Skip Bagging Leaves with One of Our Favorite Leaf Mulchers
Although it was fun to jump into leaf piles when you were a kid, raking up leaves doesn’t seem quite as enjoyable when you’re an adult. Luckily, leaf mulchers can make yard cleanup a lot easier—often without any raking at all thanks to leaf mulchers that double as leaf vacuums—and can help improve your lawn and soil health as well.
“Leaf mulchers turn leaves into fine, natural mulch, making them an excellent tool for managing debris and keeping your space maintained in the fall,” says Alex Roman, associate merchant of portable power at The Home Depot. “Many people opt for a leaf mulcher over raking because it saves time, requires less physical effort for large yards, creates valuable mulch, and improves lawn health.”
As you’re shopping for a leaf mulcher, you’ll need to decide between a handheld and stationary unit—and select a power source that works best for your needs. We tested a variety of leaf mulchers, some of which also function as leaf blowers and leaf vacuums, to find the best stationary, corded, cordless, and gas models for every yard.
What We Tested
We tested some of the top leaf mulchers on the market, putting them to use in our own backyards. We looked at ease of setup and operation along with how comfortable the handheld models were to hold and carry around the yard. We then evaluated how effectively the leaf mulchers chopped up wet and dry leaves and grass clippings on a variety of surfaces. Learn more about our testing process below.
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While you can’t easily carry this leaf mulcher around the yard with you, this stationary unit from Worx can handle a lot of leaves quickly. It mulches up to 53 gallons of leaves per minute, and we found it to be easy to use and very efficient at mulching our collected leaves. You simply place leaves into the hopper on top, and the unit will deposit the mulched leaves into a bag you can attach to the bottom of the mulcher—or you can skip the bag entirely and just let the mulched leaves fall onto your yard.
With an 11:1 mulching ratio, the mulcher can turn 11 bags of leaves into mulch that fits in just one bag. The mulcher uses string-trimmer line to mulch leaves, meaning you won’t have to mess with cutting blades. The mulcher worked equally well on fresh and dried leaves, and the bowl was empty within six to eight seconds after we filled it. The Worx mulcher was also able to chop up some small twigs that we accidentally gathered up with the leaves. We did not try to use wet leaves in the mulcher, as the instructions warn against this.
The mulcher was easy to assemble; it took us less than five minutes to put together and required no special tools. While the leaf mulcher is lightweight, we did note it was a little awkward to move around, as we needed to lift the whole unit, rather than dragging or rolling it. Our 5’9” tester found the mulcher was a comfortable height for him to place leaves into. We did find this mulcher to be loud since the mechanism is basically two string trimmers running at once.
Because this is a corded unit, you’ll need to place it near an exterior outlet or use an extension cord that’s rated for outdoor use. We needed a 150-foot cord to reach all areas of our yard, and we liked that it remained securely attached to the leaf mulcher as we moved it around our space.
Like other stationary units, this mulcher doesn’t help you collect the leaves, so you’ll need to rake them into a pile and then add the leaves to the mulcher, rather than doing cleanup and mulching at the same time as you can with a handheld leaf vacuum-mulcher combo. At the end of the season, we found this mulcher easy to store thanks to easy-to-remove legs.
Product Details: Type: Stationary | Power Source: Corded electric | Weight: 20 pounds | Decibels: Not listed | Mulching Ratio: 11:1
Key Terms to Know
- Mulching Ratio:This number tells you by how much the leaf mulcher will reduce the leaves you are collecting. If a mulching ratio is 15:1, that means the leaf mulcher will reduce 15 bags of leaves down to just one bag, thereby reducing the number of bags you need to lug out to the curb on your trash pickup day.
- Stationary Mulchers: These leaf mulchers are set up in one spot in your yard and leaves are added to the hopper at the top after they are raked up into piles.
- Handheld Mulchers: These leaf mulchers are carried around the yard and vacuum up leaves and mulch them at the same time.
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If you want to have a leaf blower, vacuum, and a mulcher, the Worx WG509 is a good way to get all three functions in one tool—saving on costs and decreasing the number of tools you need to store. It does a great job minimizing yard waste, with an 18:1 mulching ratio; plus, it has several features that make it easy and convenient to use, such as variable speed settings and a cruise control button that prevents you from needing to hold down a button or trigger for long periods of time.
We thought it was easy to put together (it only took us a few minutes), and we appreciated the helpful step-by-step photos in the manual. We used this product to collect leaves in a small backyard. The leaf blower function worked well on both concrete and grass and easily moved leaves that were damp with morning dew. When the vacuum was on, the tube needed to be close to the pile to pick up the leaves, which ensured it only sucked up debris we wanted to collect—and didn’t accidentally pick up other things.
We liked that the end of the vacuum tube is tilted and flattened somewhat, so we could easily reach underneath patio furniture and shrubs. A powerful airflow of up to 350 CFM and 210 MPH speeds made quick work of blowing and sucking up leaves (depending on the setting). Because it’s corded, you don’t need to worry about recharging a battery, but you are limited by the reach of your extension cord. We thought this tool was easy to maneuver and liked the extra handle that made it easier to carry, but we found that the cord did get in the way sometimes.
We did find we needed to sometimes use two hands to toggle the on/off switch. But we found it easy to swap out the blower for the vacuum (you just need to turn a dial) and empty the collection bag, thanks to a zipper on the side of the bag. The leaf blower volume was about what we expected, while the vacuum/mulcher setting was a little louder—it sounded like a loud indoor vacuum. Overall, this leaf mulcher/blower/vacuum combo is a good value, especially if you’re on the hunt for all three tools.
Product Details: Type: Handheld | Power Source: Corded Electric | Weight: 9.3 pounds | Decibels: Not listed | Mulching Ratio: 18:1
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With cordless leaf blowers, you don’t have to worry about adding gas—and you’re not limited by an electrical cord. This Greenworks 40V model offers a good amount of power (with an airflow capacity up to 340 CFM and speeds up to 185 MPH) to allow you to efficiently take care of both dry and wet leaves.
With a runtime of up to 21 minutes, this mulcher let us get a good amount of yard cleanup done before needing to recharge the battery—but you may need to plan time for recharging (or just buy an extra battery) if you have a large yard and a lot of leaves to clean up.
We found the setup to be easy (only four steps were required) as was switching between the blower and vacuum modes. A variable speed dial with six different speed settings—as well as a turbo button for maximum power—gave us a lot of control over how much power we wanted to use, and the cruise control button let us run the tool at a set speed without needing to hold down a button.
When operating the product as a vacuum, the leaf collection bag can hold up to 17 gallons of material—allowing you to clear a large area before needing to empty the bag (especially since it has a 12:1 mulching ratio). The leaf blower also features a battery indicator light, so we could see when the charge was running low.
We used this leaf blower/vacuum to blow grass clippings off our concrete front porch steps, driveway, and backyard patio, as well as to vacuum up some grass and weed debris along the patio’s edge. It effectively cleaned up all the grass clippings, as well as some pebbles; it only struggled a little when we tried to use it to remove clippings from an outdoor rug.
This product is a bit bulky, weighing nearly 17 pounds with the battery, which might be a concern for some users. We found it easy enough to carry around for an extended period of time, though, in part because of its ergonomic features, such as the extra handle that allows you to use two hands to direct the blower where you need it and the two wheels on the bottom which help move the unit around when the vacuum tube is attached. We thought the noise level was reasonable, but we did need to shut it off to have a conversation.
Product Details: Type: Handheld | Power Source: Battery/Cordless | Weight: 10 pounds (without battery) | Decibels: 69 decibels | Mulching Ratio: 10:1
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While this Husqvarna tool just has “leaf blower” in its name, it actually also functions as a leaf vacuum and mulcher. It gives you loads of power—up to 470 CFM and speeds up to 170 MPH—making it a good choice for large properties with lots of leaves.
When working in our yard, the variable-speed throttle let us choose how much power we wanted, and a cruise control setting meant we didn’t have to keep holding a button while running the tool for extended periods of time. The tube on the unit can be adjusted from 22.5 to 25 inches to make it more comfortable for people of varying heights, and the kit comes with both a flat and round nozzle that you can easily change out for various tasks.
We used this product on a yard with a mix of terrains and a wooden deck, and we found the blower had a lot of power, letting us easily move both wet and dry leaves, as well as sticks and pine needles, off a crushed rock driveway while keeping the rock in place. The vacuum/mulcher was also very effective at picking up leaves and small sticks and worked well on uneven terrain.
Like other gas tools, this mulcher does emit fumes, but its engine has been designed to reduce emissions. Typically, gas mulchers and vacuums are harder to start than electrical models, but this product features an air purge system, which removes air from the carburetor and fuel system, which made it easier for us to start. After you hit the stop button, the blower/vacuum automatically resets to the “on” position, which also helps make it easier to start. It features a two-cycle engine, so you’ll need to mix the included oil with gas to power it.
We found the tool easy to set up thanks to a two-page startup instruction pamphlet, and the leaf blower started on the first pull. The vacuum/mulcher components required a few extra steps but were not hard to put together either. We found it easy to switch between the blower and the vacuum/mulcher once we got the hang of it.
After adding gas to the leaf blower/vacuum, we did find it a little heavy as we carried it around the yard, but we switched hands periodically to help solve this issue. We found the handle comfortable to hold and felt it was a good shape for helping us control and aim the blower and vacuum. (The manufacturer says the handle is designed to reduce strain on your arms, wrists, shoulders, and back, and we found that to be true.)
In terms of noise, we felt this tool was a little quieter than other gas models we’ve used in the past, and we were able to talk (albeit, loudly) to others while it was running. The collection bag for the vacuum/mulcher was only able to hold about ¾ of a 5-gallon bucket, but it did a good job of mulching the debris into smaller pieces and compacting material.
Product Details: Type: Handheld | Power Source: Gas | Weight: 9.6 pounds | Decibels: 112 | Mulching Radio: 16:1
The Bottom Line
After testing a variety of leaf mulchers, some of which were also leaf blowers and vacuums, we selected our favorite model in each of four categories: stationary, corded, cordless, and gas. The WORX WG430 13 Amp Electric Leaf Mulcher offers a powerful stationary option that helps you mulch a lot of leaves quickly. The best cordless option was the Greenworks 40V Cordless Brushless Leaf Blower/Vacuum; this handheld tool allows you to vacuum up leaves and mulch them as you are walking around your yard and garden.
Our Testing Process
We tested a total of 12 leaf blowers, mulchers, and vacuums over a two-week period in our own yards on a variety of surfaces and terrains. We selected a variety of gas, corded electric, and cordless/battery-operated tools, so we could compare their power levels and features. Some models we tested could only perform one function, while other models combined two or three functions in one product. To select models for testing, we looked for top products from popular brands, including Worx, Husqvarna, Ryobi, and Milwaukee. Testers evaluated each blower, vacuum, or mulcher based on how easy it was to set up and use, how effectively it moved or sucked up leaves and/or grass clippings, how loud the blower/vacuum/mulcher was, and whether it seemed like a good value for the price.
Better Homes & Gardens
What to Know About Leaf Mulchers Before Shopping
Type
Leaf mulchers are available in two main types: stationary and handheld. Both work well, so it’s primarily a matter of personal preference, says Lou Manfredini, Ace Hardware’s home expert. “The handheld devices are like a vacuum, and you walk around the yard and suck up the leaves,” he says. “But those can become heavy as the smaller bag fills up, and then you have to dump that into a larger bag for disposal.” For example, the Greenworks 40V Cordless Brushless Leaf Blower/Vacuum weighs nearly 17 pounds once you add the battery, which may be too heavy for some to use comfortably.
Stationary models (sometimes referred to as stand-alone models), such as the WORX WG430 13 Amp Electric Leaf Mulcher, are designed to be positioned in one spot in your yard. You put leaves into the hopper on top, and as the leaves are shredded by the mulcher, they are deposited into a bag below. You’ll have to rake all the leaves into a pile and then add them to the leaf mulcher—but you won’t have to carry the mulcher around the yard. “Stationary models are ideal for large yards with heavy leaf accumulation, as they handle larger volumes and require less physical effort,” Roman says.
Power Source
There are three power choices to choose from: corded electric, cordless (which run on a battery that needs to be charged), and gas. Each one has advantages and disadvantages. Traditionally, gas leaf blowers have offered the most power; the Husqvarna 125BVx Gas Leaf Blower, for example, offers air flow capacity up to 470 CFM and speeds up to 170 MPH and can help you efficiently take care of a lot of leaves on a large property. However, new corded and cordless models are giving gas models a run for their money. “I think as far as power to mulch the leaves, the difference is minimal, with gas having a slight edge in power,” Manfredini says. “But you are burning gas and creating carbon dioxide emissions which an electric unit does not.”
Corded and cordless leaf mulchers are usually quieter than gas models. With corded models, such as the WORX WG509, you don’t have to worry about recharging a battery and you can use it for as long as you need—but you’re limited by the length of your extension cord. “Cordless models offer the highest portability since they do not require a power source or cord,” Roman says. That said, you can only work for as long as the battery charge lasts. If you still have work to do, you’ll have to wait for the battery to recharge or plan to purchase an extra battery so you can swap in a fresh one. Battery indicator lights on models such as the Greenworks 40V Cordless Brushless Leaf Blower/Vacuum can help you keep tabs on how much charge you have left.
Size and Weight
These factors will primarily come into play for handheld leaf mulchers. Since you’ll be carrying these models all around the yard for an extended time, you’ll want to make sure they are light enough to carry comfortably. The optimum weight will vary from person to person, so it’s a good idea to pay attention to the weight listed in the product information.
You may also want to consider the length of the blower/vacuum tube and think about whether it will be comfortable for someone of your height to handle. If more than one person will be using the leaf mulcher, look for models like the Husqvarna 125BVx Gas Leaf Blower, which features an adjustable tube length to make it more comfortable for people of varying heights.
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Included Accessories
Generally, handheld leaf mulchers come with a vacuum tube and leaf collection bag. If they are cordless, they will usually come with a battery and charger. If you have a large yard, you may want to consider purchasing an extra battery or two so you can continue working while one battery charges. Some leaf vacuum/mulcher models may come with more than one nozzle for the end of the vacuum tube—or you may be able to purchase an additional one separately.
Safety
As with any power tool, it’s important you know how to use it, so we recommend reading the manual before operating. In addition, it’s a good idea to wear personal protective equipment, such as safety goggles, Roman suggests, as it’s possible that some bits of debris may fly out of a stationary leaf mulcher’s hopper as it is being chopped up. Also keep safety in mind as you are shopping for a leaf mulcher and comparing features. “Look for leaf mulchers with features such as bladeless systems, easy-glide roller wheels, and ergonomic designs for enhanced safety and control,” Roman says.
Other Leaf Mulchers We Tested
Ryobi 40V Vac Attack Cordless Leaf Vacuum/Mulcher
You can get over 30 minutes of runtime with this Ryobi cordless model. A vacuum and mulcher in one, it can mulch 16 bags of leaves down to just one bag. We found it easy to put together and use, and we liked the controls and the suction power but found its weight of 12.7 pounds to be too heavy to carry around for long. We got tired holding the unit long before the battery charge ran out. While we found it easy to open the collection bag and dump its contents, the clip holding the bag to the tube did come loose while we were using it.
LawnMaster Red Edition BV1210E 1201 Electric Blower Vacuum Mulcher
At just 9 pounds, the LawnMaster BV1210E is lightweight, especially considering that it’s a leaf blower, vacuum, and mulcher all in one. It’s also quite powerful with an air flow capacity up to 380 CFM and speeds up to 240 MPH. It features a 16:1 mulching ratio and includes a 14-gallon collection bag that will take a while to fill. Because it’s a corded model, the cord limits your movement to some extent—and our tester found that the long extension cord she used became difficult to maneuver. That said, if you are okay with a corded model, this is definitely a runner up for the best corded mulcher. Our tester was very impressed by the power of the leaf blower and vacuum and thought the collection bag was fairly large and easy to empty.
Better Homes & Gardens
Your Questions, Answered
Do leaf mulchers work on wet leaves?
Leaf mulchers do work on wet leaves, but they probably won’t work quite as well as they do with dry leaves. It will likely take you longer to mulch wet leaves, Manfredini says, plus the units are more likely to clog when the leaves are wet. In general, the more powerful leaf mulcher models will handle wet leaves better.
What is the lifespan of a leaf mulcher?
As with many tools, leaf mulchers will likely last longer with proper maintenance. “A leaf mulcher can last up to 10 years, depending on factors like maintenance and usage,” Roman says. “Regular upkeep, such as cleaning, sharpening blades, and inspecting them for wear and tear, can significantly extend its lifespan.”
Is mulching leaves better than picking them up?
Stationary leaf mulchers require you to still rake leaves before you mulch them, while handheld models let you vacuum up leaves and mulch them, without touching a rake. It’s really a matter of personal preference, but a leaf mulcher can help you reduce your yard waste—and reduce the amount of yard waste taken to our landfills. Mulching leaves and adding them to your compost pile can also help you improve your garden soil in the spring.
“Proper recycling of tree leaves in autumn allows you to add organic matter to your soil for free,” explains Bob Mann, senior director of technical and regulatory affairs with the National Association of Landscape Professionals. “Leaves make great compost if handled correctly. The decomposition process does take a couple of years to complete, and you do need to occasionally turn the pile, but what you’ll be left with is a dark, lightweight mulch that is suitable for use in gardens, flower beds, or to broadcast over your lawn.”
Even if you opt to throw out the mulched leaves rather than adding them to your compost bin, leaf mulchers can help you greatly reduce the number of bags of leaves you’ll have to collect—and drag to the curb.
Who We Are
Renee Freemon Mulvihill is a writer specializing in home and garden topics. To write this piece, she studied the results from our leaf mulcher product testing, compared product details, and checked in with a few experts about using leaf mulchers: Lou Manfredini, Ace Hardware’s home expert, Alex Roman, associate merchant of portable power at The Home Depot, and Bob Mann, senior director of technical and regulatory affairs with the National Association of Landscape Professionals.
What is BHG Recommends?
Next to all of the products on this list, you may have noticed our BHG Recommends seal of approval. Products that earn the seal have been put through rigorous testing to make sure they’re worth a spot in your home. We buy most of the products we test ourselves, but occasionally we are provided samples by companies if buying isn’t an option. In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products.
