10 Best Leaf Vacuums 2022

Oct 29, 2023

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After you pile up lawn debris, turn it into garden mulch with one of these leaf vacuums.

People have the idea that using a leaf vacuum is a lot like vacuuming indoors, as if you just move smoothly along, leaving a clean path behind you. However, in practice, the process is not that simple. If that’s what you want, a lawn mower with a bag works better. Leaf vacuums do have their place in cleaning up yard debris—as long as you know their optimal uses.

As anyone in the know can tell you, most leaf vacuums are leaf blowers that can perform double duty. Change the flow of air on these machines, sometimes called leaf blower vacs, and they start drawing leaves in, instead of pushing them away.

You might not be surprised to hear that leaf vacuums are more effective at removing leaves from hard surfaces than a lawn. For example, they work well at removing leaves from concrete, pavers, flagstone, brick, and asphalt. To some degree, they work on decks, but you’ll find it’s easier to blow off leaves and debris that’s stuck between deck boards rather than trying to pull out the material.

Leaf vacuums work pretty well on small patches of grass, but for larger areas, you’ll find it more effective to rake up a small pile and then vacuum that up. Their portable design and narrow tubes also make them perfect for accessing areas that your lawn mower or rake could not, like against walls, in corners, and stuck in bushes or against fencing.

Gas-engine leaf vacuums are far more powerful than corded or cordless models and are more resistant to clogging, especially when pulling in twigs, wet leaves, or a combination of the two. Those materials can be particularly difficult to vacuum up, and it takes a lot of torque and air movement to do it. Also, gas-engine vacs are far more mobile than corded machines. If you’re working a small, manicured yard, either a corded or cordless model would be perfect.

For a large lawn, especially where you have to remove nuts, twigs, pine cones, and pine needles along with the leaves, go with a gas-engine leaf vacuum. Also, note that air movement speed and volumes stated by manufacturers usually refers to blowing, not vacuum mode. There is no standard test for vacuuming lawn debris, and air movement is only part of the story. How well a machine does at vacuuming has a lot to do with the material you’re removing, its shape, friction, and dampness.

Bagging capacity is something else to keep in mind. Obviously, the higher the volume of leaves a vacuum bag can ingest, the more area you can cover without needing to stop and empty it. To some extent, all leaf vacuums shred material as it passes through the impeller, but some models feature mulching functions, too. These machines can manage a higher volume of leaves because the condensed materials occupy less space in the bag. Because you will be carrying the leaf vacuum (possibly for a long period of time), you also want to consider its weight. A heavy model—say, 10 pounds or more—with a large collection bag will involve more exertion and might be more likely to cause back strain.

We performed testing—which involved evaluating the leaf vacuum’s performance with both dry and damp leaves and other debris while clearing lawns, a parking lot, and area perimeters—on most of the models listed here. For the leaf vacuums we didn’t spend hands-on time with, we consulted manufacturer listings for relevant specs related to weight, motor type and size, and extra features or capabilities. Finally, we factored in the input from hundreds of reviewers on Amazon, Walmart, and other retail sites. After considering all of that information, we choose these 10 models as our recommendations for best leaf vacuums.

If a multifunctional tool is your priority, then consider this 4-in-1 Sun Joe vacuum and its variety of attachments. We have had great experiences with Sun Joe products in general and have typically found them to be reliable, albeit somewhat light-duty products. This vacuum features a standard blower and extra-wide vacuum nozzle, as well as a detachable tube that allows you to safely blow debris from gutters up to 15 feet in the air. Plus, a set of small wheels at the end of the vacuum tube allow you to rest it on the ground as you go, taking the weight off your back and shoulders.

This Worx model is, hands down, the easiest machine to switch from blower to vacuum. Its tube stays put. You simply turn a dial on the machine’s side to rotate the motor 90 degrees. Easily slip the vacuum collection bag into place over the impeller; just press on the bag’s small spring-loaded collar and release when it’s seated. We timed it as taking less than 20 seconds. It’s a brilliant piece of engineering. And this Worx is no slouch when it comes to scooping up dried leaves. Its 12-amp motor is up to the job. Still, it won’t compete with the gas-engine machines, particularly with damp debris or when loads of twigs are mixed. But, this is a great choice for a small, manicured yard where cord drag is kept to a minimum and you spend most of your time cleaning leaves from between shrubs by vacuuming and blowing.

The powerful metal impeller on this Ryobi vacuum practically chews through leaves and can shred more than a dozen bags of whole leaves down to a volume that would fit in just one. This model doesn’t include a battery or charger, but it uses a standard Ryobi charger that you likely already have if you use any of the brand’s other cordless tools. If you’re a new Ryobi customer, upgrade to the Vac Attack kit that includes a 5.0-amp-hour battery and charger.

We think you could safely call this Toro model an air-moving beast. An important design feature that distinguishes this machine from its competitors is that it has a metal impeller, not one made from high-impact plastic. We didn’t notice any impeller breakage on our test vacuums, but when given the choice of metal versus plastic for this part, we’d opt for metal for its durability. Other features we like are its dial-adjust speed control and a wide-mouth zippered opening on its debris bag to facilitate dumping.

Another option from Sun Joe, this model stands out because it works in a way that most resembles the vacuum cleaner you use inside your home, which makes it very intuitive to operate. Customers were pleasantly surprised by the longer-than-expected battery life but also noted that this vacuum performs best on flat surfaces with relatively dry materials.

The Husqvarna 125BVX is very well built, starts extremely easily (with one pull), and handles dry leaves with a vengeance. It did clog, however, when gathering damp mixed debris, such as oak leaves and pine needles. More annoying, though, was its bag attachment, which is affixed by means of a heavy-duty spring sewn into the bag’s collar. Its grip on the discharge tube is so tenacious that once attached, the bag cannot be easily removed. You end up lugging the filled bag and the machine to dump the shredded contents. Given that a bag of shredded debris weighs anywhere from 5 to 12 pounds (according to our tests), that’s inconvenient.

At an affordable price point, this Black and Decker model is a good choice for folks who need the dual-capability of a low-cost blower vac. Here’s what you get for your money: a metal impeller powered by a 12-amp motor, high- and low-speed selection, and tool-free changeover from blower to vacuum. It’s also noticeably quieter than some other models, and emptying the reusable bag is quick and easy.

This Greenworks leaf vacuum proves how far 40 volts will take you today—a long way, as it turns out. We ran out of leaves before its battery ran out of juice. We see this machine as filling a role in conjunction with a trimmer and mower: The mower handles the grass and some leaf bagging before the trimmer cleans up the edges. You blow the remaining leaves into a pile and quickly switch to vacuum mode by flipping down the impeller hatch, detaching the blower tube with a simple press on the detent. Then click the oval-shaped vacuum tube into place over the impeller. The debris bag has a stubby collar on it that clicks into place where the blower tube was located. Vacuum up the leaves, and you’re done. This is a great little blower-vac, but we don’t see it as being fast enough for a yard full of leaves. It did prove ideal, however, for a small cleanup.

This Craftsman model earned high marks from reviewers for delivering good quality for the price and its straightforward usability. The backpack-style collection bag is convenient and prevents the bag from getting in the way as you maneuver the vacuum. This would be a good choice for smaller- to medium-sized yards. Some online reviewers cited difficulty starting the vacuum, which (at least in some cases) might be related to the built-in safety mechanism that must be engaged before use.

The Echo handled dry and uniform debris easily, gobbling it up at full throttle, quickly filling its bag. Conversion from blower to vacuum is fast and easy. To remove the vacuum tube, grip the large plastic lugs molded into the tube and twist it off. The debris bag, held with a large Velcro strap, is easy to mount and empty. The machine received only one small demerit, and that was for the fixed-position sliding on/off switch. Our experience shows that a momentary rocker switch is better because after the machine is switched off, the switch automatically springs back to the Start position. We inadvertently went to restart the Echo in the off position when we remembered to switch it on.

PM: Which do you prefer: a gas or an electric leaf vacuum?B.D.: I think each type offers certain advantages. You can’t beat the power of gas, and of course, gas models eliminate the hassles of dealing with a cord or changing batteries. But I think the electric and cordless models have continued to improve, and I like using them for smaller yards.

PM: In your experience, what feature can make or break a leaf vacuum?B.D.: Weight is a big factor. Even just a few extra pounds can make a big difference when you’re going to be carrying this machine around your yard, possible while maneuvering across different types of terrain covered in piles of debris. Good shredding or mulching capabilities are a big plus—and I’m always a fan of any type of lawn equipment that is quieter than you expect, so I love the lower-noise models.

PM: When and in what conditions do you recommend people vacuum leaves?B.D.: Ideally, you’ll get the best results when leaves are dry and crunchy. Even the heavy-duty models can sometimes struggle when trying to get through heavy piles of wet, soggy leaves. If you are also going to be mulching the leaves, it’s a great idea to vacuum and mulch the leaves right after you mow the lawn, as this is an easy (and free!) way to fertilize your lawn in a natural, organic way.

Editors’ Note: Alex Rennie contributed to this article.

Bobbi Dempsey is the former owner of a construction and property maintenance business and a die-hard DIYer whose main project these days is her 100-plus-year-old home that’s a never-ending series of home improvement challenges and adventures; she has written reviews, product roundups, and shopping guides about drain snakes, all manner of saws, nostalgic toys, and more. She’s an economic justice fellow at Community Change and a reporting fellow at Economic Hardship Reporting Project. In addition to Popular Mechanics, she has written for a range of publications including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Muscle & Fitness, and Parade.

Roy Berendsohn has worked for more than 25 years at Popular Mechanics, where he has written on carpentry, masonry, painting, plumbing, electrical, woodworking, blacksmithing, welding, lawn care, chainsaw use, and outdoor power equipment. When he’s not working on his own house, he volunteers with Sovereign Grace Church doing home repair for families in rural, suburban and urban locations throughout central and southern New Jersey.

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