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10 Best Leaf Rakes in 2022 (Master Gardener-Reviewed)

Ever been bothered by the pile of fallen leaves covering your gorgeous garden and messing up your landscape? It's okay to pick up one or two by hand, but things get cumbersome when you're dealing with a backyard, the presence of multiple plants and trees, and the fall season. 


Fret no more, Gardenite's Expanding Metal Rake has got you and your backyard's back. Whether you're planning on grabbing the leaves off your lawn or you have a small garden filled with debris, this leaf rake can get the job done. We've picked out the best leaf rakes on the market. We've also created a buying guide reviewed by a master gardener and homestead blogger to help you explore the different types of leaf rakes out there and perhaps end up with the most fitting one for your needs. 

Last updated 09/26/2023
Amy Jeanroy
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Master Gardener, Homestead Blogger
Amy Jeanroy

Gardening and wildcrafting food for her family, Amy grows in a variety of gardens including hydroponic, raised beds, containers, and in the ground. As a master gardener, she has successfully gardened across the country.

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Table of Contents

How to Choose Leaf Rakes

A leaf rake should be your reliable partner in the backyard. It must be efficient in collecting all the leaves and debris so it doesn't take forever to cover the whole area. Here's a buying guide differentiating the types of leaf rakes that includes tips on picking out the best one for you.

1

Check Out the Types of Rakes

There are four main types of leaf rakes. You have your typical leaf rake, those used for shrubs, ones that dethatch your lawn, and a hybrid that looks like a handheld claw scooper. Each has its unique capabilities.

Consider a Leaf Rake for Quick Raking

Consider a Leaf Rake for Quick Raking

A leaf rake is the typical wide-angled rake that lets you cover a lot of ground, collecting leaves quickly. Some leaf rakes come with a rake head spreading as much as 30 inches wide to lessen your work of going around the backyard during the fall season. 


Leaf rakes vary in their widths and handles. Choose one that is most convenient for you in terms of your yard's size with the width of your rake or shape of the handle (more on this below). 

Go for a Shrub Rake for Versatility

Go for a Shrub Rake for Versatility

These are smaller-sized rakes which make them handy to use in a garden or flowerbed. You can even get one that is handheld. While shrub rakes can't collect all the leaves on a lawn, their narrow heads let you access the space in between plants with ease. 


Choose one with a long handle to reach the back areas in case your garden is dense. Shrub rakes are also great at spreading your compost or mulch around garden plants without breaking their stems or healthy leaves. 

Get a Thatch Rake for Lawn Care

Get a Thatch Rake for Lawn Care

Thatch rakes are typically used in spring to remove thatch, the straw-like covering made of living or dead plant matter, from grass. Such debris can be ground zero for pests and diseases, plus block sunlight, water, and all the good stuff meant for your lawn. 


However, for autumn use, they can aerate and remove leaves as well. Go for a thatch rake with short teeth or tines (less than an inch) to grab and cut through accumulated thatch without pulling on the roots.


As the tines sweep through the surface, thatch rakes also pick up small leaves and other debris, making them multi-functional. You can also get one with dual features such as a soil cultivator on one side to prep an area for seeds. 

Claw Your Way Through the Leaves

Claw Your Way Through the Leaves
Source:amazon.com

It may not really look like a rake, but leaf grabbers or claws do the same thing. Instead of pulling your leaves and garden debris into one pile, leaf scoopers go under and up, grabbing the leaves along the way. 


You can get handheld ones which look like extensions of your hands and let you pick up larger amounts of leaves with each swipe. Or get one with a handle and a rounded compartment with toothed edges so you can rake and simultaneously grab the leaves for bagging. 

2

Choose the Right Rake Material and Size

The next consideration would be the material of your rake and the handle. The goal is efficient and convenient yard cleaning wherein you don't spend too much time sweeping or end up with back or shoulder pains from a handle that's too short or difficult to grasp. 

Pick a Metal or Plastic Tine

Pick a Metal or Plastic Tine

Rakes usually come with metal or plastic tines. Aluminum, steel, and the like are known to be durable but steel is heavier compared to plastic ones. Meanwhile, plastic tines are lightweight, removing the extra burden on your arms and shoulders as you repeat the motion. The downside is that they're not as durable and don't last as long as metal ones. 


To get the best of both worlds, you can consider a rake with resin tines made of a strong polymer material that is both durable and lightweight. There are a lot of rakes with poly heads that perform very well for garden owners. 


The type of leaves and ground texture also play a role when picking the rake head material. If you're moving wet leaves, more strain is placed on the tines, which could bend or break those made of plastic. For light and dry debris on a well-maintained lawn, a lightweight, plastic rake is recommended.


One common pet peeve with leaf rakes is that their tines get clogged up with leaves. You can get one with tines connected at the edges to avoid clogging if you are dealing with an excessive amount of debris. 

Grab a Convenient Handle

Grab a Convenient Handle

Rake handles could be made of wood, metal, or fiberglass. With wood, you get a nice, weighty material, but it's prone to rotting or breaking. Metal or fiberglass handles are lighter, with less risk of snapping or cracking. The choice of material is based on preference. 


The handle's length is another critical consideration, and determines how far out the rake will go within your comfortable reach. Rakes typically extend from 36 to 67 inches. Take height and arm reach into consideration as taller people would need longer handles to use the tool comfortably.


Lastly, you have the handle's grip, which should be solid and smooth, yet comfortable. You will be holding the tool for an extended period and need it to stay securely in your hand without causing strain.

Make Sure it’s Not Too Narrow or Wide

Make Sure it’s Not Too Narrow or Wide

It's worth mentioning that a rake of the incorrect width could cause a lot of discomfort. For example, getting a narrow rake head to be used on a sizeable backyard would leave you tired. Meanwhile, getting one with a 30-inch-wide head to be used on a garden bed would risk hurting your plants along the way. 


A narrower head means less strain on your back as it's easier to maneuver. For most situations, go for a rake with a head of about 24 inches wide. A better choice would be one that is adjustable to give you more options. 

3

Keep an Eye Out for Extra Features

Keep an Eye Out for Extra Features

The rakes of old served one function: to collect your leaves and debris into one corner or pick them up. Today, they do so much more. You can get a leaf rake with an attached grabber, so once you collect a good amount of leaves, you can activate the mechanism and bring your haul straight to the bag. 


You can also get leaf rakes with strong enough tines to cultivate the soil simultaneously, thus lessening your need for multiple separate tools. Metal tines could also be expandable wherein the tines could be spread out or brought close together manually depending on the destination, whether yard or flowerbed, for example. 

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10 Best Leaf Rakes Ranking

Here are the best Leaf Rakes, ranked according to 10 Best Leaf Rakes (as of 11-04-2022). The products are ranked independently by mybest.
Popularity
Products
Image
Click to purchase
Price
Key features
1

Gardenite

Expanding Metal Rake

Gardenite Expanding Metal Rake 1

$29.95

Mid

An Extra-Long, Flat-Tined Leaf Rake

2

True Temper

Clog Free Poly Leaf Rake2914912

True Temper Clog Free Poly Leaf Rake 1

$26.22

Mid

A Poly Leaf Rake With a Clog-Free Design

3

Professional EZ Travel Collection

High Quality Adjustable Rake

Professional EZ Travel Collection High Quality Adjustable Rake 1

$29.99

Mid

A Fully Adjustable Leaf Rake

4

TRG Inc

The Groundskeeper II RakeGK102R

TRG Inc The Groundskeeper II Rake 1

$39.95

High Mid

A Gentle Leaf Rake for Getting Around Plants

5

Corona

Fixed Tine Leaf RakeRK 62061

Corona Fixed Tine Leaf Rake 1

$42.95

High

A Straightforward, Lightweight Leaf Rake for Covering More Ground

6

Homimp

Garden Leaf Rake

Homimp Garden Leaf Rake 1

$19.99

Low Mid

A Leaf Rake With an Adjustable Handle for Kids

7

A.M. Leonard

Narrow Shrub Rake

A.M. Leonard  Narrow Shrub Rake 1

$22.03

Mid

A Long and Durable Shrub Rake

8

GardenHome

Leaf Scoops

GardenHome Leaf Scoops 1

$13.59

Low Mid

A Convenient Handheld Rake and Scooper

9

AshmanOnline

Bow Rake

AshmanOnline Bow Rake 1

$30.99

Mid

A Heavy-Duty, Multi-Purpose Rake

10

Garden Depot

Gardening Hand Rake

Garden Depot Gardening Hand Rake 1

$6.00

Low

A Handheld Rake for Small Gardens

If you don't see the product you're looking for, you can request that it be listed.
No.1

GardeniteExpanding Metal Rake

Expanding Metal Rake 1
Source:amazon.com
Reference price
$29.95
Mid
Reference price
$29.95
Mid

An Extra-Long, Flat-Tined Leaf Rake

This leaf rake has a 63-inch handle with a 3/4-inch diameter for convenient gripping. It's also zinc-coated to prevent rust! As for the head, you get 15 flat tines that expand from seven inches for small areas up to 22 inches. Because it's adjustable, you can close the rake like a fan for easy storage. 


A few reviewers had issues with the tines bending when fully extended, making it difficult to close afterward. Some said the tines could be stronger quality as they were expecting more grip and strength when picking up leaves. 


Meanwhile, many reviewers who preferred lightweight rakes highly recommend this one. It's easy to use and store, too! They liked that it is adjustable and could handle small gardens or lawns. 

Was this Ranking helpful?
No.2

True TemperClog Free Poly Leaf Rake2914912

Clog Free Poly Leaf Rake 1
Source:amazon.com
Reference price
$26.22
Mid
Reference price
$26.22
Mid

A Poly Leaf Rake With a Clog-Free Design

What sets this leaf rake above the rest is its clog-free design. The tines are connected to one another at the edge, avoiding the annoying occurrence of leaves getting stuck in between them while raking. It also has a cushioned handle for better grip, handling, and control. This rake is recommended for medium to large yard spaces.


The common critical review among some users was that the plastic head could get detached from the wooden handle. They advise screwing it tightly, gluing both together, or adding more screws to prevent the mishap.


Many reviewers confirmed that raking was a breeze with this tool. Leaves didn't get caught in between the tines; it's lightweight and easy to use. They especially loved the soft, cushioned handle

No.3

Professional EZ Travel CollectionHigh Quality Adjustable Rake

High Quality Adjustable Rake 1
Source:amazon.com
Reference price
$29.99
Mid
Reference price
$29.99
Mid

A Fully Adjustable Leaf Rake

Look no further for a fully adjustable leaf rake. The head can extend from 7.5 to 21.75 inches while the telescoping handle can go from 37 to 68 inches. It's also made with alloy tines for increased durability. The adjusting capabilities let you have one rake to handle small flowerbeds or large backyards


A few users commented that the rake was heavy and cumbersome. The overall weight made them tired quickly, plus the telescopic handle takes some force to adjust. 


Meanwhile, many reviewers noted that the rake was perfect for light yard work and easily portable. They liked that it can fold up, making it convenient to store the tool. When not extended, the rake could easily access tight areas in the garden. 

No.4

TRG IncThe Groundskeeper II RakeGK102R

The Groundskeeper II Rake 1
Source:amazon.com
Reference price
$39.95
High Mid
Reference price
$39.95
High Mid

A Gentle Leaf Rake for Getting Around Plants

While you're on a vengeance to remove every fallen leaf off your beautiful garden, a rake could get in between plant stems and cause more harm than good. With this rake, however, you can pass through branches without accidentally tugging on them, thanks to round, stiff tines that don't get caught.


Assembling this might be an issue for those who aren't acquainted with the process. Fortunately, other reviewers shared their hacks: apply lotion to the handle, align the rake and handle and give them a good whack for a secure fit. A few commented that clogging might be an issue if you're dealing with large leaves.


Meanwhile, this rake works wonders on pine needles, said reviewers. It's great for dethatching too. The sturdy tines could grab the unwanted debris off their lawns without damaging the grass. 

No.5

CoronaFixed Tine Leaf RakeRK 62061

Fixed Tine Leaf Rake 1
Source:amazon.com
Reference price
$42.95
High
Reference price
$42.95
High

A Straightforward, Lightweight Leaf Rake for Covering More Ground

This is a simple, no-fuss leaf rake with steel tines and an aluminum handle that is 54 inches long. You get 25 tines, more than what's commonly on the market; plus, its bent and spread-out design lets you cover more ground with every pass. 


A few users wished it came with a cushioned or more ergonomic handle because it could get tiresome to use after a while. Others added their own padding by using materials like duct tape. 


Many reviewers shared that the tool was well-built and worked excellently. It has a good balance and isn't heavy to use. The tines are wide enough to gather a lot of leaves, debris, or weeds and even redistribute soil across the area. 

No.6

HomimpGarden Leaf Rake

Garden Leaf Rake 1
Source:amazon.com
Reference price
$19.99
Low Mid
Reference price
$19.99
Low Mid

A Leaf Rake With an Adjustable Handle for Kids

This rake is compact, with tines that spread eight inches. It can handle collecting yard debris plus dethatch grass. It comes with three interchangeable handles - 34, 44, and 55 inches - which are easy to remove and insert. This leaves kids with no excuse to help out in the garden. 


A few users had a mixup with the size of the rake, thinking it would work for adults cleaning a backyard. On a positive note, it makes for a great dethatcher or shrub rake


Reviewers liked the small size of the rake for kids, commenting it makes an excellent rake for cleaning campsites and getting in tight spots. It's lightweight, comfortable, and easy to use.

No.7

A.M. Leonard Narrow Shrub Rake

Narrow Shrub Rake 1
Source:amazon.com
Reference price
$22.03
Mid
Reference price
$22.03
Mid

A Long and Durable Shrub Rake

If you're working around shrubs, you know accessing the debris in between plants can be quite the chore. This sturdy shrub rake has spring-reinforced tines that spread out only eight inches wide but has a long handle for your convenience in reaching those hard to access areas.


According to a few reviewers, a hole or fastener to get the rake head attached to the handle was missing. This would be bothersome for those without the tools to stick the two together. Other than that, users loved the sturdy and reliable shrub rake. 


Many commented that this was a rake that's meant to last. It removes the unwanted stuff from their delicate gardens without hurting any of their plants. The long handle also benefited them in reaching all the way under bushes and back to the nooks and crannies of their gardens. 

No.8

GardenHomeLeaf Scoops

Leaf Scoops 1
Source:amazon.com
Reference price
$13.59
Low Mid
Reference price
$13.59
Low Mid

A Convenient Handheld Rake and Scooper

These leaf scoops are quite handy (literally) because they let you sweep leaves and grab them for dumping in a bag with one motion. Each leaf claw is 15 by 12 inches, giving you enough space to pick up large leaves, grass or plant debris, mulch, and other items on the lawn. They're also adjustable, fitting snugly on your hands. 


A few reviewers found the plastic handle to be cumbersome to work with because you have to place their thumb outside for a better grip. In doing so, the strap could be painful on the base area of the thumb. They advise using the scooper with gloves for comfort. 


Many reviewers, however, commented that the product worked great at picking up all sorts of debris. They had full control and didn't spill the contents before reaching the bag! 

No.9

AshmanOnlineBow Rake

Bow Rake 1
Source:amazon.com
Reference price
$30.99
Mid
Reference price
$30.99
Mid

A Heavy-Duty, Multi-Purpose Rake

This metal rake uses forged steel for the tines and durable wood for the handle. The socket connecting the two has been welded together. What you get is a dependable and sturdy rake to remove trash, stones, leaves, weeds and other debris from your garden. It also works great at tilling the soil and dethatching!


A reviewer noted that the handle might be too short and small for taller people. The rake has a nice grip on the handle, was comfortable to use, and was a worthwhile purchase, said reviewers. It felt like an upgrade for those who've used other brands. 

No.10

Garden DepotGardening Hand Rake

Gardening Hand Rake 1
Source:amazon.com
Reference price
$6.00
Low
Reference price
$6.00
Low

A Handheld Rake for Small Gardens

Get this rake if you're dealing with a smaller area like flowerbeds or small gardens. The bent tines help you gather leaves effortlessly while the grooved handle gives a better grip as you sweep the ground. The little rake is also useful in removing weeds and thatch on a garden. 


According to a few reviewers, the tines could bend if too much pressure is applied. They wished it was designed to be stronger because it was a pretty handy rake to have. 


The rake is light, puts no weight on the wrist, gets dead leaves from hard to reach spaces, and evens out mulch nicely, shared reviewers. It even works as a rake for kids who want to lend a hand in the garden! 

More Backyard Must-Haves to Love

There's always something that could be added to or improved in a backyard. Check out these other home and garden products to make your yard a beautiful, enjoyable space.

Buying Guide Reviewed by Master Gardener and Homestead Blogger Amy Jeanroy

Amy Jeanroy
Master Gardener, Homestead Blogger
Amy Jeanroy

This expert reviewed the contents of the buying guide for accuracy and provided factual corrections when necessary. They did not participate in the product selection process, nor are they affiliated with any of our choices unless explicitly stated so.

Top 5 Leaf Rakes

No. 1: GardeniteExpanding Metal Rake

No. 2: True TemperClog Free Poly Leaf Rake2914912

No. 3: Professional EZ Travel CollectionHigh Quality Adjustable Rake

No. 4: TRG IncThe Groundskeeper II RakeGK102R

No. 5: CoronaFixed Tine Leaf RakeRK 62061

View Full Ranking
The descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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