.
Notable features:
- American made
- Built to handle the toughest jobs
- Ultra-strong and ultra-light
- Blue steel
5. Marshalltown - Concrete Finishing Trowel Gold Permashape
Marshalltown, founded in 1890 by Jesse and Lester Williams, revolutionised the industry by patenting some of the first and most popular trowels in America, changing the game with over 100 years of supplying quality steel handheld concrete trowels. The Concrete Finishing Trowel by Marshalltown is a premium quality trowel known for maintaining its shape over time. This trowel is particularly suitable for large surface areas. The trowel's durability and ability to retain its shape (Permashape) make it a valuable tool and its proven longevity and performance have earned it high praise from seasoned professionals in the field.
Notable features:
- Long-lasting
- Wide base
- Hardened and tempered golden stainless steel
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