It’s a normal occurrence to enter a classroom and find each student working diligently on an iPad or other tablet device. However, an uncharged iPad in the hands of a student isn’t worth much.
That’s where an iPad charging cart comes to the rescue!
An iPad cart or tablet cart is a convenient way for schools to safely and conveniently store and charge all of those devices. Different iPad charging stations vary in capacity and features, but most:
- Lock to keep iPads secure
- Are well-ventilated to prevent your electronics from getting too hot while at the charging station
- Have wheels or casters so that the entire cart and all of the devices can be moved from classroom to classroom.
- Many recent models of charging carts have a compact design and protect your devices when they are fully charged.
We believe the Line Leader 30 Unit Compact Mobile Charging Cart is the best overall iPad charging cart. We like the build quality, the large capacity both as an iPad charging dock and as a secure storage location. It pulls this off while still being easy to move – great to get it out of the way during the day.
There has been some consolidation in the iPad docking station/charging station market in the past few years. Brand names such as Line Leader, Luxor and Learniture have continued to innovate. ECR4Kids has a popular cart as well. No matter what the brand, there are some features you’ll want to look for when shopping. Convenient cord organization systems are a nice addition and some carts have cool features like card reading locks and access from both the front and back.
See also: Our Best Chromebook Carts and Laptop Charging Stations
What Makes The Best iPad Charging Cart For Schools + Why
Before buying the best iPad charging cart for your classroom, there are some things to consider. These are qualities and characteristics that make an iPad charging station one of the best:
Best iPad Cart Options for Schools Compared
 | Line Leader iPad Charging Station and Cart | Check price at |
 | ECR4Kids 30-Bay Locking iPad Charging Station Cart | Check price at |
 | LineLeader 16 Portable Docking Station and Cart | Check price at |
 | Luxor Mobile Home Office Tablet Charging Station | Check price at |
 | LUXOR Tablet Computer Charging Station | Check price at |
 | Pearington | Check price at |
 | Pearington 16 Device Mobile Open Charging Cart for iPads Lowest Price | Check price at |
The Best iPad Carts Reviewed
1 . Line Leader iPad Charging Station and Cart
The Line Leader 30 Tablet Charging Cart is our pick for the best overall iPad charging station. It conveniently and securely stores, charges , and transports iPads, mobile devices and tablets from classroom to classroom. It can store and charge up to 30 iPads and yet it takes up relatively little space. It has doors that open on both the front and back of the cart so it’s easy to access your iPads in tight situations. Four-inch rolling casters and a sturdy handle make moving the cart easy. Each door locks to keep tablets secure.
There is plenty of shelf space in this heavy-duty iPad storage rack. You can fit up to 15 iPads easily on each shelf. Teachers say it’s really easy to check the charging status of devices since you can open the cart from the front of the back.
This cart is passively cooled through the numerous holes on each metal side. The metal also conducts heat so your tablets should be safe from overheating while charging. It will resist entry from all but the most determined thief – which should be good enough for most educational situations.
2. ECR4Kids 30-Bay Locking iPad Charging Station Cart
The ECR4Kids Cart is one of the most secure iPad carts available. It stores and charges up to 30 iPads, tablets, or Chromebooks and even has room for tablets with cases. It has adequate ventilation to keep tablets cool while charging, sturdy wheels that can be locked, and a comfortable handle for moving the cart. The interior features rubber-coated dividers to minimize the wear and tear on your iPads when placing and removing them from storage. It also allows the cart to be useful long-term, as it can be altered to accommodate tablets and devices as technology changes. The most notable feature of this iPad cart is the digital keypad locking system that will keep your school’s tablets safe from theft or any unwanted access.
3. LineLeader 16 Portable Docking Station and Cart
The Line Leader 16 Portable Cart is a convenient iPad cart for smaller classrooms. It’s one of the smaller tablet storage carts available, but it has some highly desirable features, especially for classrooms with smaller student numbers. Standard features include space for safe storage and charging of up to 16 iPads, a locking door, proper ventilation, and wheels that make it easy to move. There is a power strip inside which can handle all 16 iPads or Chromebooks at once.
The top of the cart is the perfect size to fit a laptop to work on in front of the class. This isn’t the largest cart, but it’s easy to steer and works great for the right classroom.
4. Luxor Mobile Home Office Tablet Charging Station
It says it’s for the “home office”, but the Luxor Mobile Home Office Tablet Charging Station is a great tablet cart for schools. It features two shelves that easily fit 15 iPads each, for a total of 30 tablets stored and charged simultaneously. Shelf dimensions on this mobile cart are 11″ high and 15″ deep and will easily fit a variety of different tablets. Each tablet has a one inch wide space that makes it easy to remove and replace tablets safely, without bumping the other stored tablets. Rubber dividers between tablets offer another layer of safety. The interior has two 16 outlet power strips for charging and interior clips to help keep cords organized. This iPad cart is well ventilated, easy to move, locks securely, and has a padded top.
5. LUXOR Tablet Computer Charging Station
The LUXOR Tablet Computer Charging Station is a similar storage station to the Luxor iPad cart above, but has the addition of an innovative lock that uses a key card instead of a traditional key. The lock is simple and easy to use; just swipe your card in front of the locking mechanism and the door unlocks! This cart stores and charges 30 iPads or other tablet devices, has plenty of ventilation, rubber coated dividers, a padded top, and casters and a handle that make it easy to move.
6. Pearington 20 Device Mobile Charging And Storage Cart for iPads
The Pearington Mobile Charging and Storage Cart is a sturdy iPad charging cart constructed of steel with ventilated panels to prevent overheating. The cart is versatile for use as an iPad charging cart and storage station, and the padded bays are large enough to also store Chromebooks and laptops up to 17” screen size.
Eighteen padded bays and an extra shelf hold a total of 20 iPads, tablets, or other devices; the padded bays protect the electronics against potential damage. Easily access the tablets from the back or front of the storage cart. The front and back doors feature key-locking systems for security.
Four caster wheels and the robust handle on the side effortlessly push and pulls the iPad trolley to its desired destination, ideal for rotating between classrooms. The 2-wheel locking mechanism keeps the charging cart in place. The work area on the top of the cart comes in handy when wheeling from classroom to classroom. The non-skid top offers added support preventing items from sliding off the cart.
Side vents offer adequate ventilation during usage but not enough for charging machines in the locked cabinet. The storage cart also features UL-listed surge protectors for protection against power fluctuations, and interior clips keep charging cords neat and organized.
7. Pearington 16 Device Mobile Open Charging Cart for iPads
The Pearington Mobile Charging and Storage Cart is a sturdy iPad charging cart constructed of steel with ventilated panels to prevent overheating. The cart is versatile for use as an iPad charging cart and storage station, and the padded bays are large enough to also store Chromebooks and laptops up to 17” screen size.
Eighteen padded bays and an extra shelf hold a total of 20 iPads, tablets, or other devices; the padded bays protect the electronics against potential damage. Easily access the tablets from the back or front of the storage cart. The front and back doors feature key-locking systems for security.
Four caster wheels and the robust handle on the side effortlessly push and pulls the iPad trolley to its desired destination, ideal for rotating between classrooms. The 2-wheel locking mechanism keeps the charging cart in place. The work area on the top of the cart comes in handy when wheeling from classroom to classroom. The non-skid top offers added support preventing items from sliding off the cart.
Side vents offer adequate ventilation during usage but not enough for charging machines in the locked cabinet. The storage cart also features UL-listed surge protectors for protection against power fluctuations, and interior clips keep charging cords neat and organized.
An iPad cart provides a safe and convenient place to store and charge iPads, tablets, and other electronic devices for classroom use. Do you use an Apple iPad cart in your classroom? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Feature image courtesy of Flickr, Janitors.