You don't always need complicated machinery to do simple jobs. When it comes to salting your steps or pathways, you can use a handheld salt spreader. It's an easy, no-frills way to protect yourself from hidden ice. And while hand salt spreaders might not seem like they would have much variety, they can have unique features. When buying a spreader, you have a lot to consider. Find out which are the best handheld salt spreaders and why you should choose them.

Our favorites, like most options available, are simple. The TIPU Hand Spreader Shaker is our top pick for year-round use for salt and other deicers as well as grass seed, fertilizer and pest control products. The Stalwart 82 Spreader gets the job done for a great low price and is lightweight enough for young or arthritic hands. And if you need more than one, we like the FASMOV Adjustable Handheld Spreader, which comes in a pack of two.

Read on for our reviews of these picks and alternate options, as well as the uses of handheld spreaders, features to look for, and what makes a quality product.

BACKYARD BOSS TOP THREE HANDHELD SALT SPREADERS

PRODUCT

FEATURES

TIPU Hand Spreader Shaker - $$title$$

TIPU Hand Spreader Shaker

  • Wide mouth
  • Adjustable flow cap
  • Ergonomic handle

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STALWART 82-YJ487 SPREADER - $$title$$

STALWART 82-YJ487 SPREADER

  • Easy-open lid
  • Ergonomic handle
  • Simple to use

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Fasmov Adjustable Handheld Spreader - $$title$$

Fasmov Adjustable Handheld Spreader

  • Set of 2
  • Adjustable flow caps
  • Ergonomic handles

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Why Trust Us

Out of all the gadgets you can use to make winter easier, the salt spreader could be the most fun. There's something I enjoy about spreading salt around my yard. For whatever reason, I get satisfaction out of using a handheld salt spreader. It's incredibly effective, and I love knowing that it makes my home a safer place.

When it comes to picking out the best machines or other complex products, there are tons of criteria to consider. But handheld spreaders are simple, and that makes picking the best spreader much more interesting. They all have ergonomic handles, but which handles are the best? I took great care to think about all the minute details.

MOST FUNCTIONAL HANDHELD SALT SPREADER

TIPU Hand Spreader Shaker

    With a wide mouth, this salt spreader is a no-mess way to spread salt.

      Pros:

    • Wide mouth
    • 80 ounce capacity
      Cons:

    • Can be slippery

WHY WE LIKE IT: One of the most efficient handheld salt spreaders, the TIPU spreader is effortless to use. It comes with three options for adjustable openings, which make it suitable for a variety of materials. Even if your salt is thick, you can use this spreader to get the job done. The spreader also works well with grass seed, diatomaceous earth, fertilizer and other deicing agents.

It's easy to change the size of the openings by hand. Filling the canister is as simple as twisting it open. For your comfort, ergonomic handholds are on the side.

This product holds up to 80 ounces of salt and is designed to last a lifetime. The bottle isn't prone to cracking, and it has a wide mouth, which makes filling it simple and neater. To limit the mess, use the grip head like a spoon for your salt.

WHO SHOULD BUY IT: Those looking for a year-round tool that works exactly as expected, is comfortable to hold, easy to refill, and holds plenty of material.

BEST NO-FRILLS HANDHELD SALT SPREADER

      Pros:

    • "Ergonomic handle
    • "Durable plastic
      Cons:

WHY WE LIKE IT: It's a handheld spreader and it does the job. This Stalwart salt spreader doubles as a seed and fertilizer spreader in the warmer months. It's small enough to be highly portable and easy to use even for small hands or aging joints, thanks to an ergonomic handle. The total dimensions are 5.5.x3.5x01.5 inches. The top doesn't adjust, so it can't be left with deicer inside. That's a drawback for some, but it you're looking for a simple tool for a simple job, this is our pick.

WHO SHOULD BUY IT: Those who want a handheld spreader small and lightweight enough for children to use, or one with no fiddly adjustments to make.

BEST HANDHELD SALT SPREADER MULTIPACK

Fasmov Adjustable Handheld Spreader

    This product gives you two handheld salt spreaders that are designed for your comfort.

      Pros:

    • Comes with two spreaders
    • Grade marks on the side
      Cons:

    • Not ideal for rock salt

WHY WE LIKE IT: We like pairs of things, including tools. Whether you keep one as backup or want to have another pair of hands to help with deicing, two is better than one and the price for this pack is great.

Each spreader comes with an adjustable hole size, which gives you the ability to fill the canister with seed, fertilizer, or salt. The grip on the spreader was designed with comfort in mind. Although the canister holds 76 ounces of salt, it's comfortable to hold. There are grade marks to make measuring your substance easily. To open and close the canister, twist the top. It doesn't take much time or effort.

WHO SHOULD BUY IT: Those who need a no-nonsense adjustable flow handheld spreader, or two.

BEST EASY-READ MEASURING HANDHELD SPREADER

Zenport Fertilizer Adjustable Garden Spreader

    The clear canister with large markings for measurements make this the ideal handheld spreader for precision applications as well as any deicer or salt.

      Pros:

    • Clear plastic
    • Adjustable openings
      Cons:

    • Only 50 ounces

WHY WE LIKE IT: The sides are marked for measuring and the canister is clear for easy reading. When you remove the lid, you can see the four different settings. Keep the holes sealed, small, medium, or wide open. By controlling the hole size, you can control the flow and what materials you place in the spreader. If you have a deicing agent with large particles, the wide openings will accommodate the substance.

For precision spreading, this product is ideal. It holds 50 ounces of salt, fertilizer, or pest control product. Because this spreader was made with PET1 plastic, it's highly durable. If you accidentally step on the bottle, you are unlikely to break it. This spreader has a great, easy-to-use design.

WHO SHOULD BUY IT: Those who need to apply precise amounts of product, have difficulty gauging amounts, and want an adjustable flow cap.

The Importance of Using a Salt Spreader

If you live in a place that gets any amount of snow in the winter, you should probably know what a salt spreader is. To understand the benefits of using a salt spreader, you first need to know what they are and how they work. A shovel or a snowplow removes the top layers of slow, but what about the sludge and ice underneath? That's where a salt spreader comes in handy.

Salt lowers the freezing point of water. When you throw salt on ice or thin layers of snow, the chemicals in salt get to work. They prevent ice from forming, which protects your sidewalks, steps, and pavement. As early as the 1800s, salt was used to keep roads free of ice.

Initially, people threw tons of salt on their driveways and sidewalks. There was no method - they simply threw out the salt in a haphazard way. At times, they shoveled salt from a large pile and threw it out of moving trucks. This was backbreaking work and didn't spread the salt evenly. It wasn't until years later that people used spreaders on trucks to broadcast salt. In addition to taking less manpower, this method also distributed the salt more evenly.

As you might expect, a large machine that spreads salt isn't cheap. Fortunately, there's an alternative. A handheld salt spreader is small, affordable, and easy to use. Learn more about the benefits of using a spreader and find out how it can change your winters.

handheld salt spreader deicer

A handheld salt spreader helps put deicer (or fertilizer or grass seed) exactly where you need it.

Distribute Salt Evenly

If you don't use a tool to distribute your salt, there's no way to evenly spread your salt. Some areas of your yard will have too much salt, while other areas will have too little salt. Using a tool, no matter how simple, allows for more even distribution.

Most quality salt spreaders have adjustable holes, which makes it possible for you to control how much salt comes out at once. You can distribute the salt sparsely or densely, depending on your needs.

Spread Salt with Ease

Spreading salt is often difficult, physical work. Even without spreading salt, the winter is hard enough on your body. The hours of shoveling alone are enough to cause permanent back issues. When you combine that with using a roof rake and clearing snow from your car, you can see the impact that winter has on your body.

Unfortunately, spreading salt can be just as hard on your body. Individual bags of salt are surprisingly heavy and can cause back injuries. If you're not cautious, you could end up in bed for days with a strained back. A handheld spreader replaces the need for carrying a bag of salt. Once you fill the canister, you can bring it wherever the salt needs to go.

The spreader also saves your hands. If you're tossing out salt, your hands will get weary. When you use a spreader, the tool does most of the work for you.

Save Time

Because of the massive effort that comes with spreading salt by hand, the action takes time. Rather than waste your time by doing things the hard way, you can save time with a handheld spreader. In only a short time, you can cover your driveway, steps, and pathway.

Get Hard-to-Reach Places

Some pathways and stairs may be difficult to access. If you try using a walk-behind salt spreader, you won't be able to access those areas. A handheld spreader is small and allows you to get salt anywhere on your property.

With a handheld spreader, you don't need to worry about reaching the base of your stairs or any other places. With this type of salt spreader comes the peace of mind that your property will be free of ice.

icy damaged window frame handheld salt spreader

Deicer is useful for keeping windowsills and other ledge structures from sustaining too much damage in winter. A handheld spreader is ideal for reaching these areas.

Save Money

If you don't use a tool to spread your salt, you could be throwing money away. While a bag of salt doesn't cost much, think about all of the times you salt each winter. Over time, wasted salt costs money. And that's exactly what happens when you have no way of distributing your salt evenly. Because a handheld spreader allows for the uniform distribution of salt, you can prevent waste and save money.

Make Winter Easier

The winter is hard enough. Why not make life a little more enjoyable in the winter? When you use a handheld spreader, you can spend less time outside and more time doing the things you enjoy. Additionally, you make your home a safer place to be. With fewer ice patches around your home, you can feel safer.

How We Picked

As we looked for the perfect salt spreader, we had some basic criteria. For one, we wanted a spreader with an ergonomic handle. You could be out there spreading salt every day, so you deserve to be comfortable. There's nothing worse than a salt spreader that's difficult or even painful to hold.

We also looked for adjustability and versatility. Why buy a spreader that's only useful for a few months every year? With an adjustable spreader, you can change the lid to handle fertilizer, seeds, and other substances.

Finally, we considered durability. A flimsy plastic handheld salt spreader won't do you much good. We looked for products that would last, even after a run-in with the kids.

BOTTOM LINE

You need the right tools for the job, and we've done the homework. Here's a recap of our top picks:

Most Functional Handheld Salt Spreader: Tipu Hand Spreader Shaker

Best No-Frills Handheld Salt Spreader: Stalwart 82-Yj487 Spreader

Best Handheld Salt Spreader Multipack: Fasmov Adjustable Handheld Spreader

Best Easy-Read Measuring Handheld Spreader: Zenport Fertilizer Adjustable Garden Spreader

Which was your favorite handheld salt spreader? Comment below and let us know.