Wheelbarrow vs. Lawn Cart

Sizes

• The number and style of wheels and tires are among of the primary differences between wheelbarrows and lawn carts. Wheelbarrows have a single tire that is usually about 3 inches thick and 12 to 15 inches in diameter. By definition, lawn carts have two wheels, but they can be anywhere between 6 and 24 inches in diameter, depending on the size and style of the cart. Lawn carts vary greatly in size, from 3 to 10 cubic feet. Wheelbarrows have a narrow size range, typically from 4 to 7 cubic feet.

Materials and Design

• Wheelbarrows are normally made of steel or heavy-duty plastic. Large lawn carts are traditionally wooden, though there are many plastic models as well. The traditional lawn cart has a flat wooden bottom with vertical sides at a 90-degree angle to the floor. They are like a miniature version of the bed of a pickup truck, complete with a removable tail gate. Plastic lawn carts usually bear a greater resemblance to wheelbarrows, with the bottom curving up into the walls as one continuous piece. On wheelbarrows and similar plastic carts, the wall opposite the handles has a wide angle to the floor, as opposed to the tailgate style of a traditional wooden lawn cart.

Uses

• The curved and angled sides of wheelbarrows and some lawn carts are designed for easy dumping of heavy materials -- soil, mulch, sand, compost and gravel, for example. Accordingly, their wheels and tires are designed to handle the heavy loads. Small plastic carts and the traditional large wooden carts do not always have heavy-duty wheels and are commonly used for light loads, such as straw, grass trimmings, weeds and small branches. The flat-bottom carts are also very useful as mobile work station -- any number of tools and supplies can be moved around the yard and spread out on the wide wooden floor.

Ergonomics

• A key advantage of lawn carts is their steadiness on uneven terrain. The weight of the load is balanced on the two wheels, so the user only needs to be able to lift the handle and push the cart forward or pull it from behind. In contrast, the single wheel of wheelbarrows requires the user to support the weight of the load as it tips from side to side. This requires a lot of upper body strength and stability in the knees and lower back, making them less suitable for individuals with physical limitations. The single wheel of wheelbarrows allows them to be turned on a dime, however, while two-wheeled lawn carts are more difficult to maneuver in tight spaces.