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Korin Miller
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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.
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.
Best Leaf Vacuum Overall: Worx 3-In-1 Electric Blower/Mulcher/Vacuum
Best Budget Leaf Vacuum: Black + Decker 3-in-1 Electric Leaf Blower
Best Cordless Leaf Vacuum: Greenworks Cordless Blower Vacuum
Best Leaf Vacuum Mulcher: Ryobi 40-Volt Vac Attack Cordless Battery Leaf Vacuum
Best Gas-Powered Leaf Vacuum: Husqvarna Handheld Leaf Blower And Vacuum
Best Walk-Behind Leaf Vacuum: Sun Joe 4-in-1 Electric Blower
Best Backpack Leaf Vacuum: Black + Decker Backpack Blower Vacuum
Best Leaf Vacuum Overall
A Multi-Functional Beast You Can Operate One-Handed
Worx 3-In-1 Electric Blower/Mulcher/Vacuum
Type: Corded electric |Weight: 9.3 pounds |CFM: 350 |MPH: 210
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.
Best Budget Leaf Vacuum
An Affordable Option With Several Features
Black + Decker 3-in-1 Electric Leaf Blower
Type: Corded electric |Weight: 7 pounds |CFM: N/A |MPH: 210
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
Type: Gas-powered |Weight: 125 pounds |CFM: N/A |MPH: N/A
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
Greenworks Cordless Blower Vacuum
Type: Battery-powered cordless |Weight: 17.2 pounds |CFM: 340 |MPH: 185
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
Type: Battery-powered cordless |Weight: 12.7 pounds |CFM: 300 |MPH: 75
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.
Best Gas-Powered Leaf Vacuum
A Powerful Tool That Won't Blow Out Your Eardrums
Husqvarna Handheld Leaf Blower And Vacuum
Type: Gas-powered | Weight: 9.6 pounds | CFM: 425 | MPH: 170
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.
Best Walk-Behind Leaf Vacuum
A 4-In-1 Machine On Wheels
Type: Corded electric | Weight: 8.6 pounds | CFM: N/A | MPH: 250
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.
Best Backpack Leaf Vacuum
An Easier Way To Carry Your Leaves
Black + Decker Backpack Blower Vacuum
Type: Corded electric | Weight: 11.1 pounds | CFM: 400 | MPH: 210
One potential challenge with a leaf vacuum is carrying the attached bag while you work. For a more comfortable experience, consider this backpack option from Black + Decker, which evenly distributes weight across your shoulders, preventing fatigue as you clean. This versatile tool functions as a powerful blower, vacuum and mulcher, with air speeds reaching up to 250 MPH and airflow of up to 400 CFM. Additional features include a power boost button and a flexible tube for enhanced maneuverability. Plus, as an electric model, it offers unlimited runtime without the hassle of refueling.
MORE FROMFORBES VETTED
How We Chose The Best Leaf Vacuums
- To help track down the best leaf vacuums on the market, we started by consulting two lawn maintenance experts for their input on what to look for in these cleaning powerhouses: Noah James, owner of Liberty Lawn Maintenance, and Ryan Farley, CEO of LawnStarter.
- We then analyzed the most popular leaf vacuums on the market, considering factors like materials, suction power, versatility and value. During this step, we also considered reviews from verified owners to get a sense of how these vacuums perform for a range of homeowners.
- Put simply, the leaf vacuums that make this list are backed by quality materials and features, expert input and customer reviews.
What Can Leaf Vacuums Pick Up?
While every machine is slightly different, most leaf vacuums can suck up common yard debris. “Even small ones should have no problem with smaller twigs, seed pods and other similar yard debris,” says Farley. That said, if you want a vacuum that can suck up heavier, larger pieces of debris like clumps of wet leaves and larger sticks, it’s best to get an extra powerful model. (Gas leaf vacuums typically have the strongest suction power.)
What Is More Important In A Leaf Vacuum, CFM Or MPH?
If you’ve spent any amount of time researching leaf vacuums, you’ve likely encountered the acronyms CFM (cubic feet per minute) and MPH (miles per hour). To break it down, CFM measure the volume of air a leaf vacuum can suck up, while MPH measures the speed that air passes through the nozzle. “Both CFM and MPH play a crucial role in the effectiveness of a leaf vacuum,” says James. “A higher CFM means more air volume, which can help to pick up more leaves and debris. A higher MPH means faster airspeed, which can help to lift and move heavier materials.”
If you have a lot of leaves and only a small amount of light debris, a higher CFM may be more important, James says; if you want to suck up heavier materials like wet leaves or twigs, a leaf vacuum with a higher MPH may be necessary. “Ultimately, the best leaf vacuum will strike a balance between CFM and MPH to provide optimal performance,” says James.
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