Designed with Guests in Mind — Target’s Reimagined Shopping Cart

  • May 15, 2026
A red Target shopping cart with gray ergonomic handles and fully plastic body filled with colorful bouncy balls, pool noodles, and sidewalk chalk.

Target’s commitment to style and design means that as our guests needs evolve we use our creativity and vision to reimagine how every aspect of our brand can be more easy, inspiring and friendly. From the products on our shelves to the tech they use to simplify their experience — thoughtful design plays an important role in making shopping easier.

One example is the shopping cart, one of the most-used touchpoints in our stores and an everyday essential that continues to evolve alongside guest needs. That’s why we knew a redesigned cart had to be three things: effortlessly functional, made to last and designed with a lower environmental footprint in mind.

Headshot of Sarah Deuth

No other cart on the market meets all these aspirations. We’re leading with design and elevating the guest experience down to the last detail.

Sarah Deuth Vice President of Store Design, Target

Made with you in mind

Starting in 2020, the store design team approached the redesign with busy families top of mind — engaging directly with guests to understand what would make their shopping experience easier. That input helped shape a cart designed for real-life use, with features like:

  • Smoother maneuverability and ergonomic handles
  • A deeper, more comfortable and secure child seat
  • Increased basket space for bulk goods
  • Larger cupholders for anything from snacks to Starbucks to sippy cups

These features aren’t just functional. They reflect Target’s focus on creating experiences that feel easy, inspiring and friendly and designed for everyday life. The result is a cart shaped by years of guest feedback and testing —designed to improve one of the most-used experiences in our stores.

The Series 3 All Plastic Cart (APC)

the new all plastic Target cart filled with colorful bouncy balls, pool noodles and sidewalk chalk.
Target’s new Series 3 All Plastic Cart.
A view of the all plastic cart from above, showing the deepened child seat and enlarged cup holders
A deeper child seat for comfier sidekick seating, and larger cup holders for drinks and tasty treats.
A close up of the wider all plastic cart base.
The wider base makes more room for bulk shopping, without impacting ease of steering.

Sustainability meets dependability

The Series 3 APC is designed with sustainability in mind. Its materials are fully recyclable at the end of their lifespan, helping reduce waste over time. The cart is also built for durability. Its modular design allows for components to be replaced individually, extending its lifespan and reducing the need to replace the full cart.

An iconic history

Our carts are part of our legacy, one of the most recognizable touchpoints of our brand. The history of our cart shows decades of Target’s commitment to design-forward, guest-centered thinking.

Now, after years of design, testing and refinement, we’re rolling out the Series 3 APC to select stores over time, with some locations already offering the new design, as we continue to evolve the in-store experience. Across every cart design in our fleet, our team remains focused on elevating the guest experience and making every trip to Target easy, inspiring and friendly.

The Target Cart Through Time

A Target team member wearing a yellow jacket smiles while pushing a cart at Drive Up.

All the ways

We’re here to help all families discover the joy of everyday life – from our distinctive products to easy ways to get them from the store to your door.

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