Affiliate Disclosure:This Old House’s Reviews Team is committed to delivering honest, objective, and independent reviews on home products and services. To support this business model, This Old House may be compensated if you purchase through links on our website.
If you’re looking for an easier way to move heavy materials, such as compost and mulch, the This Old House Reviews Team is here to help. We researched the best wheelbarrows on Amazon and created a buyer’s guide to help you make an informed purchase. Here are our top recommendations.
Top 5 Wheelbarrows
- Highest Weight Capacity: Gorilla Carts Garden Dump Cart
- Most Portable: Gorilla Carts Poly Yard Cart
- Most Versatile: WORX Aerocart Wheelbarrow
- Best Wheels: Garden Star Marathon Yard Rover
- Best Electric Wheelbarrow: SuperHandy Electric-Powered Utility Cart
Highest Weight Capacity: Gorilla Carts Garden Dump Cart
This plastic wheelbarrow has a durable, rustproof plastic bed and four 10-inch pneumatic tires to help you complete a variety of DIY projects. It can handle up to 600 pounds, which makes it ideal for moving rocks or any other job that requires heavy lifting.
Key Features
- 38.7 by 20 by 19.5 inches
- 32 pounds
- Four 10-inch pneumatic tires
- 600-pound load capacity
- One-year warranty
What Customers Are Saying
Customers praised this wheelbarrow’s patented dumping mechanism, which allowed the cart to be loaded and unloaded quickly and easily. This mechanism also made the wheelbarrow easy for people with limited mobility and strength to use. Reviewers who weren’t satisfied with the product complained that the screws provided with the cart became loose after only a few uses.
Most Portable: Gorilla Carts Poly Yard Cart
This wheelbarrow comes with multi-terrain pneumatic tires and a heavy-duty plastic bed that help homeowners complete a variety of yard maintenance tasks. Because of its 27-pound frame, foldable handle, and four-cubic-foot bed, this wheelbarrow is easy to move around your yard and store in a garden shed or garage.
Key Features
- 47.2 by 25.3 by 28.4 inches
- 26.8 pounds
- Two 10-inch pneumatic tires
- 300-pound load capacity
What Customers Are Saying
Customers liked the low-to-the-ground design of this wheelbarrow’s body, which made it easy to lift items into the cart. However, multiple customers didn’t receive all of the pieces required for assembly. They said that getting the replacement parts from the manufacturer was a hassle.
Most Versatile: WORX Aerocart Wheelbarrow
This wheelbarrow has a versatile design that gives DIYers access to a dolly, bag holder, trailer tote, and other convenient tools with one heavy-duty frame. The design of this wheelbarrow also features foldable extension arms that make supporting heavy loads more manageable by preventing spills and slips.
Key Features
- 57 by 15.5 by 12 inches
- 49 pounds
- Two never-flat tires
- 300-pound load capacity
- Three-year warranty
What Customers Are Saying
Customers who loved this wheelbarrow praised its easy assembly process, especially considering how many pieces it came with. Customers who were unsatisfied with this product criticized the bowl of the wheelbarrow, saying that it was too small to practically carry its 300-pound maximum load.
Best Wheels: Garden Star Marathon Yard Rover
This plastic wheelbarrow has a lightweight design that makes transportation easy and a rustproof plastic tray that supports up to 300-pound loads. Attached to its metal frame are two 14.5-inch pneumatic wheels that can tackle grassy hills, gravel driveways, and other terrains.
Key Features
- 53.5 by 25.5 by 25.6 inches
- 25 pounds
- Two 14.5-inch pneumatic tires
- 300-pound load capacity
What Customers Are Saying
Customers liked how easy to maneuver this wheelbarrow was, with many claiming that its construction and shape was ideal for everyday use. However, multiple customers who rated the product poorly claimed that the holes in the wheelbarrow weren’t lined up, making the product difficult to assemble.
Best Electric Wheelbarrow: SuperHandy Electric-Powered Utility Cart
This electric wheelbarrow helps homeowners push heavy loads with its motorized wheels that can move across a variety of terrains. Because the motor does most of the work, it’s a solid option for older individuals or individuals with limited strength who can’t haul a traditional wheelbarrow on their own.
Key Features
- 42 by 27 by 17 inches
- 107 pounds
- Two 13-inch pneumatic tires
- 330-pound load capacity
What Customers Are Saying
Customers who loved this wheelbarrow praised its durability. Many customers also reported that the wheelbarrow’s parts were shipped thoughtfully with a lot of padding to prevent damage during the mailing process. Customers who weren’t happy with this wheelbarrow complained about its short battery life.
Buyer’s Guide
Before purchasing a wheelbarrow, it’s important to understand how its design and specifications impact its user experience and performance. Here are four factors to consider before buying a wheelbarrow.
Material
Most wheelbarrows are made of either plastic or metal. Most non-metal models, including the Gorilla Carts Garden Dump Cart, are made with polyethylene or polypropylene—thick and durable plastics that create an affordable and long-lasting wheelbarrow. While more affordable, plastic wheelbarrows are typically less durable than their metal counterparts. For example, the SuperHandy Electric-Powered Utility Cart has a powder-coated steel frame that holds up to 330 pounds.
Weight Capacity
A wheelbarrow’s weight capacity refers to how many pounds it can safely transport. Typically, plastic wheelbarrows have lower weight capacities than their steel counterparts. For example, the plastic Garden Star Marathon Yard Rover holds up to 300 pounds, which is 30 pounds less than the metal SuperHandy Electric-Powered Utility Cart. However, some heavy-duty plastic models, such as the Gorilla Carts Garden Dump Cart, have 600-pound capacities.
Movement
Wheelbarrows come in manual and automatic models. Manual wheelbarrows, such as the Gorilla Carts Garden Dump Cart, include one or two handles that help you push or pull the cart. Automatic models, including the SuperHandy Electric-Powered Utility Cart, have wheels that are powered by batteries to transport heavy loads.
Additional Features
Many wheelbarrows have additional features that help you complete a variety of DIY tasks. For example, the WORX Aerocart Wheelbarrow has an eight-in-one design that transforms it into a yard cart, bag holder, dolly, and other tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I store my wheelbarrow outside?
It depends. Some plastic wheelbarrows have a weather-resistant design that can withstand light rain and inclement weather. However, metal wheelbarrows should be stored under a shelter or in a shed to prevent corrosion.
How much weight can a wheelbarrow carry?
While the weight capacity of a wheelbarrow varies based on the model, most can hold around 300 pounds.
What are wheelbarrows used for?
Wheelbarrows can be used for a variety of DIY projects, including moving rock, transporting mulch, and disposing of debris.
Why Trust The This Old House Reviews Team
This Old House has empowered homeowners for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement content in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content on its website and social media platforms. The This Old House Reviews Team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content to help inform your purchasing decision for just about any item or resource that you might need for your home. The This Old House Reviews Team has written over 1,000 reviews on products in the home space, from cordless drills to kitchen trash cans, lawn mowers, and dining room decorations.
We recommend products in each review using an intensive research process, spending hours combing through the best available models on Amazon. For a product to make our list of top picks, it must hold a solid sales record on Amazon, have consistently positive customer reviews, and offer unique features, among other factors. After narrowing down our list of recommendations, we conduct additional research and sometimes in-person testing to ensure that the products meet our standards. Once we conclude the research phase, we craft a well-rounded, user-friendly article that includes our recommended products and additional information to help homeowners like you make the right purchase.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.