I love all things fall — colorful leaves, cooler weather, the start of cozy season — except for cleaning leaves out of my yard. Every year, my joy at seeing the leaves turn is accompanied by a mild sense of dread, knowing that I'm going to have to spend my free time raking. Thankfully, the best rakes have strong tines, ergonomic features like a cushioned handle, and impressive functionality to make this chore just a little bit easier.
Rakes aren't only used for leaf clean-up, though — they can also come in handy when landscaping or gardening. They're essential gardening tools to keep on hand for every season. And if you're just looking to clear up leaves, we recommend checking out the best leaf blowers, too.
After testing in our own backyards and talking to Tina Krug, PhD, assistant teaching professor in the Department of Horticulture at Iowa State University and Taylor Olberding, co-owner of Heroes Lawn Care, our pick for the best overall rake is the Husky Steel Rake. It has a simple, versatile design with a durable wooden handle and steel tines that are well-suited to any outdoor job. If you're looking for a rake to clean up leaves, specifically, the Fiskars Leaf Rake is the way to go. It's a lightweight rake with a wide head that easily gathers leaves and makes bagging them a breeze.
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Our top picks for the best rakes
Best overall: Husky Steel Rake - See at Home Depot
Best for leaves: Fiskars Leaf Rake - See at Walmart
Best bow: Kobalt Steel Garden Rake - See at Lowe's
Best small: Corona RK 62060 Fixed Shrub Rake - See at Amazon
Best adjustable: Tabor Tools Adjustable Metal Rake - See at Amazon
Best leaf scoops: ReLeaf Leaf Scoops - See at Amazon
Best overall
Husky’s rake is simple and affordable, with a durable wood handle and steel tines that will last for years of cleanup. The simple design makes it versatile, allowing for easy use in picking up leaves, grass clippings, or other debris from your yard.
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Sometimes less is more, and that's certainly the case with Husky's steel rake. It's almost the Platonic ideal of a rake, with a slim wooden handle and 22 inch-long tines. Despite its simple design, I firmly believe it's the perfect rake — it's lightweight, durable, and versatile for all lawn care needs.
During testing, I was impressed with the rake's performance with every ordeal I tasked it with. It cleans up leaves like a champ, finding even the most hidden debris. It gathered up stray acorns and sticks with ease. I've even used it to spread grass seed around my yard and rake the soil in my garden in the spring. If you're looking for one rake for every task on your list, this is the one I recommend.
Husky's rake is remarkably durable, made with wood and steel. Steel tines are a little more inflexible than plastic tines — which sometimes means it can be difficult to gather up all the leaves — but they also last significantly longer. I've been using this rake for the past two seasons, and I've left it outside for weeks on end to withstand the elements, and it still looks as good as new.
Despite having steel tines, which can be heavy, this rake is remarkably lightweight. It's easy to move around the yard to use, and I don't find myself getting tired after raking. That said, it doesn't have ergonomic features like a cushioned grip or an extra-long handle, so it could still cause back or arm pain when used for a long period.
Husky's rake is also one of the most affordable options on our list, and it comes with a lifetime warranty, covering any tool failures resulting from manufacturing defects after normal use.
Best for leaves
Curved tines, a 24-inch wide head, and an extra-long aluminum handle ensure that the Fiskars Leaf Rake will get your yard cleared up in record time.
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When you're searching for a rake that can help clean up your yard in no time, the Fiskars Leaf Rake is the way to go. This rake has a unique design, featuring an extra-wide head to clear up leaves with minimal effort.
When cleaning leaves, Krug recommends a lightweight rake with a wide head, and the Fiskars rake was the best at clearing up leaves in our tests. The flexible, plastic tines pull out leaves without pulling up the grass along with them. And, when you're ready to bag your leaf pile, the head features a large, curved surface area for easy scooping. I did notice that leaves often got stuck in between the tines, but they came loose with a bit of pulling.
This is also the lightest rake we've tried with a handle made from a hollow, lightweight aluminum that hasn't shown signs of denting. Since the head is made of plastic, it's similarly light, so it's easy to maneuver around the yard. The handle is topped with a cushion grip, making this the ideal rake for long periods of leaf clearing.
One tiny gripe: the label sticker on the front of the rake was comically difficult to peel off. Be careful when removing it, since too much scraping can lead to plastic coming off the rake.
Best bow
With its hefty steel head and cushioned handle, Kobalt’s bow rake is best for heavy-duty projects like landscaping or spreading mulch or soil in the garden.
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Named for the two curved pieces on the head and also known as a hard rake, bow rakes are the best option for landscaping or gardening. They have fewer, shorter tines than a traditional rake, with a head that's perpendicular to the ground for ease of use. The Kobalt Fiberglass Steel Rake is the best bow rake we've tried, with an extremely durable design that's well-suited for heavy-duty outdoor jobs.
I used Kobalt's rake in my garden, where it efficiently sifted around the soil. I also tested it out in a rock bed and a mulched flower garden. In all instances, it spread the material and removed debris without tearing up sensitive plants.
I was particularly impressed by the rake's durability. As part of testing, I hit each rake against concrete 50 times. This proved no problem for the Kobalt rake, as there were absolutely no signs of wear and tear. I've also left it outside for almost a month, and no materials have degraded.
Kobalt's rake is designed for comfort, with an ultra-squishy cushion at the top of the handle. That said, since it's a heavy-duty rake with a head of steel, it's heavier than other options. This tends to be an issue with all rakes made of steel, however.
Best small
If you're looking for an inexpensive rake that will get the job done every time, look no further than the Corona RK 62060 Fixed Shrub Rake.
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There are 11 tines on this rake, each measuring 8 inches in length. The head is made of tempered steel and lightweight aluminum, meaning the Corona Clipper will last you more than enough time.
Each tine is surprisingly wide, allowing you to clear more area in less time. And because the rake itself is extremely light (just 11.2 ounces), it won't put any undue pressure on the surface you're raking. So if you're looking to protect moss or save any shrubs and plants, you can rest easy knowing that this delicate rake will eliminate the detritus you don't want while keeping alive the life you want.
While some rakes seem to be more effective in their middles than on their sides, this is not the case with the Corona Clipper. Because its bow is bi-curved, you'll find that you can apply even pressure across the entire surface area you're working with.
Perhaps my favorite element of the rake is its handle. Not only is it made of lightweight aluminum, but it's also covered with an anti-slip vinyl sleeve. It's comfortable on your hands even during long projects, and it will also stay put even if you get sweaty. The handle is 54 inches long, which should be long enough to help prevent any lower back aches and pains.
Best adjustable
The adjustable tines on the Tabor Tools Adjustable Metal Rake allow you to get into all the nooks and crannies of your yard.
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Tabor Tools's rake is a popular lightweight, easy-to-use, and versatile tool. Designed to reach smaller areas that are difficult for conventional rakes to access, the 15 flat tine head expands from 8 inches to 23 inches. The adjustable head is a major benefit to suit a wide range of raking tasks.
The telescoping handle also expands from 32 inches to 64 inches to suit a wide range of heights but be advised that the handle can be uncomfortable to grip for long periods. This rake is also not designed for rocks and other heavy materials.
Best leaf scoops
The versatile and unique ReLeaf Leaf Scoops combine the tines of a rake and the shape of gardening gloves to help you complete all your gardening chores.
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Who couldn't use an extra pair of hands? Part rake/part hand scoops, these popular Leaf Scoops get your yard work wrapped up quickly and efficiently, whether your leaves and grass are wet or dry. The one-size-fits-all plastic scoops are excellent for transporting and spreading compost and mulch, too. The closed scoop design keeps small items from slipping out.
The lightweight scoops are easy to store — simply fit them together and hang them up. The Leaf Scoops are covered by a 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed Lifetime Guarantee.
Sized to fit all yard bags and trash cans, the closed scoop design keeps small items from slipping out. You can use one as a rake to gather stray leaves to stack for easy bagging or mulching, which can help cut down on the time it takes to gather leaves and finish gardening projects.
What to look for when buying a rake
- Durability: Cheap plastic rakes are meant to be disposable, but you can get a few good years out of them if you're careful. Otherwise, it's common for them to break by the end of the season. If you want a rake for all tasks that are also built to last, look for one made out of a single material, says Olberding. Krug noted that, when buying a rake, you often have to choose between durability and comfort. "Many excellent rakes that would last a very long time are also heavy and can add to fatigue when used for hours," Krug said. "Sometimes the cheaper, box store purchases are the right ones if they are lighter weight — even if that means they may wear out faster."
- Handles: Hardwood handles are best because metal handles tend to bend or warp with heavy use, especially over time. Metal is also a valid second option as it will last a lifetime and has very little impact on the environment. However, if you live in a colder climate, you may opt to avoid metal rakes as they can be uncomfortable to handle in chilly weather without gloves. Avoid plastic handles as they are typically not reusable, can become brittle and break, and take thousands of years to decompose. Olberding recommends a rake with a fiberglass handle or one that doesn't have bolts between the handle and spade, like an all-metal model, for added durability.
- Tines: Metal tines are durable and strong for heavy-duty projects or removing debris like sticks and rocks. Plastic is less durable, but it's lightweight and flexible, perfect for cleaning up leaves.
- Comfort: Raking can be taxing on muscles. When it comes to rakes, bigger doesn't mean better. It's important for the rake's dimensions to be comfortable and have good ergonomics for the user. Look for other ergonomic features like a cushioned grip, adjustability, or an extra-long handle.
How we tested
We tested dozens of rakes and put them through various garden cleanup tasks to make our top picks.
- Performance: We tested each rake's performance in leaf and debris cleanup in grass, dirt, and gravel. In addition, we used each rake to spread mulch and soil in the garden.
- Durability: We left each rake outside in the elements for at least two weeks, noting any damage or deterioration. We also hit the tines and handle against concrete 50 times to test durability.
- Comfort: We noted how comfortable each rake was to use and looked for ergonomic features like a cushioned grip or extra-long handle.
Rake FAQs
Are metal or plastic tines better?
Metal tines are more durable, but plastic tines are lightweight. Metal is better overall, but plastic is an excellent alternative if you're looking for a lightweight option to clean up leaves. Krug prefers a metal rake, but it largely comes down to personal preference.
Do I have to rake leaves?
You don't necessarily have to rake leaves off your yard, since dead leaves provide nutrients to the soil. Experts recommend raking heavy leaf coverage, though, since thick layers of dead leaves can harm your lawn.
What is the best way to dispose of garden leaves?
Most municipalities offer free leaf pickup services around the fall and springtime. You can toss leaves in your compost bin or mulch and add them to garden beds as a soil amendment.
What are the uses for a garden rake?
The most common use case for a garden rake is raking up leaves and debris. You might also use a rake to distribute mulch or even out and loosen soil.
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