Helping with all your sod grass needs
Best Lawn Roller
Lawn rollers are pieces of gardening equipment designed to help you flatten down a lawn. They are large drums that you can fill with water (to make them even heavier). You roll the drum over your lawn, and the weight helps to push down on the surfaces, making it an even height. They are not complicated pieces of equipment but, depending on your needs, there is a wide range of different features available.
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Our #1
Pick
Brinly-Hardy
Combination Push/Tow
Budget
Pick
Goplus Lawn Roller
Tow Behind
Topic Description
For those who desire a perfectly flat lawn, a lawn roller is a necessary piece of equipment. The best way to think of it is like an iron for your yard. The size of the drum, and its water capacity, determine how flat your lawn will get. Some lawn rollers are towed behind trucks or tractors, but the majority are designed to be pushed. The three basic components of a lawn roller are:
- The drum
- The towbar (or drawbar)
- The plug
Many have additional features (which will be discussed in this guide), but at its core, a lawn roller is a heavy drum that rolls over your lawn – and that’s all there is to it. Everything else is a bonus.
Methodology
Our ratings (and the guide overall) was based on a review of a wide range of options available on the market. The main features we took into account were:
- Size and weight of the roller
- Quality if the build
- Additional features
- Price point of the roller
Although the needs of every user vary somewhat, the five options below are our picks for the best options.
Our #1 Pick
Brinly-Hardy 18 in. x 24 in. 270 lb.
Combination Push/Tow Poly Lawn Roller
Description:
The Brinly-Hardy gets our nod (among some very stiff competition) due to its rugged, robust design. It is an extremely reliable piece of equipment that does exactly what it’s built to do. It’s easy to push it or to tow it behind a tractor.
As well as being a solid piece of equipment, it’s gentle too – the rounded ends mean that there is less damage to your lawn. The solidity of the design means this model will last you for years and do as great a job after ten years as it does on day one.
- Size: 41.43 in x 18 in x 31.25 in
- Manufacturer Warranty: 2-Year
- Product Weight: 37 lbs
What We Like:
- The simplicity yet quality of the design is what makes this model stand out - there’s really nothing else like it on the market.
- The 2-year warranty is a testament to how much the manufacturers trust the build quality.
- The speed with which you can fill up this roller is an added bonus - it means you can get working quicker. It’s a small detail that improves overall performance.
PROs
- Fast Filling. The ability to fill it up quickly means you’re in charge of the weight and can make quick adjustments based on the ground you’re rolling.
- Easy to Store. The EZ Max breaks down easily by removing two pins for easy storage.
CONs
- Handle Issues. Some users stated that they needed to regularly retighten the handle.
- Complicated to Assemble. Although the design is robust, it was more difficult to put together in the first place than others on the market. However, once it was built, it felt sturdier than other models.
Budget Pick
Goplus Lawn Roller Tow Behind Water Filled Push
Description:
If you are looking for a solid option that doesn’t break the bank, the Goplus Lawn Roller is our recommendation. At less than $90, this represents a significant saving on other models out there. Don’t let the price tag fool you though – this one is built with quality features, and they’ve not cut any corners in the overall design.
A neat feature of this model is that you can tow or push it, so whether you have a small lawn (and are pushing it yourself) or want to cover a larger area behind a tractor, this is a versatile option. Not bad for something half the price of other, comparable options!
- Size: 44 x 28 x 29.5 inches
- Weight: 13 pounds
- Warranty: 1-year limited warranty
- Size: 24 in x 13 in x 44 in
- Manufacturer Warranty: 30 day return (provided through Amazon)
- Product Weight: 38 lbs
What We Like:
- We like the build quality of this one. The fact that it’s sprayed with an anti-rust treatment will ensure that it lasts through multiple seasons; it may be cheap, but it’s not flimsy.
- The ability to add as much water as needed means you can tailor it to your own soil and desired pressure. This makes it a flexible and versatile option that works all year round.
PROs
- Handle. The handle is relatively long, which allows even the taller users to be comfortable when pushing it.
- Robust. Not only is the drum treated with anti-rust spray, but it also is designed to prevent denting, so it will stay as-new for a long time.
CONs
- Loud. Some reviews online stated that this is one of the louder models (in terms of squeaking), which is not a function problem, but does diminish user enjoyment.
- Warranty. The only warranty available is provided through Amazon, which is not a reassuring sign.
High-End Pick
Brinly-Hardy 24 in. x 36 in. 690 lb.
Tow-Behind Poly Lawn Roller
Description:
The Brinly-Hardy 690 lb model is designed for simplicity. Most users of lawn rollers want a reliable piece of equipment that doesn’t break – just does its job, year-in, year-out. For those people, this is the model. It contains nice features, but nothing too spectacular.
At first glance, this isn’t a stand-out model. It’s the lack of stand out, however, that makes it great. It has quality built without too many bells and whistles, which means that it does the core job effectively. It’s not the top in any one category but provides a great job at a low price-point.
- Size: 50.82 in x 24 in x 45.25 in
- Manufacturer Warranty: 2-Year
- Product Weight: 61 lbs
What We Like:
- The rounded end caps help to make turning the roller easier and means you are less likely to damage your lawn.
- The price is very reasonable - at under $200 - compared with other options of similar quality.
- The drum is made from polyethylene, which means that it is far more resistant to not just rust, but also from small dents which can damage your lawn.
PROs
- Strength. This model can hold up to 690 lbs, giving it a seriously impressive weight footprint. However, the actual product weight is only 61lbs, meaning you can maneuver it easily enough.
- Simplicity. It’s seriously easy to put this together; each of the pieces also feels durable.
CONs
- Features. It may lack some of the more advanced features of comparable models.
- Value. Within the sub-$200 category, there are perhaps better options available.
Pick #4
Agri-Fab 18 in. x 36 in. Poly Tow Lawn Roller
Description:
If you’re in the market for something simple and effective, the Agri-Fab model is a great option. The number of features on offer is high, particularly given this is at the lower end of the price range. What makes this the stand-out budget choice is that it doesn’t feel budget. It would be difficult to pick this one as the cheapest when presented with a range of options – truly the sign of a great budget model.
The scraper bar and removable fill plug make it a convenient roller to use, and the 400lb capacity puts it at the top end as well. This was actually our second-ranked overall pick, making the price point even more impressive.
- Size: 50 in x 18 in x 42 in
- Manufacturer Warranty: 3-Year Limited
- Product Weight: 45 lbs
What We Like:
- The price is the real bonus of this model. You could spend $50 more on a lawn roller and not see the same level of features or capacity.
- The quality of the build is also outstanding - it’s built with a rust-proof polymer, meaning it’ll stand the test of time.
- It’s reassuringly lightweight as well. Some of the other brands on the market come in about 3-4 times heavier. The lighter model means you can maneuver it far easier (and increase the weight by filling).
PROs
- Rust-Proof. The polymer makeup of the roller means that it cannot rust. This makes a huge difference when it comes to longevity (and is a feature not always seen on lawn rollers on the market).
- Warranty. The three-year warranty (albeit with some limitations) is above the typical average for a lawn roller, giving you peace of mind for your purchase.
CONs
- Plug Problems. The one part of the design that felt cheaper than others on the market was the plug. It was difficult to get the plug to remain in, which results in water leakage and general frustration. It can be amended with a DIY tape fix, but this is not a long-term solution.
- Size. If you have a large space to roll, this model may be too small for your purpose.
Pick #5
Brinly-Hardy 18 in. x 48 in. 485 lb.
Tow-Behind Poly Lawn Roller
Description:
When most people buy a lawn roller, they don’t have a vast expanse of lawn to cover. Many of the rollers on the market are designed with the proviso that weight and size are everything. For most users, however, smaller is actually better. Our final pick is a testament to this.
At less than 52 lbs in raw weight, this one is small enough to move around your lawn without having to tow it. It also holds 54 gallons of water, giving you all of the weight range that you’d reasonably need.
- Size: 49.62 in x 18 in x 45.25 in
- Manufacturer Warranty: 2-Year
- Product Weight: 52 lbs
What We Like:
- The capacity to raw weight ratio is high in this model. Ranging from 52 to 485 lbs gives an extremely solid set of options.
- The poly drum is extremely well built and is tailored perfectly for tamping down newly-sown seeds or sod.
- This is actually a decent budget option as well, coming in at under $200.
PROs
- Lightweight. As mentioned above, this is no heavier than it needs to be. On top of that, its compact size means it’s easier to store when not in use.
- Features. There are a couple of bonus features on this model, such as the scraper bar above the drum, which keeps the roller free from debris.
CONs
- Quality. Not all of the pieces feel like they are of the highest quality, and there are some reviews online that mention breakage as being a semi-regular occurrence.
- Value. If you’re planning on buying a small, sub-$200 option, there are better rollers available on the market.
LAWN ROLLER BUYER’S GUIDE
When do you need a lawn roller?
Lawn rollers help to level out a bumpy lawn. This is particularly helpful when you are establishing a new lawn, so it can be nice and flat. The two main ways this is done are through:
- Seeding: When seeding, it is important for the new seeds to be mixed in with the soil to help with germination. Running a lawn roller over the soil and newly planted seeds pushes the seeds right into the soil. This will help your grass grow more quickly.
- Laying down sod: A lawn roller will help the grass roots from the sod reach the soil in your yard and establish itself faster and more effectively.
Another instance when you might use a lawn roller is to even out any bumps in your lawn, such as any spots of raised ground created by moles or other animals.
What size lawn roller should I get?
Generally, most consumers buy a bigger lawn roller than they need. For most lawns, it’s about giving it a regular roll and buying a small, nimble model. Unless you are operating a championship tennis court or a royal garden, it’s better to start small and work your way up.
Can lawn rolling ever be bad for my lawn?
Compacting the ground in your lawn can close necessary air pockets that are needed for water to absorb and for a healthy lawn in general. In order to ensure this doesn’t happen, you should aerate your lawn after you use a lawn roller.
If you’re looking to improve the look of your lawn, consider a lawn roller may be a tool that you’d like in your arsenal to help you achieve that.