By Glenda Taylor, Tiffany Lewis
Updated on May 29, 2024 3:52 PM EDT 3 wheel shopping cart
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Capable of moving items that weigh several hundred pounds, hand trucks are indispensable— and folding hand trucks that you can stow away are even better. We researched more than 30 folding hand trucks before selecting the top seven models for hands-on testing.
While all the models on this list excelled in our tests, our favorite is the Harper Trucks 700-lb. Capacity Convertible Hand Truck. We loved its smooth-rolling wheels and the ability to haul heavy items upright or horizontally. Plus, being made from glass-infused nylon, it’s lightweight, resilient, and dependable.
Keep reading to learn what to look for when shopping for a collapsible-type hand truck and discover how the following options earned a spot in this guide of the best folding hand trucks.
We started by researching more than 30 folding hand trucks, looking for quality materials, ergonomic design, and excellent customer ratings. We considered the brand to an extent—after all, Harper Trucks has a top-notch reputation for manufacturing high-quality dollies, carts, and hand trucks. We then tested eight models we felt represented a range of moving needs, and seven of them ultimately earned a spot in this guide of the best folding hand trucks available today.
For our hands-on testing, we loaded up the hand trucks to see if they held heavy items without warping or damage to the wheels or frame. We pulled and pushed the trucks on flat concrete, gravel, and grass. Depending on the style, we also took them up and down steps. We awarded points to each hand truck for how well it performed on the tests using a rubric: The better the performance, the more points we gave. After testing, we averaged the points to determine our top performer and assign the other models an appropriate category.
Our top picks for the best folding hand trucks on the market today vary in cost, load capacity, and best use, but each one pulled its weight in our tests. One is sure to be the right choice for your moving projects.
Our Ratings: Ergonomics 5/5; Maneuverability 4.8/5; Functionality 5/5; Durability 4.5/5; Value 4.8/5
This lightweight (26-pound) Harper Trucks hand truck offers an optimal combination of strength, durability, and versatility, making it our Best Overall pick for a foldable hand truck. This was the first glass-filled nylon hand truck we’d used, and we were skeptical that it would hold up to hauling a heavy load. We were wrong.
The hand truck is designed to handle a maximum load of 600 pounds in upright mode and 700 pounds in cart mode. We didn’t put that much weight on it, but we did load up approximately 400 pounds without any sagging or wheel drag. This hand truck moved smoothly over pavement, and we could still maneuver it over gravel. Pushing it over dense grass was more challenging, but that’s to be expected. Overall, we were very impressed with its performance.
Converting to a horizontal dolly cart was simple and required removing the yellow handle, laying the unit down, and reinserting the handle on the top side. The large wheels are solid rubber, and the two caster wheels are nylon, allowing the hand truck to roll smoothly in both configurations. This is an excellent folding hand truck and dolly for someone who wants to move heavy items and needs both a cart and an upright configuration at times.
Read our full review: Harper Trucks 700-lb. Capacity Convertible Hand Truck
Get the Harper Trucks 700-pound-capacity folding hand truck at Amazon or Staples.
Our Ratings: Ergonomics 4/5; Maneuverability 4.5/5; Functionality 4/5; Durability 4.5/5; Value 4.5/5
If you live in any home other than a patio-type residence, you’ll inevitably have to move items up and down steps—at least a few. It can be challenging to navigate steps and stairs with standard two-wheel hand trucks because you may have to physically lift the truck to keep it from scraping the edge of the step, depending on the step style. The Vevor stair-climbing hand truck is designed to eliminate that concern. Best of all, it comes at a very reasonable price.
Despite the somewhat confusing name of this model—since it doesn’t actually climb steps—we found it a lot easier to pull heavy loads up the steps with this hand truck compared to other options. We loaded the Vevor hand truck with about 175 pounds of weight and headed for the stairs. As we pulled it behind us, the rotating three-wheel assembly on both sides rolled smoothly up the steps.
This stair-climbing hand truck comes with 10 wheels. Six of those serve as rotating wheels; two wheels are located on a support bar that helps stabilize the load, and there are two spare wheels. The platform folds upward to take up less room in storage, and the handle height is adjustable. This model isn’t designed to handle super-heavy loads (375 pounds for level loads and 220 pounds on steps), but we found it very helpful for moving heavy items up and down steps.
Get the Vevor folding hand truck at The Home Depot.
Our Ratings: Ergonomics 4.5/5; Maneuverability 4.3/5; Functionality 5/5; Durability 5/5; Value 4.8/5
There’s a lot to like about the Vergo industrial hand truck, which features an oversize toe plate (23 inches long by 15.5 inches wide), solid rubber tires, an extendable handle, and a load capacity of 400 pounds. Yet, it weighs just 26 pounds, and we had no problem lifting it to load in the back of our truck or carrying it down the basement stairs to store.
While this Vergo model doesn’t convert to a dolly cart, we could load large items without worrying that they’d fall off thanks to the oversize toe plate. The handles on this hand truck are well designed and include a horizontal loop handle and pistol-grip handles that are more comfortable when hauling heavy loads.
We liked this hand truck but would have preferred it to have 10-inch tires rather than 8-inch tires. We had a bit of trouble with the unit scraping on the steps as we went up and down, but larger tires would likely solve that problem.
One thing that surprised and pleased us was that—despite the large footprint—the Vergo hand truck folds to just 3 inches wide for convenient storage.
Get the Vergo folding hand truck at Amazon.
Our Ratings: Ergonomics 4.5/5; Maneuverability 4.3/5; Functionality 4/5; Durability 5/5; Value 4.3/5
For users who have several different types of items to move regularly, the versatility of the Cosco 4-in-1 hand truck will be welcome. It functions as a standard upright hand truck for use with or without a rolling assist arm that stabilizes heavy loads.
This model quickly converts to a rolling cart with the simple push of a button for moving bulkier items. If need be, the toe plate folds flat against the cart, making it a platform cart that can carry items longer than the length of the cart itself.
It’s designed to move up to 800 pounds in upright mode and up to 1,000 pounds in cart mode. We tested the hand truck with about 450 pounds, and it rolled easily as a hand cart. We reduced the weight to take the hand truck up and down the steps, and it performed well there, too. The 10-inch solid rubber wheels kept the underside from scraping.
The Cosco hand truck is built to last. It features a durable aluminum frame and an ergonomically designed handle—ready to assist in moving virtually anything you put on it.
Get the Cosco folding hand truck at Amazon or The Home Depot.
Our Ratings: Ergonomics 4.5/5; Maneuverability 4/5; Functionality 5/5; Durability 4.5/5; Value 4.8/5
The Wellmax platform hand truck is simple in design but serves as a valuable hauler for bulky items on flat surfaces. We loaded about 450 pounds on the platform, and it still rolled easily across the driveway and on sidewalks.
This model will not serve as a garden cart since it doesn’t function as well on dense grass or gravel and is also not for use on steps (we tried and failed). However, the Wellmax hand truck is well suited to moving large-format items—such as washers, dryers, and refrigerators—across paved surfaces. The large base measures 28.7 inches long by 18.7 inches wide and has a nonslip surface to help prevent items from sliding.
We liked the bumpers along the edges, especially when faced with the challenge of maneuvering heavy loads. Another excellent feature of the Wellmax hand truck is that it folds nearly flat for compact storage.
Get the Wellmax folding hand truck at Amazon.
Our Ratings: Ergonomics 4.5/5; Maneuverability 4.3/5; Functionality 5/5; Durability 4.5/5; Value 4.5/5
Fans of Milwaukee tools and tool boxes may find this two-wheel hand truck cart comes in handy for moving tools and supplies from one location to another. Although this hand truck is designed specifically to accommodate boxes from Milwaukee’s Packout series, we used it to haul boxes and other heavy items, and it performed admirably.
We loaded approximately 200 pounds on the oversize (20 inches long by 12 inches wide) footplate and rolled the hand truck on flat concrete, gravel, and dense grass, although it was slower going on the grass. We also pulled the load up the steps and then rolled it back down; however, the back side of the truck scraped the steps, and we ended up needing to physically lift it. The wheels are plenty large at 10 inches in diameter but deeply set in the base, leaving less room to navigate steps.
Still, the Milwaukee hand truck functions well, especially for hauling several Packout containers. We were able to lock them into place for secure moving. The footplate folds to take up less storage space. This is a good hand truck for general use, but it truly shines when paired with Milwaukee’s Packout containers.
Get the Milwaukee folding hand truck at Ace Hardware, The Home Depot, or SupplyHouse.com.
Our Ratings: Ergonomics 4.5/5; Maneuverability 4.5/5; Functionality NA/5; Durability 5/5; Value 4.5/5
Our final pick is not a folding hand truck, but with such a narrow footplate (4 inches wide), it’s just as easy to store in small spaces as many of the folding models. Plus, this hand truck bears the Harper Trucks name—the same brand as our Best Overall pick—and it’s very well designed.
This Harper Trucks hand truck offers features that other models on this list don’t have: a heavy-duty nylon strap and an offset belt tightener for holding bulky items, such as dryers or refrigerators, securely in place while moving. We loaded a large box on the hand truck, secured it with the strap, and then used the handle in the back to tighten the strap, ensuring the box was securely locked onto the narrow footplate.
In addition, we liked the stair slides on this model. When we tipped the hand truck back and pulled it up the stairs, the slides located near the bottom independently rolled and protected the stairs while allowing us to pull the load up without lifting it.
If you’re looking for a hand truck with a folding plate for storage reasons, consider this model. Even though it doesn’t fold, you can easily store it in a small area—not to mention that this hand truck will move up to a whopping 800 pounds.
Get the Harper Trucks Appliance hand truck at Amazon.
Harper Trucks’ 300-lb. Capacity Steel Hand Push Truck
In addition to the hand trucks above that made our list, we also tested Harper Trucks’ 300-pound-capacity steel hand push truck. We liked everything about this simple hand truck, but without any adjustable parts or the ability to fold, it didn’t qualify for a spot in this lineup. However, if you’re looking for a solid little hand truck for around-the-house moving, this Harper Trucks model is a good pick.
Consider the items you’ll need to move when shopping for the best folding hand trucks. If you plan to use a hand truck for personal items that weigh no more than around 110 pounds, you don’t need a heavy-duty option. However, if you routinely move heavy objects over 250 pounds, a beefier model is in order.
Other considerations are if the hand truck is for work or home use, how often you plan to use it, and where and how you’ll use it—climbing stairs, inside only, outside only, or both. Finally, remember to find out the dimensions of the hand truck if you’re purchasing a folding model solely for compact storage.
Folding hand trucks are generally available in aluminum, steel, a combination of the two materials, or glass-infused nylon.
Think about the types of items you plan on moving and how much they weigh as this information will determine the necessary load capacity of a folding hand truck.
Folding hand trucks have a capacity as low as 100 pounds and as high as 1,000 pounds. Some folding carts convert from two wheels to four wheels, allowing users to carry larger or heavier items.
In addition, if you plan to use a hand truck on jobsites, consider a model that weighs less than 50 pounds. A lightweight and small folding hand truck will be easier to load into a pickup truck bed or a car trunk.
Taller folding hand trucks help to avoid back pain. Bending down to push a hand truck, even for a short amount of time, can contribute to back soreness. However, in cart or dolly mode, a shorter handle makes sense. Some models offer adjustable-height handles for this very reason.
Handle type can also affect the ergonomics and ease of use of any given hand truck.
When working in colder environments, nonslip, padded, or rubber grips on any type of handle can prevent the cold from transferring from the metal to your hands and offer a measure of cushioned comfort as well.
Folding hand trucks also feature different types of wheels. Some are filled with air; some are made of plastic, and others are solid rubber. If you only use a folding hand truck a few times a year, the type of wheels may not be an issue. However, if you plan to use a hand truck daily, weekly, or even monthly, plan accordingly for your needs. Remember that the larger the wheels, the easier it is to maneuver the hand truck.
Some folding hand trucks have two additional wheels on the handle to allow both horizontal and vertical positioning of the cart—this is called a convertible hand truck. Hand trucks designed specifically for steps can have six wheels: three on each side that rotate for easy step navigation.
Here are several additional features to consider when purchasing a folding hand truck:
Looking for a bit more information? Check out these answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.
A hand truck generally has two wheels and is used in an upright position. A dolly is a flat platform with four wheels and no handle used for moving large pieces of furniture. Several of the hand trucks in this guide convert to serve both purposes.
Place the item or items you want to move on the nose plate or platform. If needed, secure the load to the hand truck’s frame with a strap. Then, tilt the hand truck back, and the weight goes over the wheels. At that point, you can push the load or pull it if you’re going up steps.
Use a hand truck when you need to move an item that is too heavy to safely carry on your own.
Hand trucks have various weight capacities, from as little as 100 pounds to as much as 1,000 pounds. Most weight capacities fall somewhere in the middle.
Some hand trucks can fit in a car. Measure your vehicle’s trunk to be sure, but a car-friendly hand truck measures approximately 25 to 30 inches high by 5 to 18 inches wide by 6 to 8 inches deep (when folded).
Glenda Taylor is a product tester and writer specializing in the construction, remodeling, and real estate industries. She and her husband own a general contracting company, and Taylor is experienced in both residential and commercial building applications. She tests a wide range of power tools as well as other home improvement, household, and lawn-and-garden products.
Additional research provided by Tiffany Lewis
Glenda Taylor is a BobVila.com staff writer with a background in the residential remodeling, home building, and home improvement industries. She started writing for BobVila.com in 2016 and covers a range of topics, including construction methods, code compliance, tool use, and the latest news in the housing and real estate industries.
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