8 Best Garden Rakes to Save You Time and Pain
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Raking leaves and clearing rough ground might not be everyone’s favorite gardening jobs, but they’re certainly more enjoyable when you have the right tools.
I know this from experience: I’ll confess that I spent quite a few years struggling with a really bad rake. You know, one that was missing a couple of its thin and bent tines. And then, after I finally upgraded, I couldn’t believe how much time I was saving.
I’ve put together this list of 8 of the best garden rakes to help anyone who needs it make that same journey. When there are lots of functional and affordable rakes you can order online in just minutes, there’s no reason to struggle with that rusty old rake.
Read on to find out more!
Key Takeaways
After researching the pros and cons of dozens and dozens of the best garden rakes, I was eventually able to narrow it down to this short list of eight great options. Overall, I have to recommend the INFLATION 25-Tine Leaf Rake as the tip-top of the best garden rakes available for purchase on the internet. It’s a well-made and functional rake that’s tough enough to stand up to several seasons of heavy leaf clearing use.
I also recommended a heavier garden rake that’s better for clearing up rough ground (the YOHSUGO Store Garden Rake) as well as several that have adjustable options (like the Oliynedy Collapsible Rake for Leaves and the Oliynedy Adjustable Metal Leaf Rake). I’m sure you’ll be able to find a rake that fits your exact needs somewhere on this list.
Best Overall: INFLATION 25-Tine Leaf Rake
Why This is a Quality Choice: The INFLATION 25-Tine Leaf Rake gets the top spot on our list of the best garden rakes because of its tough all-metal construction. The 25 tines on this rake feel really strong, so you won’t need to worry about bending or breaking them.
Who is this for? Just about everyone who regularly clears a yard or lawn of leaves could benefit from having this product in their shed.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: At 3.32 pounds, this is a fairly heavy rake, but that’s a result of its durable construction.
Head material: Coated steel | Head width: 18.5 in. | Number of tines: 25 | Handle material: Coated Steel | Handle length: Adjustable, 37 to 65 in. | Weight: 3.32 lbs.| Cushioned grip: Yes
Best Budget: HOMIMP Leaf Rake for Gardening
Why This is a Quality Choice: This budget-friendly rake is a great choice for people who don’t do too much gardening but like to keep their small yard or lawn clear. Despite its affordable price, it’s still made out of tough and reliable materials.
Who is this for? This is a great choice for people who don’t do too much gardening but like to keep a small yard or lawn clear.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: The head width of 18.5 inches is smaller than many of the other options on this list, but that can make it easier to use in tighter spaces.
Head material: Metal | Head width: 18.5 in. | Number of tines: 11| Handle material: Metal tubes | Handle length: Adjustable, 38 to 64 in. | Weight: 1.85 lbs. | Cushioned grip: Yes
Best Collapsible Rake: Oliynedy Collapsible Rake for Leaves
Why This is a Quality Choice: This collapsible rake made by Oliynedy is a breeze to transport and store as a result of its convenient collapsible handle. It also feels really solid when it’s in use, so it definitely gets a recommendation from me.
Who is this for? I’d recommend this to gardeners for whom storage space is always a consideration when buying tools.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Although it’s not much work, constantly collapsing and extending this rake feels a little silly if you’re not doing it for a particular reason.
Head material: Rustproof steel | Head width: 18 in. | Number of tines: 25 | Handle material: Metal tubes | Handle length: Adjustable, 30 to 61 in. | Weight: 1 lbs. | Cushioned grip: Yes
Best Heavy Garden Rake: YOHSUGO Store Garden Rake
Why This is a Quality Choice: This solid garden rake is a great product for people who need to clear rough ground that a traditional leaf rake wouldn’t be suitable for. You can deal with just about any obstacle with this rake, whether that’s rocks, branches, or other impediments.
Who is this for? Gardeners who often need to clear rough ground, like a wooded area or a vegetable patch, would benefit from using this product.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: If you use this product on delicate grass, there is a chance that it could damage the turf.
Head material: Coated steel | Head width: 14 in. | Number of tines: 12 | Handle material: Metal | Handle length: 60 or 70 in. | Weight: 3.19 lbs. | Cushioned grip: Yes
Best with Stirrup: Suchtale Stirrup Hoe and 5-Tines Rake
Why This is a Quality Choice: The Suchtale Stirrup Hoe and 5-Tines Rake isn’t best used as a rake for collecting anything, but it shines as a tool for weeding and loosening rough soil (especially if you keep the tines sharp). You can either use its 5-tine rake for breaking up soil or its stirrup hoe for quickly and efficiently weeding a large area.
Who is this for? If you’re a serious gardener who needs to break up a lot of hard soil each spring, I think this product can make a huge difference for you.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Outside of the couple of use cases I mentioned, you can’t use this product for various other jobs.
Head material: Coated steel | Head width: 24 in. | Number of tines: 5 | Handle material: Steel | Handle length: 51 in. | Weight: 4.22 lbs. | Cushioned grip: Yes
Best Hand Rake: Fiskars Xact Hand Rake
Why This is a Quality Choice: This small hand rake from Fiskars—an excellent manufacturer—is an excellent tool for smaller and more delicate jobs than a large rake is capable of. I personally like to use it with my hori hori knife when doing up close and personal weeding or clearing.
Who is this for? Anyone who needs a hand rake as a regular part of their gardening routine would be well served by this product.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: The ergonomic grip might not fit absolutely everyone’s hands, but you should check out its dimensions to see if there will be an issue for you.
Head material: Stainless steel | Head width: 4.75 in. | Number of tines: 5 | Handle material: Stainless steel | Handle length: 7.8 ounces | Weight: 2.52 lbs. | Cushioned grip: Yes
Best Plastic Rake: Gardzen 12 Tines Gardening Leaf Rake
Why This is a Quality Choice: This plastic rake from Gardzen is light and easy to use. I particularly like that it comes with a pair of gloves and reusable bag to collect leaves, which can really speed up the process of collecting leaves without relying on one-use-only bags.
Who is this for? I’d say that this is a great rake for someone who clears leaves every so often but doesn’t need a premium metal rake.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Some gardeners might not like the idea of buying a rake that has a plastic head, but it does make the product light and easy to use.
Head material: Plastic | Head width: 17.2 in. | Number of tines: 12 | Handle material: Metal | Handle length: 56.7 in. | Weight: 2.52 lbs. | Cushioned grip: Yes, plastic
Best Adjustable Width Rake: Oliynedy Adjustable Metal Leaf Rake
Why This is a Quality Choice: This is the only entry on our list of rakes for garden jobs that has an adjustable width. Using a simple locking system, you can choose how wide you’d like your rake to be.
Who is this for? If you want one rake that can do a couple different jobs, this is the one for you.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Some gardeners will consider the adjustable width to be a fussy extra feature, but others will love it.
Head material: Metal | Head width: Adjustable, 8–17″ in. | Number of tines: 20 | Handle material: Metal | Handle length: 72 in. | Weight: 1 lbs. | Cushioned grip: Yes
Buying Considerations for The Best Garden Rakes
Material
When buying a garden rake, you want to make sure that it’s made out of quality materials and feels sturdy. Usually, rakes made from either wood and metal or just metal are the toughest, but a really high-quality plastic rake can perform better than a cheap metal one.
If you can’t make it to a garden store to see how a prospective rake looks and feels for yourself, checking out what other customers have said about it is a great way to ensure that you won’t regret the purchase you choose to make.
Weight
This second buying consideration is related to the first one: rakes that are ‘heavy-duty’ and super durable are likely to be much heavier and, therefore, more difficult to use than their lighter cousins. Some people won’t really feel the difference when they’re using a slightly heavier rake, but your lawn just might. Try to find a rake in the goldilocks zone: i.e. one that’s strong enough to do what you need it to without feeling like overkill.
Intended Purpose
Finally, the most important buying consideration is the match between what kinds of jobs a given rake is capable of doing and the types of jobs you’re planning to use it for. You don’t want a rake that’s ill suited to your typical garden routine because you’ll either break it or end up struggling with a tool that’s too big and heavy for what you need it for.
Sometimes, it can even make sense to get a couple of different rakes that you can switch out when moving from job to job. Personally, I have three or four different rakes I’m using at any time, since I like to use a product that’s perfect for the job I’m doing.
How I Choose These Products
Although there’s certainly some subjectivity involved in creating a list like this one, I didn’t just go with my gut when making the final cut. I certainly did rely on my experiences with various models and types of garden rakes, but I also reached out to several friends of mine who spend lots of time gardening and thoroughly researched the customer reviews of each product on this list.
I wanted to find products that were both easy and comfortable to use as well as tough enough to last for a long time. (Since you definitely don’t want to be getting a new rake every season!) The main factors I looked at when finding the toughest and most reliable rakes were brand reputation and the quality of materials used. I consider both sides of the equation to be really important, since it’s tough to trust the claims of manufacturers that have poor reputations, but you also don’t want to buy a low-quality rake just because it has a famous name.
Final Verdict
Ultimately, I decided to place the INFLATION 25-Tine Leaf Rake at the top of this list of the best garden rakes because of its simplicity and great quality. Not every gardener wants or needs an adjustable or collapsible rake. Sometimes you just need something to get the job done—which is exactly what this product will do. If you do need a rake that has different or more complex features, I’m sure that one of the alternatives fits the bill!
FAQs
Are metal or plastic rakes better?
There is a large degree of preference when it comes to answering whether metal or plastic rakes are better. There’s also the ‘it depends on the situation’ caveat. If you’re simply clearing leaves off a flat and well-kept lawn, then both a metal and a plastic rake will be fit for purpose and which is better just depends on personal preference. If you’re dealing with rough ground that’s full of rocks and other obstacles, a tougher metal rake is probably your best bet.
What is the best rake for removing weeds?
Metal garden rakes with strong, straight tines are usually the best for breaking up soil in order to make weeding easier. You can also opt for a rake that has a stirrup on the other end, since this can be helpful for hacking at particularly tough spots (such as the Suchtale Stirrup Hoe and 5-Tines Rake). Finally, if you’re looking to get at weeds that are in between plants or similarly difficult to reach areas, I’d recommend getting your hands on a hand rake like the Fiskars Xact Hand Rake.
What kind of rake doesn’t damage grass?
A wide leaf rake with light tines can be your ally when it comes to gathering leaves without damaging grass. A heavier metal garden rake can definitely dig into the root system of your grass and cause damage if you’re too rough while gathering weeds. However, my best advice is to work carefully if you’re worried about damaging grass that’s particularly sensitive because of its stage of growth or species, no matter what kind of rake you’re using.
