Garden Cart or Wheelbarrow? Easier Ways to Move Soil, Mulch and Weeds

A classic wheelbarrow asks you to lift and balance the load on one wheel. Two-wheeled barrows, garden carts and wagons carry more of the weight on their wheels, which is why many gardeners find them easier to steer. We haven't tested these ourselves; every fact below comes from the maker's or seller's own page, checked on October 30, 2026. Prices change often, so check the page before you buy.

Small and light: a tub on wheels

• Garden Clean-up Cart with Gorilla Tub (Gardener's Supply): the lightest option here. The steel cart weighs 10 lbs and carries an included 11-gallon tub, up to 50 lbs. An angled base and handle keep the tub level as you roll it, and the tub lifts off to carry or dump. The cart measures 26" long by 21-1/2" wide by 39" high, and assembly is required. Listed at $74.99. Good for weeds, clippings and a bag or two of compost, not for big mulch jobs.

Two-wheeled barrows

• WORX Aerocart WG050 (WORX): a steel two-wheeled barrow that also folds into a hand-truck dolly, bag holder and plant or rock mover. WORX says its tub puts the center of gravity over the wheels and that a 200-lb load feels like 17 lbs; we can't check that claim. It holds about 3 to 4 cubic feet and up to 300 lbs, and its polyurethane tires are flat-free, so they never need air. The cart itself weighs 41 lbs, which matters if you have to lift it into a shed or car. It has a 3-year warranty. Listed at $259.99.
• Garden Star Yard Rover 70007 (made by Marathon, sold on Amazon): a plastic 5-cubic-foot tray on two 14.5" air-filled tires with a loop handle you can push, pull or tip from. It's rated for 300 lbs and can stand upright or hang on a wall for storage. The Amazon listing says it weighs around 25 lbs, while Marathon's own page lists 29 lbs. Amazon showed no price on the day we checked, and Marathon's site sells it only in bulk. Amazon's summary of buyer reviews is mixed on assembly and sturdiness, with many buyers saying the holes in the tray didn't line up with the frame.

Carts and wagons for big loads

• Medium Gardener's Supply Cart (Gardener's Supply): a two-wheeled cart with an aluminum frame, plywood sides and big pneumatic tires on ball bearings. It holds up to 400 lbs, the bed is 40-1/4" long, 23-1/2" wide and 11" deep, and the front panel slides open so you can dump the load out the end instead of tipping the whole cart. Gardener's Supply says the axle is placed to balance the load and the long, foam-grip handle can be pushed or pulled. Made in Vermont; assembly required. The page doesn't give the cart's own weight. Listed at $459.99.
• Marathon Garden Wagon (Marathon Industries): a wagon with a 3-cubic-foot tray, 37" by 20", rated for 600 lbs. It weighs 32 lbs. Listed at $119.99 on Marathon's site.

For comparison: the classic one-wheel barrow

• True Temper 6 cu ft Steel Wheelbarrow (Lowe's): a traditional single-wheel barrow with a seamless steel tray, hardwood handles and one pneumatic tire on nylon bearings. It holds more than most options above, but you lift the handles and balance the load yourself. The Lowe's page we opened didn't show a price or weight.

How to choose

If balance is the worry, two wheels or a cart are steadier than one wheel, because the load doesn't have to be held upright by you. If lifting is the worry, look at the empty weight too: the tub cart is 10 lbs, the Yard Rover is listed at 25 to 29 lbs, and the Aerocart is 41 lbs. If you move a lot of mulch or soil, a cart with a dump door like the Gardener's Supply cart lets you slide the load out instead of tipping it. Air-filled tires roll softly but can go flat; flat-free tires skip that chore. Whatever you pick, a half load is easier to push than a full one.

Filling new beds? Our guide to how much soil a raised bed needs can help you plan how many trips to expect.

Sources

• Gardener's Supply: Garden Carts, Yard Carts & Wheelbarrows collection (opened 2026-10-30)
• Gardener's Supply: Garden Clean-up Cart with Gorilla Tub (opened 2026-10-30)
• Gardener's Supply: Medium Gardener's Supply Cart (opened 2026-10-30)
• WORX: Aerocart 8-in-1 Yard Cart / Wheelbarrow / Dolly (opened 2026-10-30)
• Amazon: Garden Star 70007 Yard Rover (opened 2026-10-30)
• Marathon Industries: Green Yard Rover (opened 2026-10-30)
• Marathon Industries: Garden Wagon (opened 2026-10-30)
• Lowe's: True Temper 6-cu ft 1 Wheel Steel Wheelbarrow (opened 2026-10-30)