Best Wheelbarrows Under $100 (2022)

Most wheelbarrows and garden carts in the market have similar functionalities and not much differentiation. However, buying a bad-quality wheelbarrow can cause you headaches as you repeat the process of buying replacements and incur higher costs long-term. On the other hand, good quality wheelbarrows can cost upwards of $400 — hundreds of hard-earned money just to haul some garden materials.

In this article, we curated 6 of the best wheelbarrows under $100 that will last you for years to come.

Note: Regardless of which wheelbarrow or cart you’re buying and their price, you should always try it first-hand to check if they fit your needs or height. Never get a wheelbarrow that’s too close to the ground!

Things To Consider Before Buying A Wheelbarrow

Materials

Wheelbarrows and garden carts are usually made of steel, plastic, or wood. Different materials allow you to carry different weights of load and also have varying durability. The trays are commonly made of plastic thanks to their anti-rust properties, whereas the frame is made of steel for greater support. The handles are also usually padded steel, but sometimes wood is used as an alternative to making the overall product lighter.

• Steel: Durable and allows you to carry heavier loads, but is heavier and can rust over time
• Plastic: Weatherproof and easy to move around but can crack and chip if too thin.
• Wood: Sturdier than plastic but not as durable and can warp.

Tires

Wheelbarrows and garden carts have a few types of tires: flat-free, pneumatic (air-filled), and semi-pneumatic. Aside from the materials, you should consider the tires’ size. Larger tires are heavier but can carry heavier loads.

Flat-free tires: Flat-free tires are solid tires that are usually filled with either rubber or foam. The lack of air means no punctures and easier maintenance but is much heavier than pneumatic tires.

Pneumatic: Pneumatic tires are filled with air and are more lightweight. However, they require some maintenance in the event of punctures and thus are not as suitable for extremely rocky terrains.

Semi-pneumatic: Semi-pneumatic tires are filled halfway and have a hollow air pocket in the center. It is a happy medium between flat-free and pneumatic tires but is not commonly found in wheelbarrows.

Also, you can replace most tires as long as they have the same diameters for the wheels and hub bores (the center of the wheel).

Height

You should consider the height of the wheels and handles before buying. Wheelbarrows or garden carts that are too close to the ground can be difficult to move around, especially if there are bumps such as tree roots and large stones. Moreover, you should always test the wheelbarrow’s handles and see if they are comfortable to grip according to your height.

Wheelbarrows or garden carts

Wheelbarrows are easier to maneuver, especially in tight spaces. Hence they are more suitable for smaller lawns. They also only have one or two wheels which can be a challenge to balance. On the other hand, garden carts can haul heavier loads but have more rigid movements. Moreover, carts can have up to 4 wheels to prevent them from toppling over.

It is common for people to own both: one for moving heavier loads and another for lighter loads.

Best wheelbarrows under $100: Summary

Best wheelbarrows under $100: Detailed Insights

1. Garden Star 70019 Wheelbarrow

Maneuverability

The Garden Star 70019 wheelbarrow is a favorite because of its lightweight and dual 8-inch pneumatic tires. Weighing at only 20 lbs. (9kg), it is effortless to maneuver this wheelbarrow around any nook and cranny. The tires also make moving easier by balancing weight on the rockiest of terrains. Moreover, the product’s height from the ground up is 27 inches (2.25 ft), making it suitable for children, petite adults, or even senile users.

Non-rust tray

The Garden Star 70019 wheelbarrow tray is made of plastic, which may not be to some people’s liking if they prefer metal wheelbarrows. However, the plastic tray also means that it will never rust and, with the right storage, will last a fairly long time. The handles are not collapsible, unfortunately. But, you can hang the wheelbarrow on a wall stud which will free up precious storage space.

Verdict: Perfect for small, undemanding gardening work

This wheelbarrow is perfect for families who own smaller lawns because of its decent 4 cubic feet tray capacity. It is easy to lift and move around, making gardening a breeze, even for children or seniors.

---

2. John Deere

Sturdy steel wheelbarrow

This John Deere Wheelbarrow is one-of-a-kind since it comes with a lightweight material that can hold up to 300 lbs of weight. Considering its material, its tray is tough and can last for a longer time than any other wheelbarrow in the market.

Unlike the plastic Garden Star wheelbarrow, this John Deere steel wheelbarrow is made of a more durable material at the expense of heavier product weight. As a result, it is sturdier for daily use, but you should store the John Deere wheelbarrow indoors and away from the elements to prong its lifespan. The steel tray is perfect for hauling heavier materials such as rocks, cement bags, and firewood.

Maneuverability

This John Deere wheelbarrow weighs 4.21 kg, which can be quite laborious to carry around. However, John Deere negated this by equipping the wheelbarrow with pneumatic wheels and ergonomic steel handles that are comfortable to the grip. These combined will allow you to move this ohn Deere wheelbarrow even on rocky terrain.

Verdict: Decent wheelbarrow for hauling heavy materials

The ohn Deere 4 cu. ft. steel wheelbarrow is a durable wheelbarrow for a reasonable price. It is suitable for hauling heavy garden materials such as cement or soil bags, pots, rocks, etc. With a tray capacity of 4 cubic feet, it is more than enough for small to medium lawns. However, as it is a steel wheelbarrow, it is more strenuous to maneuver than plastic alternatives.

---

3. Esschert

Durable steel cart

The tray of this Esschert wheelbarrow is made of metal and has a capacity of 4 cu. ft. It is large enough and sturdy enough for carrying stones, garden ornaments, and other heavy objects with ease. Its load capacity is 33 lbs, but you can expect it to carry up to 50 lbs. of weight at a time — equivalent to a few bags of cement. As it is made of steel, you should store this wheelbarrow in a shed or other indoor spaces to prevent rusting.

Flat-free tires

This Esschert wheelbarrow is similar in design to the mentioned John Deere steel wheelbarrow. One thing that both differs is the tires — this Esschert wheelbarrow is equipped with flat-free tires, which are more durable than pneumatic tires. If you don’t know, flat-free tires are filled with foam rather than air. This makes them easier to move around, especially on rocky terrains and is also more durable as they do not puncture as easily as air-filled tires. However, foam-filled tires are much heavier than air-filled tires and, in this case, 10 lbs. heavier than the John Deere wheelbarrow.

Verdict: Sturdy wheelbarrow but can be arduous to move around

We recommend the Esschert 4-cu.ft. steel wheelbarrow if you have to carry heavier garden materials on a small to medium-sized lawn. Its tray capacity of 4-cu.ft. is sufficient for hauling a few bags of soil or cement in one trip. However, this wheelbarrow can be quite bulky though portable, so we recommend this wheelbarrow for children and delicate users.

---

4. Bosmere

Foldable cart with steel frame

Lowe’s steel folding yard cart is not a wheelbarrow, but it gets the job done nonetheless. The steel frame is sturdy enough for carrying up to 150 lbs. (68 kg) of weight — toys, bags of soil, and even pets. Moreover, the fabric is quite tough and will not puncture easily but we still do not recommend using it to haul stones and other sharp objects. This Lowe’s foldable cart also has velcro straps that allow you to move heavy things, even on bumpy surfaces.

Decent maneuverability

This cart comes with 4 7-inch rubber wheels that are silent even when hauled around on tiles. Not only that, but this cart weighs at only 14.52 lbs. (6.5 kg) which makes moving around a breeze. This cart is compact because you can fold it for storage or bring it to the beach, but the handle protrudes slightly when the cart is folded. The 7-inch wheels could be bigger, but it is good enough for grass, wet sand, and the usual lawn terrain.

Verdict: Lightweight and compact cart that is easy to use

We recommend the Lowe’s 4-cu. ft. foldable cart for carrying lighter loads around your lawn. This cart is also foldable, a useful feature for storing and for family outings. It has less load capacity than other garden carts on this list, but it’s also the least heavy at only 14.52 lbs.

---

5. Gorilla Carts GOR4PS

Solid plastic tray that can carry up to 600 lbs.

The Gorilla Carts GOR4PS is equipped with alloy steel frames and a plastic tray that can haul up to 600 lbs. of weight. The tray’s bed is made of plastic which will not rust and is easy to maintain. The Gorilla Carts GOR4PS also comes with their patented quick-release dump feature that allows you to unload effortlessly.

Great maneuverability

Despite being a heavy-duty cart, the Gorilla Carts GOR4PS weighs only 32 pounds, almost half of traditional wheelbarrows on this list. Moreover, its 4 10-inch pneumatic tires make it easy for any user to move across rocky terrain. The product’s overall dimensions are 38.7  x 20 x 19.5 inches which are slightly bigger than other carts on this list, but it’s large enough for anyone to use.

Verdict: Will save you numerous tiring trips

The Gorilla Carts GOR4PS is easy to use, easy to move around, and can carry numerous things in a single trip. The only downside is that its tray is thinner than we like, so we recommend only carrying 3/4 of the total load capacity (600 lbs.). Overall, the Gorilla Carts GOR4PS is quite well-performing for its price and is a good bang for your buck.

---

6. Gorilla Carts GCR-4

30 x 24 impact-resistant plastic bed

The Gorilla Carts GCR-4 has a 300 lbs. (136 kg) load capacity thanks to its painted steel frames and plastic tray. Its tray is 30 inches long and 24 inches wide which is large enough to for a bag of cement or soil to fit. Moreover, thanks to its high load capacity, you will save yourself many trips as you haul several bags in one go.

Great maneuverability

The Gorilla Carts GCR-4 comes with two 10-inch pneumatic tires that are great for balancing heavy loads. Its handle has a push-pull function that allows you to squeeze through tight spaces. Moreover, you can fold the handle to save space when storing. However, you should not store this cart outdoors as the painted steel frames may rust when exposed to the elements over time.

Verdict: Great garden cart for tall for most users

At a price of under $100, the Gorilla Carts GCR-4 performs surprisingly well as it can haul up to 300lbs. of weight. However, its wheels could be slightly bigger as the frames underneath the tray is quite close to the ground. So, shorter users may find it difficult to move this cart over bumps or inclines.

---

Key takeaways:

There are not many options for good wheelbarrows under $100. However, the ones listed in this article are good enough for light to medium-duty jobs in small to medium-sized lawns. Regardless of your needs, you should always head to a nearby home improvement retailer to try the wheelbarrow first-hand before purchasing it.