Are you looking for the best leaf vacuum in the market today? Yard work can seem like a daunting, never-ending task, and is especially frustrating when you don’t have the right tools and equipment.
For yards with trees that shed their leaves every fall or through the summer, a leaf vacuum is a useful solution that makes yard work simpler, easier and more rewarding.
If you’re considering buying a leaf vacuum, take a look at our reviews to find the best leaf blower vacuum on the market in 2024.
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Top Pick
Best Value
Premium Choice
Product | Our Rating | Price | |
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9. RYOBI Cordless Battery Leaf Vacuum | |||
10. Makita Brushless Blower Kit with Leaf Vacuum Attachment Kit |
What is the Difference Between a Leaf Blower and a Leaf Vacuum?
These are two very similar pieces of equipment, and their main difference is how they are used. A leaf blower is useful for blowing leaves, dust and debris into a pile that you can dispose of, while a leaf vacuum sucks leaves and dust up into a bag.
Choosing Between a Leaf Vacuum and a Leaf Blower
Both machines are very powerful and useful for removing leaves, but that doesn’t mean they’re both right for your yard. So, how do you choose?
Leaf blower
This machine is ideal for larger jobs like clearing a big lawn, driveway or street. It can manage wet debris easily and works best for wide spaces.
Some models come with a lot of additional accessories to take on other cleaning tasks, and they’re light enough not to hurt your back.
They do have some drawbacks in that they are not particularly environmentally friendly, they’re noisy, require maintenance, and you still have to use a rake, mulcher and bags to clear away your leaves.
Leaf vacuum
Garden vacuums are lightweight and designed for smaller or more delicate jobs. They are ideal for use in small gardens, to clear pathways and gutters, or to clear away pests, clean garden sheds and clean decking.Different Types of Garden Vacuum
Garden vacuums come in a range of different types, including:
Electric leaf vacuum
An electric leaf vacuum can be corded or battery powered, and is quiet to operate, lightweight, maintenance-free and eco-friendly. They can be pretty powerful, but are generally suited to lighter work.
Corded options have limited range but unlimited power supply, while battery-powered options are the most mobile.
Gas leaf vacuum
Gas leaf vacuums are usually more powerful than electric models so they can take on tougher jobs easily, but you do have to mix and store the fuel, as well as have the engine serviced on occasion.
Backpack leaf vacuum
These put the least amount of strain on your back or arms, and are highly maneuverable and comfortable to use even on longer jobs.
They tend to have larger leaf collection bags and more powerful motors, and are well-suited to clearing lawns, pathways and paving.
Handheld leaf vacuum
Handheld vacuums are smaller and are usually the lightest option, although they tend to have smaller leaf collection bags. They are ideal for smaller jobs like cleaning a deck, vacuuming a shed or clearing a small area of the garden.
Wheeled garden vacuum
This is the largest and most powerful type of leaf vacuum, and it is often used as a commercial leaf vacuum. It can be pushed manually or attached to a riding mower and pulled along behind as you drive.
The turning of the wheels drives the sweeper, which collects and pushes the debris into the collector for mulching. They are ideal for very large lawns and paved areas.
What to Look for in a Leaf Vacuum?
When you want to buy the best leaf blower for your budget and yard, consider the following features:
- Multi-use features – Leaf vacuums that can be converted for different uses add a lot of value, save you from having to buy multiple pieces of equipment, and save space in your garage or shed.
The best leaf vacuum have several functions, including leaf blowing and mulching. Be sure to research how to switch between functions – some use a simple switch, while others require additional attachments and assembly. - Power – The more powerful the machine is, the faster it will work and the more easily it will deal with tougher jobs.
Electric models are usually powerful enough for home use and can handle medium to light jobs, but if you want a commercial leaf vacuum that can handle heavy, constant work, then it’s worth looking at a gas leaf vacuum. - Mulching ratio – This is the ratio of filled bags of leaves to filled bags of mulch – basically, how many bags leaves you have to vacuum up to get a bag of mulch.
Usually, the mulching ratio is 10:1 or 16:1. The higher the mulching ratio, the finer the mulch will be, although wet leaves will create more mulch than dry ones.
Reviews of the Best Leaf Vacuums for 2024
1. WORX WG512 Trivac 2.0 3-in-1 Vacuum Blower
This 3-in-1 corded electric leaf vacuum mulcher comes with a good 100-foot cord for easy use and offers leaf blower, mulcher and vacuum capabilities.
It offers just 70 mph of airflow, which means it is better suited to light clean-ups than dealing with dense, heavy or wet leaves.
With a durable steel mulching blade, this vacuum can mulch up sticks and leaves with ease, offering a mulching ratio of 16:1.
Weighing around 9lbs, it can be operated with just one hand, and you can change between blow and vacuum functions with the flip of a switch.
2. BLACK+DECKER (BV6600) 3-in-1 Electric Leaf Blower
Known for making good quality tools that don’t break the budget, this variable speed leaf blower/mulcher/vacuum offers 3-in-1 convenience at a good price point.
It comes with the battery included and a great range of attachments, including leaf bag system, gloves, gutter cleaning attachment, leaf collection bin, and safety glasses.
It’s corded electric, so there’s no need to wait for batteries to recharge, and it weighs an easy 8.1 lbs. The mulching ratio is an impressive 16:1 and it’s easy to convert between functions in just a few seconds.
The build quality is good too, with a high impact metal fan to prevent clogging and a robust case.
3. Greenworks 40V Leaf Blower/Vacuum
If you are looking for a powerful but portable electric leaf vacuum, this may be the ideal solution. Weighing just 5.6lbs and powered by a 40-volt battery (included), this vacuum offers a very impressive 185mph of airflow over 6 speed settings.
It will run for up to 21 minutes on the most powerful setting and up to 60 minutes on lower speed settings. It has a useful turbo button for additional power, and the brushless motor ensures that it runs quietly and efficiently with minimal vibration.
It is best-suited to homes with about ½ acre yards, and can handle wet leaves easily. It comes with a 4-year tool/2-year battery warranty.
4. WORX WG584 Cordless Leaf Blower
This battery-powered garden vacuum is powered by 2 x 20 volt batteries that are included in the purchase. It’s a compact, lightweight unit that weighs just 7.3lbs, so you can operate it with one hand.
It’s well-suited to light to moderate tasks, and produces an air flow of up to 90 mph, which is adjustable to 3 different speed settings.
It has a brushless motor which offers the least noise while delivering the most power, and can be accessorized with a trimmer line, hedge trimmer, pole saw or wheeled edger.
5. Sun Joe SBJ606E-GA-SJG 4-in-1 Electric Blower
This corded electric leaf vacuum is much more than it seems at first glance, offering 4-in-1 functionality as a combination leaf vacuum and leaf blower, mulcher and gutter cleaner.
Converting between functions is quick and simple, and it generates a powerful 250mph of air flow (adjustable to 6 different settings) to make cleaning up fallen leaves, dirt and debris easy.
It’s easy to maneuverer and transport but it does weigh 15.6lbs, which can be a bit heavy for some. It comes with two practical 12lbs and 18lbs leaf catchment bags and because it is corded, you can work continuously with no need for refueling or recharges, until the job is done.
6. BLACK+DECKER LSWV36 Lithium Blower/Vacuum
With 120mph of air flow, this battery garden vacuum is a great mid-to light-range option. Weighing 6.9 lbs., it can be easily operated with one hand, and it has a useful indicator to track your battery charge.
The unit comes with the 40-volt battery and charger included, as well as a blow tube, vacuum tube and collection bag.
It has a 6:1 mulching ratio, which is a bit lower than the other vacuums we’ve reviewed, but it still works well if your leaf-clearing needs are light to moderate.
It has hard surface sweeper (leaf blowing) functionality as well, which makes it ideal for cleaning out garages, paving and tight corners.
It’s family quiet while running (65 decibels) and sturdily built.
7. Toro 51621 UltraPlus Leaf Blower Vacuum
If you are looking for high-performance, this corded 3-in-1 leaf blower vacuum is a great choice. With a weight of 8.9 lbs., it is very easy to operate, and the air flow speed of up to 250mph means it can handle larger and more demanding work quickly and efficiently.
The metal impeller makes mulching easy, giving you a respectable 14:1 mulch ratio. It comes with a vacuum tube, collection bag and storage hook, as well as offering a power insert for managing wet leaves and a concentrator for small corners.
8. BLACK+DECKER Leaf Blower & Leaf Vacuum
This is one of the best leaf vacuum blower on the market today. This is a 3-in-1 corded electric leaf vacuum that offers leaf blowing and mulching capabilities. Using a 12-Amp motor, it produces 250 mph of air flow, which can tackle even the toughest jobs easily.
It is very lightweight for the power it offers, weighing just 8.1lbs, and is best used for clearing driveways, sidewalks, decks and lawns, even picking up fine grass clippings with ease.
It comes with two catchment bags and there is a range of other accessories available, and offers a 16:1 mulching ratio.
9. RYOBI Cordless Battery Leaf Vacuum
I was pleasantly surprised by the RYOBI leaf vacuum, not just because it was effective, but at the massive capacity of its mulch bag, holding up to 50lb of leaves at full capacity.
The wheels, like any wheeled leaf vacuum, can fall off with improper use, but wheels on leaf vacuums are really only there to give you a break, rather than for constant use, so use them wisely and this Ryobi leaf vacuum will last for years.
As with all Ryobi products, this leaf vacuum doesn’t come with batteries, but it’s available for a good price on amazon so you can still afford the batteries alongside it if you don’t already have Ryobi tools in the garage.
10. Makita Brushless Blower Kit with Leaf Vacuum Attachment Kit
Makita’s premium leaf vacuum is very much designed for professional use, using their standard 18V batteries which give this vacuum a big punch.
Pairing that power with the hard-wearing mulcher makes this one of the best leaf vacuums you can buy, proving that voltage isn’t always the most important thing to look at when assessing power.
Leaf Vacuum Top Picks for 2024
Leaf Vacuum - Our Top Pick
The Worx Trivac 3-in-1 leaf vacuum, blower and mulcher can handle heavy work in the garden, and its durable design means it can handle being knocked around too.
When it comes to clearing up autumn leaves, there’s no leaf vacuum more suited to the job than the Worx Trivac, but it’s its effortless ability to mulch down 16 bags worth of leaf litter into a single bag of mulch that makes it our best leaf vacuum for 2024.
Best Value Leaf Vacuum
Black+Decker have a huge range of leaf blowers, from some of the best leaf vacuums on the market to budget models, and even high-end leaf vacuums.
BLACK+DECKER (BV6600) 3-in-1 Electric Leaf Blower is the best value leaf blower we can find, with a 16:1 mulching ratio, meaning it can mulch 16 bags of raw leaf litter down to a single bag, which is easily a match for the best leaf mulchers on the market.
It’s a little bit on the heavy side, so it’s not great for prolonged use, but for quick leaf clearing in the garden it’s more than enough, and the best value you’ll find with any good quality leaf blower online.
Premium Choice Leaf Vacuum
Greenworks pride themselves on eco-friendly products that save energy while keeping our gardens tidy, and their brushless leaf vacuum is no exception.
Its 40V battery means you can get the work done in no time, and it lasts for longer between charges, so despite the higher power it's more efficient, making it a more planet-friendly leaf blower, but, as you might expect, that power comes with a price tag.
The Greenworks leaf vacuum is the best leaf blower in a premium price range, and it outshines the budget models by a long way with speed, so if you’ve got a big space that needs a huge annual clear up, this is the leaf blower for you.
Leaves Beware When You Have the Best Leaf Vacuum in Town!
Leaf vacuums that offer mulching and leaf blowing features are the all-in-one outdoor cleaning tools that every home needs. Not only does it make cleaning up leaves and debris quick and easy, it’s also useful for cleaning garages, sheds, decking and driveways.
Electric leaf vacuums offer a lot of power as well as being quiet to operate and low-maintenance, which makes them ideal for home use. Corded models offer continuous power while battery models offer exceptional portability – it’s all about what’s easiest for you.
We hope this guide and these reviews have helped you find the best leaf vacuum for your yard!
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