6 Best Hand Held Spreaders [Recommended By Expert]

Welcome to our comprehensive guide on the best hand held spreaders. If you’re looking for a convenient and easy-to-use tool to spread fertilizer, seed, salt, or any other granular material, then a hand-held spreader might be just what you need.

As experts in the industry, we’ve researched and tested some of the top-rated models on the market, and we’re excited to share our findings with you. In this article, we’ll be discussing the key features and benefits of hand-held spreaders, as well as some important factors to consider before making your purchase.

Whether you’re a professional landscaper or a homeowner with a green thumb, we’re confident that our guide will help you find the perfect hand-held spreader for your needs. So, let’s get started!

A Quick Glance at Our 6 Best Hand Held Spreaders

IMAGE	PRODUCT	FEATURES	PRICE
Best Overall	Scotts Wizz Hand-Held Spreader with EdgeGuard Technology	Battery powered spreader Cover up to 2,500 sq. ft. of area Edgeguard protect the non-lawn area 23 settings for unbeatable accuracy	Check on Amazon
Editor Choice	EarthWay 2750 Nylon Bag Seeder/Spread with Comfortable Cross Shoulder	Flow rate adjustment Precision flow rate Easy to fill and close	Check on Amazon
Best Value	Solo 421 Capacity Portable Chest-mount Spreader	Gear drive and crank handle that helps in smooth operation Fingertip lever provides even spread pattern Easy filling and cleaning with large opening	Check on Amazon
TOP PICK	Gardena Hand-Held Spreader	Even distribution through rotating disc Deliver desire quantity Smooth application process Durable and light weight	Check on Amazon
BEST PICK	Yard Tuff YTF-25SS Shoulder Spreader	25 pounds capacity Calibrated flow rate Spread chart make the process easy	Check on Amazon
Best For Spot	Spot Spreader Hand Spreader Shaker for Seed	Perfect For Pouring Large Salt & Seed Bags in the Spot Spreader Multiple Adjustable Openings lightweight and easy to store Easy to open, close, and hold	Check on Amazon

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Best Battery Powered: Scotts Wizz Hand-Held Spreader with EdgeGuard

Scott’s Wizz Handheld Spreader with edge guard technology designed to apply grass, seed, weed killer, and fertilizer. It gives coverage up to 2,500 sq. ft. of area. And it can be used to spread ice melt during the winter season.

The whiz handheld spreader though it’s battery-powered three times double which ensures a nice even spread pattern. The spreader is perfect for quickly applying fertilizer to small areas of the lawn. Although, this tool is not recommended for larger logs. Because you have to refill the spreader many times that consume time.

Make sure to know the area of the lawn before you fertilize or seed and do overfill the hopper. Turn the dial setting according to the instruction on the label. And to protect the non-lawn area to be fertilized, turn on the Edgeguard.

Make sure to clean the spreader after the application. It measures 23.2 x 7.8 x 19.2 inches and weighs 2.1 pounds. Not recommended for rock salt use because it’s too heavy and large and the motor is not heavy duty and underpowered.

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Best Seed Spreader: EarthWay Nylon Bag Seeder/Spread

The 25 pounds corrosion and weather-resistant nylon bag hopper is equipped with a zipper top that keeps the seed moist and easy to fill. And its large impeller distributes the product wide & evenly and also keeps your hand safe. The sealed gearbox gives consistent service.

The spread keeps your hands clean and gives even spreading of grass seed, fertilizer, and salt. Its adjustable length shoulder strap, sturdy handle, and slopped floor help meter out the finest seed making the application process easy and fast.

The internal gears help in easy operations, adjusting the flow rate, and on/off control for easy operation. The oscillating plate prevents clumping and the rocking agitator helps in smooth material feeding to the distribution plat.

Whether the small grass seed or fall deer pallet, the spreader has set between 8′ and 12′ according to the chunk rate. It measures 5.25 x 10.25 x 15 inches and weighs 2.63 pounds.

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Solo Portable Chest-mount Spreader

Solo 421 20 lb. capacity portable chest mount fertilizer spreader is a portable device that can be used to spread solid chemicals on different terrains. The chest mountain helps in distributing the weight and makes the process easy for the operator. The fingertip control lever helps in direction and flow.   

This spreader is much easier to control and maneuver than the wheeled spreader varieties. The agitator allows even distribution of materials and steel material components to prevent rust and blockage.

Its twist-on cap protects the operator from dust and chemical spillage. The crank handle and enclosed gearbox provide long life and smooth operation. The side deflector prevents the material from scattering in the non-lawn areas. This prevents the material and time.

It’s one of the best handheld spreaders and saves both your time and money. It measure11.2 x 10.5 x 19.4 inches and weighs 6.7 pounds. Make sure to wash the spreader after the application.  

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Gardena Hand-Held Spreader

Gardena Handheld spreader delivers the results quickly and more efficiently. It can be used to spread fertilizer, seed, salt, and weed killer. Its ergonomic handle provides an even distribution of material and break-proof plastic makes it more durable than the competitors.    

You can set 4 levels on the handle according to the desired amount of material you want to spread. The thumb push button makes the application process smooth.

The Gardena handheld spreader is best for small lawn treatment. It covers up to 100 sq. meters of the area in one filling. And have a range of 1-4 meters according to the spreading material and crank speed.

This is a good alternative to a wheeled spreader. It is small, compact, and easy to use. The only criticism is that you can’t always see the fertilizer being thrown out as it is really quick. It measures ‎0.39 x 0.39 x 0.39 inches and weighs 1.3 pounds.

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Yard Tuff YTF-25SS Shoulder Spreader

Yard Tuff 25 pounds shoulder spreader contains metal gears that make it possible to provide consistent service for a long period.                 

The tough canvas bag hopper is equipped with a zipper top that is easy to fill and a large strap makes it comfortable to use for everyone. The impeller distributes the product wide & evenly and also keeps your hand safe.

The spreader is pre-calibrated which makes it easy for application and you don’t spend time adjusting the flow rate. You can assemble it easily and a spread chart makes the job easy.

It works well for spreading grass seed and fertilizer on the medium lawn or small posture. It measures 26 X 17 X 15 inches and weighs 3.3 pounds.

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Spot Spreader Hand Spreader Shaker

This powerful and easy-to-use spot spreader kit makes it simple for you to pour large salt or seed bags into your desired location. The lightweight design of this product means that not only is the handle strong, but also stores easily when not in use with its durable construction material.

This highly efficient product will make quick work of getting rid of stray grass. It features multiple adjustable openings for any material you might need: up to 80 oz at once without wasting anything in between uses like other products do (saving money!).

No more worries about excess waste from crank-type sprayers either–this one has an easy pull rope which means less time spent twisting handlebars around trying to figure out how much force should be applied when releasing them again as well not having too much tension building while holding onto those handles.

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Best Handheld Spreader Buyer’s Guide

After reading products reviews, you have probably 1-2 models that excite you. And the buying guide helps you narrow down the choice for the best handheld spreader.

Benefits of Using Hand-Held Spreader

The use of handheld spreaders for spreading seeds, fertilizer, weed killer, and salt provides an inexpensive and easy solution. It increases yield by enabling plants and lawns to get more nutrients by providing uniform and more even application. They are easy to operate and assemble easily.

Moreover, they are inexpensive and can be used anywhere that you want to fertilize and kill weeds.

Factors That We Consider Before Testing the Best Handheld Spreader

Size and Shape of Your Lawn

Handheld spreaders work best for a small lawn area. Because the hopper capacity is limited. If you have a small lawn area then they will work best and save your time and effort.

Quality

Consider only those spreaders that spread the materials evenly and give you a more uniform application. Also, consider that the rate must be adjustable.   

Easy to Use

Handheld spreaders are comfortable and easy to use. They are light in weight and can be brought to any place where you want to put fertilizer and seed.

We made the above product list based on the ease of application.

Mode of operation

Best handheld spreaders are precise and easy to operate. They have a small hopper and are light in weight which made them easy to operate at any place. They are mostly used to treat small lawn areas. But if you have a large area then consider ATV spreaders.

FAQs

Why Handheld Spreader?

Handheld spreaders work great if you have a small lawn to fertilize and seed. Handheld spreaders are the best tool to spread fertilizer and they are highly accurate and are not recommended to fertilize and seed large lawn areas. Because they need to refill again as the hopper capacity is limited. 

How to Care Handheld Spreader?

Caring for your handheld spreader is essential to ensure its longevity and optimal performance. Here are some important tips on how to care for your handheld spreader:

1. Clean it after each use: After each use, make sure to clean your handheld spreader thoroughly. Remove any remaining material and rinse it with water. Use a soft brush to clean any hard-to-reach areas.
2. Store it properly: Store your handheld spreader in a dry and secure place, away from any moisture or direct sunlight. This will prevent any rust or corrosion from occurring.
3. Check for damage: Before using your handheld spreader, check for any damage or wear and tear. Make sure that all parts are in good working condition and that the spreader plate is not cracked or damaged.
4. Lubricate moving parts: To ensure smooth operation, lubricate all moving parts regularly with a light oil or silicone spray.
5. Replace worn parts: If any parts of your handheld spreader are worn or damaged, replace them immediately. This will prevent any further damage to the spreader and ensure that it operates correctly.

Conclusion

Hope, the above guide helps you in selecting the best hand spreader. Different handheld spreaders are listed above according to different customer preferences.

Scotts Wizz is the best handheld spreader. This spreader gives high accuracy and the edgeguard technology protects the non-lawn area.

If you’re looking for a chest mount spreader then Solo 421 is the best choice. This spreader provides an even spread pattern, is easy to fill, and has smooth operation.

Last, Yard Tuff is the best choice if you’re looking for a shoulder spreader. This spreader gives calibrated flow rate, and the flow chart makes the application process easy.

Reference

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/lawn-care/lgen/using-a-hand-spreader.htm

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1755-1315/666/2/022070

https://arxiv.org/abs/1710.07064