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In This Review: Top 6 Picks | Buying Guide | Types of Dollies | FAQ | Methodology
One tool that top moving companies always have is a high-quality moving dolly. Even if you’re not planning to relocate, having one around the house can help with times when you need to move heavy or bulky items. You can find budget moving dollies for under $50, while models with a high weight capacity and improved maneuverability might cost $150 or more.
We rounded up our favorite moving dollies to help you find the best one for your home. Our favorite is the Rhino Cart All Terrain Mover, which features an impressive weight capacity of 2,000 pounds, adjustable sizing, and the ability to navigate uneven surfaces better than most dollies and hand trucks.
Top 6 Moving Dollies
- Best Overall: Rhino Cart All Terrain Mover
- Best Heavy-Duty: KEDSUM Folding Hand Truck
- Best for Small Items: Wellmax Push Cart Dolly
- Best Straps: Shoulder Dolly Moving Straps
- Best for Furniture: WEN Hardwood Furniture Moving Dolly
- Most Versatile: COSCO Folding Hand Truck
Compare Top Moving Dollies
| Product | Carrying Capacity | Number of Wheels | Unit Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhino Cart All Terrain Mover | 2000 lbs. | 8 | 8 lbs. |
| KEDSUM Folding Hand Truck | 290 lbs. | 4 | 6.2 lbs. |
| Wellmax Push Cart Dolly | 330 lbs. | 4 | 16.7 lbs. |
| Shoulder Dolly Moving Straps | 800 lbs. | N/A | 3.3 lbs. |
| WEN Hardwood Furniture Moving Dolly | 660 lbs. | 4 | 8.3lbs. |
| COSCO Folding Hand Truck | 300 lbs. | 2/4 | 15.4 lbs. |
| Product | Carrying Capacity | Number of Wheels | Unit Weight |
Best Overall
Rhino Cart All Terrain Mover
- $147
- $159.95
- 8% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Good for: Someone who needs something that’s easy to use and store and plans on moving large, heavy items like appliances and furniture.
What Are People Saying About the Rhino Cart All Terrain Mover?
Reviewers share tales of hauling major appliances with ease using this dolly. It also earns praise for being easy to push on hard surfaces. One recurring complaint among customers is that the wheels can only go backward and forward instead of spinning with turns. A few people who own this dolly also share that it can get stuck more easily than expected.
Best Heavy-Duty
KEDSUM Folding Hand Truck
- $46.99
- $49.92
- 6% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Good for: Vendors who regularly make small deliveries to their customers or frequent trade shows and other events.
What Are People Saying About the KEDSUM Folding Hand Truck?
We found that many people who review this dolly are frequent travelers who consider this to be the ultimate travel hack for transporting heavy luggage and packages. People also appreciate the quiet, wobble-free wheels on the design. The telescopic handle that breaks down easily also earns praise for making this dolly very portable. The downside among reviewers is that this is better suited for hauling lighter boxes and personal items.
Best for Small Items
Wellmax Push Cart Dolly
- $89.97
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Good for: Someone looking for a substantial dolly for household use.
What Are People Saying About the Wellmax Push Cart Dolly?
Reviewers make it clear that maneuverability is the strongest point with this dolly. People also like that this is a lightweight, collapsible model that is easy to store. A few shared that the soft handle is a thoughtful touch. Some users did struggle with assembly due to the bolts provided with the dolly. Others commented that the lack of fasteners made it difficult to move the dolly with confidence.
Best Straps
Shoulder Dolly Moving Straps
- $39.99
- $44.99
- 11% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Good for: Getting heavy appliances into a home when you have another person to help.
What Are People Saying About the Shoulder Dolly Moving Straps?
Many reviewers shared that the Shoulder Dolly completely transformed the way they move bulky items. The adjustable straps and buckles accommodate most sizes and heights. Overall, people felt that this item provides a reliable and secure method for moving furniture and appliances. A few reviewers shared that they felt that the straps were either too loose or too uncomfortable for this to be an effective method for carrying items.
Best for Furniture
WEN Hardwood Furniture Moving Dolly
- $45.35
- $49.99
- 9% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Good for: Someone doing a renovation project where they need to move furniture and other items around their home while protecting their floors.
What Are People Saying About the WEN Hardwood Furniture Moving Dolly?
Our research showed that these dollies have nearly universal high ratings. People love the load capabilities, ease of use, and quality offered by this timeless design. Some people who have purchased these dollies did express that the construction felt a little shoddy.
Most Versatile
COSCO Folding Hand Truck
- $83.83
- $114.99
- 27% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Good for: Someone looking for an all-purpose moving dolly.
What Are People Saying About the COSCO Folding Hand Truck?
While reading through reviews we noted that several customers shared that this convertible hand truck fits perfectly in their car trunks. It also gets praise for being durable. A few reviewers refer to this model as the “snapping turtle” due to the way that it can trap fingers when placed in the folding position.
What To Know Before Buying Moving Dollies
How can you pick the best movie dolly? The answer often comes down to what you intend to move. This buying guide covers the important points to consider.
How Much Load Capacity Do You Need?
Size is not an indicator of load capacity. In fact, one common mistake is ordering a dolly based on size alone because of the assumption that a bigger product can hold more. In reality, you need to look specifically for load capacity. Popular dollies on the market can hold anything from 50 to 600 pounds even though they cost roughly the same.
How Can You Tell If a Moving Dolly Is Easy to Maneuver?
The handle and wheels generally dictate maneuverability. In some cases, a dolly’s wheels will only move backward and forward to increase stability. Other models have swivel wheels. The same is true of handles. While some handles pivot to 90 degrees, others are static. Consider the corners in your home when making a decision.
What Features Improve Ergonomics?
It can be hard to “eyeball” the ergonomic qualities of a moving dolly. The big feature to look for is a padded handle that will save your hands from bruises and blisters.
Do All Dollies Fold Up for Storage?
This is another category where looks can be deceiving. Never purchase a dolly based on the way it looks when in “just” the active or dormant state. You need to see both to understand the amount of space taken up when activated versus closed. Many dollies fold up to allow you to slide them under beds or in closets. Others require a dedicated storage spot in a basement or garage. When purchasing a dolly that will be used outside of the home, be sure to check the dolly’s measurements in comparison to your trunk space.
What Are Some Important Safety Features for a Moving Dolly?
One of the big risks that both local and interstate moving companies know about is “sliding.” It’s very easy for a heavy item to slide off of a moving dolly. This can cause damage to people, pets, floors, walls, and the item being moved. Some common safety features to look for include harnesses, bungees, and wheel locks.
Types of Dollies
The category that covers moving dollies is pretty diverse. Here’s a look at potential options to shop for when you’re looking for some help with transporting items:
- Appliance dollies: An appliance dolly generally uses a hand-truck design that has been outfitted with side rails and heavy-duty straps to secure appliances like washing machines, dryers, and refrigerators in place.
- Carpeted dollies: Carpeted dollies are wooden dollies with carpeting that is either wrapped or glued to the surface. This carpeting absorbs shock to protect delicate items. Generally, a carpeted dolly is a subset of the platform dolly.
- Furniture dollies: A furniture dolly is any type of wheeled platform that is capable of holding the weight of furniture or heavy boxes. Furniture dollies can be made of wood, metal, or plastic.
- Hand trucks: While they are often marketed as dollies, hand trucks are actually L-shaped units that stand upright, have four wheels, and can be tilted back.
- Platform dollies: These are handle-free, rail-free platforms that fit under heavy objects for easy moving.
- Terrain movers: These are heavy-duty dollies designed for rugged, uneven surfaces and thresholds. While other dollies may falter on dirt and gravel, terrain movers will allow you to move heavy items over raw land or unpaved driveways.
- Trash can dollies: These are rounded dollies that are designed to snap onto the bottoms of trash cans.
- Wearable/shoulder dollies: These dollies include harnesses and straps that allow you to balance heavy items while you maintain an upright position.
Frequently Asked Questions About Moving Dollies
How do you properly use a dolly?
The answer varies based on the dolly being used. Typically, a person will load an item securely onto a dolly by balancing it in the center. Straps or bungees may be used to secure the item in place before the dolly is rolled.
What’s the difference between a dolly and a handcart?
A traditional dolly allows the mover to place their hands on the item to move the dolly forward. A handcart features a handle that directs the wheels.
What type of dolly is best for moving furniture?
A high-capacity, two-wheeled or four-wheeled dolly of any style that can hold at least 300 pounds is recommended when loading furniture for both big and small moves.
Our Methodology
This Old House has empowered homeowners and DIY-ers for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement advice in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content. Our team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content. To date, we’ve published over 1,600 reviews on products in the home space, including power tools, outdoor equipment, major appliances, kitchen gadgets, electronics, and more that focus on product quality and helpfulness to our readers.
To provide our readers with the best recommendations possible, we rely on several key sources of information to help guide our selection process.
Initial Research: Our research process began by generating a list of moving dollies with a significant number of verified buyer reviews and an average customer review rating of 4–5 stars. We looked at positive and negative reviews alike, focusing on information from both satisfied and critical buyers.
Expert Insights: To complement our in-house expertise, our team looked at reviews and videos from trusted publications and independent testers, spoke with subject matter experts, and drew insights from reader contributions.
Final Product Selection: We then began fine-tuning our list by replacing older models with the latest versions and eliminating any discontinued models. From there, we compared each model’s feature set to create a final short list, selecting the best-in-class options for various buyers, budgets, and scenarios.
Once we conclude our research, we craft a comprehensive, user-friendly article of recommended products and additional information to help our readers make the right purchase.
Questions or Comments?
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