The 9 Best Wheelbarrows of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Best Choice Products Dual-Wheel Wheelbarrow

$110 At Amazon $100 At Home Depot $100 At Walmart

Our Ratings

• Setup
  4.8/5
• Design
  4.5/5
• Ease of Use
  4.8/5
• Capacity
  5/5
• Maneuverability
  4.3/5

While testing, the Best Choice Product's 5 Cubic-Foot Wheelbarrow stood out for its steel looped handlebar: It has a thick padded foam covering that made it very comfortable to lift and push the wheelbarrow even when full. And once we had it loaded up with two heavy bags of mulch, we were even more pleased with how easy it was to push or pull the wheelbarrow over all sorts of obstacles that are commonly found in a landscape, including mulch, grass, gravel, pavement, and even across lawn edging. We had no issues with imbalance or tips, nor was it hard to maneuver around tree trunks or other large objects.

It took us just slightly over 30 minutes to assemble, and we found the instructions fairly easy to follow. One downside, though, was that the double air-filled 13-inch wheels were not received inflated, so we had to pump them up before we could test the wheelbarrow's performance. Still, once inflated to their proper level, the wheels did not lose any air during any of our tests, and their large size and thick tread rolled easily over all types of terrain.

One other hiccup we noted was when we tried pushing the two bags of mulch out at the end of our test—we weren't able to tip the wheelbarrow far enough for them to fall out on their own. Still, overall the wheelbarrow's performance was excellent, and at only 26 pounds, it's lightweight enough for just about any gardener to use with ease. Plus, it is easy to store upright when not in use.

How It Performed Long-Term

We were so pleased with this wheelbarrow's long-term performance that we promoted it from its original position as Best With Looped Handle to Best Overall. During our extended testing period, the wheelbarrow was very useful for transporting all manner of garden materials, including weeds, pruned branches, pavers, bags of mulch, and other garden supplements.

We found it very easy to maneuver and very stable. We wish it was a bit deeper, but that would also make it heavier, and we do appreciate that it isn't too heavy for comfortable pushing or lifting. We also like that despite being left outside in all manner of harsh Iowa weather, it still looks just about as good as new.

_{Material: Polyurethane | Number of Wheels: 2 | Volume: 5 cubic feet | Weight Capacity: 330 pounds}

Best Budget

True Temper Poly Wheelbarrow

$54 At Home Depot

Our Ratings

• Setup
  5/5
• Design
  3.5/5
• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Capacity
  5/5
• Maneuverability
  4.3/5

If you need a wheelbarrow that isn't exceptionally large, and you don't want to spend a bundle, we recommend this very reasonably priced option from True Temper. We received our wheelbarrow fully assembled, so it was ready to go with just a quick check of the single 16-inch rubber tire's air pressure, which was right on target from the beginning to the end of our tests.

This is a plastic, 4 cubic-foot wheelbarrow with a steel frame for extra durability, and we found it sturdy enough to tote a full load of bags of mulch, and then dump them out without issues. One downside, though, to this wheelbarrow is its handles, which we found to be hard and uncomfortable when lifting or pushing without gloves. But with work gloves on, it was easy to push the wheelbarrow forward, pull it back, or maneuver it around curves without much effort.

It was also very easy to lift and dump the load at the end of our session. The wheelbarrow rolled smoothly across all of our testing terrains, but we did note that it had some feelings of wobbliness or tilt at times, whether empty or full. However, it did not tip over or lose its contents at any time, nor did it pull out of our hands.

How It Performed Long-Term

After continued testing of this wheelbarrow, we still consider it a fine choice if you are looking for a reasonably priced wheelbarrow to tote loads of leaves or other fairly light materials around your yard. However, we do not think it is robust enough for regularly moving heavy soil, rocks, or multiple bags of garden supplements or fertilizers.

Despite this, we do appreciate its light weight; we were able to hang it on hooks attached to the garage wall for convenient and out-of-the-way storage.

_{Material: Polyurethane | Number of Wheels: 1 | Volume: 4 cubic feet | Weight Capacity: Not listed}

Best One-Wheel

True Temper Steel Wheelbarrow

$197 At Amazon $139 At Home Depot $392 At Walmart

Our Ratings

• Setup
  4.5/5
• Design
  5/5
• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Capacity
  5/5
• Maneuverability
  4/5

If you are looking for a traditional, one-wheel design, we recommend the Tru Temper 6 Cubic-Foot Wheelbarrow. This sturdy, steel wheelbarrow has a 6 cubic-feet capacity, and we filled it to the limit during our tests, loading it with three large bags of mulch. Once we had it loaded, it was off to the obstacle course.

It was quite easy to maneuver the wheelbarrow through gravel, over mulch, and across the pavement, but we did find it a bit tippy when making turns, although nothing fell out of the wheelbarrow, and we never felt out of control. The steel, double handles have a rubbery grip that makes them easy to grasp but isn't thick enough to add any cushioning. Still, we found it comfortable to push the wheelbarrow, even with a full load.

When dumping the bags of mulch, two fell out easily, but we had to do a bit of wiggling and moving the wheelbarrow back and forth to get the third bag to fully dump to the ground. It was still easy to control the wheelbarrow while doing this, however, even with it tilted to the side.

We liked that the single wheel has a no-flat design that won't puncture or lose air even when pushing the wheelbarrow across gravel or other rough ground. However, we did wish that the wheel was a little wider, which would have provided more overall stability. Still, we really liked this wheelbarrow's overall performance and also appreciated that it was easy to assemble.

How It Performed Long-Term

During the months after our initial testing period, this wheelbarrow was put through its paces on a regular basis, mostly for transporting heavy bags of pulled weeds from the garden to the trash. While we found the handles to be a little uncomfortable and wished they had more padding, that wasn't enough for us to downgrade the wheelbarrow's scores.

This is definitely a large, heavy garden tool and is probably best suited to a tall individual due to the height of the handles. However, we love its sturdiness, and we also especially love its flat-free tire, which holds its inflation over all types of terrain.

_{Material: Steel | Number of Wheels: 1 | Volume: 6 cubic feet | Weight Capacity: Not listed}

Best Dump Cart

Gorilla Carts Garden Dump Cart

$109 At Amazon $150 At Home Depot $109 At Walmart

Our Ratings

• Setup
  3/5
• Design
  5/5
• Ease of Use
  4.5/5
• Capacity
  5/5
• Maneuverability
  4/5

Unlike most wheelbarrows, which require the user's full strength to lift and dump the load, this four-wheeled garden cart has a patented, quick-release dumping mechanism that lifts and tilts the body of the cart to unload its contents with only a little assistance from the user. We found this quite ingenious, and really appreciated how much it reduced the strain and effort required to dump out our two heavy bags of mulch.

We also loved how easily it maneuvered over all of our testing course, which included gravel, mulch, grass, pavement, landscape edging, and various obstacles to avoid. We never felt any imbalance or tendency towards tipping, and the pivoting front wheels made it easier to make fairly sharp turns than would be possible with a regular, one-wheeled wheelbarrow, like the Tru Temper 6 Cubic-Foot Wheelbarrow, without risking tipping the load.

However, we were less than thrilled with the assembly of the cart, which took 67 minutes and quite a bit of brute force. Ideally, assembling this cart should be a two-person task. We also had to add air to the four 10-inch rubber tires before starting our tests, and were surprised to find that the tires had lost some air during the testing session. Still, they rolled very well over all types of surfaces.

The cart's steel frame provided additional strength, while the polyurethane body gave the impression of being quite robust. Although the cart's single handle makes it easier to navigate, the design forces us to do all the effort with just one hand gripping the handle, which puts a strain on our arms, shoulders, and backs.

With a 600-pound capacity, this cart could be not only a steady workhorse around the garden, but also a useful assistant for toting kids and supplies to a picnic or campground, or for hauling tools and other equipment to a worksite.

How It Performed Long-Term

This sturdy garden cart became a much-loved garden assistant during the long-term testing session. We used it to tote all sorts of materials, including wood chips, rocks, and plants. We even used it to move around the contents of the garage for better organization. Plus, it provided a handy spot to toss pulled weeds before carting them over to the trash.

We found it very easy to maneuver over all sorts of terrain. We do love the dumping feature, but we wish it lifted a little higher to make it easier to unload everything without having to use our hands or a shovel. Still, this is a very useful cart for many purposes around the garage, garden, or even at the local park or beach.

_{Material: Polyurethane | Number of Wheels: 4 | Volume: 4 cubic feet | Weight Capacity: 600 pounds}

Best Large-Capacity

Rubbermaid Big Wheel Yard Cart

$410 At Amazon $258 At Home Depot $436 At Walmart

Our Ratings

• Setup
  5/5
• Design
  4.5/5
• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Capacity
  5/5
• Maneuverability
  4.8/5

If you need a sturdy workhorse to carry big loads of landscaping materials, then you'll like this 8.75 cubic-feet plastic wheelbarrow from Rubbermaid as much as we do. We loved that no assembly was required, and the two 20-inch wheels are flat-free, so require no filling with air, nor worrying about a flat tire. Plus, they roll very smoothly over all types of terrain.

We loaded this beast with four heavy bags of mulch and headed out to our obstacle course. We loved how easily the wheelbarrow rolled over and through a variety of surfaces, including mulch, grass, gravel, and pavement.

The only area where we had some difficulty was in rolling it over landscaping edging; it required a little extra effort to cross the edging with the wheelbarrow empty, but a bit of a running start to cross it with a full load. Still, we experienced no wobble, tipping, or sway even when putting in the extra effort, and it was very easy to maneuver the wheelbarrow around turns and obstacles.

The one downside to this wheelbarrow is its handle, which is molded into the body rather than extending outwards, as with most other wheelbarrows. While the handle did make it easier to lift the wheelbarrow for dumping the bags of mulch, which we accomplished with no strain or pain, it wasn't very comfortable on our hands, so you'll definitely want to put on gardening gloves before heading out to the garden. At 45 pounds, this isn't an especially light wheelbarrow, but its large capacity means fewer trips to haul your landscaping materials out to the yard.

How It Performed Long-Term

During its long-term testing session, this oversized wheelbarrow was put through its paces, hauling firewood, mulch, and other heavy garden items, as well as transporting junk from the garage to the curb. We loved being able to haul everything in one trip and appreciated that the wheelbarrow remained steady and sturdy, even when we maneuvered it down a hill.

The two wheels keep it securely balanced, so we never worried we'd lose control of the load, even when lifting it to dump the contents. Plus, despite its size, we managed to hang it on storage hooks in the garage when not in use; that's a big plus because otherwise, it would have required a lot of space.

_{Material: Polyurethane | Number of Wheels: 2 | Volume: 8.75 cubic feet | Weight Capacity: 300 pounds}

Best Heavy-Duty

Kobalt Steel Wheelbarrow

$179 At Lowe's View On Timberridgewoodproducts.com

Our Ratings

• Setup
  5/5
• Design
  5/5
• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Capacity
  5/5
• Maneuverability
  4.5/5

If you need to move lots of landscaping materials, or you need a wheelbarrow for hauling concrete or other construction materials, you'll appreciate the durability and solid construction of this steel 7 cubic-feet wheelbarrow from Kobalt as much as we do. We received it fully assembled and ready to go.

The two flat-free wheels are 4 inches wide and 16 inches in diameter, so you can roll over just about anything without wobble or tip. We loaded up with four heavy bags of mulch and put the wheelbarrow through its paces, where it performed like a champ.

We found it very easy to push the wheelbarrow forward or pull it backward across a variety of surfaces, including mulch, gravel, grass, landscape edging, pavement, and fallen branches. It felt very well-balanced and easy to maneuver, whether full or empty, and it was easy to dump the load at the end of the testing course.

We also liked the comfortable handles, which are covered in a grippy material that adds some extra cushioning. The only issue we had was with the wheelbarrow's weight; at 53 pounds, this is a heavy tool, so it might be tiring to use it for a full day of work. Plus, unlike a plastic wheelbarrow, rust might be an issue if you leave this out in the elements instead of storing it in a garage or shed.

How It Performed Long-Term

This sturdy, heavy-duty wheelbarrow performed just as well during its extended testing session as during the initial tests. We have used it to tote rocks, mulch, sticks, and even multiple large bags of ice, all without strain or excessive effort.

We love how easy it is to maneuver and that we don't have to worry about reinflating the wheels, even after pulling it over rough terrain. While it is heavier than many other wheelbarrows, it's still easy to pull or push, thanks to its well-balanced construction. If you need to move heavy loads of garden materials, it's hard to go wrong with this blue beauty from Kobalt.

_{Material: Steel | Number of Wheels: 2 | Volume: 7 cubic feet | Weight Capacity: Not listed}

Best Compact

Allsop Foldable Garden Cart

$153 At Amazon $180 At Home Depot $153 At Walmart

Our Ratings

• Setup
  3/5
• Design
  5/5
• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Capacity
  5/5
• Maneuverability
  5/5

The Allsop WheelEasy Foldable Garden Cart is the lightest wheelbarrow we tested, at only 11 pounds when empty. It has a steel frame and a heavy-duty nylon canvas body that can hold up to 3 cubic-feet or 150 pounds.

Unlike most wheelbarrows, this one lies flat on the ground when not being supported by its comfortable, foam-covered handles. That means you can easily rake leaves, mulch, or other landscaping materials right onto the canvas and then roll it to wherever you want it. We easily dumped our test bag of mulch without any strain by tilting the wheelbarrow forward, but it also could be laid down to remove its contents if desired.

We especially loved that this wheelbarrow can easily be folded for storage; there is no need to take up lots of room in the garage or yard shed. Although we do feel it's somewhat expensive, we still feel that it's a very useful choice for the gardener who needs to tote around a lot of landscaping materials but doesn't have a lot of outdoor storage space.

However, it didn't get off to a good start in our testing sessions, as we found it difficult to assemble, thanks to the unclear instructions. However, after a half-hour of annoyance, we had the garden cart ready to go, and its excellent performance made up for the rocky start. The one rubber wheel was a bit difficult to fill with air but rolled very smoothly over all of our obstacle course surfaces, and to our surprise, the cart felt very sturdy and balanced. We experienced no difficulties with wobble or tipping, even when going around corners or over rough terrain.

How It Performed Long-Term

This handy garden assistant received a lot of use during the extended testing session, where it performed like a champ. We used it to tote dirt and rocks and also to transport plants. In fact, it came out every time there was yard work to be done, including picking up fallen leaves and twigs.

It greatly sped up our routine garden maintenance, and we found it easy to load, pull, and unload. And, of course, it takes up little room for storage, which we definitely appreciated. Even those with small gardens can find multiple uses for this small but mighty folding wheelbarrow.

_{Material: Nylon canvas | Number of Wheels: 1 | Volume: 3 cubic feet | Weight Capacity: 150 pounds}

Best Garden Cart

Ames Lawn Buddy Rolling Garden Cart

$84 At Amazon $84 At Wayfair $99 At Walmart

Our Ratings

• Setup
  5/5
• Design
  4/5
• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Capacity
  5/5
• Maneuverability
  4.5/5

The Ames Lawn Buddy Rolling Garden Cart is somewhat small, but it's the perfect size for hauling a bag of mulch or potting soil out to your flowerbeds or for carrying your gardening tools. While testing, we noted that it was very capable of toting our heavy test bag of mulch through our obstacle course, and it was completely stable over all types of terrain, including grass, mulch, branches, and pavement.

We did find it required a wider turning radius than typical wheelbarrows, but that wasn't too much of an issue, and we had little difficulty in maneuvering it around corners and obstacles. To dump the bag of mulch, we lifted the cart by its handle, and the contents fell right out.

We liked that the plastic handle closes down to become a lid that can be used as a seat and that it even has a built-in cup holder. However, we would have liked some padding on the handle, and we don't think it will be very comfortable to haul for long periods of time when fully loaded. That small issue aside, we love that the cart came fully assembled, and its four 7-inch wheels are solid, not air-filled, so there are no worries about getting a flat or having to reinflate them periodically.

How It Performed Long-Term

Our extended testing period confirmed that the handle was positioned a bit low on this small garden cart, but that wasn't nearly enough of a problem to diminish our enthusiasm. We used it during every gardening session, mostly to carry our small gardening tools, which we kept stored right inside the cart in between uses.

We also found it easy to keep a yard waste bag in the cart during weeding sessions or while pruning small twigs and branches. While this wouldn't be our recommendation for hauling multiple bags of mulch or other heavy materials, we found it perfect for toting one bag of mulch, for transporting weeds and other garden waste, or for moving flowers and other plants to their intended spot in the garden.

_{Material: Plastic | Number of Wheels: 2 | Volume: 2 cubic feet | Weight Capacity: 200 pounds}

Best Two-Wheel

Truper Steel Wheelbarrow

$185 At Walmart $170 At Ace Hardware $140 At doitbest.com

Our Ratings

• Setup
  3.5/5
• Design
  5/5
• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Capacity
  5/5
• Maneuverability
  5/5

The two 16-inch rubber wheels on this steel 6 cubic-feet wheelbarrow kept it supremely steady through our entire testing obstacle course, both empty and while filled with three heavy bags of mulch. The comfortably padded handles were especially a hit, and we found that they made it much easier to lift the wheelbarrow to dump the contents without pain or strain.

It did take us nearly an hour to assemble, and the tires were very underinflated at assembly, but once filled, they remained inflated throughout our tests. We loved the wheelbarrow's strength and sturdiness: while it is somewhat heavy at 52 pounds (when empty), it was surprisingly very easy to push both forwards or backward, as well as maneuver around corners. We had no trouble wheeling it across pavement, mulch, gravel, grass, or landscaping edging.

With a 375-pound weight capacity, it can be used for both hauling landscaping materials or construction materials such as cement. While certainly not our most inexpensive pick, this heavy-duty wheelbarrow is well worth the price if you need a large, strong, sturdy tool for transporting heavy materials.

How It Performed Long-Term

While we still consider the weight of this wheelbarrow to be potentially an issue, that's about our only complaint with this sturdy, heavy-duty garden assistant. During the extended testing period, we used the wheelbarrow to haul heavy bags of mulch—we loaded it with three or four at a time—and loved the wheelbarrow's steadiness even when we pulled it over uneven terrain.

We also appreciated that the two front wheels made it much easier to keep the wheelbarrow under control when dumping out mulch; we could direct it right where we wanted it without having to pull out a shovel or other tool. While it does take up a fair amount of storage space, it's a great wheelbarrow for those who need to move large quantities of heavy materials.

_{Material: Steel | Number of Wheels: 2 | Volume: 6 cubic feet | Weight Capacity: 375 pounds}