Rakes come in so many different varieties, from lightweight leaf rakes to heavy-duty bow rakes, that homeowners standing in the garden center aisle can be overwhelmed by their choices.
The key lies in matching the tool to your specific needs: the size of your yard, the types of debris you’ll be collecting, your physical capabilities, and the frequency of use. A well-chosen rake not only saves time and energy but also prevents the back strain and blisters that come from using the wrong tool for the job.
In this guide, we’ll break down the essentials on the most common rake types, such as leaf rakes, hand rakes, and landscape rakes, including what they’re for, their key features, and average costs.
Leaf rake (Lawn rake)
As the name suggests, a leaf rake (or lawn rake) is built for gathering leaves and light lawn debris, and it is a must-have in your home. It has a long, fan-shaped head with flexible tines made from plastic or spring steel. Plastic models are great for dry leaves, while metal leaf rakes are tougher and can handle wet leaves, pine needles, and light garden debris, like gravel, sand, and soil.
- Key features: Fan head, flexible tines, long handle; some models have expandable heads
- Best for: Dry or wet leaves on grass, light lawn debris
- Average cost: $15 – $30
See Related: Best Leaf Rakes for The Lawn and Garden
Garden rake (Bow rake)
A garden or bow rake has a straight handle and a wide, metal head with short, rigid tines set at a 90-degree angle to the shaft. It’s much sturdier than a leaf rake, so it can move and level soil, sand, and even gravel, spread mulch, and break up compacted soil. It’s versatile and tough, and the go-to rake for actual digging and grading tasks around the yard.
- Key features: Straight handle, steel head, rigid tines set at a 90-degree angle
- Best for: Leveling soil/sand, spreading mulch or gravel, breaking compacted soil, prepping garden beds, and pulling debris from hard surfaces
- Average cost: $20 – $60
Shrub rake
A shrub rake works like a leaf rake but with a smaller, narrower fan and fewer tines, so you can reach under hedges and into tight spaces without snagging branches or plants. They’re available in plastic or metal, and are ideal for cleanup where a full-size rake won’t fit.
- Key features: Narrow fan head, flexible plastic or metal tines
- Best for: Raking beneath shrubs and hedges, along fences and foundations, between perennials, and in other tight spots
- Average cost: $15 – $25
See Related: How to Landscape With Shrubs
Thatch rake
Thatch is the layer of dead grass, roots, and organic debris that builds up at the soil line. If it’s thicker than half an inch, it can block water and nutrients. A thatch rake lets you pull out that thatch without tearing up healthy grass. Most have a two-sided head, with one side having curved blade-like tines, and the other with straighter tines to break up clumps.
- Key features: Dual-sided steel head, sharp and strong tines, curved on one side and straight on the other
- Best for: Hand-removing thatch
- Average cost: $20 – $60
See Related:
Landscape rake
A landscape rake is the go-to tool pros use to smooth and level big stretches of soil, usually before seeding or installing sod. It has an extra-wide head, with short, rigid tines to pull high spots down and fill low spots, giving it a uniform finish. Most models are made of aluminum, but the handle can be of various materials.
- Key features: Wide aluminum head, rigid short tines set at a 90-degree angle, long handle
- Best for: Professionals. Used for leveling and smoothing out soil.
- Average cost: $30 – $70
Hand rake
Hand rakes are perfect for vegetable and flower beds, since they let you work up close without mangling stems or roots. They’re small, used with one hand, and come in two main styles: either resembling a mini shrub/leaf rake with a narrow fan head to sweep debris, or like a mini bow rake with 3 to 5 rigid tines for digging.
- Key features: Short handle, steel or plastic tines, available as a narrow fan head or as a 3-5 tine cultivator
- Best for: Loosening and aerating bed soil, pulling small weeds, cleaning debris around delicate plants, and working in planters or raised beds
- Average cost: $5 – $15
Leaf scoop rake
A leaf scoop rake is like a leaf rake with built-in “walls.” They have curved sides that hold leaves as you pull them into a pile and carry them to a bag or bin, so you’re not bending over to pick up handfuls. You’ll see two styles: handheld scoops (a pair of claw-like paddles) or long-handled scoop rakes (better for your back).
- Key features: Curve, plastic, edges to contain leaves; available as handheld scoops or long-handled rake plus scoop combos
- Best for: Bagging dry leaves without repeated bending
- Average cost: $10 – $40
See Related: What to Do With Fall Leaves on Your Lawn
Berry picker rake
A berry picker is a handheld harvesting tool made of small metal tines that comb through berry clusters while a built-in plastic scoop catches what you pull off. It speeds up picking and keeps ripe fruit from dropping to the ground, making quick work of low shrubs like blueberries.
- Key features: Comb-style metal tines, attached plastic scoop/basket.
- Best for: Harvesting firm, cluster-forming berries. Not ideal for delicate raspberries and blackberries, which bruise easily.
- Average cost: $15 – $25
Stone rake (Gravel rake)
A stone rake is built to spread and level heavy materials, like stone, gravel, pebbles, and mulch, without flexing or snapping. It’s similar to a landscape rake, but it has a narrower head for better control in tighter spaces and along edges. It has short tines set at a 90-degree angle.
- Key features: Narrow, rigid head, usually made of steel or aluminum; short, straight tines at a 90º angle
- Best for: Spreading and leveling gravel/stone on driveways or paths, shaping mulch in beds, etc
- Average cost: $20 – $70
See Related:
Roof rake
A roof rake lets you pull snow and light debris off the roof from the ground to prevent excess weight and ice dams. Instead of tines, it has a broad blade that slides under snow and drags it down the shingles. Most models use lightweight plastic so you can reach over your head without climbing a ladder.
- Key features: Wide, flat blade, lightweight head; most are extendable
- Best for: Pulling snow off the roof
- Average cost: $50 – $80
Lake rake
A lake rake is built to clear algae, aquatic weeds, and floating debris from ponds and lakes. Think of it as a landscape rake for water. It has solid tines and a float on the backside for skimming the surface. You can usually remove the float to drag up submerged weeds.
- Key features: Heads are usually aluminum, corrosion-resistant, and come in various sizes; tines are straight; it contains a float
- Best for: Removing algae, weeds, and debris from bodies of water
- Average cost: $50 – $80
Pick the right rake or call in help
Match the rake to the job and you’ll finish faster with better results. If you don’t have the right rake or just don’t want to break a sweat, Lawn Love can handle it for you with yard cleanup, leaf removal, seeding, and more. Just give us a call (or a click).
Read More:
- Is It Better to Rake or Mulch Leaves?
- Benefits of Fall Yard Cleanup
- How Much Does Yard Cleanup Cost?
- How to Clean Your Yard
Main Image: Leaf rake. Photo Credit: maxbelchenko / Adobe Stock
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