What did teachers do before roller carts? We can’t imagine carrying books, papers, and boxes to and from school or teaching an art or P.E. class without shelves on wheels. Whether you’re getting your first roller cart or upgrading your current cart, here are our top picks. But first, here’s what to look for in a rolling cart that will actually work for teachers.
What To Look For When Purchasing Roller Carts for Teachers

Is it collapsible?
A roller cart is great if you are bringing materials to and from your classroom and home—think: a high school teacher hauling stacks of essays. Whether or not it collapses is up to you and how you’ll use it. Do you want to be able to fold it up and store it in a small space? Or are you storing materials in it 24-7 so that collapsibility just isn’t an issue?
The handle
For rolling bags and boxes, a retractable handle is helpful if you are storing it somewhere tight between uses. On larger carts, the handle should make it easier to push and maneuver the cart through the halls.
One word: storage
The whole point of roller carts for teachers is storage, so think about whether you need shelves to put bins on or pockets to store materials. Do you need a compartment for a computer? Small pockets to organize markers, pencils, and more? Having more of these compartments can make other bags unnecessary, which makes traveling to and from school easier.
Capacity
How heavy or bulky are your supplies? Carrying around music instruments or Hula-Hoops is much different than transporting workbooks and markers. Be sure to get a roller cart that can transport all the materials you’re moving each day.
Brake
At some point you’ll have to stop, and having a brake to hold the cart in place turns a roller cart into portable shelves or even a desk.
Overall weight
Especially if you’re moving up and down stairs, consider the weight of each roller cart. Make sure the cart itself isn’t adding too much weight.
Check out the best ways to use a teacher cart.
Best Roller Carts for Teachers
Some roller carts stand out above the rest. Here are the best overall, best budget-friendly, and best splurge, foldable, and cart alternative.
(Note that prices listed are current as of this writing.)
More Roller Carts for Teachers
These roller carts offer mobile storage solutions for every teacher situation.