Every broadcast spreader gets a score from 0 to 100% built from six factors, which maps onto the 5-point rating shown on the site (a 0% score would be 1.5 stars; a perfect score, 5). Each factor is scored against fixed reference points, not against the other products in the list, so adding a new model never moves another model’s rating. Spreaders are grouped by type, push and tow-behind, and use the same scale in both groups.
| Factor | Measures | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Value | price per pound of hopper capacity | 25% |
| Hopper | hopper capacity in pounds | 25% |
| Spread width | widest stated spread width | 10% |
| Tires | tire diameter and pneumatic tires | 10% |
| Build | enclosed gearbox, metal gears, edge control, stainless parts, cover, grate and auto-stop | 20% |
| Warranty | warranty length | 10% |
Where the numbers come from
Hopper capacity, spread width, tires, build details and warranty come from the maker’s product page, manual or warranty statement, or the maker’s own copy on a retail listing. Where the maker’s own figures conflict (for example a listing that gives one tire size and a product page that gives another) the figure is left out rather than guessed. Prices are checked at Amazon and the maker’s own store, and the lowest price at a store the page links to is used.
The factors
Value is the current price divided by the hopper capacity, in dollars per pound, on a log scale, so halving the price always counts the same. $5 per lb scores zero and $1 per lb full marks.
Hopper is the hopper capacity in pounds, on a log scale: 40 lb scores zero and 200 lb full marks. Hopper size separates spreaders more than anything else, so a spreader whose maker gives no capacity in pounds scores zero here, and its page marks the factor as estimated. Coverage per fill in square feet is shown on product pages but not scored, since it depends on the product and the rate setting.
Spread width is the widest throw the maker states: 6 ft scores zero and 12 ft full marks. Where a maker gives a range, the top of the range is used.
Tires is 70% tire diameter, 8 in scoring zero and 15 in full marks, and 30% for air-filled (pneumatic) tires rather than solid or plastic wheels.
Build is 25% for an enclosed or sealed gearbox, 20% for metal gears, 20% for edge control (a side deflector, baffle, side-spread shutoff or edge guard), 10% for stainless steel parts, 10% for a cover in the box, 10% for a hopper grate or screen in the box and 5% for an auto-stop that shuts the flow when the spreader stops.
Warranty is the maker’s warranty: 1 year scores zero and 5 years full marks.
What isn’t scored
Coverage per fill, weight, whether a tow spreader’s flow control is reachable from the seat, and release date are listed but not scored.
Missing data
If spread width isn’t published, that factor gets the neutral middle score (50) and the product page marks it as estimated. A missing tire size scores as middling size, with credit for air tires only when the maker says so. A build feature the maker doesn’t mention counts as absent, and a spreader with no build details published scores zero for build. Hopper capacity and warranty are the other exceptions: a maker that publishes no capacity in pounds gets zero for hopper, and value scores neutral; a maker that doesn’t publish a warranty gets no warranty counted, so that factor scores zero, the same as a one-year warranty, and is marked estimated.
Ties and discontinued models
Products are ranked by score within each group. Discontinued models stay listed but rank below every current model and can be hidden with the “Hide discontinued” filter.