8 Best Leaf Rakes for Fall 2024
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We love the fall season, but as soon as the leaves start to change, we also find our yards covered in branches, leaves, and other seasonal debris. Fall yard work is typically the bane of almost every homeowner’s existence, whether you own 100 square feet or 100 acres. While removing leaves from your yard ultimately comes down to personal taste (in fact, many landscape pros recommend keeping them around to “feed” next year’s growth), most homeowners prefer to do at least one or two solid cleanups each fall. And, short of hiring a landscaping crew, nothing will make the process go faster than having the best leaf rakes on hand.
Having a reliable rake for leaves and yard debris can speed up your cleanup process and save your back, with a lightweight, comfortable handle, and sturdy tines that can tackle anything from leaves and branches to pine cones. To help take the guesswork out of your next trip to the hardware store, we’re rounding up the best leaf rakes for fall, just in time for the dreaded shed. Even your giant oak tree is no match for these all-stars!
Is a Metal or Plastic Rake Better for Leaves?
Choosing between a metal or plastic rake is a common conundrum, and the winner depends on the type of lawnwork you’re tackling. Plastic rakes—that is, a rake that boasts a plastic ferrule (the rake head) and tines—tend to be better suited to smaller cleanup tasks and lawns. The plastic material is often lightweight, which is great for lugging around your yard, but also means it’s less likely to hold its own against tougher debris. On the flip side, metal rakes are known to be more durable and flexible, which can help them easily work around other obstacles in your lawn, like a nearby shrub or ground-level roots.
Is It Better to Rake Leaves Wet or Dry?
When deciding when to clean up your lawn for the fall, try to pick a dry day (in a recent string of dry days, for that matter). The reason: Wet leaves can clump together, making the harder to clean up, as well as heavier. They’ll also be more likely to stick to the tines of your rake, necessitating a lot of bending to remove clumps from your rake, which will ultimately slow down your efforts.
How Do Professionals Rake Leaves?
To rake leaves like a pro, it’s important to start with the right equipment. For many experts, that means more than one rake, tailored specifically to the type of landscape they’re working on. Beyond that, make sure to rake leaves when they’re dry and make an effort to work with Mother Nature to make your life easier (like raking downhill or in the same direction the breeze is already blowing). To save time—and avoid doing numerous runs with a wheelbarrow—experts also like to rake all their lawn debris onto a tarp, which can then be dragged to a dump site at the back of the lawn or bundled up neatly to bag up for disposal.
01
Best Overall Leaf Rake
The Groundskeeper II Green Rake
Amazon
$44.99
This lightweight design clocks in at under 2 pounds, making it great for whoever is doing the gardening (even if you’ve roped a reluctant teen into it). The 21-inch head’s gently curved 28 durable steel tines make it easier to rake up leaves and branches, dethatch lawns, and level mulch. Even better, the tines have a built-in spring system, which makes them less likely to clog up with leaves.
02
Best Adjustable Leaf Rake
Buyplus Adjustable Garden Leaf Rake
Amazon
$34.99
Lawns are not one-size-fits-all, so your rake shouldn’t be either. This versatile style spans from 8 inches to 23 inches wide and 40 inches to 63 inches long, so it can easily flex between cleaning in-between plants in your beds to raking up large swaths of lawn. The entire body (handle and tines included) is rust-resistant stainless steel, which guarantees its reliability for seasons to come.
03
Most Durable Rake
Razor-Back Steel Rake
Home Depot
$34.98
If your lawn is a mess of branches, bark, and other debris (post a storm, perhaps?), you’re going to need to call in the big guns—and that just so happens to be this rake from Razor-Back. The 51-inch handle is made of fiberglass, so it’ll resist bending, even with the pressure necessary to rake up the most over-the-top messes. The steel tines are also incredibly durable and—best of all—the head is replaceable as necessary.
04
Best Hand Rake
Gardzen Large Leaf Scoop Hand Rakes
Amazon
$21.99
A durable pair of garden gloves should be in every homeowner’s arsenal, but they’re not always cut out for the (sometimes sharp and dangerous) work of fall cleanup. When your go-to gear just won’t do, reach for these hand rakes from Gardzen. Instead of trying to balance a scoop of leaves on a long-handled rake, these mitts will help you pick up piles with ease. That means less work for you, and protection from any prickers, thorns, or sharp branches. Bonus: They even come with a 72-ounce garden bag.
05
Best Plastic Rake
True Temper Tine Poly Leaf Rake
Ace Hardware
$28.99
At first glance, this rake doesn’t look like much, but its secret sauce lies in dual layers of tines that come out at slightly different angles to pick up double the debris. While you do run the risk of the tines breaking off (they’re plastic, not steel), they’re very thick, and this hearty piece should carry you through all your seasonal cleanup and beyond.
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06
Best Affordable Hand Rake
Garden Depot Hand Rake
Amazon
$8.15
Cleaning your lawn on your hands and knees is hard work, but sometimes it has to be done, especially in the case of garden beds and fencing. To make the slog a little easier, pick up a hand rake that’ll help you make quick work of your flower beds, borders, and more. This one comes with a grippy handle and tines that are only 6.25 inches wide, so it can maneuver into even the tiniest spots.
07
Best Budget Leaf Rake
Gardzen Gardening Leaf Rake with Garden Bag
Amazon
$22.99
If your lawn is on the smaller side—or just not that messy—chances are that you don’t want to break the bank when buying a rake. This inexpensive plastic pick—with 12 long, curved tines—is under $25 and even comes with a dustpan-style garden bag, so it’s easy to rake debris into without it collapsing.
08
Under $50 Rake
Bully Tools Poly Lawn and Leaf Rake
Amazon
$40.41
The wide, fan-like shape of this rake will help you tackle all your acreage more efficiently, thanks to durable plastic tines that bend at 90 degrees at the tip for better grab. The handle of this rake is also especially strong, with a reinforced wood core and fiberglass exterior that resists bending or signs of wear and tear. Note: This rake does require some assembly upon arrival (you’ll need to attach the head), but it’s nothing you can’t handle.
