Weight Of Shopping Cart

Metal Shopping Cart

We use them on a near daily basis without giving them much thought. What are they? Shopping carts of course.

Whether it’s a grocery shopping cart or one from Walmart, you’ve got to love the shopping cart. But how much do these carts weigh?

A full-size metal shopping cart weighs around 32-65 pounds (14-29 kg).

A full-size plastic shopping cart weighs 36-55 pounds (16-25 kg).

We rarely give these carts any interest, unless you find that one cart with wheels that shake and vibrate like crazy, plus make loud noises while pushing it down the aisle.

Even worse is the cart that seems to have a mind of its own and continuously travels in a different direction than you’re walking.

Fully loaded with groceries, shopping carts can easily exceed 150 pounds in weight.

Different Types Of Carts

Like most things, weights are going to vary based on the type of cart as well as its design and construction.

The two common types of carts are the age-old metal carts, and the lighter plastic carts.

Weights For Metal Shopping Carts

Full-size metal or wire shopping carts can be quite heavy.

You’ll find them weighing around 32-65 pounds (14-29 kg). A few may even be a couple of pounds heavier in some situations.

Smaller convenience carts made of metal will generally weigh between 32-38 pounds (14-17 kg).

The steel frames and wire mesh add weight fast.

Weights For Plastic Shopping Carts

Plastic Shopping Cart

Plastic shopping carts are a popular choice today in many stores like Target, Rural King and so many more.

A couple of the biggest reasons is due to their lower noise levels and reduced damage potential.

However, the weights for plastic carts can actually be higher than metal carts in some cases.

Full-size plastic carts will weigh around 36-55 pounds (16-25 kg).

There are now ultra-light models that weigh less.

How Much Does A Shopping Cart Cost?

The cost of shopping carts will vary widely based on a number of different factors, but here’s a look at what you might expect to pay for one of these carts.

  • Full-size metal shopping carts – $80- $150
  • Full-size plastic shopping carts – $90-$160
  • Small metal convenience shopping carts – $75-$130

~ Fun Fact ~
A wire shopping cart can hold a LOT of weight before collapsing. In a demonstration on Hydraulic Press Channel, they added over 1,000 pounds (453 kg) to a wire shopping cart and it did not collapse. It was only after adding another 450 pounds to the cart that it finally gave in and collapsed. I don’t think that overloading your cart at the grocery store is ever going to be a concern anymore!

Resources:
https://premiercarts.com/metalcarts.htm
https://interestingengineering.com/much-weight-can-shopping-cart-hold

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