How to Build a Kid's Wheelbarrow

Whether you’re teaching them the ropes of gardening or gifting a new toy that stimulates solo play, your kids will enjoy playing with a miniature wheelbarrow in the yard. We used a single board (and a small piece of plywood) that makes it durable enough for playtime and chore time.

Measure and cut each piece according to the cut list from the 1x10 board (Image 1). You should have two 9-1/4” x 20” triangles with a 22” diagonal side for the sides of the wheelbarrow, one 9-1/4” x 14” board for the front of the wheelbarrow, two 1-1/2” x 30” handles, two small triangles for the feet (roughly 8” tall with a blunt tip, so it doesn’t sink into the soil) and one 1-1/2” x 14” cross brace to reinforce the bottom (Images 2 and 3).

Use a straightedge and the width of a washer to draw a simple handle on one end of a 30" board (Image 1). Cut with a handsaw or circular saw to keep the cuts straight, or use a jigsaw to add a rounded detail. Sand the hole generously with coarse sandpaper so it's splinter-free (Image 2). On the other end, stack and clamp the two boards together and use the 1/2” drill bit to make centered, symmetrical holes that will hold the axle (Image 3). Repeat on the other 30" board.

Sand the edges and surfaces of all of the boards before assembly.

Assemble the three pieces of the wheelbarrow basin (two sides and one front piece). Take measurements of the inner area that will be the bottom of the wheelbarrow. Cut the plywood to size with a circular saw (ours is 14” x 20”). The plywood sits inside the other three boards, but you can attach it by drilling upwards into the three boards.

Apply wood glue to the edges of the sides and base, and clamp together. Attach with a pneumatic staple gun.

Position a 30" board along the bottom edge of the wheelbarrow basin triangle (the x-axis). Make sure to leave an overhang at the bottom that's one-third the width to provide clearance to attach the wheelbarrow feet (Image 1). Attach the handle to the wheelbarrow at the axle end with one screw (Image 2). Attach another screw at the other end of the handle. Repeat these steps on the other side of the basin for the second handle (Image 3).

Prop the wheelbarrow up, and position the two legs (Image 1). While in position, make sure the 1-1/2” x 14” cross brace is the right size (Image 2). Preassemble the legs and cross brace by attaching two screws through the wooden leg and into the cross brace (Image 3). Next, attach screws through the top of the plywood base into the cross brace to attach the legs.

Dry fit the threaded rod, wheels, washers and bolts to determine how much overhang there is (Image 1). Mark the overhang with a permanent marker, disassemble the parts, and cut the rod to size with a hacksaw. Reassemble the rod, and add a washer, wheel, another washer, a nut, and another nut to each end to lock the wheel. Use two wrenches to lock the two nuts together by holding the inner nut steady with one wrench and twisting the outer nut as tight as you can (Image 2). Test the wheels to make sure they're working properly.

Stain the wood with polyurethane. Allow to dry, and apply a weather sealant.