Drop spreaders are great for putting down applications around areas that have lots of obstacles.
They are excellent at spreading an application precisely.
For example, if you are spreading weed control and you don’t want to get it in your plant beds, a drop spreader can produce a perfect “edge” of the application.
Our Top Drop Spreaders:
- Scotts Classic Drop Spreader: best drop spreader for most homeowners, simple, easy to use and priced right
- Spyker P70-12010: very high quality commercial grade spreader, expensive
- Lesco 092474: without question the best of the best, but very expensive
- Earthway 7312: good choice for larger applications, 75lb hopper and made in the USA
- Hortem Seed Spreader: very inexpensive, decent for small yards and applications, not very durable
They can be used to spread a variety of substances, including:
- Grass Seed
- Fertilizer
- Seed and Feed Mixtures
- Ice Melt
- Sand
Broadcast spreaders (push, tow or ATV) can cover large areas in a short amount of
Drop Spreader Reviews
1) Scotts Classic Drop Spreader
Likes:
- Inexpensive
- Simple & easy to use
- Will last years if used correctly and maintained
Dislikes:
- Not for use in commercial applications
- On/off cable can rust if not maintained
The Scotts Classic drop spreader is simple, easy to use and inexpensive. If you are a homeowner (with a small yard) this a good spreader for you. It can hold about 10,000 square feet of product (depending on your spread rate) and has a 22″ drop pattern.
This is also a good addition to yards that have a lot of edges where a typical broadcast spreader may get too much product outside of the intended application areas.
2) Lesco 092474 Drop Spreader
Likes:
- Commercial level build
- Large hopper holds 120 pounds
- Pneumatic tires are great for uneven ground
Dislikes:
- Expensive
The Lesco 092474 (
It holds 120 pounds of product and has a spreading width of 36 inches. The tires are pneumatic and handle bumps well. The hopper bottom is made out of stainless steel so it will not rust.
If you need the best, go with this drop spreader!
3) Earthway 7312 Drop Spreader
Likes:
- Big hopper
- Large tires that are easy to maneuver
- Guage lever works well and is simple to calibrate
Dislikes:
- Foam handle can come apart too easily
- Overall frame feels a little flimsy
The Earthway 7312 drop spreaders is a good choice for homeowners that need a larger hopper. It is comparable to the Scotts spreader, but has a few more features.
The tires are semi-pneumatic which means they aren’t plastic, but more like soft rubber. They aren’t inflatable.
The hopper holds 75 pounds of product and has a spread width of 22 inches. It works well to spread salt and lawn products.
If you are looking for an upgrade from the Scotts spreader, but don’t want to spend a fortune, check out the 7312.
4) Spyker P70-12010 Commercial Drop Spreader
Likes:
- Very solid steel frame
- Large pneumatic tires
- Hopper controls are well made and straightforward to use
Dislikes:
- Expensive
The Spyker P70-12010 drop spreader is the second best commercial level spreader on the market. I’m a bit biased towards the Lesco brand, but Spyker is right there with them.
The P70-12010 is an awesome piece of lawn equipment – but very expensive. It can hold up to 120 pounds of product, has a complete powered coated steel frame, large pneumatic tires and a 36″ spread width.
The hopper controls are easy to use and feel extremely durable.
What to Look for in a Drop Spreader
Drop spreaders are extremely simple – which is why they are so popular for certain jobs.
They have
Wheels
The axle and wheels should be durable as well. Most drop spreaders come with wheels that are 10 to 12 inches.
This gives ample room for the seed to drop to the ground as the spreader passes over. It also keeps the hopper high enough off of the ground so that objects it passes over cannot block the holes and obstruct the flow of seed.
Plastic wheels are lighter and cheaper to make, but don’t work as well over large bumps or uneven ground. They don’t require any maintenance.
Pneumatic tires are great for hills and rougher terrain, but they require regular maintenance – in most cases.
Handle
The handle on a drop spreader should be high enough for a person to easily push it in front of them
Some spreaders have adjustable settings so the handles can be raised or lowered as needed, depending on the height of the individual using it.
In some cases, cushions are placed on the handle to improve grip and relieve stress on the hands.
Hopper
Measure the size of your yard and determine how much product you need to store in your hopper to avoid repeated refills.
There is no need to buy a spreader with a hopper capacity that you will never use, but you also don’t want to buy one that is too small that requires multiple refills per application.
Controls
Make sure to buy a spreader that allows you to adjust the flow rate. Different products will have different application rates, so it’s important to be able to adjust the hoppers opening easily.
Conclusion
If you need an expensive, everyday type of drop spreader, go with the Scotts. It’s inexpensive and easy to use.
But if you want the best, and can afford to spend the extra money, the Lesco 092474 is hard to beat!
Please leave a comment below if you have any questions.
- Large capacity hopper holds up to 10,000 sq. ft. of Scotts lawn product, including grass seed and...
- Heavy-duty frame for optimum stability
- 22-inch spread pattern delivers maximum coverage and accuracy
- Fully assembled
Last update on 2025-02-10 / Affiliate links / Somes Images and Data from Amazon Product Advertising API
Hi Matt just read your assessment on drop spreaders and I have the Lesco but having an issue with it on grass seed or Scotts Brand fertilizer sticking to the black deflector plate under the hopper and not flowing properly, not much information on this equipment, was wondering if I should take it off when using it for these light weight products or is it just for the use when using the non adjustable delivery bottom? Also the application settings from Lesco are just related to there broadcast spreader have you found any charts for the drop spreader. Any information you have would be helpful for this equipment.
Regards, Frank Hannon
Hannon7@aol.com
Hi Frank – Thanks for the comment. Is the spreader completely dry? If so, I’ve found that using a lightweight car wax (with as few chemicals as possible) helps to get the product to not stick.
As far as the calibration goes, I don’t usually look at charts, etc. I measure my yard and know exactly how big of an area (in square feet) that I need to apply a product too. I then figure out the amount of product I want to put down per 1k square feet. Then I walk the area and make sure my hopper is empty when I’m done. It’s not a perfect science and an error above or below the rate isn’t a big deal. Hope that helps!