We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Shopping Home Products Organizing The Best Shopping Carts for Groceries and More, Tested by Us Upgrade your shopping trips with convenient and spacious carts. By Amanda Prahl Amanda Prahl Amanda Prahl is a freelance writer who has been writing about home, culture, and lifestyle topics since 2016. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on July 29, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews Final Verdict Our Testing Process How to Shop More to Consider FAQs Take Our Word For It What Is Real Simple Selects? Photo: Real Simple / Henry Wortock A shopping trip can quickly become stressful if you’re trying to juggle too many items on your list, but a sturdy, spacious shopping cart can make everything go more smoothly. The best shopping carts provide plenty of room for all your items, extra security to avoid damage, and ease of movement to navigate tight corners, staircases, and more. Whether you’re looking for a basic, reliable cart or something with certain specialized features, we gathered high-quality options to simplify every trip to the store. To narrow them down, we researched and tested several carts, evaluating them based on their design, capacity, maneuverability, durability, and overall value. We also spoke with Missy Feldman, founder of professional organizing company No Mess with Missy, and Camilla Frederico, founder of the organization and personal assistant firm The Personal Helpers, for tips about shopping for the perfect cart. Our Top Picks Best Overall: VersaCart Transit at Amazon $85 Jump to Review Best Budget: dbest Cruiser Cart with Shopping Cover at Amazon $57 Jump to Review Best Large: Amazon Basics Foldable Shopping Utility Cart at Amazon $60 Jump to Review Best Metal: Costway Folding Utility Shopping Cart at Amazon $50 Jump to Review Best Dolly: dbest Products Stair Climber Trolley at Amazon $93 Jump to Review Best Insulated: dbest Products Ultra Compact Cooler at Amazon $40 Jump to Review Best Overall VersaCart Transit PHOTO: Amazon $85 at Amazon $85 at Wayfair $85 at Walmart What Stands Out It’s easy to maneuver, durable, and reliable for carrying plenty of items without major shifting. What Could Be Improved It's a bit long and awkward to carry when folded up. The VersaCart Transit is our best overall shopping cart pick, excelling in all the areas we focused on during testing. Composed of a sturdy “tote” bag (made from waterproof canvas) and an alloy steel frame, the cart earned perfect marks for its durability. Small details, like a top cover flap to protect items in the cart from wind and rain, elevated the cart’s design above the competition. Able to accommodate up to 120 pounds of goods, this cart boasts an impressive storage capacity, making it ideal for those taking public transportation or traveling long distances with large loads of groceries. After two months of heavy-duty use—even putting four 10-pound oxygen tanks in it at once—we've noticed no signs of wear and tear. After six months, the quality remained unchanged, but we noticed we wouldn’t recommend it to those with stairs leading to their apartment, as it might not be the best lifestyle fit. Also, for people running quick errands, the spacious size may feel excessive. For ease of movement in crowded stores or narrow hallways, this cart features double spinning wheels on all four corners, which made it easier to steer while maintaining adequate stability. We also found it quick and intuitive to assemble, thanks to the clip-on design that attaches the bag to the frame, and equally easy to take apart and fold down for convenient storage—you simply spread the handles apart until it opens up. This design allowed us to tuck the cart away in our closet when not in use or collapse it in the trunk of our car on the go. Despite its slim build, however, we found the cart a bit long and awkward to carry when folded. Still, if you're seeking a durable, spacious shopping cart, this one is a great choice. Capacity: 120 pounds | Weight: 9 pounds | Size: 22.5 by 18.75 by 37.5 inches | Material: Polyblend canvas, alloy steel Real Simple / Henry Wortock Real Simple / Henry Wortock Real Simple / Henry Wortock Real Simple / Henry Wortock Real Simple / Henry Wortock Best Budget dbest Cruiser Cart with Shopping Cover PHOTO: Amazon $57 at Amazon What Stands Out It’s durable, has a comfortable and cushioned handle, and glides smoothly even when full. What Could Be Improved The bag lacks internal pockets or any other way to secure items inside the bag, and the cart tends to fold up on itself when it’s empty. At one of the lowest price points of all the carts we tested, the Dbest Products Cruiser Cart With Bag Bundle Shopping Cover offers plenty of convenience without breaking the bank. It earned its highest marks for durability, thanks to its protective, cage-style design and stable wheels that provide a smooth gliding motion with excellent maneuverability. The cart also offers plenty of space inside for all your items without overcrowding, though there aren’t any inner pockets or straps to secure fragile or rolling items, like bottles. Even though you can't adjust its height, we found that the cushioned handle made it easier and more comfortable to use the cart. You can also easily attach and detach the bag from the frame, allowing for quick assembly, convenient storage, and even use of the bag as a tote separate from the frame. The design of the frame, however, did cause the corners of the bag to occasionally catch on the edges when it was pulled out, and it tended to fold up on itself when empty. While this cart is easy to unfold, we were disappointed to find that it doesn't lay flat—even when folded up, the large wheels take up a good amount of space. We also wish the handle was adjustable, as we often have to slouch our shoulder while using it. Still, these issues aren't dealbreakers, and after two months of use, this cart has become an integral part of our weekly routine. We've been using it primarily for laundry, though we expect it would work for someone with a smaller, more curated shopping list, as well. After six months of use, it still works great, and it hasn’t shown any signs of wear and tear. Capacity: 55 pounds | Weight: 6 pounds | Size: 17.5 by 17.25 by 37 inches | Material: Plastic Real Simple / Henry Wortock Real Simple / Henry Wortock Real Simple / Henry Wortock Real Simple / Henry Wortock Real Simple / Henry Wortock Best Large Amazon Basics Foldable Shopping Utility Cart PHOTO: Amazon $60 at Amazon What Stands Out It offers plenty of storage for shopping but still folds up quite compactly for storage in smaller spaces. What Could Be Improved It’s on the heavier and bulkier side, and the lack of an inner bag lining means smaller items may fall through. If you’re in need of a larger cart for your shopping hauls, the Amazon Basics Foldable Shopping Utility Cart might be just what you’ve been looking for. Moderately priced and sleekly designed, it has a respectable weight limit of 70 pounds, and it has the largest dimensions of any cart we tested—40 by 24.5 by 21 inches. In fact, we were able to store four bags of groceries in the main compartment alone. Just keep in mind that the additional room does make this the heaviest cart on our list, so transporting it may be cumbersome, even when empty. While its bulk is worth bearing in mind, the cart’s design does have a few features designed to make shopping a little more convenient. The 360-degree swivel wheels offer improved range of motion for navigating tight shopping aisles or corners. Since it's made of metal, the cart is a bit loud as it rolls, though we didn't mind too much. We appreciate its portability—it folds completely flat and features a convenient hook to keep the two sides in place. After two months, we've noticed no changes in quality. After six months, it still looks and works as good as new. The cart is divided into multiple baskets, allowing shoppers to separate items or store personal belongings while shopping. That said, the baskets lack fabric liners and have large gaps that may allow smaller items to fall through. Capacity: 70 pounds | Weight: 16 pounds | Size: 21 by 23.3 by 40 inches | Material: Metal Real Simple / Henry Wortock Real Simple / Henry Wortock Real Simple / Henry Wortock Real Simple / Henry Wortock Real Simple / Henry Wortock Best Metal Costway Folding Utility Shopping Cart PHOTO: Walmart $50 at Amazon $57 at Target $46 at Walmart What Stands Out It has plenty of space for larger shopping trips, navigates smoothly around tight corners, and folds up easily for storage. What Could Be Improved The wide spacing and lack of liner allows items to slip through, and it doesn’t handle stairs as other options. If you prefer a simple metal cart, the Costway Folding Shopping Cart is a roomy, easy-to-store option. It features two basket compartments, so you can easily sort items and keep things separated if you prefer, and its double-wheel front wheels make it easier to move around corners. With a robust, sturdy construction, this pick was durable enough to withstand two months of weekly use with no signs of wear. Even after six months, nothing changed in terms of quality or performance. This cart has a spacious main compartment and an extra side basket that has been helpful for storing eggs, bread, or drinks. While this is a fairly large cart, we found that it easily folds up for storage between trips. The bulkiest part seems to be the rubber wheels, which are designed to handle all sorts of terrain. The metal bar design of the cart did pose some issues during testing, though, as smaller items tended to slide around and fall right through the bars. It also proved to be challenging to lift and maneuver on stairs, particularly when going down. Despite this, its large dimensions and a fairly high weight limit make it a good choice for heavier loads or even transporting bulky items like a filled cooler. Capacity: 88 pounds | Weight: 13 pounds | Size: 24.4 by 24 by 39.6 inches | Material: Metal Real Simple / Henry Wortock Real Simple / Henry Wortock Real Simple / Henry Wortock Real Simple / Henry Wortock Real Simple / Henry Wortock Best Dolly dbest Products Stair Climber Trolley PHOTO: Amazon $93 at Amazon $93 at Walmart What Stands Out Its unique design makes it easy to navigate stairs, and the inner bag has bonus features for versatility and security. What Could Be Improved The handle is short and not adjustable, and the wheels aren't great for navigating tight corners. Maneuvering up and down stairs can be a challenge with any cart, but the Dbest Products Stair Climber Trolley Dolly is designed for exactly that. Instead of a traditional four-corners wheel design, this cart has three stacked wheels on each side, allowing the cart to “climb” up and down stairs without losing stability. The wheels handled concrete and tougher terrain effortlessly during testing, even enduring speed bumps with limited impact. The tradeoff is a lack of swivel wheels, which can make tight corners a little harder to navigate. We also found the handle to be on the short side, and since it can’t be adjusted, it’s not ideal for taller shoppers. We appreciated the design of the included canvas bag, which is insulated, has multiple compartments, and has a Velcro-close top to keep everything secured. This cart also offers the option to remove the bag entirely and transform it into a dolly/utility cart with a weight limit up to 110 pounds. Plus, it has a front stand, so it can stay upright even when you're not holding it. After two months of use, this cart has become our go to for farmer's market runs. While the capacity isn't quite as large as some of the other cart options, we think this pick is more suitable for light shopping than large grocery hauls. The compact design makes it especially ideal to bring to more crowded areas, as it won't bump into other patrons or get in the way. After six months of use, it’s still just as reliable, the canvas bag has held up well, and we still continue to use it regularly. Capacity: 110 pounds | Weight: 5.4 pounds | Size: 17.5 by 18 by 38.5 inches | Material: Polyester canvas bag, alloy steel frame Real Simple / Henry Wortock Real Simple / Henry Wortock Real Simple / Henry Wortock Real Simple / Henry Wortock Real Simple / Henry Wortock Best Insulated dbest Products Ultra Compact Cooler PHOTO: Amazon $40 at Amazon View on Sharperimage.com $55 at QVC What Stands Out The cart is easy to maneuver and features an adjustable handle, multiple pockets, and an insulated cooler. What Could Be Improved It doesn’t quite have the capacity for larger shopping trips. If your grocery run includes perishable items, the Dbest Products Ultra Compact Cooler Smart Cart is a convenient and capable choice to keep your items from spoiling. The cart’s leak-proof insulation allows it to also hold ice if you want to use it as an actual cooler for summer outings. After two months of use, we have yet to experience any leakage or damage. Insulation aside, this shopping cart earned high marks for its versatile design that features multiple pockets, a zippable top, and an adjustable handle. Even after six months, aside from a bit of wear and tear on the wheels, the cart continues to function as well as the day we received it. This cart is also very simple to store, as it's completely collapsible and can fold up with minimal hassle. It only has two wheels, so using it is more like rolling a suitcase than pushing a traditional grocery cart, but we still found it easy to maneuver. While the top handle makes it a bit bulky and awkward to hold, thanks to the telescoping handle and wheels, you shouldn't have to lug it around for too long. It does run on the small side, and we found the side pocket to be a bit pointless—while we were able to fit a water bottle on the side, we had to really squeeze it to remove it. That said, the items that did fit inside stayed secure and protected during testing. It’s not ideal for carrying a lot of items at once, but it’s a great pick for shopping and day trips. Capacity: 120 pounds | Weight: 3.5 pounds | Size: 10 by 12 by 25.5 inches | Material: Polyester Real Simple / Henry Wortock Real Simple / Henry Wortock Real Simple / Henry Wortock Real Simple / Henry Wortock Real Simple / Henry Wortock Final Verdict Our top pick is the VersaCart Transit due to its durability, smooth maneuvers, and large capacity for storage. It offers a straightforward assembly and disassembly, making it easy to use and store, and its top cover provides an extra level of protection for items. For a less expensive choice, we recommend the Dbest Products Crusier Cart With Shopping Cover, which is maneuverable, durable, and secure. Our Testing Process We tested a dozen shopping carts in our Des Moines lab and at home to assess their performance on the most important elements for users. To test the overall design of each shopping cart, we rolled each cart around without any items in it, then folded it and carried it up the stairs to evaluate its weight. Then, we filled each cart with some typical grocery items and considered its capacity for carrying a load from a normal shopping trip. With the cart full, we navigated it through a pre-designed obstacle course to assess the maneuverability. After completing the course, we checked the groceries we had placed in the cart, examining them closely for any breakage, squishing, or other damage. This, along with assessing the cart itself, allowed us to get an idea of the durability of the cart and its ability to properly protect items inside it. Finally, we assessed the price of each cart and decided on its overall value when comparing its price to how well it performed in each category. For long-term insights, we took the top-performing carts home to evaluate how well they held up over two months of use, and then again after six months of use. How to Shop for Shopping Carts Like a Pro Weight Capacity When choosing a shopping cart, it's important to consider how much weight it can handle. Weight capacity often ties in with other elements of the cart’s design, such as its materials and structure. Feldman says to assess the material, frame, and wheels, and to look for sturdy materials that can withstand regular use. A cart with strong frame materials, like alloy steel, is likely to hold more weight than a wire-framed option or one with a thinner, softer bag-style interior. Cart Weight and Size Beyond its weight capacity, be sure to also factor the weight and size of the cart itself into your decision making. According to Frederico, the best carts are not too big or heavy and can fold easily. If you know that you’re going to need to lift a cart up stairs, get them into your car, or store it in a relatively small space, look for space-saving designs like foldable carts, which improve portability. Material Shopping carts can be made from a wide range of materials, including alloy steel, canvas, plastic, and other synthetic materials. As stated previously, shopping carts made from sturdier materials like steel tend to hold more weight and are more durable than carts made from synthetics. For carts that collapse for storage, consider both the material of the bag or inner cart section since stiffer materials may be harder to fold. Additional Features Both Frederico and Feldman rate handle design and ergonomics among the top features to consider when purchasing a shopping cart. Some of these include the handle padding, adjustable height, amount of wheels, or other features that make it more physically comfortable to use the cart. Feldman also recommends looking at the organizational design of the carts you’re considering such as compartments, pockets, or dividers. “The ability to organize groceries and items within the cart helps shoppers separate and secure different types of products, making it easier to unload,” she says. More Shopping Carts to Consider Rolser Stair-Climbing Rolling Cart: Although this cart offered plenty of space for carrying items and safely navigated stairs, its wheel system was harder to maneuver on flat ground. Its handle was also on the tall side, not adjustable, and not padded, making it less comfortable to use compared to other competitors. Questions You Might Ask Is a shopping cart worth it? “My top three advantages [to owning a shopping cart] are convenience, hygiene, and accessibility,” Feldman says. “Having your own cart allows you to shop at your own pace, and it reduces the risk of exposure to germs and bacteria on communal store carts. If you have specific mobility needs or preferences, your own cart can be customized to better suit your requirements.” What is the difference between a wagon and a shopping cart? Depending on where you live, “wagon” and “shopping cart” might actually refer to the same thing. Typically, the two can be differentiated by how they’re moved: A wagon is usually pulled, while a cart is pushed. Wagons also may be designed for heavier loads rather than lightweight items, which shopping carts tend to handle more frequently. How long do shopping carts last? The lifespan of your shopping cart will depend on several factors, including the material it’s made from and how often you use it. However, the most important aspect that can impact a shopping cart’s longevity is how you care for it. If you avoid overfilling your cart, clean it regularly, and take care to avoid damaging it, your cart could last for several years. “Maneuver the cart smoothly, especially when navigating corners, and when possible, avoid rolling the cart over rough surfaces, bumps, or uneven terrain,” Feldman says. “When not in use, store the cart in a dry and cool place instead of leaving it outdoors.” If you aren’t taking these measures, or you find yourself using your cart several times a day, you might need to replace it within a year or so. How much do shopping carts cost? Shopping carts vary in price based on its material, capacity, versatility, and special features. Budget carts are typically in the $45 to $60 range and tend to be simplistic in design and can handle the load of a normal shopping trip. Alternatively, more expensive deluxe options may be priced over $150 and feature extra perks like swivel wheels, extra pockets for storage/organizing, or even insulation. Take Our Word For It This article was written by Amanda Prahl, a contributing writer for Real Simple with over five years of writing lifestyle content, and updated by Jamie Fischer, a commerce writer for Real Simple. To compile these recommendations, we tested several shopping carts and assessed them based on their capacity, design, maneuverability, durability, and overall value. For expert tips on how to choose the best shopping carts, we consulted Missy Feldman, founder of professional organization company No Mess with Missy, and Camilla Frederico, founder of the organization and personal assistant company The Personal Helpers. What Is Real Simple Selects? Next to each product on this list, you may have noticed a Real Simple Selects seal of approval. Any product appearing alongside that seal has been vetted by our team—put through tests and graded on its performance to earn a spot on our list. Although we buy most of the products we test, sometimes we do get samples from companies if purchasing a product ourselves isn’t an option. All products go through the same rigorous process, whether they are purchased or sent by the company. Love our recommendations? Check out more products that have earned the Real Simple Selects, from humidifiers to cordless vacuums.