10 Best Fertilizer Spreaders of 2023 – Reviews & Top Picks

Keeping your yard looking nice can be a lot of work, and properly spreading the grass seed and fertilizer is an essential part of the process. Applying it by hand will result in a very uneven cover. Low-quality machines won’t offer much improvement, however, sorting through the many brands to find one suitable for your yard can be equally challenging.

We’ve chosen 10 different brands of fertilizer spreaders to review for you so you can see the difference between them and learn more about the pros and cons of each. We’ve also included a short buyer’s guide where we take a close look at the fertilizer spreader to see how it works and what specifics you should look for while you shop.

Join us while we discuss maximum capacity, spread path, deflector shields, and more to help you make an educated purchase.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2023

Rating	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		Scotts 75902 Elite Spreader	Dual rotor technology Holds 20 000 square feet product Never-flat tires	CHECK PRICE
Best Value		Spot Spreader Hand Spreader	Handheld Easy to use Less waste	CHECK PRICE
Premium Choice		Agri-Fab Tow Behind Broadcast Spreader	Large capacity Enclosed gearbox Large tires	CHECK PRICE
		Titan Fertilizer Broadcast Spreader	Holds up to 50 lbs Three flow settings Long, comfortable handle	CHECK PRICE
		Solo Portable Chest-mount Spreader	Easy to clean 20-pound capacity Smooth operation	CHECK PRICE

The 10 Best Fertilizer Spreaders

1. Scotts 75902 Elite Spreader – Best Overall

The Scotts 75902 Elite Spreader is our pick for the best fertilizer spreader overall. It features dual rotor technology, which spreads twice as much fertilizer over a larger area and can produce a 6-foot spread pattern. It provides you with 23 spreader settings that allow you to tailor the machine to your needs. It has an ergonomic handle with a smartphone holder, so you don’t miss any important calls. It has never-flat tires and can hold up to 20,000 square feet of lawn product with a full load.

The only real downside we experienced while we were using the Scotts 75902 was that the settings are all for Scotts products and don’t go by weight like most brands do. So, it can be challenging to set the proper spreader setting if you are using non-Scotts lawn products.

2. Spot Spreader Hand Spreader – Best Value

The Spot Spreader Hand Spreader is our pick for the best fertilizer spreader for the money. It’s very easy to use, and this handheld spreader has an 80-ounce capacity, well suited to spreading multiple materials. Since it is so small, it’s easy to control and has adjustable openings to accommodate different materials and extremely precise spreading.

The downside to the Spot Spreader is that you will need to refill it often if you intend to use it for a larger yard. These refills can add quite a bit of time to your workday. The lid is also a bit hard to get open, especially at first, increasing your time completing the task.

3. Agri-Fab Tow Behind Broadcast Spreader – Premium Choice

The Agri-Fab Tow Behind Broadcast Spreader is our premium choice fertilizer spreader. It features a large capacity and can hold up to 130 pounds of spreading material. The larger capacity means less refilling because you should be able to cover close to 25,000-feet per fill. An enclosed gearbox keeps out contaminants and helps promote a longer lifespan. The spreader covers a 12-foot path, and the large tires create a smooth ride while you work.

The only real downside to the Agri-Fab that we experienced was that it has a bit of a high center of gravity and is easy to tip if you make sudden turns or are spreading on uneven ground.

4. Titan Fertilizer Broadcast Spreader

The Titan Fertilizer Broadcast Spreader is an extremely durable spreader with a steel axle that works with grass seed and other lawn chemicals and can handle rock salt, something that can clog many other lawn spreaders. It can hold up to 50 pounds of spreading material and has 3 flow settings so that you can get an even spread with any product. The long handle is comfortable and suitable for most people, and the 13-inch tires make it easy to maneuver around your yard.

The downside to the Titan is that it’s very difficult to assemble and it took us quite a while, even though we make things practically every day. There is also no conversion chart included to tell you what setting to use for different products, so you will need to do a fair amount of experimentation.

5. Solo Portable Chest-mount Spreader

The Solo Portable Chest-mount Spreader is a unique, chest-mounted spreader that’s perfect for smaller jobs and spreading ice melt over the sidewalk. It has a large opening that allows you to get into the machine when cleaning, and it has a 20-pound capacity and extremely smooth spreading action, even when using large bulky material like rock salt. The fully enclosed gearbox keeps out the dust and debris, and the fingertip operated controls are made of high-quality materials and are easy to use.

The downside to the Solo is that the spreading adjustment lever is against your chest while wearing it, so you need to adjust it by feel. It’s sensitive, and adjusting it this way can be clumsy. It’s also a bit heavy to wear when full, especially if you use heavy things like rock salt. If you have a large yard, bad back, or shoulder problems, this model may be difficult to use. One last thing that matters because it is chest-mounted is that it’s for right-handed people, and lefties may find it difficult to adjust.

6. Lesco High Wheel Fertilizer Spreader

The Lesco High Wheel Fertilizer Spreader has an 80-pound capacity, so it’s suitable for most jobs around the home. The manual deflector kit allows you to limit the spreading material to one side or the other, so you can leave it off to broadcast spread to both sides. It’s easy to assemble and only requires attaching a few parts to an already mostly assembled unit. The 5 to 1 gear ratio offers a smooth spreading operation, and the stainless-steel frame is durable and corrosion-resistant. The oversized tires make moving and maneuvering the spreader a breeze, and the hubcaps will not rust.

We didn’t like that there were very few directions included with the Lesco and even the few pieces we needed to attach were difficult to figure out. Plus, there is no conversion chart to let you know how much product to put down.

7. Yard Tuff Shoulder Spreader

The Yard Tuff Shoulder Spreader is a unique spreader that uses a canvas bag to hold up to 25 pounds of spreading material yet weighs only 3.5 pounds when empty. It’s easy to assemble and comes with a conversion chart, so it’s easy to set up. It uses metal gears for added durability and comes with an adjustable shoulder strap.

We like the Yard Tuff for smaller jobs around the house because it’s very fast to set up and start using. The downside is that it gets heavy quickly on the shoulder, and the strap doesn’t help because it’s very rigid and cuts into the shoulder as you use the machine. Another problem we had with it was that the flimsy turn crank didn’t like to begin spreading the seed, so you need to grab the handle closer to the body.

8. Earthway Walk-Behind Broadcast Spreader

The Earthway Walk-Behind Broadcast Spreader provides users with a 40-pound capacity spreader made of durable materials. The fully enclosed gearbox prevents contaminants from causing damage to the gears, and the 9-inch tires allow smooth movement over your lawn. It also includes a conversion chart so you can set the spreader with confidence.

Unfortunately, the Earthway Walk-Behind Broadcast Spreader did not spread the seed very evenly unless we moved at an extremely fast (running) pace. It also tended to get clogged, especially after you close the feed and then open it again.

9. Chapin Tow Behind Spreader

The Chapin Tow Behind Spreader is one of the largest spreaders on this list, with the capability to hold up to 150-pounds of lawn product. The auto stop dual impeller automatically stops dropping seeds when the unit stops working, so there is no need to worry about a shut-off lever. There are 11 gate adjustments for spreading different sized materials, and it rides smoothly on large 14-inch pneumatic tires with oil impregnated bronze ball bearings.

The downside to the Chapin is that it tends to throw seed into your back, and it can be quite top-heavy when fully loaded. In fact, we topped ours more than once, slowing down our efforts and requiring a cleanup. There is also no way to stop the seed from spreading mid-route if you don’t want the seed spread in a certain area of the yard.

10. Brinly P20-500BHDF Push Spreader

The Brinly P20-500BHDF Push Spreader is the last model on our list of fertilizer spreaders, but it may have some features you like. It has a capacity of up to 50 pounds, and it comes with a deflector that allows you to keep the seed falling to one side of the machine. The gearbox is closed to keep out debris, and it rides quite smooth on 12-inch pneumatic tires.

The thing we didn’t like about the Brinly P20-500BHDF is that it didn’t spread seed very evenly no matter what we tried. It clogs very easily, so you need to keep shaking it, contributing to the uneven spreading. One last problem we had was that the spread pattern wasn’t very wide, and it only spreads seeds over a narrow path directly in front of the machine.

Buyer’s Guide – Choosing the Best Fertilizer Spreader

These are the things we recommend thinking about before choosing a fertilizer spreader.

How Does the Fertilizer Spreader Work?

There are three main parts to every fertilizer spreader, the tank, the impellers, and the crank.

Tank

The tank is responsible for the capacity of the device. Most resemble a bucket or wheelbarrow and have a plastic, metal, or cloth construction. The tank is where you will pour your fertilizer and other lawn chemicals.

Larger tanks are great, but they often make the spreader hard to maneuver and top-heavy.

Impeller

The impeller is the part of the fertilizer spreader responsible for sorting and throwing the seed it collects from the tank. The impeller is responsible for a smooth throwing pattern and determines the spreading rate. A machine equipped with dual impellers will throw twice as much fertilizer as a single impeller model.

Crank

The crank is what turns the impeller. Most fertilizer spreaders use a gear system that transfers energy from the wheels to spin the impellers, but you can find many models that use hand cranks. Companies can make impellers spin faster by using different gear ratios. The crank gear ratio is often one of the biggest differences between high end and budget brands. High-end brands will have impellers that spin very fast, while budget models will be rougher and hard to turn.

Capacity

The maximum amount of fertilizer your spreader can hold will likely be one of the first things you will want to look at when choosing a fertilizer spreader for your home. A larger capacity will mean less frequent refills. So, you will complete your task in less time, and the spread will be more consistent because it tends to sputter as it runs low and dumps a little heavier when it’s full.

The best way to learn how much capacity you need is to measure your lawn to get the square feet and compare it to the square feet a fertilizer bag can cover. Most 10-pound bags cover about 5,000 square feet of lawn, so if your yard is roughly this size, you will need a spreader with at least 10 pounds of capacity.

Style

There are three main types of fertilizer spreaders you will need to choose between portable, push-carts, and pull-carts.

Portable Fertilizer Spreaders

Portable fertilizer spreaders are the type you wear on your body or carry. Most rest on your chest and spread the fertilizer out in front of you while you walk. Turning a crank handle spins the impeller and spreads the product. These machines are very handy for small jobs and will often double as a rock salt spreader in the winter to clear your sidewalks, but it will get too heavy to cover a large area, and the frequent refills would make it impossible for such a task. Portable units are inexpensive, easy to clean and store, and are quick to set up.

Push-Carts

Push-carts are likely the most popular type of fertilizer spreader. This type of spreader puts the tank on two or more wheels and supplies the user with a long handle to push the machine over the grass. As the user pushes, a gear mechanism attached to the axle spins the impellers and spreads the seed. These devices often have a large tank and can be equipped with dual impellers to spread more fertilizer faster. The only downside to these units is that many inexpensive brands use low-quality construction materials that can cause early failure.

Pull-Carts

Pull-carts are very similar to push carts in many ways, but you can pull them, and they often connect to a lawn tractor. These spreaders are usually more expensive than the other types and are better suited for large jobs where it is impractical to walk the spreader. This kind of spreader usually uses durable, construction-grade materials, but they can often be too large and cumbersome for smaller projects.

Adjustments and Settings

Another important thing to look for when selecting a fertilizer spreader is how many settings it will allow you to make. More adjustments will allow you to spread more items, and your machine will be more versatile. You will also need to look for a conversion chart to tell you what setting to use for a specific product you are using. Most fertilizers will have a spreader setting listed on the package for many popular brands, but if your model isn’t among them, you will need a conversion chart.

Deflector

The deflector is often an attachment that directs the spreading material to one side or the other. It’s useful if you are walking along a street or sidewalk, and you don’t want the seed thrown in that direction. Deflectors are handy, but they aren’t as important as tank size or spread evenness.

Wheel Size

Wheel size is critical to a smooth rolling machine. Many yards are far from flat and larger wheels will pass over the surface easier. Larger wheels are often a sign of higher quality, and the transmission gears responsible for transmitting energy to the impellers are usually more durable. We tried to list the wheel size for each model, and if you are having a difficult time choosing between two, we recommend going with the one with larger wheels.

Balance

One last thing you will want to look for when choosing your fertilizer spreader is that it’s well balanced and comfortable in the case of portable spreaders. Many wheeled spreaders can get top-heavy when filled, and a tip can result in wasting expensive fertilizer. Portable units can be too bulky, or the straps might be too rigid to remain comfortable for a long work session. We tried to point out any top-heavy or uncomfortable models on our list but consider these things when you shop elsewhere.

Conclusion

When choosing your next fertilizer spreader, we highly recommend the Scotts 75902 Elite Spreader, our pick for the best fertilizer spreader overall. This brand is very popular, and most fertilizers list the proper settings for this machine on the package. It has enough room to cover 20,000 square feet and uses never-flat tires. There are plenty of settings for all types of seeds and chemicals, and it spreads in a wide 6-foot pattern. If you are looking for a smaller sized spreader, we recommend our pick for the best fertilizer spreader for the money. The Spot Spreader Hand Spreader is perfect for spreading fertilizer over a small area and doubles as a rock salt spreader in the winter.

We hope you have enjoyed reading over these reviews and found the right one for your yard. If you have found our buyer’s guide informative and think it can help others, please share these 10 best fertilizer spreaders on Facebook and Twitter.