Manually cleaning up your garden with a rake can be quite a job – that's where the best garden vacuum comes in. A garden vacuum is quick to suck up leaves and debris while compressing or mulching the waste for effortless removal and clean-up. Much like a leaf blower, it's great for clearing fallen leaves and garden debris that builds up in the garden. You can also use it to clear porches, patios and driveways.
On a surface level, a garden vacuum and leaf blower seem to have a similar purpose. Some models combine blow and vacuum functions, so it's a vacuum and leaf blower in one. However, there are slight variations in modes and features. A leaf blower would be more fitting for a larger garden, as it can cover an area more quickly than a vacuum. It blows all the leaves to one area to clear up afterwards, ready to remove before you get the lawn mower out. It won't risk getting blocked or damaged from sucking up stones and debris and is usually easier to use than a vacuum.
Best garden vacuum at a glance:
• Best overall: VonHaus Leaf Blower 3000W, Garden Vacuum - View on Amazon UK
• Best tried and tested: WORX WG583E 36V (40V MAX) Dual Battery Vacuum - View on Homebase
• Best lightweight garden vacuum: Terratek Leaf blower Garden Vacuum and Shredder Collection Bag - View on Amazon UK
If your primary goal is to remove leaves in an average-sized garden, then a garden vacuum is more suitable. It’s a multi-purpose tool, and most garden vacuums have a mode to shred leaves and small twigs for composting. Using a garden vacuum is less time-consuming as you won't need to pick up the leaves manually, and it's simple to switch between settings and modes as leaves are collected in a bag, making it a more straightforward job overall.
Best garden vacuum
Best overall
Description
This highly-rated garden vacuum from VonHaus is lightweight, affordable and powerful. With a 3000W motor, this vacuum will make your garden clean-up a breeze. It has a 35-litre collection bag with a shredding ratio of 10:1, so it won't take you long to empty the bag.
Customer review: "The leaf blower/ vacuum arrived well packed. It needed the minimum of assembly, and the instructions were clear. This is the third VonHaus product I have bought, and I am very satisfied with the brand. The prices are reasonable and the products very good."
Pros
- Good quality, especially for the price
- Powerful blower
- Lightweight
Cons
- Some reviews say the bag is flimsy
Best multipurpose garden vacuum
Description
This powerful, easy-to-use, multi-purpose garden tool from Flymo works as a vacuum, blower or mulcher for your garden or lawn. The three-in-one functionality is ideal for various tasks and will clear up any leaves and garden debris, leaving it looking clear and appealing.
Customer review: "Very powerful blower that takes a little getting used to. But does the job brilliantly. The lead is a decent length and the blower is light enough together with a shoulder strap. The vacuum/shredder is excellent although the fan cover is a bit fiddly to interchange. Bought at a sale price so excellent value."
Pros
- Very powerful
- Simple to use
Cons
- Be careful, as it tends to clog up
Best tried and tested
www.homebase.co.uk
Description
The Worx WG583E can be used as a traditional leaf blower or set up as a vacuum by attaching a collection bag and inserting a large cylindrical pipe into the intake. It's quite a clever design and doesn't require any tools, but it does take a little longer than other garden vacs we've used, which have an internal paddle of sorts that allows you to switch between blower and vacuum.
The advantages are huge though - when that style of vacuum gets blocked up, you have to take the whole thing apart to access the fan. On the Worx vac, you just pull the nozzle off and shake anything stuck in there loose. I also think it allows for a clearer internal pathway, so there's less chance it'll get clogged up anyway.
Running off two batteries, the Worx is plenty powerful enough, and I can get round my entire back garden on a single charge. The lack of cable speeds things up massively because you don't have to keep untangling a power cord or winding up an extension lead afterwards.
The vacuum bag is a good size and has a shoulder strap attached, and a long zip so you can shake it out easily when it's full up. The only slight headache is the safety guard that must be in place over the fan to use it as a blower. I've misplaced it twice, and it can be a little hard to remove with one hand.
This garden vacuum was tried and tested by Adam Binnie, our Affiliate Operations Editor. You can also read our full Worx twin-test: Leafjet blower vs WG583E blower/vacuum review.
Pros
- Incredibly powerful
- Heavy, need to use two hands to use
- Does the job of a garden vacuum
Cons
- Best suited to large outdoor spaces
Best lightweight garden vacuum
Description
The Terratek is a powerful tool that will make tidying your garden as easy as possible, and leaves will be no match for the super airspeed of 167mp/h. It not only acts as a leaf blower but as a vacuum and shredder as well - plus, it is easy to assemble, so you can get the job done as quick as possible.
Customer review: "Excellent piece of equipment. This has saved me so much backache raking in autumn leaves, but don't do what I did and try to suck up wet leaves! They need to be dry. I should have read the instructions first. The shredding is also impressive and has enabled me to start a leaf mould compost heap. I have found the best way is to blow the leaves into a pile and then switch to the suction mode. Obviously, the leaf blower does get heavier as you collect more leaves in the bag, so perhaps for an elderly person, they may need to empty more frequently."
Pros
- Great value
- Multi-purpose
Cons
- Doesn't perform well with wet leaves
Best quiet garden vacuum
Description
This powerful yet quiet garden vacuum from Bosch will leave your garden or lawn looking neat and tidy in no time. The simple switch permits speed to be controlled easily between the vacuuming, leaf blowing and shredding modes. Plus, being one of the quietest models on the market, it will not disturb any neighbours.
Customer review: "Having bought a number of different ones over the years that seem to be quite poor quality and break easily, this is by far the best one I've bought. It feels much more sturdy, well built and has a control to manage the power and speed of the blower or mulcher. It's worth noting that you do have to take a couple of parts off and on to switch between the blower and the mulcher but takes a matter of minutes to do and is very simple. I think this is excellent value."
Pros
- One of the quietest on the market
- Simple to use
Cons
- A bit fiddly to change over from suction to blower
Best cordless garden vacuum
Description
If you are looking for a portable, cordless garden vacuum, then this 40V battery-powered tool is the one you need. The Greenworks leaf blower can be turned from blowing mode to suction mode without extra add-ons and tools and in just a few simple steps. This device is practical, easy to handle and powerful - all you could want from a power tool.
Customer review: "The powerful motor quickly depletes the battery when on full power, but selectively using the blow and suck functions at different levels gives great clearing up capacity."
Pros
- Shoulder strap makes things much easier
- Portable, no leads
- Simple to change between modes
Cons
- Battery doesn't last long
Best three-in-one
Hyundai/AmazonDescription
Hyundai's garden tool gives you three-in-one functionality - it can work as a leaf blower to get your garden debris in a tidy pile, it can then vacuum it up, and after that, the mulching action means you're good to empty the 45-litre collection bag straight into your composter. There's a 3000W motor that's capable of airspeeds from 62 to 170mph so you can use lower speeds on delicate areas and higher speeds when you want to give it some welly. This has an extra-long 12-metre power cable for increased reach, and the vacuum's wheeled nozzle extends from 70cm to 100cm.
Customer review: "This is a multifunctional tool and great value for money. It has a variable speed control and is able to be used as a blower or a vacuum. In Vacuum mode, it shreds the leaves before they end up in the bag, so helping to reduce the amount of space they take up and also useful if you want to convert to compost. The hose section is extendable, so takes up less space when not in use and can be extended to easy reach the ground. There are also wheels on the end to make it easier to move around on the ground with only one hand. There is an additional handle to allow two-handed use. The waste bag is detachable and can be easily washed."
Pros
- Great value - three tools in one
- Powerful blow and suction
- Easy to store
Cons
- Recommended for small gardens
How we chose the best garden vacuum
All of these garden vacuums have been hand-selected by our team of Modern Gardens shopping experts. We carefully considered size, power, and functionality in our selection of the best. Our team has spent hours investigating and researching garden vacuums to make it easier for you to find the very best, and we'd never recommend a product we don't believe in.
Where possible, we also test and share the latest and best products you should know about. And with help from Modern Gardens Magazine, Garden News and Garden Answers, we share expert gardening knowledge to help you get the most from your product.
FAQs: Best garden vacuum
What to look for in a garden vacuum
Gardening expert Geoff Hodge gives tips on what exactly you should be looking for in a garden vacuum.
Motor output is the power (in watts) produced by the motor. 2000-3000 watts is suitable for most garden vacuums. Larger gardens or heavier debris may benefit from higher outputs 3000 watts or more for efficient performance.
Adjustable chute length to suit your height. This avoids losing suction power when the device is held too far off the ground.
Nozzle shape to suit the task. Round nozzles are good for moving bulky leaves quickly; flatter ones suit harder-to-move items, such as stuck-on leaves.
Variable airflow/ speed control allows you to increase the force to shift stubborn leaves or decrease it around fragile plants. Some machines refer to this as a turbo or power boost.
Shredding ratio measures how much the original leaf volume is reduced when it passes through the internal shredding impellors.
Collection bag for leaves. Larger bags need emptying less but become heavier on the shoulder as they fill up. Zipped bags are easier to empty.
Tube support wheel reduces carrying weight and holds the nozzle at the right height for maximum suction.
How does volume flow rate and airflow speed work in garden vacuums?
Volume flow rate (m³/hr) measures the amount of air expelled from the chute, indicating the quantity of air being moved. A higher figure means more air moves through the machine, resulting in the powerful extraction of garden debris.
However, the air volume is meaningless if it doesn't move fast enough. That's why airflow speed (kph) is also crucial. Airflow speed measures the rate at which air moves through the chute, indicating the intensity or force of the air movement that can affect suction.
The higher the rating, the better the machine can remove wet leaves, heavier debris, and twigs or leaves stuck to a surface.
Garden vacuum: Petrol, electric or battery-powered?
Petrol garden vacuum
Petrol-driven machines are the most powerful and allow you to roam free, unrestricted by power cables, but they’re overpowered for a small garden. They can be noisy, create polluting emissions, and the engine needs regular maintenance. Alongside petrol garden vacuums, you can get petrol leaf blowers too.
Corded electric garden vacuum
Those powered by mains electricity don’t offer the same walk-around freedom but are more economical to buy and run and don’t produce emissions. Also, an electric garden vacuum tends to be quieter, needs less maintenance and is lighter to carry.
Battery-powered garden vacuum
Battery-powered machines eliminate the trailing cable trip hazard. Lithium-ion batteries provide great performance, which doesn’t diminish and suffer as the battery loses its charge.
Remember that a battery may need frequent recharging if you use the machine a lot. Alternatively, buy a second battery to swap with while recharging. The Ah (ampere/hour) rating shows how much energy it stores – the larger the number, the longer it runs.
Many manufacturers make batteries that can be interchanged with other powered tools in their range, so you may be able to buy the machine on its own or as a kit that includes the battery and charger. The former cuts the cost, as you only need one battery and one charger to power different tools.
Is a garden vacuum worth it?
Garden vacuum prices vary based on brand, features and power. Generally, they range from £50 to £300 or more. There are lightweight models that weigh around 3kg up to 10kg+ for more industrial-grade models.
A garden vacuum can be worth it for efficiently cleaning up leaves, debris and grass clippings – saving time and effort compared to manual methods. It helps maintain a tidy garden and reduces the risk of pests. Consider factors like garden size and your specific needs before deciding on a budget option or a powerful investment.
Gardeners with large yards, numerous trees and seasonal leaf fall would benefit from a garden vacuum. It's especially useful for those seeking a quick and efficient way to maintain a clean outdoor space.
What to read next:
Subscribe to Modern Gardens magazine and get the most out of your outdoor space. Discover everything you need to know to make your outside space look fantastic, quickly and easily, with hundreds of simple ideas, designer tricks, affordable products and expert advice in every issue of Modern Gardens. View our latest subscription offers to save on shop prices.
Natalie Knowles is a Homes & Garden Product Writer for Modern Gardens, specialising in garden trends. When she's not flexing her mow-how, Natalie is a successful artist and illustrator.