Review of the 5 Best Garden Carts Avaiable on Amazon

To transport garden tools and supplies like earth, stones, and plants…

…a garden cart is a straight-sided vehicle with two or more wheels.

There are many gardeners who prefer a spacious…

…stable garden cart to a wheelbarrow, with its tall, sloping sides, little floor space…

…and one wheel that offers lots of maneuverability but less stability than multiple wheels.

For greater stability, garden carts should have a low center of gravity and a flat bottom.

These models will be maneuverable over bumpy, sloping ground…

…and will offer ample volume and carrying capacity to transport heavy, bulky tools and supplies.

The cart’s construction and materials must be durable enough to withstand the elements and garden mishaps.

Learn about the types of garden carts, what features to look for…

…and why the following are among the best available.

Before we move into next section, let’s hear Ronald’s story…

The cart I purchased works well, it traverses terrain well.

Especially considering I usually carry a lot of weight. 

If it had a way to lock the wheels so they wouldn’t roll down a hill,

that would be the only improvement I could see. 

Nonetheless, we had to tighten some of it with power tools since it was not tight enough otherwise.

I’m confident it will last for years to come now that it’s together.

I am not sure how easily I can replace an inner tube on a tire if it blows. 

I am still happy with the purchase.

It’s time to get started…


What to Look for When Buying the Best Garden Cart

A durable garden cart should have a heavy-gauge steel frame, pneumatic tires, and ultraviolet-protected plastic.

You should also consider how much weight it can carry.

Find out how our picks were derived from a variety of shopping considerations.


Material

Light-duty carts are made entirely of plastic…

…and are designed to carry up to 200 pounds over relatively smooth terrain.

Many plastic materials are susceptible to damage…

…from temperature extremes and long-term UV exposure…

…so carts made of this material should be stored indoors when not in use.

Steel frames and rubber tires make the strongest carts.

While these materials are weather-resistant, they do require some maintenance.

Clean and repaint scratches to prevent rust. Keep tires properly inflated and grease wheels.

A steel-framed cart is paired with a metal or polycarbonate bed.

It is also lighter in weight, resistant to dents and scratches, and UV-protected, compared to the steel.


Capacity

The weight capacity of light-duty garden carts is 200 pounds or less.

Ideally, these carts are used for hauling limited quantities of soil, mulch, plants, and/or gardening tools.

Carts with capacities of 350 to 500 pounds are ideal for hauling rocks, bricks, and concrete bags.

Hand trucks with a weight capacity of 750 pounds or more are best for moving large trees and boulders.


Wagon vs. Cart vs. Trolley

A wagon traditionally had four wheels and a single handle at the front and was pulled.

Carts had two wheels and one or two handles, either at the front or the back;

…depending on the design, they could either be pushed or pulled.

In the United States, a trolley was a streetcar, while in other countries, a trolley could be either a wagon or cart. 

Despite the differences in the origins of the words…

…American gardeners and tool makers use wagon and cart interchangeably these days. 

Both two-wheeled and four-wheeled devices are referred to as carts in this guide.

Read on…


Handle

Handles on wagons, pull carts, push carts, and hand trucks should be comfortable and functional.

Working in the garden for long hours requires a handle with a cushioned grip.

In order to maximize grip and control, a 1.25- to 1.5-inch-diameter handle is ideal for most gardeners.

For comfort and traction, a rubberized grip is a good choice.

In order to push or pull comfortably, the handle position should be high enough.

The user should not be forced to bend over when operating the cart…

…or lift the handles excessively high, nor should the user be at risk of kicking the cart while operating it.

The handle of the cart should rest in a safe position when it is not in motion.

When not in use, some four-wheeled wagons feature handles with bent shafts…

…that rest upright against the front of the wagon.

Straight shafted handles are easy to fall down and can cause tripping hazards.


Manual vs. Electric

Garden carts are usually operated manually-users push or pull them wherever they need to go.

Electric carts are becoming more popular with gardeners with less strength or stamina…

….as they absorb much of the pushing and/or pulling while they steer.

Electric motors drive the wheels and, in some cases, raise the dump bed.

The motors of electric carts are powered by rechargeable batteries.

An average charge lasts about three hours, which is sufficient for most users to work all day.

Travel speeds and performance on difficult terrain vary among electric carts.

Many of them don’t come with braking systems.


Motor

Gardeners with limited mobility, strength, or stamina can greatly benefit…

…from motorized carts and wheelbarrows.

Rechargeable batteries provide about three hours of runtime per charge, depending on the load and the terrain.

Both sealed lead acid (SLA) and lithium-ion battery types are commonly available…

…and both offer fast recharge times, long run times, and full power throughout their life.


Versatility

Despite purchasing a garden cart for a specific project, you may want to use it for other things in the future.

Soil or mulch require bulk volume, but moving a large tree may require greater mobility or precision.

The versatility of a cart is often equal to its capability.

A cart that can go over rough terrain (pneumatic tires), carry a heavier load (steel frame)…

…and unload easily (dump cart) is more versatile than one without these features.

Here’s the real deal…


Our Top Picks for Garden Cart

Garden carts come in a wide variety of designs.

These picks represent some of the best garden carts according to the criteria above.

Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

Let’s go through them one by one…


Gorilla Carts GOR800-COM Steel Utility Cart

garden cart
Credits: amazon.com

Whether you’re hauling lumber, bagged soil, flats of plants, or bales of straw…

…the Gorilla Carts Steel Utility Cart might work for you.

In addition to supporting heavy loads, the 38-by-21-inch reinforced steel-mesh bed allows moisture…

…to be removed easily from loaded materials.

Its four wheels are equipped with 10-inch pneumatic tires to roll smoothly over rough terrain.

Comfortable grip and control are provided by the bent-shaft handle with padded handgrip.

Do you need to move large loads like lumber or easily stack bagged materials like mulch or soil?

With a simple and secure latch system, the flatbed cart’s steel mesh sides can be easily put…

…on and taken off without tools.

Pros

  • Heavy-duty steel mesh bed supports heavy loads
  • Four wheels with 10-inch pneumatic tires for smooth rolling
  • A handle that is comfortable to hold
  • Adjustable 9-inch steel mesh side panels

Cons

  • Heavy at 45 pounds for light garden duties

WORX Aerocart 8-in-1 Wheelbarrow / Yard Cart / Dolly

garden cart
Credits: amazon.com
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This versatile wheelbarrow / yard cart / dolly can be converted into eight different hauling configurations:

…wheelbarrow, dolly, long-arm dolly, rock/plant mover, leaf-bag holder, trailer tote, or yard cart.

The Turbo Lift design allows the axle to be moved for optimal leverage.

The two 10-inch, flat-free tires provide increased stability on rough terrain and a 300-pound weight capacity.

Multipurpose carts come at a value price, comparable to competitors who do much less. 

Included in the kit are the leaf-bag holder attachment, extended dolly arms…

…cylinder carrier attachment, rock sling, and plant carrier strap.

Wheelbarrow-to-wagon conversion kits and snowplow attachments are available separately.)

A cart may be versatile enough to do the work of a variety of hand vehicles…

…and it requires less storage space than a wheelbarrow alone.

Its 300-pound capacity makes it a light- to medium-duty cart, and when used as a wheelbarrow…

…it’s best suited to people shorter than 5 feet 8 inches.

Pros

  • Versatile; can be configured in eight different ways
  • Can haul up to 300 pounds
  • Includes several accessories (such as a plant carrier strap) at an affordable price
  • Requires less storage space than a wheelbarrow

Cons

  • As a wheelbarrow, works best for those under 5 feet 8 inches
  • Narrower and more shallow than typical garden carts

Keep reading…


Landworks Utility Cart

garden cart
Credits: amazon.com

It uses four 12V rechargeable sealed lead acid (SLA) batteries and a 48V brushless electric motor system…

…to handle heavy loads smoothly and easily. Run time is between 2 and 5 hours per charge…

…depending on load and slope (an LED battery charge indicator lets you know when it’s time to recharge).

It can carry 1,000 pounds of weight at a maximum of 15 degrees…

…of upward slope thanks to its 6-cubic-foot volume.

It has a maximum forward speed of 3.1 miles per hour…

…and a maximum reverse speed of 2.2 m.p.h. It is controlled with a simple on/off switch…

…and has a variable-speed forward and reverse selector.

All three wheels have 13-inch all-terrain pneumatic tires for excellent traction.

Steel frame and detachable steel mesh sides are powder coated for long-lasting rust protection.

It is possible to remove the sides of the bed to use it as a flatbed to haul oversize items…

…like lumber or large tree limbs. By pushing down the latch release and lifting the handle…

…the dump bed latch and handle can be operated with one hand.

Pros

  • Powered by a 48V brushless motor.
  • Approximately 2-5 hours runtime with rechargeable batteries
  • Easily controlled by an on-off switch
  • Rust-resistant steel mesh bed with removable side panels

Cons

  • Has no brakes
  • More than needed for typical lawn

Go on…


Harper Trucks 700 lb Capacity Convertible Hand Truck

garden cart
Credits: amazon.com

Consider the Harper Trucks Convertible Hand Truck if you need to move items…

….around the garden, garage, and other areas of your property.

The versatile model can be used as an upright dolly for hauling containerized trees…

….and appliances up to 600 pounds, as well as a four-wheel cart capable…

…of supporting 700 pounds for carrying firewood and mulch bags.

With a weight of only 28 pounds, the nylon truss frame has the strength…

…of a steel hand truck, but is 30 percent lighter.

With a three-position telescopic handle and integrated stair glides, it is easy to move up and down stairs.

The heavy-duty 10-inch pneumatic tires and 5-inch swivel casters provide excellent maneuverability.

Pros

  • A versatile hand trolley that converts to a four-wheel cart.
  • Handles 600-pound load (dolly) or 700-pound load (cart)
  • The nylon truss frame is strong but lighter than steel
  • It includes telescoping handles and stair glides

Cons

  • Pneumatic tires can go flat
  • No sides or straps to hold iems

Last, but not least…


Gorilla Carts GOR4PS Poly Garden Dump Cart

garden cart
Credits: amazon.com

Gorilla Carts GOR4PS Poly Garden Dump Cart is designed to haul heavy loads of soil, gravel, and mulch.

Durable polyethylene bed won’t rust, crack, or warp…

…and quick-release dump feature makes unloading fast, easy, and clean.

A bent-shaft handle allows for no-lift hauling, keeping all four wheels on the ground…

…while the 10-inch pneumatic tires roll smoothly over rough terrain.

The handle grip is padded for comfort and better control.

Featuring a hauling capacity of 600 pounds and a volume of 4 cubic feet…

…this four-wheel dump cart is a stable alternative to a wheelbarrow.

For easy maneuverability and safe stability, the front wheels articulate for a tight turning radius.

The broad base and tapered bed walls increase stability on sloping terrain.

Pros

  • Rugged polyethylene bed and alloy steel frame
  • 600-pound hauling capacity in a light cart
  • Includes quick-release dump feature
  • Equipped with four 10-inch pneumatic tires for tough terrain

Cons

  • Requires two people to assemble easily

“It has a capacity of 600 pounds so you can pretty much do any job using this cart.” 

Beth McCallum – Writer

Sum Up!

It is important to determine what tasks a user will need help with when choosing a garden cart.

There are many types of garden carts, including utility wagons, dump carts, flatbed carts, hand trolleys, and more.

We compared several types and configurations of carts to suit several common tasks…

…such as moving plants and soil bags. Steel carts are the best for heavy loads…

…but plastic carts work well for loads up to 200 pounds.

We also looked at the capacity of typical carts.

For moving heavy items over rough terrain, a cart needs a comfortable handle…

…as well as the type and number of tires. 


Conclusion

The job of hauling and dumping soil and mulch, or moving potted plants…

…can be tiresome for busy gardeners, but the best garden cart makes moving heavy items easier.

Our top pick is the Gorilla Carts Steel Utility Cart, which can handle up to 800 pounds of soil and dirt. 

We like the multipurpose WORX Aerocart 8-in-1 Wheelbarrow…

…which can be adapted into several other uses and configurations around the house and garden.

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