While the changing of leaves from their typical green into warm yellow, red, and orange signals the changing of the seasons, it’s also a signal for homeowners to bust out their rakes for fall cleanup. If you’re in the market for a new rake this fall, our reviews of the best leaf rakes for the lawn and garden can help you choose one.
Buying a reliable rake isn’t too difficult, but you should put some thought into it: you don’t want to buy something flimsy that’s just going to snap next fall. That’s why we’ve wrangled up the best leaf rakes for your lawn and garden so you don’t have to. As a bonus, we’ve also listed some other rakes that are good for things other than cleaning up leaves, such as thatch rakes and garden rakes.
Our top picks
Best metal leaf rakes – Reviews
Metal is the most durable material for a rake head, making metal rakes a good choice for those who want a tool that lasts. However, homeowners should be prepared to shell out more for the higher quality.
1. Razor-Back 51 in. Fiberglass Handle 24-Tine Steel Rake
The Razor-Back 51 in. Fiberglass Handle 24-Tine Steel Rake is a good metal lawn rake for homeowners looking for a reliable, long-lasting tool. It’s great for raking up leaves, branches, and even some light thatch from your lawn without issue. It even comes with a lifetime warranty in case you run into problems while using it.
Coated tines. Its steel tines are powder-coated, which prevents the rake from rusting. Still, it’s best to keep your rake safe from the elements.
Made for comfort. The cushioned grip and flexible coil spring make raking with this garden tool a breeze. However, its handle might be a little short for those on the taller side.
Product details
- Head material: Coated steel
- Head width: 24 in.
- Number of tines: 24
- Handle material: Fiberglass
- Handle length: 51 in.
- Weight: 2.52 lbs.
- Cushioned grip? Yes
Pros and cons
| What we liked | What we didn’t like |
| ✓ Cushioned grip ✓ Fiberglass handle ✓ Flexible coil spring for smoother raking ✓ Coated steel tines deter rust from forming ✓ Lifetime warranty | ✗ Tines will bend with heavy work ✗ Handle could be short for taller users |
Where to buy
2. Corona RK 62061 Fixed Tine Leaf Rake
If you’re looking for a lighter metal rake and are willing to spend a little more money, then you might want to consider the Corona RK 62061 Fixed Tine Leaf Rake. Weighing only 1.3 lbs, this rake is one of the lightest on our list.
Metal through and through. The Corona RK 62061 Fixed Tine Leaf Rake has tempered spring steel tines and an aluminum handle. The handle is what gives the rake its lightness, although it also makes it less suitable for heavy work.
Product details
- Head material: Tempered spring steel
- Head width: 19 in.
- Number of tines: 25
- Handle material: Aluminum
- Handle length: 54 in.
- Weight: 1.3 lbs.
- Cushioned grip? Yes
Pros and cons
| What we liked | What we didn’t like |
| ✓ Cushioned, anti-slip vinyl grip ✓ Lightweight aluminum handle ✓ Limited lifetime warranty | ✗ Not ideal for heavier jobs ✗ Smaller head means it doesn’t cover as large of an area as wider rakes |
Where to buy
Best plastic leaf rakes – Reviews
Plastic rakes are typically lighter and less expensive than metal and wooden leaf rakes, especially if they don’t have metal handles. However, they are usually less sturdy than their metal and wood counterparts.
1. Ames Collector Series 26 in. Poly Leaf Rake
The best plastic leaf rake on our list is the Ames Collector Series 26 in. Poly Leaf Rake. Like many plastic leaf rakes, it’s quite inexpensive; however, its poly head is stronger than regular old plastic tines.
Made for taller homeowners. With a total length of 74 inches, the Ames Collector Series 26 in. Poly Leaf Rake is comfortable even for taller users. Shorter people may struggle using this rake, though.
Covers a large area. Its 26.5-inch wide head comes with 6.5-inch long tines and is wider than a lot of rakes. This makes it easier for users to comb out leaves from their lawns.
Product details
- Head material: Poly plastic
- Head width: 26.5 in.
- Number of tines: 26
- Handle material: Vinyl-coated steel
- Handle length: 60 in.
- Weight: 2.32 lbs.
- Cushioned grip? Yes
Pros and cons
| What we liked | What we didn’t like |
| ✓ Cushioned grip ✓ Wide and large head ✓ Vinyl-coated steel handle ✓ Long handle is good for taller users ✓ Affordable15-year warranty | ✗ Size might make it unwieldy if you’re short ✗ Stiff |
Where to buy
2. Fiskars 24 in. Leaf Rake
The Fiskars 24 in. Leaf Rake is a good option for homeowners with a lot of small leaves, such as pine needles. Its 29 tines are packed into a 24-inch rake head, making the spaces between them tighter than other leaf rakes.
Ergonomic tear-drop handle. Aside from having a cushioned grip, the Fiskars 24 in. Leaf Rake also has a teardrop-shaped handle that’s much easier to grip. The 55-inch handle is made of aluminum, which is lighter than other metals like steel.
Product details
- Head material: Polycarbonate
- Head width: 24 in.
- Number of tines: 29
- Handle material: Aluminum
- Handle length: 55 in.
- Weight: 1.5 lbs.
- Cushioned grip? Yes
Pros and cons
| What we liked | What we didn’t like |
| ✓ Cushioned grip ✓ Lightweight aluminum handle ✓ Teardrop-shaped handle is easier to use ✓ Affordable ✓ Limited lifetime warranty | ✗ Rake teeth can bend ✗ The screw connecting the rake head and the handle can come loose, and the rake head can fall off ✗ Tighter-packed tines can be more prone to clogging |
Where to buy
Best adjustable leaf rakes – Reviews
Adjustable leaf rakes are perfect for homeowners who want to minimize the number of tools they need to remove leaves. These garden tools can have adjustable heads that get wider or narrower and telescoping handles that can change the length of the tool.
1. Jardineer 63 in. Adjustable Leaf Rake
With its adjustable rake head and telescopic handle, the Jardineer 63 in. Adjustable Leaf Rake is quite a customizable tool. It’s also quite lightweight, making it easy to use around the yard; even children can use this leaf rake.
Tight spots and wide open spaces. The metal rake head can get as wide as 23 inches or as narrow as 7 inches, and making it narrower strengthens the head. Simply turn the yellow lock to keep the rake at your desired width. The adjustable head makes the Jardineer 63 in. Adjustable Leaf Rake usable even in tight spaces; it also helps save on storage space.
Adjust to your perfect length. At its max length, this leaf rake is about 63 inches long. However, its telescoping handle can be shortened to make it easier to use for shorter homeowners; just make sure to tighten it to keep it in place. You’re out of luck if you need something longer than 63 inches, though.
Product details
- Head material: Steel
- Head width: 7 in. to 23 in.
- Number of tines: 15
- Handle material: Aluminum
- Max length: 63 in.
- Weight: 1.41 lbs.
- Cushioned grip? Yes
- Adjustable head? Yes
- Telescoping handle? Yes
Pros and cons
| What we liked | What we didn’t like |
| ✓ Rubber grip ✓ Telescoping handle helps shorter homeowners ✓ Easy to store ✓ Lightweight aluminum handle ✓ Flexible tines | ✗ The tines can bend with heavy use ✗ The rake head locking mechanism seems a little flimsy ✗ The telescoping handle’s twist-to-lock mechanism can loosen over time |
Where to buy
2. MLTOOLS 64 in. Adjustable Garden Leaf Rake
The MLTOOLS 64 in. Adjustable Garden Leaf Rake is similar to the first adjustable rake on our list, but it has a bit more heft to it. It’s not too heavy, but the alloy steel making up its head and handle gives it some added weight.
Just a little larger. Expanding from 7.5 inches to 24 inches, this leaf rake is slightly larger than the Jardineer 63 in. Adjustable Leaf Rake. At its max length of 64 inches, it’s also just a tad longer.
Product details
- Head material: Alloy steel
- Head width: 7.5 in. to 24 in.
- Number of tines: 15
- Handle material: Alloy steel
- Max length: 64 in.
- Weight: 2 lbs.
- Cushioned grip? No, plastic grip
- Adjustable head? Yes
- Telescoping handle? Yes
Pros and cons
| What we liked | What we didn’t like |
| ✓ Non-slip plastic grip ✓ Telescoping handle helps shorter homeowners ✓ Easy to store ✓ Lightweight ✓ Affordable | ✗ Telescopic handle’s twist-lock can fail ✗ Rake head locking mechanism doesn’t lock tight enough at times |
Where to buy
Bonus: Other good rakes for the lawn and garden
Best shrub rake: Fiskars 8 Inch Shrub Rake
Shrub rakes are kind of like mini leaf rakes, made for cleaning up small, tight spaces such as shrubs, flower beds, and along fence lines. While an adjustable leaf rake can do the trick, you may want a dedicated one like Fiskars 8 Inch Shrub Rake if you need something sturdier.
Made of aluminum and resin, this leaf rake is lightweight; it only weighs 1.12 pounds in total. Like its bigger leaf rake cousin, this Fiskars tool has a teardrop-shaped handle that makes it easier to use.
Product details
- Head material: Resin
- Head width: 8 in.
- Number of tines: 11
- Handle material: Aluminum
- Handle length: 58 in.
- Weight: 1.12 lbs.
- Cushioned grip? Yes
Pros and cons
| What we liked | What we didn’t like |
| ✓ Cushioned grip ✓ Lightweight aluminum handle ✓ Teardrop-shaped handle is easier to use ✓ Affordable ✓ Lifetime warranty | ✗ Resin tines can be a little flimsy ✗ The sticker on the head doesn’t come off cleanly and leaves it sticky |
Where to buy
Best landscape rake: Midwest 10036 Aluminum Landscape Rake
When you’re working on a more extensive project that involves more than raking leaves, then you might need to bring out the big guns. Often used by landscaping pros, landscape rakes have a much wider head that’s typically made of metal. For example, the Midwest 10036 Aluminum Landscape Rake is 36 inches wide, but you can also get it with a 48-inch head.
Coming in at 4.8 pounds, this landscape rake is a good deal heftier than the other tools we have on this list. You can use it for grading soil, raking sand and gravel, or even cleaning pools and other bodies of water.
Product details
- Head material: Heavy-duty aluminum
- Head width: 36 in.
- Handle material: Powder-coated aluminum
- Handle length: 58 in.
- Weight: 4.8 lbs.
- Cushioned grip? Yes
Pros and cons
| What we liked | What we didn’t like |
| ✓ Cushioned grip ✓ Aluminum handle ✓ Rounded teeth are less damaging ✓ Multi-use, but made for dealing with rocks and other heavier debris | ✗ Assembly can be a little difficult |
Where to buy
Best thatch rake: The Groundskeeper II Rake
Also known as dethatching rakes, thatch rakes are used to remove thatch – the layer of organic matter between your turf and the soil. It digs into the thatch layer and brings it to the surface. With its 7-inch tines, The Groundskeeper II Rake can definitely help in dethatching your lawn, especially if it’s small.
Unlike other thatch rakes, The Groundskeeper II Rake has rounded tines that won’t damage grass as much. Because of this, you can also use this rake to move debris like leaves, pine needles, and mulch. You won’t have trouble using this rake as it’s quite lightweight; it only weighs 2 pounds.
Product details
- Head material: Steel and co-polymer
- Head width: 21 in.
- Handle material: Fiberglass
- Handle length: 55 in.
- Weight: 2 lbs.
- Cushioned grip? No
Pros and cons
| What we liked | What we didn’t like |
| ✓ Fiberglass handle ✓ Rounded and flexible tines ✓ Multi-use ✓ Lightweight | ✗ Can be a bit tedious to use when dethatching ✗ Can be difficult to assemble |
Where to buy
Best garden rake: Bully Tools 92379 16″ Bow Rake
Like their name suggests, garden rakes are useful tools for gardening-inclined homeowners. Also called bow rakes, garden rakes are used not for moving leaves but for working with dirt. Their short and sharp tines can damage your lawn.
The Bully Tools 92379 16″ Bow Rake is a prime example of a garden rake. Made of 10-gauge steel, its tines are stiff and sturdy; they can easily dig into your soil and handle heavy-duty work. It comes in two lengths: the standard 58-inch or an extra-long 66-inch version.
Product details
- Head material: Steel
- Head width: 16 in.
- Handle material: Fiberglass
- Rake length: 58 in. or 66 in.
- Weight: 3.7 lbs.
- Cushioned grip? Yes
Pros and cons
| What we liked | What we didn’t like |
| ✓ Cushioned grip ✓ Fiberglass handle ✓ Sturdy steel head ✓ Made for heavy use ✓ Comes in multiple lengths ✓ Limited lifetime warranty | ✗ A little heavy ✗ Grip can come off at times |
Where to buy
Best hand rake: Garden Depot Gardening Hand Rake
Another invaluable gardening tool is the hand rake. It’s stiff like a gardening rake, but it’s much smaller, which makes it the perfect tool for precise and small-scale tasks. You can use it to break up soil, rake leaves in tight spots, and even pull up weeds. If you’re looking for a hand rake, you can’t go wrong with the Garden Depot Gardening Hand Rake.
Only 6.25 inches wide, this metal hand rake is small enough to fit between bushes, shrubs, and flower beds. Although it’s quite light — only 5.3 ounces — the Garden Depot Gardening Hand Rake is quite sturdy thanks to its metal tines and plastic handle.
Product details
- Head material: Metal
- Head width: 6.25 in.
- Handle material: Plastic
- Rake length: 16.5 in.
- Weight: 5.3 oz.
- Cushioned grip? No
Pros and cons
| What we liked | What we didn’t like |
| ✓ Metal tines ✓ Affordable ✓ Lightweight | ✗ Handle may come off with heavy use ✗ Tines might bend with heavy work |
Where to buy
Best leaf scoops: MEKKAPRO Leaf Scoops and Claws V2.0
Are you willing to try a different type of leaf removal tool? Unlike rakes, leaf scoops have you get down and dirty as they don’t have long handles; instead, you grip them. Think of them as similar to shovel-hands, where you gather the leaves and scoop them up before dropping them into your compost pile or garbage bag.
The MEKKAPRO Leaf Scoops and Claws V2.0 fit like a glove and are easy to grip. The handles are high, so your hands won’t get dirty unless you bite off more than you can chew. They’re made of a thick plastic that can handle heavier loads, but they’re not heavy at all.
Product details
- Material: Plastic
- Width: 13.5 in.
- Length: 17 in.
- Weight: 1.5 lbs.
- Comfortable grip? Yes
Pros and cons
| What we liked | What we didn’t like |
| ✓ Lightweight ✓ Easy to use ✓ Durable ✓ Saves time | ✗ Handle is a little flimsy ✗ Your hands might hurt a little because they can rub against the plastic edge when holding it ✗ Wrists will start hurting with prolonged use |
Where to buy
Buyer’s guide to leaf rakes
Leaf rakes are a pretty simple and no-nonsense tool. However, that doesn’t mean you should pick any ol’ leaf rake. Some will be better suited to your tastes than others. Here are some factors to keep in mind when you go rake shopping.
Material
Rake heads can be made of plastic, wood, or metals like steel and aluminum. Here are some of their properties and why you might want to buy a rake made of each:
- Plastic heads are usually the most affordable and least destructive. They also tend to be rather light. However, they’re not as durable as other materials.
- Wood heads are in the middle in terms of weight and durability. They’re a sustainable material, especially when bamboo is used.
- The properties of metal rake heads depend on the type of metal. However, they’re typically the most expensive, most flexible, but most destructive.
- Steel is durable but heavy.
- Aluminum is light but not as durable. It’s also less expensive than steel.
The above is also true for rake handles, except for the addition of fiberglass. Fiberglass is lightweight like wood but more durable. However, it’s more expensive. Keep the rake head and handle material in mind when picking out a rake.
Head and tines
When buying a rake, you may think that bigger is better. While that’s not a bad way to go about it, it’s not the complete picture. Always keep in mind what you’re using the rake for. You might need something a little smaller because of the unique characteristics of your lawn. If you need different-sized rakes but don’t want to buy multiple tools, consider buying a rake with an adjustable head.
That’s not all, though. You might want to take note of how many tines there are and how they’re spaced out on the rake. Tighter-packed tines may get clogged more often when dealing with pine needles and other thin debris.
Handle
Once again, bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better when it comes to handle length. While longer rakes cover a bigger area, they can be cumbersome to use if you (or your arms) are on the shorter side. The best length is the one you are the most comfortable with, especially if you’ll be out in the yard for quite a while.
If multiple people of different heights will be using your rake, you might want to look into getting one with a telescoping or adjustable handle. That way, you can adjust its length to suit the person using it. As a bonus, they’re easier to store.
If you can, you should also test out how the handle feels in your hand before buying your rake.
Weight
Rakes can be as light as one pound or as heavy as three or more. Lighter rakes are easier to handle and are better suited for light tasks. Heavier rakes are better for heavy work but are less comfortable to wield.
FAQ about leaf rakes
Why would you want a rake with flexible tines?
Rakes with flexible tines are easier to work with if you have to rake leaves in uneven or sloping terrain.
Is raking leaves good?
Raking your leaves makes your lawn look cleaner, and you can use the leaves in your compost pile.
However, raking leaves may have unintended consequences. Small animals like frogs hide under and live in leaf litter. You may want to hold off on raking your lawn for a while if you care about these little critters, but not for too long, as lawn pests can also call these leaves home.
Should you rake wet leaves?
Don’t rake your lawn immediately after heavy rainfall! Those leaves will be wet, heavy, and potentially deadly to your rake. Wait for the leaves to dry out a little, especially if your rake is on the lighter side.
How much does professional leaf removal cost?
The average cost of professional leaf removal ranges from $155 to $460. However, homeowners can spend as little as $60 or as much as $740.
What other ways can you remove leaves from your property?
If you’d like to take advantage of technology to remove leaves from your yard, you can pick up a leaf blower or a mulching lawn mower for your property. While they’re more expensive and much noisier, they’re usually less tedious to use. For example, a typical leaf blower costs around $150, but the best leaf blowers can cost well above $200.
Want to take the plunge and buy a leaf blower? Read our product reviews on the best gas leaf blowers and the best battery-powered leaf blowers for ideas.
What can you do with fall leaves?
Among other things, they can be turned into nutritious mulch for your lawn and garden. Read our article on what to do with fall leaves on your lawn for more ideas.
When to hire a professional leaf removal service
Raking leaves can be tedious, even with the best leaf rake on the market. If you’re a homeowner who can’t put in the work to remove leaves once a week due to time constraints, ailing health, or a plain dislike of the tedium, why not hire a professional leaf removal service?
Lawn Love can connect you with capable leaf removal pros in your area who can remove leaves and do your other tedious lawn maintenance work so you don’t have to.
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