Every gardener’s wish list includes a wheelbarrow. Why strain your back by carrying heavy mulch bags or rocks when a handy wheelbarrow is available? But before you spend your money on a new set of wheels, you should look for a cart that will meet your needs. Our list of the top eight wheelbarrows is a great place to start.
We did the heavy lifting so you can go wheelbarrow shopping with ease. We scoured the market for the best wheelbarrows to help you with your gardening tasks.
Best Wheelbarrows for Gardening
Wheelbarrows are the noble steed of manual labor, standing proudly by the side of any good gardener, builder, or equestrian and saving the NHS millions in back pain every year. They come in all shapes, sizes, and materials, so we tried to get our hands on as many different models and wheelbarrow types as we could.
A wheelbarrow can save your back as well as your time. This lawn and garden workhorse is designed to push (or pull) heavy materials around your property, reducing the strain on shoulders and backs caused by manually carrying heavy supplies such as mulch, grass clippings, compost, tools, and more. A wheelbarrow can also help you travel faster, reducing the overall time required for certain tasks and, in some cases, eliminating the need for a second set of hands. So, which wheelbarrow should you get?
The best wheelbarrow for transporting relatively light twigs and fallen leaves may not be able to withstand the strain of concrete mixing in its tub. We put these carts through their paces over two days of yard work to see how durable they are. If you’re in the market for one, keep reading to find out what to look for and how these wheelbarrows perform in the real-world yard and garden tasks.
Read on to learn more about the best wheelbarrows to buy :
WORX Aerocart 8-in-1 Yard Cart
Key Features
- Metal Material
- 49 Pounds Weight
- 3 Cubic Feet Volume Capacity
- 300 Pounds Weight Capacity
Overview
The Worx Aerocart 8-in-1 Wheelbarrow is our top overall pick because it can assist homeowners with a wide range of household tasks, not just yard work, and may eliminate the need for a second set of hands to complete a task. This wheelbarrow can be used as a bag holder, yard cart, dolly, extended dolly, cylinder carrier, rock/plant mover, and trailer tote.
The dolly plate at the bottom of the wheelbarrow converts it into a dolly, allowing you to transport heavy items such as a refrigerator. You can move large plants and stones to and from your garden with the extension arm and a strap, and the bag attachment helps you collect debris that needs to be bagged, such as fall leaves.
The wheelbarrow’s two wheels shift directly under the weight of the load in each configuration, making pushing and pulling easier. Worx claims that this feature reduces a 200-pound load to 17 pounds. The two wheels also provide more balance than a traditional one-wheeled wheelbarrow, making this a good choice for those who struggle with stability or who want more control when transporting material. Worx claims that the wheelbarrow’s tough tires will never go flat, so you won’t have to worry about re-inflating them.
True Temper Wheelbarrow
Key Features
- Steel Material
- 6 Cubic Feet Capacity
- Comfort-Grip Handles
- Sturdy Construction
Overview
The True Temper Wheelbarrow is a large, sturdy wheelbarrow that makes difficult yard work easier. It outperforms the competition in terms of durability and design, so we believe it’s an excellent choice for long hauls and frequent use with minimal discomfort.
The tray has a capacity of 6 cubic feet, which is sufficient to transport all of the gravel, dirt, leaves, twigs, and other debris you need to transport. The handles’ special grips increase comfort and make long-term use less taxing. This compartment is also designed with a curve to make depositing and distributing materials much easier.
Another significant advantage of the True Temper Wheelbarrow is its long-lasting construction. The 15.5-inch solid rubber tire will not flatten if punctured (and never needs to be refilled), and the rugged undercarriage can withstand a lot of wear and tear over difficult terrain. The steel tray is resistant to temperature extremes and impact, and its dark grey exterior conceals dirt and aging. While this model requires assembly, the time spent will be well worth it because this wheelbarrow will last for many seasons.
Gorilla Carts Poly Garden Dump Cart
Key Features
- Plastic and Steel Material
- 600 Pounds Weight Capacity
- 4 Cubic Feet Volume Capacity
- 32 Pounds Weight
Overview
With its extra wheels and a lift handle attached to the cart, this four-wheeled option provides more stability. The padded, wagon-style handle on the Gorilla Carts Poly Garden Dump Cart makes pushing and pulling more comfortable. It has a 4 cubic foot capacity and can carry up to 600 pounds in its durable plastic bed. The real selling point, however, is its dump-and-release mechanism, which facilitates unloading.
When you pull the lift handle attached to the cart’s bed, the bed is detached from the cart’s frame, allowing you to lift and empty the contents. As you lift, the back axle shifts forward to allow for easier dumping and to keep the cart stable.
This feature would be especially useful for people transporting heavy loads like rocks and wood. Below the bed, which is sloped on one side to make it easier to dump material, are 10-inch pneumatic tires that can roll over rough and smooth terrain, keeping the cart stable and spillage to a minimum.
Garden Star Garden Barrow
Key Features
- Polyurethane Material
- 300 Pounds Weight Capacity
- Lightweight
- Easy to Assemble
Overview
If you just want to haul mulch or collect weeds, a light plastic wheelbarrow might be easier to maneuver, especially for smaller or older gardeners. As a result, this low-cost, basic wheelbarrow from Garden Star is an excellent choice for light-duty tasks and storage: It can stand on its own or be hung on a wall.
Despite weighing only 20 pounds, this wheelbarrow has a capacity of 300 pounds. It is easy to lift and maneuver due to its lightweight design and loop handle. The polyurethane tray is on the small side, measuring about 27 inches long, 25 inches wide, and 8 inches deep.
Despite the fact that the dual tires are air-filled (rather than flat-free), they are strong and easy to turn (although you may need to fill them with air frequently). It’s ideal for transporting a few bags of mulch, soil, and other landscaping materials. It’s also great for hauling, weeding, and carrying smaller garden items.
This wheelbarrow’s assembly is fairly simple, requiring only six bolts, but some bolts may be defective or ill-fitting.
Best Choice Products Dual-Wheel Home Wheelbarrow
Key Features
- Plastic and Steel Material
- 330 Pounds Weight Capacity
- 5 Cubic Feet Volume Capacity
- 6 Pounds Weight
Overview
With its two large rubber wheels, plastic bed, steel frame, and metal handles, this cross between a garden cart and a wheelbarrow is on the smaller side, but it’s still very sturdy. With or without gardening gloves, the thick, padded handlebar provides a comfortable grip (no blisters here), and it can haul up to 330 pounds or 5 cubic feet—ideal for moving mulch or soil.
The two-wheel design keeps the cart stable and balanced when going over bumps and dips, making it more difficult for the wheelbarrow to tip over or spill contents onto your lawn. Furthermore, at less than 29 pounds, this wheelbarrow is light enough to fit in a truck bed if you need to transport it around your property or to a friend’s house.
Jackson 6 Cubic Foot Steel Wheelbarrow
Key Features
- Steel and Wood Material
- 6 Cubic Feet Load Capacity
- Affordable
- Flat-Free Tire
Overview
You can’t go wrong with a Jackson wheelbarrow if you want something that works as hard as you do. This wheelbarrow is made of heavy-duty steel and has a tip-resistant design as well as a contractor-grade undercarriage. Make no mistake: this is a commercial-grade product designed for large, heavy-duty jobs.
This wheelbarrow is relatively heavy, weighing just over 55 pounds, but that is part of what makes it so strong. It’s made of heavy-duty steel and will last for many years. It’s also well-balanced for the loads you throw at it. In fact, we’ve noticed that the product can withstand 10-pound slabs of concrete without flinching. Be aware that assembly may necessitate the use of more than a screwdriver.
Seina Folding Outdoor Utility Cart
Key Features
- Plastic and Steel Material
- 600 Pounds Weight Capacity
- 7 Cubic Feet Volume Capacity
- 38 Pounds Weight
Overview
Although it does not resemble a traditional wheelbarrow, this collapsible fabric cart serves a similar purpose: it assists you in hauling loads. Because of its steel frame and sturdy polyester fabric bed, this device can hold up to 150 pounds, allowing you to use it in the garden to transport seedlings, garden tools, planters, and other items. The bed is a rectangle with straight sides, unlike a wheelbarrow’s sloped sides, making it easier to place a box of seedlings inside and keep everything upright.
When you’re finished with the utility cart, simply fold it up and store it until the next time you need it. Keep in mind that because the wagon is mostly made of fabric, it can easily stain from garden debris, especially when wet. It fits inside closets, garages, and even car trunks if you want to take it to plant shopping with you.
Radio Flyer Kid’s Wheelbarrow
Key Features
- Steel and Wood Material
- 30 Pounds Weight Capacity
- Durable Wheel
- Classic Red Tray
Overview
Is there anything cuter than a child following their parent around the yard in their own miniature wheelbarrow? We don’t think so, which is why we love this Radio Flyer kid’s model. It’s recommended for toddlers aged 3 and up, and while it’s marketed as a “toy,” it’s a real working wheelbarrow for kids who, like their parents, want to develop green thumbs.
The company has been synonymous with classic red wagons and tricycles for over a century. This children’s wheelbarrow is made with the same trusted quality: a gleaming steel tray, a long-lasting molded wheel, and sturdy wooden handles.
The tray has no-scratch edges that can withstand wear and tear, making it ideal for gardening with children. We appreciate that the edges are also non-scratchable to protect against accidental owies.
Final Words
When it comes to gardening, you need tools that are sturdy and multipurpose to help you carry out your gardening tasks easily. In this article, we have reviewed the best wheelbarrows that are helpful for you to carry out your gardening tasks. We hope this article will be helpful for you in finding the right wheelbarrow for your gardening tasks. Keep reading our blogs to learn more about the best gardening tips and reviews about different gardening products.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Size Wheelbarrow Do You Need for Your Yard?
Wheelbarrows are commonly available in 2- and 3-cubic-foot sizes. Our selection includes wheelbarrows that can hold up to 6 cubic feet per load, which is sufficient for most landscaping tasks around the house. Remember that a wheelbarrow with a higher volume capacity (the number of cubic feet it can hold) will always help you make fewer trips while working in your yard.
Why is it Called a Wheelbarrow?
The wheelbarrow originated in ancient China as a human-powered device for transporting small loads. However, the term “wheelbarrow,” as we know it today, originated in 14th-century Britain. 1 Modern English speakers frequently refer to this common piece of construction equipment as a “wheelbarrel,” a compound word made up of “wheel” and “barrow” (believed to be a variation of Old English words for the basket and/or carry).
How Should You Store a Wheelbarrow?
Wheelbarrows are useful tools, but they take up a lot of space in a work shed or garage. To protect it from UV rays and rust, cover it with a tarp and weigh it down with bricks or other weights. You can tip your wheelbarrow upright and store it safely between uses by using space-saving wall brackets or storage racks. You can hang it on hooks on the side of your garage wall if it’s light enough. If you want to keep your wheelbarrow outside, you can build a storage rack that attaches to a fence for upright storage, which will keep rain, leaves, and other gunk at bay.