Best Wheelbarrow for Gardening Projects

A wheelbarrow is a very useful tool to help you haul soil and other garden equipment and tools around your yard and garden. They’re durable, versatile, and you can get them in a variety of sizes and styles from traditional horizontal designs to vertical ones. They help you easily cart larger loads around, and the best wheelbarrows can move over a variety of terrains without a problem. This comes in handy if you have softer ground around your garden and rough terrain by the edges of your yard. You won’t have to worry about the wheelbarrow getting stuck.

The best wheelbarrows come from reputable brands, but it’s challenging to narrow down the dozens of choices available on the current market if you’re not sure what you’re looking for. There are buying considerations you want to keep in mind like the style and capacity, and the brand is also important. I’ve picked out 10 of the best wheelbarrows available, and you can compare the short reviews below. Before you make your choice, you can narrow everything down using the buying guide at the bottom of the post.

A high-quality wheelbarrow can help you move your projects along at a nice pace because they give you the capability to move large loads from point A to point B without having to make multiple trips. 

1. Gorilla Carts Garden Dump Cart – Top Pick

 

You get a lightweight wheelbarrow that offers a high hauling capacity that makes this one of the best wheelbarrow for gardening tasks, and it weighs in at just 32-pounds that makes it easy to maneuver around your yard. You can pull it right up to your potting bench, load it, and put your containers, garden soil, or gardening tools wherever you need around your yard without straining your body. It has a weight capacity of 600-pounds, and this makes it durable enough to haul heavy loads without a lot of wear and tear. There is a heaped capacity of four cubic feet with this product. 

You’ll get a nice quick-release dump feature on this model that makes it quick and easy to unload compost or dirt as you work without interrupting your flow. The plastic tub also gets elevated off of the ground on this model to make it easy to navigate around your yard. There are four 10-inch pneumatic tires on this model, and you’ll get a nicely padded handle that is comfortable to grab onto and pull the wheelbarrow from point A to point B. There is a newer frame design that makes it easy to assemble out of the box, and you get a tight turning radius for smaller areas. 

Benefits:

• Lightweight model 
• 10-inch pneumatic tires 
• Weighs 32-pounds when empty
• Quick-release dumping system 
• Can hold up to 600-pounds 
• Easy to assemble 
• Tight turn radius

Drawbacks:

• Body is plastic 

2. Garden Star Dual-Wheel Wheelbarrow – Step-Up Pick

 

This is a slightly more lightweight wheelbarrow from Garden Star that weighs in at just over 20-pounds when it’s empty, and this makes it easy to get into position when you need it. You get a dual-wheel design that gives you excellent balancing capabilities, and it comes equipped with pneumatic tires that provide another layer of easy navigation because they won’t give or go flat when you go over rough or uneven terrain. It features a polypropylene plastic material, and this makes it resistant to rust and corrosion when you break the wheelbarrow out in wet or humid conditions. 

You’ll be able to load up to four cubic feet of dirt into this wheelbarrow without overloading it, and it can handle gravel, potting soil, sand, or dirt. It has a loop-style handle on it that is very comfortable to grip, and it also lets you hang the cart right on the wall of your storage shed between uses to help you save floor space. You only use six bolts to assemble it, so it should be easy for one person to do out of the box. There is also a durable poly tray that is perfect for carrying a few bags of soil or mulch.

Benefits:

• Lightweight design 
• Great balancing ability 
• Polypropylene plastic resists mold
• Holds four cubic feet of material 
• Only six bolts to assemble
• Easy to hang between uses 
• Comfortable handle 

Drawbacks:

• Easy to scratch the exterior 

3. Dual-Wheel Utility Yard Wheelbarrow – Mid-End Budget Pick

 

If you’re after a medium-sized wheelbarrow that’s easy to pull or push while staying comfortable when you lay your sod or work in the garden, this is a nice choice. You’ll get a durable but lightweight molded plastic tub to securely cradle and carry whatever you want to load into it, and there are dual inflatable rubber wheels on this product that give this wheelbarrow cushion to ensure that it doesn’t bounce when you go over rough or uneven terrain, and this reduces the chances of it accidentally tipping over and spilling everywhere. The frame is made out of a powder-coated steel that resists rust to make it extremely durable. 

You’ll get a single-bar handle on this wheelbarrow that gives you a cushioned grip to avoid hand fatigue on long projects, and it weighs in at just 26-pounds when it’s empty. This makes it lightweight enough to easily maneuver but heavy enough to give you optimal load stability. It has a maximum hauling capacity of 330 pounds, and it can hold up to five cubic feet of bricks, soil, gravel, mulch, or whatever you want to put in. The handlebar has thick padding on it, and it won’t rust or corrode with use over time. 

Benefits:

• Molded plastic tub 
• Larger inflatable wheels 
• Powder-coating steel frame 
• Single-bar handle design 
• Weighs 26-pounds when it’s empty 
• Maximum hauling capacity of 330-pounds 
• Can hold up to five cubic feet of dirt

Drawbacks:

• Tires come underinflated 

4. Collapsible Outdoor Utility Wagon – Bargain Budget Pick

 

If you’re on a tight budget, this collapsible garden cart comes in handy if you only need a wheelbarrow-like tool a few times a year. It’s also nice if your storage areas are in short supply. It’s a multipurpose utility wagon that works as well when you weed the garden as it does carrying beach supplies when you go on vacation. Since it collapses, you can easily transport it to project sites without worrying about space. You get a steel and iron frame that is very durable and resistant to wear and tear, and the tub comes made from a thicker Oxford cloth that is waterproof and easy to clean between uses. 

When you collapse it, it’s just 30-inches tall by 20-inches wide and 8-inches deep. There are seven cup holders that allow you to store portable coffee mugs or water bottles for those early morning projects. You can pick from several different colors ranging from bright to neutral, and they all contrast nicely with the darker frame coloring. It has a firm but practical fixed handle, and the rubberized wheels are suitable for everything from grass to pavement. It can hold up to 150-pounds.

Benefits:

• Collapses for easy storage 
• Oxford fabric is waterproof 
• Easy to transport 
• Holds up to 150 pounds
• Has seven cup holders 
• Easy to clean 
• Steel and iron frame

Drawbacks:

• Fabric can wear out in spots quickly 

5. Worx WG050 Lawn Cart – Best For Versatile Use

 

When you purchase this wheelbarrow, you’ll get two carefully positioned wheels that can shift to help move the product’s center of gravity to match your task at hand. So, you can use it to load and carry potting soil, a larger container, and much more without worrying about having to struggle. It has a very versatile design to it that can set it apart from other objects on the list, and it’ll function well as a wheelbarrow, bag holder, dolly, and a trailer tote. You can also choose from a range of add-ons when you buy it, including extension arms, a potted plant holder, and a mesh net to help you transport rocks. 

The bag holder will snap onto this product’s frame and hold leaf or lawn bags when you rake or perform other cleanup tasks. It weighs in at 49-pounds when it’s empty, so this does make it slightly heavier than most of the items on the list. However, it has a maximum capacity of 300 pounds. You can move your loads from one point to the next without struggling with it, and it allows you to take a two-person job and turn it into something one person can do. 

Benefits:

• 8-in-1 design
• Host of accessories available 
• 300-pound maximum capacity 
• Center of gravity moves
• Padded, comfortable handles 
• Steel design 
• Very durable 

Drawbacks:

• Heavier when it’s empty 

6. Makita Brushless Power-Assisted Wheelbarrow – Best For Heavy Duty Projects

 

If you routinely tackle a broad range of heavy-duty projects, this power-assisted wheelbarrow from Makita can be a huge help. It can lighten your load and the project’s scope by doing the heavy lifting for you. You get a unique three-wheel design with two speeds, and it maxes out at 2.5-miles an hour when it runs on a 12° incline. It can move in reverse as well, and this makes it quick and easy to maneuver around your yard and in or out of tight spaces as needed. It does weigh 275-pounds, but this is because it’s a motorized version that can help you pull off huge projects without showing strain or wear and tear. 

When you use this wheelbarrow, you’ll get LED lighting on the frame to help illuminate your work space and keep going after it starts to get dark. It has a rechargeable 18-volt battery that gives you right around an hour of runtime after you charge it, but you do have to buy the battery separately. They offer up to a 50% longer runtime than you’ll get with other models, and it offers a high degree of convenience and versatility. As a bonus, the wheelbarrow is reversible with side rails and a flatbed on it that makes it easy to install when you get it. 

Benefits;

• Two speed settings
• Moves via motor 
• Maxes out at 2.5 miles per hour 
• LED lighting on the frame 
• 50% longer runtime 
• Reversible design 
• Reputable brand

Drawbacks:

• Have to buy the batteries and charger separate 

7. Rubbermaid Plastic Yard Cart – Best For Large Gardens

 

If you’re an experienced gardener, this is one garden tool you want to have at your disposal to help complete your projects and do all of the heavy lifting for you. While most of these wheelbarrows on the list come designed for people who garden or do landscape work, this one features a heavy-duty construction that can survive a huge project range. It also holds an impressive 7.5-cubic feet of material when it’s fully loaded, and this makes it a snap to transport big amounts of rocks, compost, mulch, or soil without having to take more than one trip. 

When this wheelbarrow is empty, it weighs in at under 50 pounds. You can load it with up to 300 pounds of items without putting a strain on the frame, and it features a high-density polyethylene. The seamless design ensures that the entire contents of the tub stays put until you need it. It has larger wheels on it that make it easy to maneuver and dump wherever you need. The base in the back is slightly lower than the wheels to stabilize it when you load it to prevent it from tipping over, but it doesn’t stick out enough to tip over. 

Benefits:

• Holds up to 7.5 cubic feet of material 
• Maximum capacity of 300 pounds
• Two larger wheels
• Easy to maneuver 
• Offers precision dumping 
• Heavy-duty construction 
• Handle is durable 

Drawbacks:

• Wheels have a thin design 

8. Jackson Wheelbarrow – Best For Small Projects

 

Jackson Designs is a trusted name when it comes to producing some of the best wheelbarrows on the market, and they’re known for making high-quality products you can trust. They’re a professional-grade product that comes equipped with heavy-duty steel trays with a professional-grade steel undercarriage that won’t rust or corrode with heavy use or use in different weather conditions. It offers a six cubic foot capacity to help reduce how many trips you have to take back and forth to finish your projects, and you get a bright blue coloring on the wheelbarrow so it’s easy to spot as you work. 

The handles on this wheelbarrow are a strong hardwood, and this ensures that they don’t rot or break, and you get 16-inch tubed tires that can help you navigate around rough terrain or to different spots in your yard with ease. The handles are 60-inches long, and this gives you plenty of room to grab on. You’ll get patented leg stabilizers on this wheelbarrow that make it up to 40% more tip resistant to reduce the risk of accidentally spilling items as you move or leave it sitting. 

Benefits:

• Steel undercarriage 
• Six cubic feet capacity 
• 60-inch solid wood handles 
• 16-inch tires 
• Leg stabilizers 
• Up to 40% more tip-resistant 
• Eye-catching blue coloring 

Drawbacks:

• Finish can scuff relatively easily 

9. Marathon Dual-Wheel Wheelbarrow – Best For Yard Cleanup

 

This wheelbarrow is a great buy for people who have flowers or raised garden beds to tend. It comes with air-filled tires that take a little bit of pressure off the operator, and it makes it very easy to maneuver when you have a heavy load. You get a nice looped handle design that makes it easy to empty, pull, or push the cart from point A to point B, and it’ll hold up to five cubic feet of material each time you load it. The body is a polypropylene material supported by a rugged steel frame, and this can prevent the body from cracking or developing stress points if you accidentally overload it. It weighs in at just 29-pounds, and this makes it easy to move. 

You get a very ergonomic design that allows you to fill it quickly and easily without straining your body, and it works well for a huge range of projects around the house. You can easily haul topsoil, mulch, yard waste, logs, rocks, and debris. It has flat-free tires on it with wheel assemblies that make it easy to put together and ensure it’s always ready to go when you need it. It’s easy to balance and maneuver across your yard, even when you’re dealing with tighter spaces. 

Benefits:

• Holds five cubic feet
• Ergonomic design 
• Easy to load and unload
• Durable steel frame 
• Flat-free tires 
• Easy to assemble
• Thicker plastic body 

Drawbacks:

• Not suitable for heavy-duty projects 

10. Allsop WheelEasy Folding Yard Cart – Best For 

 

You get a nice canvas basin with this collapsible yard cart, and it allows for convenient ground-level loading on it. It has a very low center of gravity, and it’s very easy to break down the cart and put it away when you finish with it for the day. The canvas interior will lay flat to the ground wherever you want to use it, and you can easily rake, sweep, drag, slide, or roll your items directly onto the canvas without having to do any awkward or heavy lifting and strain your back. You can choose from two sizes, and one size comes with a 150-pound capacity while the other comes with a 150-pound capacity. 

This is an economical choice that works for everything from moving rocks or gravel to spreading bark and weeding or pruning. You get a year warranty from the date of purchase to help protect you from wear and tear and manufacturers defects. The canvas is a vinyl-coated nylon that resists UV damage, and it has industrial-strength seams. It weighs just 15 pounds when it’s empty, and the collapsable design makes it easy to store in tight spaces between uses. 

Benefits:

• Encourages ground-level loading 
• Heavy-duty nylon
• Resists UV damage 
• Two sizes available
• Lightweight design 
• Industrial-strength seams
• Low center of gravity 

Drawbacks:

• Only get a year warranty 

Best Wheelbarrow Buyer’s Guide

Picking out the best wheelbarrow in a sea of choices can be challenging. This is especially true when you consider everything you have to factor in when you start narrowing down your choices and comparing products. Luckily, this short buyer’s guide will outline the most important aspects you want to keep in mind when you start shopping so you can find the best wheelbarrow for your wants and needs.

Material for the Load Tub

You can get wheelbarrows with a load tub or tray made out of metal, fabric, plastic, or wood. Stainless steel is one of the most popular options available because it’s durable. Generally speaking, the more durable this tub material is, the higher load capacity your wheelbarrow can have. So, think about what you want to haul. Do you want to haul something light like peat moss or something heavier like soil? The goal is to strike a balance between the wheelbarrow’s weight and durability, and this is why many people choose to go with a polyethylene plastic or a lightweight metal.

A metal-based wheelbarrow can withstand heavy use without breaking down, but it’s important that you find a balance between the material’s weight and the durability factor. Your wheelbarrow won’t do you much good if it’s too heavy for you to lift. 

Maximum Volume

The maximum volume of your best wheelbarrow refers to how much space you have to fill on the inner tub area. A lot of wheelbarrows seem to be around 10-cubic feet. A lot of people make the mistake of looking at how much weight the wheelbarrow can carry while ignoring the volume. However, it doesn’t matter if your wheelbarrow can comfortably carry 1,000 pounds if it doesn’t have the capacity to hold 1,000 pounds of material. Plan what you want to use your wheelbarrow for and try to gauge the volume before you buy anything.

Tire Types and Number

Depending on the style wheelbarrow you get, they can come with one, two, three, or four tires. A traditional wheelbarrow has a single tire that can make it hard to maneuver around. But, it’s easier to move up narrow spaces and turn around corners. The two-wheeled version is very common because it’s very stable, but many people all like the four-wheeled garden carts because you can pull it behind you.

The type of tire you want to see on your best wheelbarrow will be a pneumatic tire. These come filled with air like car tires, but they roll very smoothly over different types of terrain. Some less expensive options give you plastic options with no tread, and they tend to break down very quickly and are difficult to move.

Handle Type and Length

Your handles will directly influence how comfortable you are when you use your wheelbarrow. If they’re too long, they can be awkward to maneuver. If they’re too short, you can have trouble dumping your wheelbarrow in your container garden. Wooden handles are very common, but they increase your risk of getting splinters, so many companies made the switch to steel or plastic tubing with padding. This is more durable than wood, and it usually has a powder-coating on them to make them last longer. Having a rubberized grip is another nice point because it reduces the risks of your hands slipping off.

All of the small components you want to consider for your wheelbarrow like the grips, handle type, and handle length are for your comfort. Ideally, you want to be as comfortable as possible so you don’t start dreading using your wheelbarrow when you need it. 

Rests

When you’re ready to set your wheelbarrow down between projects, it should have small legs known as rests. These rests should be slightly wider to make your wheelbarrow more stable. The best type of rest to have are ones that have a stainless steel body because they’re less likely to wear or warp under very heavy loads. Plastic can crack, and it’s rare to see wooden ones because they’re not very durable.

Warranty

One of the final things you want to consider when you pick out the best wheelbarrow is the warranty attached to it. This can be an expensive purchase, depending on the size, style, capacity, and brand you choose. You want to see at least a full year warranty attached to it, if not two. You should check to see exactly what the warranty does and doesn’t cover because some are more strict than others.

Bottom Line

The best wheelbarrows will last for years while enabling you to complete all of your planting and home improvement projects around your home, yard, or garden. I’ve picked 10 great options for you, and there’s even something for the kids! You can take a look at the reviews before using the buying guide to help you compare products. When you make your final choice, get it shipped straight to your door so you can start using it straight away!