11 Best Leaf Rakes of 2022
Updated: Mar. 15, 2023Some rakes are better suited to certain tasks than others. Learn about different types of leaf rakes — and which one might be best for you.
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.
Choosing a Leaf Rake
If you’re like a lot of homeowners, you probably have an old leaf rake in the garage that has seen better days — you know, one with bent or missing tines. It might be a good time to upgrade.
Today’s rakes go well beyond the traditional relics of yesteryear. With a range of widths, tine spacing and materials, some yard rakes are best for lightweight leaves, some are rigid enough to double as a lawn dethatcher, and still others rugged enough to clean out a shrub bed. You may find it’s best to keep multiple rakes around for various yard cleanup tasks.
Some considerations:
- Strong, durable steel-tine rakes can help dethatch lawns as well as rake leaves.
- Lightweight poly rakes ease fatigue, and their wider heads (24-in. to 30-in.) make raking much quicker.
- Shrub rakes with long handles and narrow heads (8-in. to 12-in.) easily access confined spaces and gaps between plants.
- Many rakes feature ergonomic designs and cushioned grips for less fatigue when used for extended periods.
Best Poly Leaf Rake
Poly leaf rakes offer a wider reach than steel-tine leaf rakes so you can finish the job in less time. This Ames Collector Series poly leaf rake gathers leaves quickly, thanks to an innovative head and large basket design.
It’s lightweight for less fatigue, with the tines spaced so closely that clogging is less of a problem. A 26-1/2-inch head atop a 60-inch-long handle adds up to superior reach. It comes with a 15-year warranty.
Best Extra-Wide Fan Rake
With a 30-inch-wide head, the Craftsman clog-free lawn and leaf rake can quickly clear an impressively sized swath through the lawn.
The fan shape and clog-free tine design keeps leaves from bunching up on the rake and slowing down the work. The 48-inch hardwood handle is durable and the cushioned end grip makes it comfortable as well. This rake also comes with a 15-year limited warranty.
Best Steel-Tine Leaf Rake
This Craftsman lawn and leaf rake features a 24-inch-wide head and 24 spring-backed tines with the strength and durability to rake leaves or dethatch lawns. The rake head is bolted to the handle for reliability, and the cushioned end grip ensures comfort. The 51-inch fiberglass handle provides durability and weather resistance. It comes with a 15-year limited warranty.
Best Shrub Rake
With its compact 12-inch-wide head and extended 56-inch-long handle, the Blue Hawk Shrub Rake works great in nooks and crannies, or for cleaning out tightly spaced plants in shrub or flower beds. It comes with a steel handle and poly head for ease of use, as well as a five-year limited warranty.
Best Bamboo Leaf Rake
Back in the day, bamboo leaf rakes were the go-to choice for a wide-reaching, quick cleanup of leaves. This old-time favorite is still making the rounds, as seen with Rugg Manufacturing Company’s B24 deluxe bamboo rake. Its lightweight bamboo head spans 24 inches and features flexible bamboo tines reinforced with a metal plate for better performance.
Best Reengineered Leaf Rake
This True Temper lawn and leaf rake takes a new spin on raking. It offers dual tines to reduce clogging and provide up to 45 percent faster clearance than standard leaf rakes. It has a comfort grip on the handle and a larger 26-inch width for greater coverage with each pass. It’s almost as easy as a lawn sweeper (speaking of, do you know the difference between a lawn sweeper and dethatcher?).
Best Multi-Purpose Leaf Rake
The Groundskeeper II rake is not your average rake. And it’s not just for groundskeepers, either, although it does offer the top quality one would expect of a professional groundskeeper’s rake.
The round, stiff tines work differently than those on other rakes, allowing you to rake up heavier items such as sticks, wood chips, mulch and gravel. The Groundskeeper II features a 21-inch head and 55-inch handle.
Best Adjustable Leaf Rake
It’s three rakes in one! This Professional EZ Travel Collection telescopic rake expands and adjusts to tackle a range of garden tasks, from raking the lawn to working in flower beds to cleaning debris from hard-to-reach places. The handle telescopes from 37 inches to 68 inches, and the steel tines on the fan head can be adjusted to cover a swath of roughly seven inches to more than 21 inches.
Best Adaptable Leaf Rake
The True Temper poly steel lawn rake is a hybrid, general-purpose rake. The 20-inch-wide head is big enough for leaf raking but small enough for spreading mulch around plants — and it’s securely connected to take on that task.
Better yet, the flexible steel tines can do double duty. They’re sturdy enough for removing thatch, yet curved so they can gather lots of leaves. A 54-inch handle extends the rake’s reach, while the 29-inch grip adds to your comfort.
Best Handheld Rake
This Berry&Bird stainless steel hand rake makes it simple to clean out leaves and other debris from raised beds, basement window egresses, nooks and crannies, and more. You can also use it to loosen soil. It features an ergonomic ash handle and durable anti-rust stainless steel tines.
My All-Around Favorite Leaf Rake
I own multiple rakes myself and the Fiskars Leaf Rake is my favorite. Its lightweight, teardrop-shaped aluminum handle offers easy gripping, and it’s long enough (67 inches) for all kinds of tasks. The rugged poly head spans 24 inches, which is just about right for my needs. It’s my go-to rake.