Many people are getting ready to start gardening as the weather warms up. However, even if you're not a gardener, a garden cart can be one of the most versatile equipments for your yard. Garden carts are great for pulling around firewood and other heavy items you might need to move around your property. They're also excellent for transporting plants, fertilizer, and soil from your car to your garden. The DIY Garden Cart Plans below may not be the most sturdy or stable carts ever made, but they can be used as inspiration to create something that fits your needs better. The key is to ensure that your cart has large enough wheels so that its weight is distributed evenly and to angle the wooden top so that it will roll easily over uneven ground.
DIY Garden Cart Ideas
Anyone who has ever worked in the garden knows how great it feels to have your customized cart for transporting all of those heavy tools, plants, and supplies from one part of the yard to another. Even better if you can design and build your custom garden cart at a fraction of the cost of buying an assembled one. With a few standard tools and parts from your local hardware store, you can create a simple and sturdy garden cart that will make all your future gardening chores much more accessible. The best part is that this manual labor will be a therapeutic break from all the work you'll be doing inside—a little exercise to keep you healthy, too! Here are some designs that are easy on the wallet and the eyes.
Benefits of DIY Garden Cart Plans
DIY garden carts are a great way to get more value out of the money you spend on your gardening equipment.
There are many benefits to making your garden cart, including the following:
- Cost savings: If you make your cart, you can save money by buying less expensive materials and doing some of the work yourself.
- Customization: If you want to customize your garden cart, then building it yourself is the easiest way. You can add features like a canopy or cup holder or change the size or design of your cart in any way that suits your needs.
- Reduced waste: When you build a garden cart from scratch, you can use recycled materials like old pallets or scrap wood from other projects around the house. This reduces waste in landfills and helps reduce our carbon footprint too!
Six-Wheeled Cart with a Pull Handle
| Materials: | 2 x 4 lumber, a set of average-sized wheels (6 in total), wood screws, washers, lock nuts, bolts, hinges |
| Tools: | Safety gloves, screwdriver, miter saw, electric drill + bits, framing square |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
This is the perfect DIY project for anyone who wants to start gardening. With six wheels, a pull handle, and a thick wooden frame, it won’t cost you much to build, and you should be able to complete the project in just 3–4 hours. You don’t need fancy tools: a screwdriver, drill, and saw will do. And best of all? This cart is heavy-duty enough to haul compost and rocks around your garden.
six-wheeled cart with a pull handle
Universal Garden Cart with a Bungee Cord
| Materials: | 5 wood planks, 4 wheels, screws, stove bolts, lag bolts, bungee cord/regular rope, spring links, tote (optional) |
| Tools: | Gloves, Phillips screwdriver, drill, measuring tape, combination square |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
This DIY universal garden cart with a bungee cord is a straightforward, cheap, and elegant solution for any gardening enthusiast. It’s crafted from scrap wood, old wheels from a lawn mower, and some duct tape. Attach one end of a strong bungee cord to the bottom of the cart, then connect the other end to another part you want to pull. Once you’re done using it, roll up the cord and store it away until next time. This garden cart is cheap, easy, and strong. And, with a bungee cord attachment, you can use it to move big, bulky, and heavy stuff in your yard.
universal garden cart with a bungee cord
Large, Old-School Cart
| Materials: | 2 large wheels, axles, ¾ inch treated plywood, screws, aluminum trim, washers, lock nuts |
| Tools: | Measuring tape, pencil/marker, miter saw, gloves + goggles, construction adhesive, electric drill + bits, grinder |
| Difficulty Level: | Moderate |
Gardening is a dirty job; a big garden can fill up fast with tools, soil and rocks. A large, old-school cart like this one will help you keep everything organized and in one place while reducing trips back and forth to your shed or garage. Plus, it’s easy to move around—the wheels are big enough to roll over tree roots and long grass without too much difficulty. Fitting large loads doesn’t look like it would be a problem either; remove the sides of the cart and add more support if necessary. Build this garden cart from treated plywood—it’s sturdy and durable.
Garden Cart from Pallets
| Materials: | Wood pallets, regular wheels from the store, hinges, screws, bolts, nuts, lock washers |
| Tools: | Screwdriver, wrench, cordless drill, and bits, safety gloves, measuring tape, adhesive |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
Garden carts are not a new concept, but their popularity is increasing. A homemade cart will be perfect if you have a small backyard and want to free up space in your garage for other things. You can use it to collect water from the well, transport firewood from the shed to the fireplace, or even haul tires over the lawn in no time. This DIY plan would make all these things more manageable, where you’ll learn how to build a garden cart using pallet wood. What’s more? It will also save you money!
Classic Wooden Cart
| Materials: | Wood planks (Douglas fir, ash, or white oak), bicycle wheels, hinges, screws, bolts |
| Tools: | Miter, circular, hand, and jigsaw, drill with bits, measuring tape, clamps, combination square, protective gloves + goggles, screwdriver, wrench, sander, glue |
| Difficulty Level: | Moderate/High |
If you're looking for a well-balanced, user-friendly, and good-looking "workhorse" for your garden, this classic wooden cart deserves your attention. Keep in mind that you'll have to spend the entire weekend building it, but once finished, it will be a great addition to your garden! Handcrafted from durable, long-lasting wood that's perfect for years of service, this two-store cart can handle a heavy load without putting too much strain on your back or shoulders. The big wheels are great for bumpy roads.
Portable Potting Bench Garden Cart
| Materials: | Pressure-treated pine, 2 8-inch wheels, axle, corrosion-resistant screws, five-gallon bucket |
| Tools: | Miter saw, jigsaw, sander, screwdriver, heavy-duty adhesive, wrench, framing/combination square |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy/Moderate |
It is easier to move around the garden when you use a portable potting bench/garden cart. The wheels make it a good choice for rolling around your garden and make it easy to transport items while working outside. This DIY plan also lets you store different gardening supplies you may use at any time or during different seasons. This plan includes everything from the wheels to the handles. This easy solution will give you plenty of storage space and make it easy to move plant pots around quickly and efficiently.
Three-Level Garden Cart
| Materials: | 1 4 x 4 hardwood plywood sheet, 3 2 x 4 planks, 6 1 x 3 planks, self-tapping screws, wood screws, nails, wood glue, caster wheels, stain (optional) |
| Tools: | Circular saw (or table saw), drill, nail gun, hammer, pencil, speed square, tape measure, safety glass + gloves |
| Difficulty Level: | Moderate/High |
Make your gardening chores much easier with this excellent garden cart. This three-level garden cart is ideal for tools and garden materials. Use it to transport your water hose, fertilizer, soil, and stones from one place to another. It’s easy to assemble and very sturdy. If you love to spend time in your garden, this three-level garden cart is a must-have. It’s made from the finest wood and built to last. Use it as a rolling storage cart, or push it around the yard with all your gardening supplies, like bags of fertilizer, soil, water, stones, and plants/flowers on board.
You can also see: DIY Kitchen Cart Ideas
Utility Cart with a Door
| Materials: | 4 pneumatic tires, 2 axle rods (+ plastic caps and locking shaft collars), locking pillow blocks, spacing washers, pressure-treated plywood, wood planks, hinges, screws, bolts, end caps, hitch |
| Tools: | Miter saw, circular saw, chisel, drill with Forstner bits, protection for the eyes, ears, and hands, measuring tape, square |
| Difficulty Level: | Moderate/High |
When the weather is nice, and you have your tools out, it can be hard to keep track of everything. With this utility cart, that won't be an issue anymore. This baby crib-looking utility cart includes a door, which will help you secure any items you are carrying along the way. You'll also love that it's easy to attach to your lawnmower or other riding equipment. This baby crib-looking utility cart features a large storage bin and has fully-enclosed sides, protecting whatever you're carrying from dirt, dust, and debris. This will help you take all your gardening tools, supplies, and plants.
Hose Holder + Plastic Tub Garden Cart
| Materials: | Wood board, hose holder, screws, bolts, washers, tub, wheels |
| Tools: | Safety gloves + goggles, screwdriver |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
The garden cart made of a hose holder and plastic tub makes a great addition to your garden shed or any other outdoor space. It’s sturdy, durable, and can hold many items. This hose holder and a garden cart are a great way to combine your gardening needs into one multipurpose structure. With a removable water hose holder, you can use this cart for holding soil and other goods around the garden or even as an indoor drying rack for your laundry.
