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The best leaf vacuums to cut your raking time in half
Our top picks save time, energy and backaches while keeping your garden looking its best
Tested by Masudah KhatunHousehold Product Tester
Tackling the garden on breezy autumn days can be daunting. Without the proper tools, keeping your lawn and pathways clear of fallen leaves can become a tiresome (and sometimes frustrating) task. While a leaf blower is great for clearing and gathering the leaves, you’re still stuck with the tedious chore of getting rid of them.
A leaf vacuum, however, tackles leaf and debris removal with ease. Most models have a three-in-one design, functioning as a leaf blower, vacuum, and mulcher – so you can gather, suck-up, and dispose of leaves in one go, rather than spending an age collecting them all into a bag.
To help you find the best one for your needs, the Good Housekeeping Institute put them to the test – here are the top performers in a handy list, with our full verdicts below.
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What to look for when shopping for a leaf vacuum
There are several factors to consider when deciding which leaf vacuum is best for you. Along with whether the vacuum can convert into a blower or mulcher, you'll also want to pay attention to the size of the collection bag, the weight of the vacuum and durability of its design. Here's our tick list.
✔️ Collection bag size: Collection bags typically attach directly below the engine and have a capacity of around 10 to 12L.
✔️ Mulcher reduction ratio: If your vacuum has mulching capabilities, make note of its reduction ratio in order to determine how many shredded leaves will fit inside of the collection bag (for example, a mulcher with a 10:1 ratio can fit 100 litres of dry leaves in a 10-litre collection bag).
✔️ Convertibility: The leaf vacuums in this list can all convert between leaf blowing and vacuuming. To do this, you have to attach and detach different tubes or nozzles.
✔️ Weight: Most leaf vacuums are relatively lightweight but we’ve highlighted how much each vacuum weighs in the specifications. Take a note of the this before buying if you’re concerned about carrying the vacuum for extended periods.
✔️ Noise level: Leaf blowers are one of the noisiest garden tools out there, so we've measured the noise level of every model on test. Most on this list recorded just under 96dB (similar to a drill or underground train) at maximum speed. If you have a large garden (or one with lots of trees), you may want to consider using some earplugs to lower this.
How we test leaf blower vacuums
To test the performance of leaf blower vacuums, our experts measured out 250g piles of fallen leaves and laid them on various surfaces, including real grass and pavement. They evaluated how effectively they sucked the piles up, noting how many patches were left behind.
As these all function as leaf blowers too, our testers made note of how easily each model moved both wet and dry leaves across grass, astro turf and concrete within a five-minute window. They also assessed the leaf blowers’ ability to dislodge debris with a specially formulated mix of dirt and dust.
Our experts measured each model's air strength – from 120cm and 150cm away – and recorded the noise made on the lowest and highest settings. They also recorded energy consumption over 30 minutes.
Finally, they assessed the ease of use, design and clarity of instructions, before combining everything into a final score.
These are the ones that blew us away.
Pros
- Great value
- Excellent at loosening debris
Cons
- Handle isn't very comfortable to hold
Score: 90/100
Bosch’s leaf blower vacuum and mulcher excelled on test, making it an excellent pick for tidying up your garden with ease. Our expert had no issues assembling everything and they were impressed with the overall construction and durability of the leaf vacuum.
The vacuum fared well picking up both wet and dry leaves on grass and concrete, while the large 45L collection bag ensures you won’t need to waste time emptying it midway through the task. A mulching ratio of 12:1 helps too.
With the blower attachment, dry leaves moved easily over every surface, although a few stubborn wet leaves clung to grass and astro turf. But we'll let it off...
Key specifications
| Max claimed air speed | 177mph |
|---|---|
| Max noise level in testing | 95.8dB |
| Cruise control | Yes |
| Collection bag | 45L |
| Mulching ratio | 12:1 |
| Weight | 3.7kg |
| Cord length | 10m |
| Energy consumption per hour in the lab | 1.248kWh = 31p |
Pros
- Extensive safety, cleaning and maintenance advice
- Controls are clear and accessible
Cons
- Only one power mode
- Changing between blower and vacuum attachments is time consuming
Score: 83/100
While fairly heavy in comparison to other models we’ve tested, this leaf vacuum is well-balanced and comes with a soft grip handle and additional shoulder strap that made carrying it around the garden simple.
Our testers were a little disappointed with the vacuuming power as it left behind lots of leaves on grass and a few stragglers when tested on concrete. It still provided a welcome helping hand though and the narrow-ended nozzle helped reach into tight spaces.
As a leaf blower, it excelled when tackling debris, wet leaves and dry leaves, so it impressed overall.
Key specifications
| Max claimed air speed | 192mph |
|---|---|
| Max noise level in testing | 95.9dB |
| Cruise control | Yes |
| Collection bag | 45L |
| Mulching ratio | 16:1 |
| Weight | 4.8kg |
| Cord length | 10m |
| Energy consumption per hour in the lab | 1.392kWh = 34p |
Pros
- Blower and vacuum attachments are easy to switch between
- Extra handle at the top allows for better precision and control
Cons
- No soft grip handle
- Fiddly to change the filter, in part due to the need for an extra tool (provided), which is small and easy to misplace
Score: 83/100
This leaf blower vacuum had good air strength over a range of distances, which was helpful when sucking up leaves from grass. It left a few leaves behind on concrete but nothing that a quick rake wouldn't fix.
Throughout testing, this model was super easy to use, with a clear one-button start and cruise control function. It moved dry leaves and debris across the different surfaces effectively too, but struggled slightly with wet leaves. All in all, though, it’s a fantastic buy.
Key specifications
| Max claimed air speed | 195mph |
|---|---|
| Max noise level in testing | 95.5dB |
| Cruise control | Yes |
| Collection bag | 40L |
| Mulching ratio | 12:1 |
| Weight | 4.4kg |
| Cord length | 10m |
| Energy consumption per hour in the lab | 1.526kWh = 37p |
Powerbase 3000W Electric Garden Blower Vac
Pros
- Easy to switch between leaf blower and vacuum attachments
- Controls are simple to adjust
Cons
- Handles vibrate a lot, which was uncomfortable after extended use
- Not the highest quality design
Score: 78/100
If you’re shopping on a budget, this leaf vacuum, complete with six power levels, is a no-brainer. It wasn’t the most effective on its vacuuming mode, but still helped our experts tackle a huge mass of leaves – you may just need to do a follow-up tidy for any remaining patches.
The main downside to this model is that you can’t use it on wet materials. But for dry days, it can tackle large debris and dry leaves with ease. It was also the quietest leaf blower vacuum we tried, making it a smart buy if you're close to your neighbours.
Key specifications
| Max claimed air speed | Unspecified |
|---|---|
| Max noise level in testing | 84.4dB |
| Cruise control | Yes |
| Collection bag | 40L |
| Mulching ratio | 16:1 |
| Weight | 4.4kg |
| Cord length | 10m |
| Energy consumption per hour in the lab | 0.808kWh = 20p |
Our verdict on leaf vacuums
Bosch’s Universal Garden Tidy 3000 was a standout winner, capable of vacuuming up both wet and dry leaves from a variety of surfaces.
If you’re shopping on a budget though, the Powerbase 3000W Electric Garden Blower is a smart buy. It may not vacuum up all your leaves, but it will certainly give you a good helping hand.
Why you should trust the Good Housekeeping Institute
We’ve been testing products at the Good Housekeeping Institute for 100 years and have used all of this expertise to design rigorous protocols that put each leaf vacuum through its paces.
Our homes writer, Megan Geall, takes all the testing feedback and researches everything you need to know about buying a leaf vacuum before writing her detailed reviews. She also attends trade shows and industry events like Glee at the NEC in Birmingham to stay on top of the latest products in lawn and garden care.
Megan is the Good Housekeeping Institute’s senior homes and lifestyle writer. She loves diving into the latest product releases to find the very best buys on the market and has written hundreds of product reviews on everything from the best vacuum cleaners and coffee machines to the best ice cream makers and robot window cleaners.
When she’s not writing about the newest gadgets and gizmos for your home and garden, you’ll find her running every distance from 5km to 100km or relaxing at home with her cat – there really is no in between.
Megan has an MA in Magazine Journalism and has previously written for Stylist, Glamour, Women's Health, TimeOut, SquareMeal, and YOU magazine. You can find Megan on Instagram @meganlouisegeall.
Brandon Carte is a writer and editor with over a decade of experience covering technology, gadgets and appliances. His reporting has been featured on Best Products, Top Ten Revies, Good Housekeeping and USA Today. When he's not researching washing machines or testing robot vacuums, you can find him at concerts, swimming laps, or at the movies. He thinks smartphones are too big, prefers MP3s to Spotify and misses his iPhone’s headphone jack.
Having written thousands of product reviews and how-to articles on all aspects of home ownership, from routine maintenance to major renovations, Dan (he/him) brings more than 20 years of industry experience to his role as the director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. A one-time roofer and a serial remodeler, Dan can often be found keeping house at his restored Brooklyn brownstone, where he lives with his wife and kids.
Masudah has a master's degree in clinical drug development and combines this scientific background with a love for all things homes – from cooking appliances to smart home tech. She enjoys collecting and analysing quantitative data, ensuring that her product evaluations go beyond mere opinions. She particularly loves using the Digi Eye machine in the GHI lab to assess the colour and texture of products as part of our duvet cover and detergent tests. In her spare time, Masudah enjoys learning about new tech, baking delicious treats, and keeping her home spotless. With a passion for creativity and an eye for detail, she brings a unique perspective to every product she tests.
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