How Heavy Is a Lawn Roller? (with examples)

If you’re looking for average lawn roller weights, you’ve come to the right place. These numbers will help if you are trying figure out how big of a roller you can store, transport or successfully tow with a lawn tractor.  

The average lawn roller weighs around 40 pounds (18 kilos) . This is the weight of the roller when it’s not filled with water. Depending on the capacity of the roller, you can expect to add anywhere between 100-1000 pounds of water weight to get a “real world” example.

The weight will depend on the dimensions of the roller, the material and its capacity.

Water and Sand Weight

Most lawn rollers come with a drum that you can fill with water or sand. If it is steel, you will want to stick with water.

I’ve found that you generally need to fill it at least one-fourth full to create weight. You can easily check the weight by rolling it over an empty patch of soil. If you step on the ground and your footprint is one-fourth-inch deep, you need to add weight!

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Different Styles of Lawn Rollers Will Differ in Weight

Lawn rollers can be made of steel or polyurethane. They are shaped into a cylinder, and they are hollow so that you can fill them with sand or water to get the weight you desire.

They also come in two different models:

• Tow-behind – These are designed to be pulled by a lawn tractor which makes them suitable for rolling out larger areas. 
• Hand pulled – These rollers are light enough to be pushed by hand. They are more appropriate for smaller yards.

Why Does Lawn Roller Weight Matter?

If you have ever found your lawn uneven and full of holes, you may have contemplated getting a lawn roller to even it out. A lawn roller can smooth out your lawn and make it flat. People often use them to flatten freshly laid sod and press it into the soil or to press seeds into topsoil after you spread them.

It is important to remember that good soil is not overly compacted. Grass needs air and water so that it can grow. Soil should be made up of 25% water and 25% air, and if you use too heavy of a roller, you can compact the soil so much that it doesn’t allow the grass seeds to grow.

It’s generally recommended that heavier rollers are used when the soil is sandy. Lighter rollers tend to work better for clay soils and can be used more often since they cause less compaction. I’ve also found light rollers top be useful for creating nice stripes across the lawn.

It’s also important that you choose a lawn roller that is the right weight for your mower if you’re going with a tow-behind model.

Most lawn tractors should be able to tow most lawn rollers but it’s definitely worth checking how much your lawn mower can tow before choosing one.

If you have one that is too heavy, it could potentially be dangerous. 

Think About Maneuverability

Obviously the heavier the roller is the harder it will be to handle. I’ve certainly found pushing around one of these to be pretty strenuous so you’ll want to make sure you’re physically able to handle your roller, especially if you’re going with a hand pulled option.

Remember it’s not just about weight either. The size and shape of your yard will determine what lawn roller is most appropriate for you. Heavier lawn rollers tend to be long which may make them hard to get in and out of tighter spaces.

The Material

Steel rollers

Steel lawn rollers range in width from 24 inches to 60 inches. They are durable and heavier than polyurethane rollers. They work well on hilly terrain, and they resist damage.

Because they are made with heavy metal, they are more difficult to move and set up. They have to be filled with water, but they are strong enough to use on lawns that are very uneven.

Polyurethane rollers

Polyurethane rollers are between 24 and 48 inches wide, and they are also called poly rollers. They are very light when they are empty, so they are easier to set up and store. They aren’t metal, so they won’t rust and they are less expensive. You can fill them with either water or sand, and they are easier to turn.

Polyurethane rollers are less durable than steel, and they are lighter in weight. As a result, they are more susceptible to damage from sharp rocks and other debris. You should not use this roller when you need a heavy duty option.

How to Read Lawn Roller Weight Numbers

It might be a little confusing to see some of the different weights listed for lawn rollers. When shopping around, you might see the carrying capacity or the product weight listed. 

• Product Weight – This is the weight of the lawn roller itself with no water or sand.  Just the roller.
• Carrying capacity – The maximum amount of water that the lawn roller can be filled with.

The carrying capacity is probably the more useful metric but the product weight maybe useful to know if you plan on transporting the roller around too.

Examples

These are a few examples of popular lawn roller models and how much they weigh:

Water weighs eight pounds per gallon while a gallon of dry sand weighs roughly 14 pounds

In Summary

The weight of a lawn roller filled with water tends to be in the range of 100-1000lbs. Meanwhile the product weight mostly ranges between 20-70lbs. This is quite a large difference because water weighs a lot and therefore the weight goes up rapidly for every gallon of capacity.

If you want to know how heavy your lawn roller should be, you need to know what you are using it for. Unless you have a very large area to cover, a hand pulled roller should be just fine.

I’d recommend choosing between a steel roller or a plastic one. Personally, I prefer plastic. I find they’re great for resisting dents, rust and other damage. This one (link to Amazon) is my favorite. It’s got a good capacity and it’s not too heavy either which makes it great for transporting.

Final Tip! – If you’re towing your lawn roller, make sure that you connect the roller to your mower before you fill it, or you will find it difficult to get it attached.