How Heavy Is Too Heavy? Stroller Weight, Explained
What stroller weight means when you're lifting it into the car, up the stairs or onto a plane, and how to pick one you'll actually use.
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Short answer
If you'll lift your stroller into a trunk or up stairs most days, a lighter one matters more than almost anything else. A stroller that feels fine in the store can feel like a sack of bricks with a crying baby on your hip. Think about where you'll carry it, not just where you'll push it.
Why weight matters more than you'd think
In the store, you push a stroller around a smooth floor and it feels great. At home, you're lifting it into the trunk in the rain while your baby cries in the car seat.
That's when weight hits. One mom was healing from a C-section. She said lifting her big stroller into the car hurt every time (r/beyondthebump). Another mom's stroller was too heavy to lift into her sedan's trunk. She couldn't use it when she was out alone (r/beyondthebump).
What the numbers feel like
Here's roughly how the strollers on our lists break down:
- Travel strollers, about 9 to 17 lb. Easy to carry on stairs, a bus or a plane. The trade-off is smaller wheels and a smaller basket.
- Full-size strollers, mostly in the 20s. Smooth to push and lots of room underneath. You'll feel it on stairs, but most people can lift one into a trunk.
- Joggers and doubles, mid-20s and up. Great on rough ground or with two kids. They're a real lift, so think hard about your trunk and your back.
A light stroller is easy to lift into the trunk with one hand, even while you hold your baby. A heavy full-size stroller can take two hands. Check the listed weight if you will lift it a lot.
Check what the weight includes
Check whether the stroller's weight includes the bassinet or infant car seat. Click one on and it goes up. Add your baby and it climbs again.
Using a car seat or bassinet on the frame at first? Picture lifting that whole setup, baby and all.
Weight and flying
Weight can decide where your stroller goes at the airport. On American Airlines, strollers over 20 lb go to the ticket counter, not the gate (American Airlines). That means no stroller for the walk through the airport.
If you fly a lot, a lighter stroller saves you that headache. Flying with a stroller walks you through the whole airport trip.
How to pick the right weight for you
- You live in a walk-up or take the bus. Go light. You'll carry it more than you push it.
- You drive everywhere. Make sure you can lift it into your trunk with one hand on the car door. The trunk fit checker shows which strollers fit your trunk opening.
- You walk a lot on rough sidewalks or trails. A heavier stroller with bigger wheels is worth it, as long as you're not lifting it all day.
- You can't decide. Lift it to trunk height in the store before you buy. If it's a struggle there, it'll be worse at home.
Ready to compare? Start with travel strollers if you want light, or full-size strollers if you want room and a smooth ride.
Questions parents ask
Is a lighter stroller always better?
No. Light strollers often have smaller wheels and baskets, so bumpy sidewalks feel bumpier. Go light if you lift it a lot. Go sturdier if you mostly push it around the block.
What counts as a light stroller?
On our lists, travel strollers weigh about 9 to 17 lb. That's light enough to carry up a flight of stairs without a second thought.
Should I buy two strollers?
Plenty of families do. They keep a big one for long walks and a small one for the car and trips. Start with one, and add a second if lifting gets old.
About this page
Written by the My First Stroller team.
