8 Different Types of Carts: Which Fits Best for Your Task?

There are many types of carts. Each has a special design and use. Some carts are for heavy loads, while others carry smaller items. Some are made for smooth floors, others for rough terrains like sand or stairs.

Knowing the differences helps you pick the right one. This saves time and effort. It also keeps your items safe. In this article, we will explore different carts and help you find the cart that fits best for your task.

 

8 Different Types of Carts

 

1. Flatbed Cart

Flatbed carts have a flat metallic platform with four wheels and a handle. Some trolleys even have a rough surface to prevent the loaded items from slipping. They are ideal for loading larger goods like boxes, crates, and anything with a stable base.

Also known as Cargo or platform cart, it is commonly used in supermarkets and warehouses.

2. Stair Cart

Imagine having to carry a heavy item on the fifth floor of a building with no elevator. Sounds tiring, right? Stair climbers like XSTO ZW030 can help. It can hold small items like fruits and vegetables and heavy objects like boxes as well. Wondering what a stair climber is?

It is a trolley designed to move bulky items up and down the stairs. Some come with three to six rotating wheels while a few have two wheels with a supporting arm to easily climb the stairs.  They are ideal for deliveries, especially for heavy goods like household appliances.

3. Cage Cart

A cage cart looks similar to a cage. The only difference is that it can move. The cart has a flat base with all sides secured with metal bars or mesh wire. One side has an opening to place and remove the goods from the cart.

This rolled container is mostly used in grocery stores, retail, or mailrooms.

4. Panel Cart

A panel cart has an upright structure with welded vertical steel frame with one or more slots. As you must have already guessed by name, it is used to transport sheet-like material. These include plasterboards, plywood, glass sheets, drywall, large panels, etc.

5. Utility Cart

Utility carts are multipurpose trolleys used to shift lightweight items. There are different types of utility carts like electric utility carts, a foldable utility cart, etc.

The most common are L-shaped utility carts with a vertical frame and a base to hold boxes, sacks, or other office supplies. Some types also have shelves to place cleaning stuff, files, and other small items.

6. Shopping Cart

Everyone must already know what a shopping cart is. It has a flat-base with a basket-like frame with front swivel wheels to enhance maneuverability. There is a handle to easily push it. Now stores even have motorized grocery carts.

Such a cart can be useful in big marts for shopping or shifting goods from storage to racks.

7. Beach Cart

Ever heard of a beach cart before? Well, yes, it exists. It is a special type of wagon that is used to carry all your stuff to the beach. There can be a manual beech cart with a long handle. You can also find a motorized beach cart if your gear is heavy.

The wide and big wheels of this cart prevent it from sinking into sand.

8. Pallet Cart

A pallet cart features two forks as a base and a pump handle. Once the base is slid under pallets, the handle is pressed down to lift it up from the floor. This heavy-duty car is particularly used to move wooden pallets.

Some pallet carts even have weighing scales or even hydraulic lift decks for efficient functioning.

Comparison Table

 

Cart	Primary Use	Pros	Cons
Flatbed Card	Transport heavy/bulky items	Large surface area, stable	Hard to maneuver in tight spaces
Stair Cart	Move items up/down stairs	Easy stair navigation, reduces strain	Electric type needed to be charged
Cage Trolley	Moving multiple small or valuable items securely	Enclosed, prevents item loss	Large and bulky
Panel Cart	Carry flat large panels	Keeps panels upright, reduces damage	use specific to panel materials
Utility Cart	Shifting  tools/materials	Versatile, easy to maneuver, lightweight	May not be a good choice for inclined surfaces
Shopping Cart	Carrying groceries or retail items	Large capacity, easy to push	Requires storage space, not ideal for homes
Beach Cart	Carrying beach gear over sand	Wide wheels prevent sinking, weather resistant	Can be heavy, bulkier
Pallet Cart	Moving stacked goods or pallets in warehouses	Handles very heavy loads, industrial-grade	Requires flat surface, heavy and large

 

Conclusion

As you must have guessed till now, every cart serves a different purpose. Choosing the right cart can help minimize your workload. The choice solely depends upon your needs. If you are shifting your house or small office items, a utility cart can be a safe choice.

For warehouses or retail stores, you can go for flatbed, pallet, cage, or panel cart. Want a recommendation? Check out XSTO’s electric carts to make your workflow smoother.