The 8 Best Leaf Vacuums for Ridding Your Yard of Leaves Quickly and Easily (2024)

The 8 Best Leaf Vacuums for Ridding Your Yard of Leaves Quickly and Easily (1)

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Editor’s Note: We reviewed our current product picks as of November 2022 and have updated our list to include a new vacuum from Craftsman. At the time of publishing, the Troy-Bilt CSV 060 was no longer available for purchase. The only other push-style model we've come across that's in stock is the Billy Goat KV601SP, but it's priced at a rather steep $1,549. We’ll continue monitoring the product landscape to make sure we’re bringing you the most up-to-date products and industry information.

A handheld leaf vacuum works wonders for clearing out pesky leaves that are difficult to get to with a rake or lawn mower. Their long snouts let you access those hard-to-reach places, like in between fence posts, behind your home's downspout, or around your AC unit. Their powerful suction helps them pick up yard debris like conifer needles, pine cones, litter, twigs, and acorns.

The Best Leaf Vacuums

What to Consider

➥ Your Yard

Unsurprisingly, the first thing you'll need to do is assess where you'll be using it. Our tests determined that leaf vacuums work best to remove leaves from hard surfaces like asphalt, brick, concrete, and flagstone. They work on decks, just as long as the leaves aren't wedged between the deck boards. You can also use them to clear debris from small patches of grass — but if you have a large yard, we recommend raking first and then sucking up the pile of leaves you just accumulated.

➥ Power Source

You'll also want to pay attention to the vacuum's power source (more on that below), the size and shape of its collection bag, as well as its weight — that way, you know you can handle it and are confident it's large enough for the jobs you need to complete.

➥ Gas vs. Electric

  • Gas-powered leaf vacuums: This type of leaf vacuum are much more powerful and noisy than their corded and cordless counterparts. They are a good choice for people who want to suck up more than just leave since they easily resist clogging, especially from twigs and wet leaves. They're more mobile, too, which also makes them a great choice for folks with a large yard.
  • Cordless leaf vacuums: These are a good option for folks with small, manicured lawns. They grant you freedom from the cord without requiring you to deal with fumes and the maintenance that comes with gas-powered engines.
  • Corded leaf vacuums: This type must be plugged into an outlet, which hinders their overall mobility. On the plus side, they have an unlimited runtime. If you plan to use the vacuum in a workshop or garage, you'll be happy with a corded model.

How We Chose

We researched and compared the latest leaf vacs to find the best ones on the market right now. Our colleagues over at our sister site, Popular Mechanics, have tested several of our picks over the last two years to clean up dry, fallen leaves and pine cones in both the yard and home garden beds. They also tested them by sucking up damp debris (think wet leaves, pine needles, and twigs) in a commercial parking lot.

I spoke with senior editor Roy Berendsohn, one of the most seasoned industry experts when it comes to lawn care and outdoor power equipment. He says that the most effective leaf vacuum is actually a lawn mower since it holds more debris and supports its collection bag on a frame instead of on your shoulder. Lawn mowers also cover more ground in less time. So, be sure to check out our recommended lawn mower leaf bag below.

For those who don't need or have the space for a lawn mower, or for those who have complicated landscapes, a leaf vacuum is still a great option for keeping your yard free of debris. Our picks are lightweight, affordable, powerful, and reliable, and they'll get your yard looking its best in practically no time. Shop our favorite leaf vacuums to keep your yard as clean as a golf course.

1

Best Overall

Craftsman 163-cc CSV060 Lawn Vacuum

The 8 Best Leaf Vacuums for Ridding Your Yard of Leaves Quickly and Easily (10)

Pros
  • The 8 Best Leaf Vacuums for Ridding Your Yard of Leaves Quickly and Easily (11)Does an excellent job at sucking up leaves and debris
  • The 8 Best Leaf Vacuums for Ridding Your Yard of Leaves Quickly and Easily (12)No need to carry the bag by hand
Cons
  • The 8 Best Leaf Vacuums for Ridding Your Yard of Leaves Quickly and Easily (13)Isn't self-propelled

This Craftsman shredder is a midrange push leaf vacuum with loads of performance. It can shred leaves and chip small branches up to 1.5 inches in diameter, and its long vacuum hose will take care of tight corners and narrow passages with ease. Our only complaint is that it's not self-propelled.

Regardless, it still turns on a dime and isn't too difficult to push. What you'll like most, though, is that it eliminates the need to carry a heavy bag of leaves around your shoulder.

Key Specs

Model NumberCSV060
Vacuum Width24 inches
Motor163-cc Briggs and Stratton engine
PowerGas
Bag Capacity2 bushels

2

Best Backpack-Style Vacuum

BLACK+DECKER 3-in-1 VACPACK Leaf Vacuum

The 8 Best Leaf Vacuums for Ridding Your Yard of Leaves Quickly and Easily (14)

The 8 Best Leaf Vacuums for Ridding Your Yard of Leaves Quickly and Easily (15)

Pros
  • The 8 Best Leaf Vacuums for Ridding Your Yard of Leaves Quickly and Easily (16)Comfortable for large jobs
Cons
  • The 8 Best Leaf Vacuums for Ridding Your Yard of Leaves Quickly and Easily (17)Impeller is made from plastic

One of the biggest downsides to leaf vacuums is that their included leaf bags are usually satchel-style — similar to a mailbag. They're awkward to sling over your shoulder because they need to be frequently adjusted, and they start feeling heavy extremely fast — especially if you're sucking up wet leaves.

BLACK+DECKER's VACPACK is a much more comfortable solution to sucking leaves, as its vacuum bag is styled more like a backpack. It's easier to wear and has a larger capacity, and therefore it doesn't feel as cumbersome. Its vacuum bag is zipper-free, so it's easy to empty, too.

When used in blower mode, it delivers an impressive 250 mph airspeed. Plus, its air volume (400 CFM) is stronger than models that cost $50 more. If you want a blower/vac/mulcher that won't make you fatigued, this one is worth buying.

Key Specs

Model NumberBEBL7000
Weight11.1 pounds
Motor120 volts, 12 amps
PowerWired
Air400 CFM / 250 MPH

3

Best Electric Leaf Vacuum

Toro UltraPlus Leaf Blower Vacuum

The 8 Best Leaf Vacuums for Ridding Your Yard of Leaves Quickly and Easily (18)

Pros
  • The 8 Best Leaf Vacuums for Ridding Your Yard of Leaves Quickly and Easily (19)Metal impeller works hard to crush leaves
Cons
  • The 8 Best Leaf Vacuums for Ridding Your Yard of Leaves Quickly and Easily (20)Transitioning between blower to vacuum isn’t as intuitive

This blower vac from Toro is one of the most powerful vacs money can buy. You get a 250 mph airspeed that's strong enough even for wet leaves that are clumped together. It offers an ergonomic design that's comfortable to hold, but it weighs 9 pounds — so it's not the best option to use one-handed.

The Toro is bundled with plenty of attachments for getting around tight spaces. It comes with a bag, is equipped with a rugged metal impeller for crushing leaves, offers variable speed control, and is covered by a 2-year warranty.

You should probably pick up an extension cable, too, because this model is corded. This option's air volume (410 CFM) isn't as high as the Worx WG512, and it's harder to alternate between the blower and vacuum modes. Regardless, it's still a reliable and easy-t0-use pick.

Key Specs

Model Number51621
Weight8.9 pounds
Motor120 volts, 12 amps
PowerWired
Air350 CFM / 250 MPH

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4

A Cordless Option Perfect for Small Jobs

Greenworks Variable Speed Cordless Leaf Vacuum

The 8 Best Leaf Vacuums for Ridding Your Yard of Leaves Quickly and Easily (21)

Pros
  • The 8 Best Leaf Vacuums for Ridding Your Yard of Leaves Quickly and Easily (22)Only weighs 6 pounds
Cons
  • The 8 Best Leaf Vacuums for Ridding Your Yard of Leaves Quickly and Easily (23)Susceptible to clogs

If you don't want to be held back by a cord or deal with gas fumes, this cordless, battery-powered vac from Greenworks is your best option. This is the same manufacturer behind our favorite budget electric snowblower.

This kit comes with a 40-volt 4Ah battery, two attachments, and a debris bag. It has a 60-minute run time, weighs about 6 pounds, and has a convenient push-button start. Despite being battery-powered, it offers 185 mph blowing speeds, which is strong enough to move even wet leaves.

During a Popular Mechanics test with the Greenworks, they actually ran out of leaves before its battery ran out of juice — which says a lot about the power it packs. Best of all, this cordless pick is an excellent option for both the eco-conscious and folks with small yards.

More: We Compared 30 Leaf Blowers to Find the Best

Key Specs

Model Number24322VT
Weight9.9 pounds
MotorIntelligent TRUBRUSHLESS Motor
PowerBattery
Air340 CFM / 185 MPH

5

Best Gas Leaf Vacuum

Husqvarna Husqvarna 125BVx Handheld Gas Leaf Blower/Vacuum

The 8 Best Leaf Vacuums for Ridding Your Yard of Leaves Quickly and Easily (24)

The 8 Best Leaf Vacuums for Ridding Your Yard of Leaves Quickly and Easily (25)

Pros
  • The 8 Best Leaf Vacuums for Ridding Your Yard of Leaves Quickly and Easily (26)Adjustable fan speed
Cons
  • The 8 Best Leaf Vacuums for Ridding Your Yard of Leaves Quickly and Easily (27)Bag is difficult to remove

If you prefer the convenience of a gas-powered vacuum and don't want to fuss with any annoying cords or swapping battery packs, this Husqvarna is equally reliable, convenient, and powerful. Our colleagues at Popular Mechanics say that this vacuum is extremely well-built: It starts easily with just one pull, and it has enough power to suck up and shred dry leaves with a vengeance.

It was also a favorite of our sister site Good Housekeeping for its comfortable ergonomics and numerous capabilities. It features a flared nozzle for easy pickup, an adjustable fan speed so that you don't blow away or suck up any flowers, and a vacuum bag for collecting debris.

Key Specs

Model Number125BVX
Weight9.6 pounds
Motor28 CC
PowerGas
Air425 CFM / 170 MPH

6

A durable lawn mower bag

CRAFTSMAN Double Bagger Leaf Collection System

The 8 Best Leaf Vacuums for Ridding Your Yard of Leaves Quickly and Easily (28)

The 8 Best Leaf Vacuums for Ridding Your Yard of Leaves Quickly and Easily (29)

Pros
  • The 8 Best Leaf Vacuums for Ridding Your Yard of Leaves Quickly and Easily (30)Extremely large capacity
Cons
  • The 8 Best Leaf Vacuums for Ridding Your Yard of Leaves Quickly and Easily (31)Cart is sold seperately

Our lawn care expert Roy Berendsohn says it's a common misconception that a leaf vacuum will work much like an indoor vacuum, but unfortunately, that's not the case. He says you should use a lawn mower with a bag if that's what you're going for. George R, a reviewer at Lowes, said the bag is well worth the price since it alleviated all hard work from raking. He added that it could be difficult to empty when the bag is full.

This leaf collection system from Craftsman harnesses the airflow from your lawnmower's cutting deck to collect up to 20 bushels of leaves. We appreciate that it has a zipper opening to ease the dumping process. The accessory attaches to your mower's tow cart in minutes and has a collapsible frame to make it easier to store in the off-season.

More: 10 Rakes to Gather Up Leaves With Ease

Key Specs

Model Number19A30043791
Capacity20 bushels (27 cubic feet)
Mounting TypeRear (tow cart not included)
MaterialPlastic
CompatibilityRide-on lawn tractors with 42-inch and 46-inch decks

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7

An Affordable Lawn Mower Bag

TerraKing Lawn Tractor Leaf Bag

The 8 Best Leaf Vacuums for Ridding Your Yard of Leaves Quickly and Easily (32)

Pros
  • The 8 Best Leaf Vacuums for Ridding Your Yard of Leaves Quickly and Easily (33)Can hold more than 100 pounds of leaves
Cons
  • The 8 Best Leaf Vacuums for Ridding Your Yard of Leaves Quickly and Easily (34)May require some clamps to keep it securely fastened

This is simply a giant bag that attaches to the output of your ride-on mower — and yes, it's as simple as it sounds. Just strap on the bag, fire up the mower, and mow down some leaves.

Damien Schmitt, a vlogger from Green Bay, Wisconsin, said the Lawn Leaf Bag is an ingeniously simple way to collect leaves with a riding lawn mower and grass catcher. “It takes what would be a 3-hour job to just 30 minutes,” Schmitt said.

It’s an effective solution for clearing leaves, pine needles, and other debris from your yard, especially since most traditional leaf vacuums’ bags fill up very quickly and don’t hold a whole lot. This lawn tractor leaf bag will require less emptying, and you won’t have to carry it around, either!

Key Specs

Model NumberBEBL7000
Capacity40 bushels (54 cubic feet)
Opening Size120 inches
MaterialPolyester fabric
CompatibilityRide-on lawn tractors, zero-turn mowers

8

Most Versatile

WORX Trivac 2.0 3-in-1 Leaf Vacuum

The 8 Best Leaf Vacuums for Ridding Your Yard of Leaves Quickly and Easily (35)

Pros
  • The 8 Best Leaf Vacuums for Ridding Your Yard of Leaves Quickly and Easily (36)Switches from blower, mulcher, and vacuum in seconds
Cons
  • The 8 Best Leaf Vacuums for Ridding Your Yard of Leaves Quickly and Easily (37)Feels cumbersome for large jobs

This tool from Worx is the ultimate triple threat. It functions as a blower, a mulcher, and a yard vacuum, and it switches among them in seconds.

According to Popular Mechanics' Roy Berendsohn, you can simply turn a dial on the machine's side to rotate its motor by 90 degrees and then slip the vacuum collection bag into place over the impeller to change from blower to vac modes.

It’s powered by a 12-amp motor that won’t pump out smelly fumes as a gas-powered blower would, and it’s equipped with a metal propeller that absolutely annihilates scattered leaves.

The Worx WG512 forces 600 cubic feet of air per minute from its nozzle at a maximum speed of 75 mph, meaning that it expels air at a greater rate than most.

Weighing in at 9.6 pounds, note that this leaf vacuum is on the heavier side. Fortunately, its included collection bag has a strap, which helps make it easier to carry.

Key Specs

Model NumberWG514
Weight9.6 pounds
Motor120 volts, 12 amps
PowerWired
Air620 CFM / 70 MPH

The 8 Best Leaf Vacuums for Ridding Your Yard of Leaves Quickly and Easily (38)

Brandon Carte

Senior Electronics Editor

Brandon Carte has been covering technology at BestProducts.com since 2017, where he's been writing about the latest gadgets, appliances, and scouring the internet for the products that make life easier. His reporting has been featured on , Good Housekeeping and USA Today. When he's not researching washing machines or testing robot vacuums, you can find him at concerts, swimming laps, or at the movies. He thinks smartphones are too big, prefers MP3s to Spotify, and misses his iPhone’s headphone jack.

The 8 Best Leaf Vacuums for Ridding Your Yard of Leaves Quickly and Easily (2024)

FAQs

The 8 Best Leaf Vacuums for Ridding Your Yard of Leaves Quickly and Easily? ›

Leaf vacuums can be a useful tool for cleaning up leaves in your yard. To use a leaf vacuum effectively, it's important to consider a few factors: - The type, size and moisture level of the leaves. Leaf vacuums work best on small, dry leaves and may have difficulty with larger, wet leaves.

Do leaf vacuums really work? ›

Leaf vacuums can be a useful tool for cleaning up leaves in your yard. To use a leaf vacuum effectively, it's important to consider a few factors: - The type, size and moisture level of the leaves. Leaf vacuums work best on small, dry leaves and may have difficulty with larger, wet leaves.

Do leaf vacuums mulch the leaves? ›

If you have a lot of leaves to collect, the vacuum can effectively suck them up and mulch them. However, most leaf vacuums are designed to cover a small area at a time, so spending a little time raking or using a leaf blower to gather up your leaves makes a big difference.

Which leaf blower has the most power? ›

Greenworks 80-volt Cordless Leaf Blower

This 80-volt Greenworks model proved to be our best overall leaf blower and our most powerful leaf blower.

What is better, a leaf blower or a leaf vacuum? ›

If you have nowhere to blow the material or a copious amount of it, then a blower vacuum could be the way to go. One key feature of the vacuums is that they mulch the material down before collecting it in the bag. This means far less material in your green bin, or you can use it to mulch around your plants.

What is the best way to vacuum up leaves? ›

Instead of getting out a rake and putting in hours of work to manage the leaves in your yard, we recommend buying a durable and lightweight leaf vacuum. The best leaf vacuums typically work as both a leaf blower and a vacuum, so you can use them to push leaves around your yard or suck them away entirely.

Are tow behind leaf vacuums worth it? ›

It protects you from sore muscles: There are no more long days, raking and carrying leaves to the burn pile. Instead, a pull-behind leaf sweeper does all of the raking for you. You'll have no back or shoulder pain to deal with when all you need to do is ride around on your mower.

What are the disadvantages of a leaf blower? ›

Environmental impact: Leaf blowers blow away not only leaves, but also mulch and other kinds of organic matter needed for healthy soil—and they blow away a lot of soil, too.

Is it better to leave leaves on the ground or mulch them? ›

Wherever possible, let fallen leaves break down naturally, which helps improve the soil and provides countless wildlife species with habitat. While leaves will smother your lawn, consider replacing lawn areas with planting beds, filled with native plants and mulched with fallen leaves.

What are the disadvantages of leaf mulch? ›

You can often only get them in the fall unless you're able to store them. You have to replenish it each season. When you don't shred them correctly you put really thick mulch made from shredded leaves it can cause a mat and block water or air exchange to your soil.

Can you use a lawn mower as a leaf vacuum? ›

One efficient method for leaf removal during fall cleanup is using a lawn mower. Not only does it clear your lawn, but it also mulches the leaves. So, in the long run, it provides beneficial nutrients to your soil.

What type of leaf blowers do landscapers use? ›

Walk-behind leaf blowers (also called push blowers) are designed for the heavy-duty landscaping jobs. They have the power to clear leaves and debris.

What is the most reliable leaf blower? ›

Our Top Leaf Blower Picks
  • Best Battery-Powered: Greenworks BLB489 80-volt Cordless Leaf Blower.
  • Best Gas: Stihl BG 56 C-E.
  • Best Budget Gas: Craftsman CMXGAAMA25BL 25cc 2-Cycle Gas Leaf Blower (B215)
  • Best Electric: Toro 51621 UltraPlus Blower Vac.
  • Best Blower and Vacuum: Black + Decker 3-in-1 Leaf Blower & Vacuum BV6000.
Jan 23, 2024

What is considered a powerful leaf blower? ›

Depending on its intended use, a cordless leaf blower with a CFM between 400-700 should be powerful enough to greatly ease your fall yard chores. If you have a small yard with little debris, choose one with 200-400 CFM.

Do leaf sweepers work good? ›

Is a lawn sweeper worth it? If you have a big yard and dislike yard cleanup tasks, then perhaps a lawn sweeper is a good choice because it saves you hours of time (and sore muscles). In addition to picking up debris, such as leaves and pine needles, lawn sweepers can also help you manage pine cones, acorns and twigs.

Are leaf mulchers worth it? ›

Mulching the leaves on your lawn has many advantages: It reduces noise and greenhouse gases, because it reduces the use of leaf blowers; in an added bonus, it also enhances the health of your yard by creating valuable compost, which enriches the topsoil.

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