Choosing the Right Utility Cart: A Comprehensive Buying Guide

Whether you need to organize, store, or move things or supplies around, utility carts are extremely helpful. They are widely used in restaurants, retail stores, hospitals, medical facilities, offices, educational institutes, warehouses, libraries, and many other business sectors as well as in our homes.

Since there are so many options available, it is essential to choose the right kind of utility cart for your needs. To do so, you need to figure out for what purpose you need a utility cart as there are some that are very versatile and can be used for various things and then there are some that are especially designed for specific usage.

In this buying guide, we will talk about the types of utility carts, the types of materials they are made of, their ergonomic designs, and more. To begin with, let’s first understand what is a utility cart and how it is helpful for us in our day-to-day lives.

Table of contents:

• What is a Utility Cart?
• Types of Materials Used to Manufacture Utility Carts
• Types of Utility Carts by Application
• Some Special-Purpose Utility Carts
• How to Choose a Utility Cart for Your Business: Factors to Consider
• Maintenance Tips for Utility Carts

What is a Utility Cart?

Utility carts also known as rolling carts, hand trucks, or even heavy-duty utility carts are typically what you need to hold, store, organize, or transport objects, supplies, or materials. This could be anything, auto or garden tools, food, grocery, books, liquor bottles, etc. Basically, they are needed for various products or supplies that we use in our day-to-day lives and are absolutely useful in numerous business environments. These utility carts play quite an important role in various business sectors as they help streamline tasks, thereby, contributing to increasing productivity and significantly impacting operations.

Types of Materials Used to Manufacture Utility Carts

Let’s take a look at the most common types of materials that are used to make utility carts.

Plastic:

One of the most common materials used to make utility carts is plastic. These carts are basically built of thermoplastic, usually, it is polypropylene, which is very resistant to rust and corrosion and also doesn’t dent that easily. Besides, they are way lighter than metal utility carts and very easy to clean as well.

The maximum weight ratings of plastic utility carts typically range from 200 to 500 pounds, while some manufacturers provide plastic heavy-duty utility carts with marginally greater load capacity.

Metal:

Utility carts that are made of metal are very strong, resilient, and much more durable than plastic utility carts. Many of them are capable of carrying loads much in excess of what any plastic cart can manage; some metal carts can hold up to 5000 pounds.

Wood:

You also have utility carts made of wood that are quite strong and sturdy. It can be used for business purposes as well as at home, but it requires high maintenance. While they are super functional, they are most likely to be used to enhance the aesthetic appeal of a place.

Types of Utility Carts by Application

Let’s take a look at a few types of utility carts by application.

Restaurant Service Utility Carts:

The utility carts used in restaurants are mostly made of metal. These restaurant carts are designed keeping in mind the transportation of food and beverages from one place to another, hence, they come with wheels for easy maneuvering. Besides, they have multiple shelves to carry as much food around as possible at a time for a quick service.

Kitchen Utility Carts:

Kitchen carts are super versatile. They can be used for storage, preparation, and serving. Generally, kitchen utility carts are designed with countertops, drawers, and shelves for organizing and easy storage. They also come with special features such as towel holders, wine racks, and of course, wheels for easy moving around and more.

Cleaning and Maintenance Utility Carts:

You also have cleaning and maintenance carts. These carts are sturdy and durable for frequent usage and are designed with numerous compartments to organize all cleaning essentials.

Sales and Warehouse Utility Carts:

Sales and warehouse carts are generally heavy-duty utility carts as they often have to carry heavy and large loads. Besides, these carts are way larger and have quite a lot of storage capacity as well. Moreover, for easy usage, the carts are designed with ergonomic handles and some special features such as integrated ladders, etc.

Office and Education Utility Carts:

These carts are for all official purposes in the office or at an educational institute. They have a more compact design for easily storing documents or other things. Besides, they are generally multi-tiered and come with lockable wheels.

Garden Utility Carts:

Garden carts are for all your garden and outdoor needs. These are quite sturdy and strong carts as you most often have to carry heavy pots, soil, and garden tools and equipment. Besides, they have wheels that can easily pull through soil and stones, etc., making it less physically exhausting for you when you are navigating around your garden.

Shopping Utility Carts:

Shopping carts are what you generally find in a retail store. These are spacious, lightweight, and have wheels for easily moving around in a store. Most often made of metal, shopping carts are what you need to throw in all the items or products you have chosen. Additionally, these also come with a child seat for conveniently seating your child while you pick out your favorite items. You also have folding utility cart that are portable, easy to transport and store.

Some Special-Purpose Utility Carts

Here are some utility carts designed for specific purposes.

Ladder Carts:

Perfect for warehouses and stockrooms, these ladder carts basically come with integrated ladders. The design makes it super feasible for people to climb and reach higher areas.

Order-Picking Carts:

Order-picking carts are much-required if you need to make your selection or inventory duty super easy as they come with a writing shelf. Moreover, you would also find a slanted document storage section too.

Instrument Carts:

Instrument carts are basically designed to reduce any kind of shock or vibration, particularly for medical or testing tools and equipment. They also come with pneumatic or semi-pneumatic wheels. These carts typically have cushioned shelf mats that help in absorbing any kind of vibration, thereby, preventing any equipment from rolling off.

Flow-Through Garden Carts:

These flow-through garden carts basically are designed with lipped shelves that feature numerous tiny holes. It is designed to let any dirt and water slip through easily.

Slotted Shelves Flow-Through Carts:

These slotted shelve carts are what are most often used in medical institutions, labs, grocery stores, etc. They are designed with wide gaps so that any moisture or debris can easily flow through.

How to Choose a Utility Cart for Your Business: Factors to Consider

It’s essential that you choose the apt utility cart for your business needs to streamline your work and increase productivity, thereby, ensuring that it significantly impacts your business in a positive way. Let’s understand what to keep in mind when choosing a utility cart and what factors you need to consider to do so.

Identify Your Purpose

The first thing you need to understand and identify is your purpose. Ask yourself for what purpose you need a utility cart and where will it be used. Are you going to be using a utility cart to transport supplies, will you be using it to store items, will you be using it to organize things or for serving food, etc.? Once you have identified your reason, then figure out where would you use it, indoors, outdoors, in an office, a restaurant, a warehouse, etc. Basically, once you have identified your purpose, it gets easier to choose a utility cart for your specific needs.

Material Considerations

Most commonly you have three options to choose from – metal, plastic, wood. Once you have identified your purpose, it gets easier to choose the kind of material you want. Plastic utility carts are lightweight and just what you need for light to medium tasks. On the other hand, metal utility carts are quite durable and reliable and is just what you need for more heavy-duty tasks. As for wood utility carts, though sturdy, they are more suitable for enhancing the aesthetic appeal of a place.

Size Requirements

Your size requirement will mostly depend on three main factors – load capacity, storage, and frequent usage. The size of your utility cart should be such that it should be able to handle the weight of the supplies, products, or items, that you will be storing, organizing or transporting. You cannot have a tiny cart for very heavy supplies, it’s definitely not going to handle the weight. Besides, you also need to take into consideration that it should be able to fit in aisles or doorways easily. You obviously cannot have a large utility cart for a tiny aisle because you are just going to end up struggling with maneuvering it around. Additionally, you should be able to store these utility carts wherever you want to easily. Therefore, selecting the right size is very crucial.

Mobility Features

Mobility is quite essential in utility carts. Therefore, look for one that comes with quality wheels for easy maneuvering. Besides, make sure there are swivel or rigid casters for smooth movement (either 360 degrees or back and forth respectively), and locking casters for ensuring proper stability.

Shelve Requirements

Another thing to consider is shelving requirements. Do you need just a two-shelf cart or do you need three or more shelves? Based on your purpose, select carts with the number of shelves accordingly.

Rim Considerations

You also need to take into account what kind of rim you want. Generally, the most common types are flush and lipped shelves. Basically, a flush shelf is something that does not have any kind of barrier or rim on the edges. It is just a flat smooth surface, making it easier to slide things. A lipped shelf, on the other hand, has a rim or barrier surrounding it, which typically prevents anything from rolling off. You cannot slide things in a lipped shelf, you need to pick things and place them in and out.

Ergonomic Designs

It’s important that you choose utility carts that come with ergonomic designs - whether it’s rounded grip handles, adjustable handles or easy-to-push designs. Ergonomic designs reduce any sort of physical strain, thereby, ensuring comfort and ease of movement.

Safety Features

Safety is paramount when it comes to buying any equipment and utility carts are no exception. Imagine you have loaded some heavy glass items onto a utility cart and it rolls off. If you haven’t locked the wheels, chances are that it might roll off, crash into a wall, and fall and break. Therefore, take into consideration safety features when choosing a utility cart such as handle grips and locking wheels.

Budget Considerations

Budget undoubtedly is one of the most important factors to be considered. Before you choose one, keep in mind the features that you need, the material, the durability of the cart, the load capacity, and how beneficial it would be for your business. If it benefits you overall, then go ahead and invest in good-quality carts. Remember even if you spend a bit more on a cart that is of high-quality, it is going to be worth it as it would aid in your tasks easily.

Maintenance Tips for Utility Carts

• Make sure that you clean, wipe, or wash your utility carts frequently to remove all dirt and buildup.

• Always check the wheels and casters for any damage.

• Check the carts regularly for any damage and replace them if needed.

• Lubricate the moving parts for ease of movement.

• Use liners or mats on the carts to protect them from any scratches.

In conclusion, choosing the right utility cart completely depends on your purpose. Consider material, budget, business or home requirements, etc., before you choose one. Besides, as mentioned previously, utility carts really help streamline your tasks, thereby, ensuring efficiency and productivity. Therefore, it’s imperative that you choose a cart that can fulfill all your needs well enough. Also, do not compromise on quality, because a high-quality utility cart will not just make your work smoother but also last you longer.