Best Pull Behind Spreaders: Everything to Know Before Your First Purchase

For most large lawns, a 100 to 150 pound tow behind broadcast spreader with pneumatic tires is the right choice. These three cover the main budgets.

Best all round: the EarthWay T150 towable broadcast spreader holds 150 pounds of seed or fertilizer for lawns around an acre.

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Best known brand: the Agri-Fab pull behind broadcast spreader handles seed, fertilizer, salt and ice melt from a riding mower or lawn tractor.

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Best value: the VEVOR tow behind broadcast spreader holds 130 pounds and can be towed or pushed.

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A pull behind spreader is a hopper on two wheels with a spinning plate, called an impeller, underneath. As you tow it, the wheels drive gears that spin the impeller, flinging material out in a wide fan, typically 8 to 12 feet across. A flow control lever, usually operated from the driver's seat, opens and closes the hopper and sets how much material drops onto the impeller.

Most homeowner models hold 100 to 175 pounds, enough to cover about an acre with fertilizer in one fill. Broadcast spreaders throw material widely and cover ground fast, while drop spreaders release material straight down for precise edges but are rarely tow behind at homeowner sizes.

The specs that matter most are capacity, hitch fit, build quality, controls, tires and spread width. Here is what each means and what to choose.

Hitch and Tow Vehicle Compatibility

Most spreaders use a universal pin hitch that fits riding mowers, lawn tractors, zero turns with hitch plates and ATVs. Check that your machine has a hitch point and enough power to pull a full hopper, which can weigh over 150 pounds with material. Universal hitch models, such as the Brinly BS36BH-A, fit most vehicles.

Capacity and Weight

Hopper capacity is listed in pounds. Around 100 to 130 pounds suits lawns up to about an acre, while 175 pounds suits larger properties with fewer refills. A full hopper adds weight, so lighter riding mowers do better with mid sized hoppers.

Build Quality and Durability

Fertilizer and salt are corrosive, so look for poly hoppers, powder coated steel frames, stainless hardware and enclosed gearboxes. Metal gears outlast plastic ones. A grate kit over the hopper, included with the Agri-Fab 45-0463, breaks up clumps before they block the opening.

Accessories Included

Useful extras include a hopper cover for wet weather, a grate to stop clumps, an extended control rod you can reach from the seat and side deflectors that stop material landing in flower beds and driveways.

Safety Features

Wear gloves and eye protection when filling and handling fertilizer and ice melt. Never ride with passengers on the spreader, keep kids and pets away during spreading and avoid steep slopes where a heavy hopper can push the tow vehicle.

Spread Width and Flow Control

Spread width of about 8 to 12 feet covers ground quickly; wider is faster but less precise. Look for numbered flow settings, often 20 or 30 positions, that match the settings printed on fertilizer and seed bags. Pneumatic tires roll smoothly over bumps and protect turf better than hard plastic wheels.

• Not calibrating. Bag settings are a guide; check your actual rate.
• Overlapping too much or too little, which creates stripes of dark and pale grass.
• Leaving fertilizer in the hopper, which corrodes parts and cakes.
• Spreading on windy days, which blows material off target.
• Driving too fast, which changes the spread pattern.

1. Assemble the spreader on a flat surface and check that the impeller spins freely.
2. Hitch it to your mower and adjust the control rod so you can reach it from the seat.
3. Fill the hopper on a driveway or tarp with the flow closed, so spills are easy to clean.
4. Set the flow rate from the product bag and drive at a steady 3 to 5 mph.
5. Spread a header strip around the edges first, then drive back and forth with slight overlap.

Close the flow before turning to avoid heavy spots, and rinse the spreader with water after each use.

Calibration makes sure you apply the rate on the bag. Measure out a test area, such as 1,000 square feet, and weigh a known amount of product, for example 10 pounds. Set the spreader to the bag's recommended setting, spread the test area at your normal speed and weigh what remains. If you used too much or too little, adjust the setting a few numbers and repeat. Record the final setting for each product so future applications are quick and accurate.

In spring, use your spreader for pre emergent weed control and the first fertilizer application. Early autumn is the best time for overseeding and a fall fertilizer feeding, while lime and gypsum can be applied in spring or fall depending on soil tests. In winter, a pull behind spreader spreads ice melt or sand on long driveways and paths, though salt is corrosive, so rinse the spreader thoroughly afterward. Using one machine year round helps justify the cost.

Choose a pull behind spreader if you already own a riding mower or ATV and have half an acre or more, and a push broadcast spreader for smaller lawns. Pull behind models hold two to three times more material, cover ground faster and save your legs on big properties. Push spreaders cost less, store in a small space, handle tight areas between beds and trees more easily and give you more control along edges. Many owners of large properties use a tow behind spreader for open areas and a small handheld or push spreader for trimming around beds and borders.

After every use, empty the hopper completely, since leftover fertilizer absorbs moisture and hardens into clumps that jam the opening. Rinse the hopper, impeller and frame with a garden hose, let everything dry in the sun and spray moving parts with a light lubricant. Pay special attention after spreading salt or ice melt, which corrodes steel quickly. Store the spreader under cover with the flow gate slightly open so moisture can escape, and check tire pressure on pneumatic tires before the next season.

These are the questions first time buyers ask most.

Corded or cordless: which is better for DIY?

Pull behind spreaders need no power; the wheels drive the impeller as you tow. For small lawns where you do not own a riding mower, a push broadcast spreader or a battery powered handheld spreader is the simpler DIY choice.

What size spreader do I need?

Choose about 100 to 130 pounds of capacity for lawns up to an acre and 175 pounds or more for larger properties. Make sure your mower or ATV can pull the full weight safely.

Can I use a pull behind spreader for grass seed?

Yes. Pull behind broadcast spreaders handle grass seed, fertilizer, lime, granular weed control and ice melt. Use the setting listed on the seed bag and calibrate for even coverage.

What specs matter most for home projects?

Hopper capacity, spread width, durable rust resistant construction and easy flow control from the seat matter most. Pneumatic tires and a grate kit improve results on bumpy lawns and with clumpy fertilizer.

The three things that matter most are a capacity that matches your property, corrosion resistant construction and easy, accurate flow control. Lawns up to an acre suit 100 to 130 pound models, larger properties benefit from 175 pound hoppers and anyone spreading clumpy fertilizer should look for a grate kit. Use this guide to choose the best pull behind spreaders, then check the product table above for current prices. For smaller lawns, compare the best fertilizer spreaders.