One of the best parts of autumn is watching the vibrant, colorful foliage. It’s picturesque—until those leaves start covering your lawn, putting you on cleanup duty. While a leaf blower can move debris efficiently, the best leaf vacuums eliminate the need for a rake and leaf bags, leaving your grass and walkways spotless. Our top pick is the Worx 3-in-1 Electric Leaf Blower for its power and versatility, but there are plenty of other great options to consider as well.
The Worx’s 3-in-1 Trivac is designed seamlessly transition from a leaf blower to a vacuum, providing … [+] the right power for any task.
ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTO: RETAILERS
Capable of sucking up everything from piles of leaves to twigs, leaf vacuums make seasonal yard work infinitely easier. While they’re perfect for large lawns, they’re also a worthy investment for those with smaller yards who want a cleaner, more efficient way to remove leaves, says Noah James, owner of Liberty Lawn Maintenance. Not sure which model to purchase? Start by considering the size of your lawn and how many piles of leaves tend to accumulate during fall. “Leaf vacuums come in handheld sizes for small yards and spot work, or as attachments for riding mowers, and everything in between,” says Ryan Farley, CEO of LawnStarter. Don’t forget to factor in garage space, as these machines spend most of the year in storage. Ahead, we’ve rounded up the best leaf vacuums on the market.
Worx’s 3-in-1 Trivac is designed to keep your lawn tidy with ease. This versatile electric tool transitions seamlessly from a leaf blower to a vacuum, providing the right power for any task. A metal impeller reduces leaves to an 18-to-1 mulch ratio, converting 18 bags of leaves into just one bag of mulch. Its curled lip design allows you to easily reach under lawn fixtures and landscaping to remove hidden debris. With adjustable speeds ranging from 80 to 210 MPH and 350 CFM, you can tailor the power to your needs. Weighing just over 9 pounds, this machine is easy to control with one hand.
A reliable leaf vacuum isn’t always the cheapest tool in your lawn maintenance arsenal, but this model from Black + Decker is both dependable and affordable. This corded electric vacuum also functions as a leaf blower and mulcher, offering a mulch ratio of 10-to-1. Experience powerful speeds of up to 210 MPH for quick cleanups, and switch between two speeds (with a minimum of 150 MPH) to optimize power for each task. The kit includes a blow tube, vacuum tube and a collection bag that you can easily sling over your shoulder.
Best Splurge Leaf Vacuum
A 24-Inch Width Gives You Plenty Of Coverage In One Pass
Most people may hesitate to spend nearly $1,000 on a leaf vacuum, but if lawn debris is a serious and ongoing issue, this walk-behind Troy-Bilt vacuum is worth considering. With a 24-inch vacuum width, it efficiently picks up a large volume of leaves and twigs at once. An onboard 7-foot hose helps you target tight spots and areas under shrubs, while a 3-foot hose extension provides a reach of up to 10 feet. This self-propelled machine also functions as a wood chipper and shredder, reducing eight bags of yard waste to just one. The attached two-bushel bag allows you to cover a significant area before needing to empty it.
Best Cordless Leaf Vacuum
A Battery-Powered Option With A Range Of Accessories
This vacuum and leaf blower from Greenworks delivers up to 185 MPH and 340 CFM of suction power, making yard waste a breeze to manage. Cordless and powered by a battery compatible with all Greenworks tools, it offers convenient features like cruise control for easy operation and wheels on the lip to reduce fatigue while you work. The 17-gallon collection bag can hold up to half an acre’s worth of leaves and debris before needing to be emptied. When it’s time to switch from blowing to vacuuming, simply swap the tube, attach the bag and get back to work.
Best Leaf Vacuum Mulcher
A Versatile Machine That Can Crunch Bags Of Leaves Into One
Ryobi’s humorously named Vac Attack is a cordless beast that can suck up and mulch up to eight 30-gallon bags in just 12 minutes. The tool features a metal impeller that mulches 16 bags of leaves down to one, making for quick clean-up. The vacuum’s lip has wheels to make it easy to push around your yard and there’s also variable speed to allow you to set the pace that works best for your comfort zone. The bag unzips when it’s time to empty it out, making it simple to dump mulch into your garden bed or a yard waste bag. This cordless tool works with all Ryobi 40-volt batteries.
Gas-powered leaf vacuums are known for their power—and their noise—but the Husqvarna model impresses with a quiet operation at just 49 decibels, comparable to light rainfall. It reaches speeds of up to 170 MPH and offers 425 CFM, with a 16-to-1 mulching capability to efficiently reduce material and maximize bag capacity. The engine and starter provide quick operation, while a variable speed throttle with cruise control allows you to move at a comfortable pace. Plus, the stop switch automatically resets to the “on” position for easier starting the next time you use it.
The Sun Joe tool is a versatile powerhouse, functioning as a leaf blower, vacuum, mulcher and gutter cleaner. It features wheels on the lip for easy maneuverability around your grass and walkways while efficiently sucking up debris. The 14-amp motor generates airflow of up to 250 MPH, and you can choose from six adjustable wind speeds to find the perfect level of suction for any yard waste. An aluminum alloy impeller chops debris down to a 16:1 ratio, funneling everything into an 18-gallon collection bag. When it’s time to clean your gutters, simply extend the tube up to 15 feet for reach.
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