What did teachers do before roller carts? We can’t imagine carrying books, papers, and boxes to and from school or teaching an art or P.E. class without shelves on wheels. Whether you’re getting your first roller cart or upgrading your current cart, here are our top picks. But first, here’s what to look for in a rolling cart that will actually work for teachers.
What To Look For When Purchasing Roller Carts for Teachers
A roller cart is great if you are bringing materials to and from your classroom and home—think: a high school teacher hauling stacks of essays. Whether or not it collapses is up to you and how you’ll use it. Do you want to be able to fold it up and store it in a small space? Or are you storing materials in it 24-7 so that collapsibility just isn’t an issue?
The handle
For rolling bags and boxes, a retractable handle is helpful if you are storing it somewhere tight between uses. On larger carts, the handle should make it easier to push and maneuver the cart through the halls.
One word: storage
The whole point of roller carts for teachers is storage, so think about whether you need shelves to put bins on or pockets to store materials. Do you need a compartment for a computer? Small pockets to organize markers, pencils, and more? Having more of these compartments can make other bags unnecessary, which makes traveling to and from school easier.
Capacity
How heavy or bulky are your supplies? Carrying around music instruments or Hula-Hoops is much different than transporting workbooks and markers. Be sure to get a roller cart that can transport all the materials you’re moving each day.
Brake
At some point you’ll have to stop, and having a brake to hold the cart in place turns a roller cart into portable shelves or even a desk.
Overall weight
Especially if you’re moving up and down stairs, consider the weight of each roller cart. Make sure the cart itself isn’t adding too much weight.
Some roller carts stand out above the rest. Here are the best overall, best budget-friendly, and best splurge, foldable, and cart alternative.
(Note that prices listed are current as of this writing.)
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Best Overall Roller Cart: Luxor 3-Shelf Tuffy Cart
All teachers will find a use for this roller cart, whether it’s moving materials around a large classroom or up and down one hallway. And it meets all the criteria—easy to maneuver, sturdy, has good steering and stopping, and lots of accessible space to store materials.
User reviews: Customers say the three shelves with deeper edges keep things from falling off. And the wheels make for easy navigation.
Best Budget-Friendly Roller Cart: Danpinera 3-Tier Rolling Cart
This roller cart is ideal for a classroom, to roll from small group to small group or up and down a hallway. The pockets and hooks can be easily put on and taken off as your needs change over the course of the year.
User reviews: Customers who bought this cart loved the various buckets to hold art supplies or school supplies and the cute color options.
All the compartments and bins and the whiteboard on one side make this a fun roller cart for teachers who use lots of materials in each lesson and want to keep them all in one place.
User review: An intervention teacher loved how it was essentially a mobile classroom for all her intervention materials.
Best Foldable Rolling Cart: Selorss Foldable Utility Cart
When it comes to a utility cart that has everything teachers need—sturdy, solid, holds everything, easy-turn wheels—this cart fits the bill. In particular, the noiseless wheels turn 360 degrees and are built to hold up on lots of different surfaces. The cart holds up to 110 pounds and the lid supports 265 pounds.
User review: One user loves this cart for transporting teaching necessities from classroom to car every day.
Best Roller Cart Alternative for Teachers: Craft Rolling Cart
This alternative to a hard-plastic rolling storage bin, with 40 clear pockets to store materials students can easily see and access, is a clever way to organize and move materials.
User reviews: Teacher reviewers noted that the cart is lightweight and the clear pockets make it easy for students to find what they need.
Inspired Living Ultra-Slim Rolling Collapsible Storage Pack-n-Roll Utility Cart
This cart was recommended by one teacher reviewer as an ideal way to transport materials to and from school. It folds flat and can be stored easily and is easy to take in and out of the car. It’s a more functional alternative to hauling stuff around in tote bags.
User review: One teacher says she loves that this cart fits on the floor of her car and is easy to put in and take out of the car. The cart makes it easier to bring materials to and from school without lugging heavy bags.
This nylon bag features thick padding to reduce bumping. The main compartment is large enough to hold a small printer, files, books, and other materials.
User review: One teacher who travels from school to school said this bag has plenty of room for files and supplies. It also rolls well and is not “tippy.”
Use this cart as a movable podium for whole-group lessons or as a table for students to gather around during small groups. The two storage bins let you have books, writing utensils, and more on hand.
User review: A teacher said this cart was “perfect for the classroom.” They use it in small-group sessions. It looks nice and it’s easy to assemble.
Amazon Basics Adjustable Standing Mobile Laptop Storage
Teachers can lower and raise (27.5 to 40 inches) this cart’s surface so they can work from anywhere. The lower shelf keeps supplies easily accessible while teaching.
User review: One music teacher said this cart was a good value. The podium on wheels was helpful in the classroom, and they added a wire mesh basket to the bottom for more storage.
This cart is all about pockets. It has 33 external and 10 internal pockets, as well as a large central compartment to carry everything you need. A great option to cart things to and from your classroom and stay organized.
User review: A teacher reviewer liked the organizing pockets on the outside, which are great for scissors, glue, markers, etc.
