Best Overall
Worx WG430 13-Amp Electric Leaf Mulcher
Runner-Up
Ryobi 40V Vac Attack Leaf Vacuum/Mulcher Kit
Best Bang for the Buck
Worx WG512 Trivac Electric 3-in-1 Leaf Mulcher
We may earn revenue from the products available on this Sir Frederick Handley Page and participate in affiliate programs . Learn More ›
Few great deal are as lovely as the reddish and amber hue of fall leaves , but having to rake and bag them — with no folio mulcher in visual sense — can cursorily make leaves lose their ingathering . It only takes one expert soaking rain for dried leave of absence to become a sluggish tidy sum , increasing the risk of infection of lawn disease .
Shredding leaf in a leaf mulcher significantly reduce their bulk and , well still , produce organic mulch for use around perennial plant life . We quiz some of the good leaf mulchers to make G cleanup easier , whether recycle the leaves at household or bagging them up to place at the curb .
Finding the right leaf mulcher for your needs look on the amount of foliage accumulation , yard sizing , and your leaf collection orientation . Our test grouping include good example with a variety of effectiveness and purposes . Our Best Overall pick is theWorx WG430 13 - Amp Electric Leaf Mulcherthanks to its firm shredding and high efficiency . find out out our review base on this hands - on testing , and then read on to con what to attend for when shopping for the best leaf mulcher .
How We Tested the Best Leaf Mulchers
We spend 5 twenty-four hour period in a half - acre backyard grate up fallen leave-taking with 11 different leafage mulchers . Each mulcher had to launch the gamut of large and small as well as dry and wet leaves , along with whatever minor twig , pine cones , and acorn receive their means into the commixture . Note : While our examination include theSun Joe CJ601E Electric Wood Chipper , we find that its narrow hop-picker and flywheel chopper are design for grinding up sticks , not for shredding leave of absence .
The first testing day was under dry weather , with slightly moist leaf that we had lately blown into a down . For the handheld vacuum / mulcher models , we held the suction tube at or slimly above the storey of the leaves , as they should be used according to each manufacturer ’s instructions . We just turned on and feed the stand - alone models by the armload .
On the second 24-hour interval , we attempted to put the vacuum / mulcher models through more trying conditions , feed them with crocked , matted leafage and big , leathery magnolia foliage . During this mental test , we also push the sucking tube-shaped structure far into the foliage piles to see if they would become choked or but stop . To stress the stand - alone models , we used large baskets to “ force - feed ” extra - large quantities .
finally , all of the model that made our list passed both tests . For the mediocre examination , each mulcher rip up without wavering , filling its bag . During the stressful testing , several clog occurred , but none were catastrophic , nor did they take more than a little thump on the side of the suction housing to reset the patten . In all , each leaf mulcher in this group worked as expected or even better than expected .
Our Top Picks
We put several leaf mulchers to the trial run in an fair backyard to shape real - lifespan performance . The follow models prove to be dependable , true , and effective at rip up dry folio . Here ’s how some of the best leafage mulchers on the market get along when we put them through their paces .
ThisBob Vila Approvedproduct carries our stigma ’s highest grade of recommendation .
Bob Vila Approvedrecognizes the household and DIY products that impressed us most in our real - world examination and that instance core values of the Bob Vila brand , include craft , invention , and note value for the dollar . Winners of this designation come advocate by our professional review team and are personally approve by Bob Vila .
Our valuation : comfort of Use5/5;Performance4.5/5;Noise4/5;Value5/5
This electricWorx foliage mulcheris designed with the sole design of shredding foliage , which it does quickly and efficiently . The upright exemplar operates via a heavy - responsibility 12- to 14 - bore prolongation cord , and its broken 13 - ampere motor provides an 11:1 mulch step-down ratio .
The cylindrical molded credit card whole sit down atop strong steel legs ( nonaged assembly required ) . Rather than metal or plastic blades , this leaf mulcher use the same case of shaping communication channel found in cosmic string trimmers . It sport a large intake hopper and shreds up to 53 gallons of leaves per second .
Photo: Mark Wolfe for Bob Vila
The Worx WG430 shreds much faster than any blower / vacuum - character folio mulcher we test . We deteriorate leave of absence into the hopper by the armload ( or basket full ) , and they were gone before we could pluck up the next burden , allow us to fill a 30 - gallon trash bag with shred parting in less than 5 minutes . The trimmer lines shredded five bag of leaves and other fine chiliad rubble before we require to replace them , a project that took under 2 minute of arc . For users with a lot of leaf to tear up , this mulcher does the occupation quickly and efficiently , even bulge the material for disposition .
Read our full reassessment : Worx WG430 13 - Amp Electric Leaf Mulcher
Get the Worx WG430 leaf mulcher atAmazon .
Photo: Amazon
Runner-up
Our rating : Ease of Use4/5;Performance4.5/5;Noise5/5;Value4/5
A hand-held cordless leaf blower vacuum mulcher offers the exemption of mobility and easy storage . The Ryobi 40V Vac Attack folio mulcher vacuum uses a durable brand impeller to shred leaf and debris to 1/16 of their original size and produces enough vacuum power to fill eight 30 - congius travelling bag in 12 minutes . It conveniently share the same 40V cordless power platform with more than 80 other Ryobi tools and get along with a 5 Ah barrage fire and battery charger .
This leaf emptiness / mulcher performed very well with both freshly fall down teetotal leaves ( on the low - amphetamine scene ) and old , moist , and matted leaves and dust ( on the eminent - hurrying setting ) . The heavy - duty vacuum bag held more rubble than most of the other handheld unit we tested , which was ideal for big tons . It was wanton to unload directly into lawn and folio bag . However , we also noted that this tool worked well where the farewell were already piled up , since even with adjustable wheel on the suction tube , the large traveling bag made it more difficult to maneuver .
Photo: Amazon
Being a “ individual tasker ” might be a confidence trick for some shoppers . Unlike other cordless leaf sucking machines , the Ryobi vacuum / mulcher does not exchange to a leaf blower . Those who are most interested in distance saving might instead prefer a three - in - one option . In our run , we flip-flop between cetacean mammal and vacuum often , and it would have been more of a dogfight to flip back and forth . We opt to keep a dedicated foliage blower on hand at all time .
Get the Ryobi leaf mulcher atThe Home DepotorAmazon(tool only ) .
Best Bang For The Buck
Worx WG512 Trivac 12-Amp Electric 3-in-1 Leaf Mulcher
Our Ratings : Ease of Use5/5;Performance4.5/5;Noise4/5;Value4/5
The Worx WG512 is much meliorate over the premature Trivac incarnation . It uses a single thermionic valve for both cetacean and vacuum modes , with an easy - to - use dial to flip-flop modes . The 12 - amp corded electric motor uses an upgraded metal impeller fan to grind foliage and junk at a mulching charge per unit of 16:1 . It weigh in at 8.6 pounds and moves zephyr at a charge per unit of up to 600 three-dimensional animal foot per minute ( CFM ) .
In our tests , the WG512 showed a good balance of power and relatively quiet operation , with a racket operating level listed at 70 decibels . It easily press blind drunk and wry leave around the yard and then quickly dispatched them in vacuum / mulcher mode . When we forced the issue by shoving the vacuity tube deep into a leaf big bucks , the tube clogged concisely but redress itself as presently as we pull out it back out of the slew . The single - tube design , simple mode change dial , and honest - than - average air handling power made this model stand out . As a handheld corded galvanising example , it seems best for small to midsize yards with temperate to heavy leaf screen .
Photo: The Home Depot
Get the Worx WG512 leaf mulcher atAmazon , Lowe’s , Walmart , orWorx .
Best Cordless
Greenworks 40V 340 CFM Cordless Battery Leaf Blower
Our rating : Ease of Use4/5;Performance4/5;Noise5/5;Value3.5/5
Put the power of lithium - ion DOE to figure out with the Greenworks cordless leafage mulcher . This battery - operated mulcher includes a gamey - performance G - MAX 40V Li - ion bombardment that produces up to 340 CFM of blowing power and runs up to 20 second on the gamey mode . It offers six swiftness adjustments and both a narrow blowing tube and a wider - slant vacuum pipe for various one thousand cleanup position . The mulcher weighs 9.92 pounds , boast a 10:1 diminution proportion and aluminum - admixture impeller blades , and includes a reusable mulch collection bag .
We require to see if this cordless tool had adequate power to collect and shred leaves without changing batteries or move out of burster . After using it in blower mode to collect a plenty of leaves , we throw to void modality and proceed to fill the collection double , plus another fond pocketbook . Altogether , it worked for more than 20 minutes on the highest power background .
Photo: amazon.com
Get the Greenworks folio mulcher atAmazon , Walmart , undecomposed Buy(80 - volt modeling ) , orGreenworks .
Best Gas
Husqvarna 125BVx Gas Leaf Blower
Our Ratings : Ease of Use4/5;Performance5/5;Noise4/5;Value4.5/5
Shoppers with bigger lots and more leaves to deal with may find a gas - power leaf mulcher most commodious . The compact handheld Husqvarna 125BVx saves storage space while eliminating the hassle of charge batteries and running annexe cords . It is powered by a 28cc 2 - cycle engine that generate airflow of 425 CFM at speeds up to 170 naut mi per 60 minutes ( miles per hour ) . In vacuum / mulcher mode , it mulches leaf and other small yard waste at a 16:1 proportion . We also selected this model for ourBest Leaf Vacuumsguide .
Several contingent on this machine make it a superior selection . The well-situated - grouch railway locomotive sport a low resistance recoil starter in addition to an machine recurrence stop switch to pass flooding at startup . In our mental testing , it started on the first or 2d pull every meter . Then , the manipulator can expend the varying initiation for immediate reactivity or jell the cruise control lever for consistent blow military group to eliminate hand fatigue . Other consolation feature include an overall lightweight human body ( just over 9.5 pounds ) , an anti - vibration handle , and an ergonomic design with the blow pipe in line with the handle for optimum performance . It also let in a berm strap to reduce drug user fatigue duty .
Photo: Amazon
We noted the vacuum ’s knock-down suction and resistance to clogging . It fill the purse noticeably quicker than the barrage and electric - powered models , but we did not register the sentence . Also , the metalmulching impellerworked sharply on everything small enough to get in the thermionic tube , including hard item like marijuana cigarette and acorns . Although we did n’t love the curved void tube design at first ( the other handheld blower / vacuums had only a scant , straight pipage coming off the blower into the bag ) , it function well once we determine the best way to position it .
Get the Husqvarna folio mulcher atAmazonorLowe ’s .
Best Electric
Black+Decker 12-Amp Leaf Blower/Vacuum/Mulcher
Our Ratings : Ease of Use4/5;Performance4.5/5;Noise4/5;Value5/5
Blow dry leaves into a deal and then hoover them up and shred them with this three - in - one electric leaf blower and mulcher from Black+Decker . This handheld machine weighs in at 8.1 pounds , and it include a detachable shoulder shoulder strap , reusable bag assembly , and three disposable bags . The unit vaunt variable - speed mastery with up to 400 CFM airflow and aura speed up to 250 mph . It also feature a rugged alloy impeller that give rise a 16:1 diminution proportion , resulting in delicately rip up leaves that can be added to the compost bin or used to mulch plant . A heavy - responsibility 12- to 14 - gauge exterior university extension electric cord ( sold separately ) is needed to run this versatile prick .
We liked the convenience of sustain a blower , vacuum , and mulcher in one tool . Changing from cetacean mammal to vacuum was easy and only took about 1 second : Using a flathead screwdriver , remove the cetacean tube and line aspiration cover and attach the emptiness tube and folio compendium bag . This tool perform well in both modes , with ample powerfulness and minimum clogging in emptiness mode .
Photo: Amazon
Get the Black+Decker leafage mulcher atAmazon , Walmart , orTarget .
Best Walk-behind
Billy Goat KV601SP Lawn and Litter Vacuum
Our Ratings : Ease of Use5/5;Performance5/5;Noise4/5;Value4/5
For prominent property where leaf - drop-off time of year lasts month rather than week , a dedicated base on balls - behind leaf vacuum and mulcher makes the Book of Job much more manageable . The ego - propelled Billy Goat KV601SP is an splendid option for bountiful yards with fate of tree . It comes fit out with a 190cc natural gas engine to power the 27 - in vacuum nozzle with a monolithic 1,700 CFM of airflow . The strong suck picks up leaves , seeds , mulch , blooms , arm , and bedding material from lawns , landscape beds , and pavement . A metal impeller shreds the material at a 6:1 reduction proportion , and the gravid 40 - gallon zipperless vacancy bag cut downtime for dumping . For improved functionality and efficiency , a 7 - fundament vacuum hose attachment is available ( sold separately ) .
The hefty suction and steady - stray self - propelled lineament made this emptiness and mulcher a delight to manoeuvre . However , the price and undivided - project nature of the machine realistically limits its practicality to prominent property with extensive folio - cleaning needs . Moving two to three times the air volume of the other lawn void mulchers we prove , it worked incredibly tight : 5,000 straightforward feet of lawn and 1,000 solid feet of sidewalk vacuumed with the debris mulched and bagged in about 15 minute , or about the same amount of time it took to blow leaves into piles for the other leaf mulchers .
Photo: Amazon
Get the Billy Goat leaf mulcher atAmazon(with optional vacuum hose ) .
Best 3-in-1 Combo
Toro Ultra Leaf Blower/Vacuum/Mulcher
Our Ratings : Ease of Use5/5;Performance4.5/5;Noise5/5;Value5/5
galvanising three - in - one leaf mulchers are popular because they ’re so well-off to use , and this Toro poser was the breezy of the bunch we tested , for the most part thanks to the toolless switch from blower to vacuum . The machine generates up to 340 CFM of blowing force to move leaves , diminished branchlet , and other junk from around HVAC units , pack of cards , and fencing . We found that to be plenty of might to gather all of the leaves into a big bucks and then suck them up into the metal impeller leaf shredder . The only material that slack down this simple machine was coarse , soused , matted leaves .
The mulcher press just 8.5 pounds , making it wanton to carry . It also includes a recyclable collection bag and two extra underground fastening to concentrate gentle wind big businessman . The impeller features magnesium - serrated metal blades that refuse rust and corrosion . It shred leafage at a 16:1 reduction proportion , a small size that ’s certain to quickly decompose in a compost pile and also suits layer around plants to reduce weeds and retain territory wet .
Photo: Amazon
Get the Toro leaf mulcher atAce Hardware .
Also Consider
Flowtron LE900 Leaf-Eater Mulcher/Shredder
Our Ratings : relief of Use4/5;Performance5/5;Noise4/5;Value4/5
For yards with oodles of leave , an electric stand up - alone foliage mulcher shredder is often the best bet , and this Flowtron framework is a suitable contender . Its 5.9 - amp motor will run all day , with just a few stops along the way to install new trimmer lines . It grinds up dry leaves at a rate of up to 55 gallons per bit . Choose from ok , medium , and coarse mulching scope , based on material . The fine setting is great for teetotal , sparse material like pine needles and dry leaves , while the common scene is well befit for wet felt up leaves and sess clipping . An onboard safety shutoff kills the railway locomotive if it overheats .
This digest - alone model almost made the cut as our good overall pick since it was a feasible alternative in terms of public presentation . However , the apparatus proved to be far less user - friendly . The moldable ground ball arrived in two one-half , need assembly by align tab and installing four screws . Assembling the two half of the alloy pedestal require two screws , two brackets , and two wing nuts . Though this was n’t difficult , these engineering choices made the process more unwieldy and complicated than it had to be . In action , we like the low work height but constitute it necessary to utilize trash bags rather of report lawn and leaf traveling bag for accumulation because the cornerstone is so dispirited to the ground .
Photo: Ace Hardware
Get the Flowtron folio mulcher atThe Home DepotorWalmart .
Jump to Our Top Picks
What to Consider When Choosing a Leaf Mulcher
weigh informality of performance , efficiency , and operation when take the just leaf mulcher for a specific job . These factors are pendant on the following features .
Types of Leaf Mulchers
leafage mulchers are all design with one primary task : shredding leaf , typically with spinning impeller sword . Yet certain features are worth considering when choosing the type of mulcher that good suit a especial yard or occupation . folio mulchers put up a variety of power options , such as an electrical cord , a gas engine , or a rechargeable battery . In addition , while many leafage mulchers are handheld , some are stationary . As with all power tools , read and follow the maker ’s safety precaution , and do not operate a leaf mulcher when small children are nearby .
cord leaf mulchers , which precipitate into theelectric folio blowercategory , feature motors rated in amps that range from around 8 to 14 A . The high the amps , the more powerful the motor . cord models are quieter than gas - powered models , and there is no fuel to mix or flammable flatulence to hive away . While charging a barrage is n’t a concern with a corded folio mulcher , user will be confine to the duration of an prolongation cord , which normally tops out at around 100 groundwork . A handheld corded mulcher weighs about 6 to 9 pounds , so it ’s easy to utilize without developing shoulder or arm weariness .
petrol - power leaf mulchers allow for ample power with no risk of infection of tripping over an propagation electric cord and no battery to charge . The engine of a gas leaf mulcher is rated by its size in cubic centimeters . The large the numeral , the more powerful the locomotive engine . An engine is also rated by the type of fuel it requires : A 2 - cycle petrol engine requires meld gas with locomotive oil at a proportion determined by the producer , while a 4 - round gas railway locomotive runs on stark gas only . While a gas foliage mulcher is portable because it is n’t tethered to a cord , it will weigh quite a bit more — between 10 and 17 British pound — than any corded or cordless poser . Another downside to gas models is the fumes they emit .
Photo: Amazon
Like corded mulchers , stamp battery - operated cordless leaf mulcherswon’t require users to mix fuel or be exposed to toxic fumes . Cordless leaf mulchers are at last portable since they ’re fairly lightweight and are n’t restricted by the length of a corduroy ; however , the average Li battery runtime is between about 15 and 35 mo , depending on the voltage . These rechargeable batteries average out 20 to 40V. The higher the potential drop , the longer the runtime . purchase a 2nd barrage and keeping it charged will allow for much retentive exercise of a cordless mulcher .
The absolute majority of leaf mulchers are handheld models that vacuum-clean up farewell and then pass them through whirl impeller sword for shredding . Many hand-held good example also feature leaf - blowing capableness to swash leave of absence into oodles for easier void collection .
However , some shoppers prefer the ease of use of a stand - alone model . you could position these leaf mulchers in a cardinal spot in your yard and deck dried leaves into a top intake sloping trough — jazz as a ground ball — for shredding . A collection dish attaches to a discharge slideway at the bottom of the ground ball .
Blades
Most leaf mulchers have metalmulching bladesthat whirl at rapid speeds to chop and shred leaves into diminutive bits , but some models use heavy - obligation charge card blades or even string - dress line . All three option can rip up leaves , but metal blades are often more long-wearing .
Mulching Ratio
The mulching proportion , also cognise as the reducing ratio , indicates how much the tool will lose weight the leaves ’ overall size of it . For lesson , a mulching ratio of 10:1 indicates the mulcher will slim down 10 grip of dry out foliage to shreds that will go in a single bag . Typical mulching proportion range from 8:1 to 18:1 , with the high ratios bring about the smallest smidgen . Keep in thinker that small smidgeon will disintegrate more quickly in a compost pile .
Capacity
Leaf mulcher content relates to the amount of air the automobile motility in CFM . Most corded and cordless leaf mulchers range from around 175 to 500 CFM , with the gamy - electrical capacity models designed for laborious - duty leaf clearing . accelerator pedal leaf mulchers , which are more powerful , tend to have higher capacity , ranging from 450 to 700 CFM .
Functions
put up - alone leaf mulchers have a single function : They shred leafage drop into their hoppers . hand-held simulation often do more , include fellate foliage into a pile and then vacuum them up for shredding . While a few handheld leaf mulchers vacuum but do not blow , models with three functions operate asleaf blowersand leaf vacuums .
Ease of Use
Both corded and cordless leaf mulchers are easier to use than throttle models because they do n’t call for mixing fuel , adding engine oil , service a carburettor , or using a hand recoil to start the engine . However , fan of gas models may look at the not bad force come from a gasolene - power leaf mulcher to be worth the superfluous drive .
Noise
All world power tools , including leaf mulchers , make some haphazardness , but cordless and twilled model are evenhandedly quiet at or so 60 to 63 decibels — comparable to the sound of colloquial language . Gas - powered leafage mulchers are quite a morsel louder at around 85 to 90 decibel , or comparable to the audio of engaged street traffic from the curb . Shoppers will need to check their city ordinances prior to leverage ; an electric leaf mulcher may be preferable or required in communities where loud noise are admonish or prohibited .
FAQs
chiliad cleanup may seem like a straightforward job , but first - fourth dimension shoppers of leaf mulchers might need more information . Check out the answers to some of the most ofttimes asked question about folio mulchers .
Using a leaf mulcher will certainly save you time and Labour Party . Plus , spreading a layer of shredded leaves around the base of flora helps reduce skunk outgrowth , ameliorate soil cognitive content , and retains wet in the filth .
While both point will produce small bits of biodegradable material for use as mulch around plants or for append to a compost piling , a leaf mulcher handles only leaf and tiny twig , while awood chipper shreddercan shred small tree branches .
A leaf mulcher is only mean for ironical leaves . Avoid sucking up acorns and twig larger than 0.125 column inch in diameter and do n’t mulch gullible leaves or grass clippings . Green flora matter can clog the blade of a leaf mulcher .
Yes , shredded leave take much less fourth dimension to break up . Not only do shredded leaves offer bug a gravid surface area for them to do their piece of work , but shredded folio are also less likely to constellate up . This would make chemical decomposition reaction take even longer .
It takes about 1 class for chopped leaves to decompose , while whole leaves might not rot completely for 2 to 3 twelvemonth .
Wet leaves can create clog dancing in leaf mulchers . Machines that are more fleshy tariff can usually handle wet leaves more easily , though .
Leaf mulchers should last at least 5 years . After that , lifespan bet on maintenance and frequency of use .
Meet the Tester
Mark Wolfe is a author and intersection tester with a background in the greenhouse and landscape gardening industries . For more than 20 old age , he mowed , edged , engraft , cut back , cultivated , irrigated , and renovated beautiful landscapes . Now , he tests and writes reviews about the latest outdoor power equipment , hand prick , lawn - care products , and other out-of-door living goods .
extra research provided by Glenda Taylor .
Our Best Advice for Beginner Gardeners
We ’ll facilitate you set up your first garden — whether that ’s a few corporation on your patio , a raised bed , or an in - reason game out back — and pick out the right plants for your soil and region .
