Reviewed and updated in 2024 to include all the latest and greatest choices.
If you want to keep your garden looking at its best, a good leaf vacuum is essential.
If you have trees or large shrubs in your garden, you’ll know that the falling leaves can accumulate quickly in autumn and winter. Although you can brush or rake to gather them together, it’s much easier to use a good leaf vacuum.
I’ve compiled some of the best leaf vacuums currently available in the UK, looking at their key features as well as their pros and cons. After reading the reviews, you should feel confident about which vacuum is the best choice for you.
If you want to go to the product page for any of the leaf vacuums on the list, then simply click the appropriate link in the table below. You can also click the ‘check price’ button next to each vacuum and you’ll go to Amazon where you can order yours.
Top 5 Best Garden and Leaf Vacuum Cleaners UK
- Top choice – Hyundai 3-in-1 Lightweight Corded Electric Leaf Blower Vacuum & Shredder
- Runner Up – Flymo PowerVac 3000 3-in-1 Electric Garden Vacuum and Blower
- Best cordless choice – Einhell Power X-Change 36V Cordless Leaf Blower Vac with 2 Batteries & Twin Charger
- Best petrol Choice – Callow Petrol Garden Leaf Blower & Vacuum
- Budget pick – VonHaus 3-in-1 Leaf Blower – 3000W Garden Vacuum & Mulcher
1. Top choice – Hyundai 3-in-1 Lightweight Corded Electric Leaf Blower Vacuum & Shredder
Style: Corded
Pros
- 3-1 in functionality
- Respected brand
- 45-litre collection bag
- variable speed control
- Picks up wet leaves
- 12 m power cord so no charging
Cons
- Can become blocked when used on damp leaves
The Hyundai 3-1 Lightweight Corded Leaf Blower, Vacuum & Shredder is my best pick and has some excellent features that make it a great choice of vacuum.
The 3000W motor means you have plenty of power for tackling larger jobs and at 3.3kg it’s quite lightweight considering its power and functionality. You can adjust the airspeed as well as the length of the vacuum tube.
You can use this as both a blower and a vacuum and the shredder means you’re able to use the remaining waste as compost if you want. The 45-litre collection bag allows you to vacuum a large number of leaves before you have to empty them.
This vacuum comes assembled and ready to use and is supplied with a 12M power cable, so you can plug it indoors and still have enough leeway to use it in your garden. The padded shoulder strap and easy-to-use controls make it very simple and comfortable to use too. Prime Now members can get free next-day delivery.
Overall: This is an excellent choice of vacuum and the 3-1 in functionality that enables you to turn the leaves into mulch, makes it a great choice for gardening enthusiasts and an easy pick as the best garden vacuum
2. Runner Up – Flymo PowerVac 3000 3-in-1 Electric Garden Blower Vac
Style: Corded
Pros
- Powerful and easy to use
- 3-in-1 functionality
- Large 45L collection bag
Cons
- Can get clogged up
- Replacement bags are quite costly
The Flymo PowerVac 3000 3-in-1 Electric Garden Blower Vac is a close runner-up to the Hyundai and is powerful, easy to use and gets the job done very well.
Like the Hyundai, this vacuum also has a blower as well as a shredder, meaning you can easily clear areas of leaves and reuse the leaves you vacuum as mulch. The 10M cable gives you plenty of space to work with too. At 5.2 kg, it is on the heavier side, but the included padded shoulder strap means it’s still very comfortable to operate.
Switching from the blower to the vacuum function is incredibly simple and just a matter of flicking a switch. It is incredibly easy to set up and use – you just attach the collection bag to the rear of the unit and the chute to the front.
Prime members get free delivery.
Overall: This would make a very good choice of vacuum for small to medium gardens. It’s easy to get started with and the combined blower/vacuum/shredder functionality makes it a very versatile piece of equipment.
3. Best cordless choice – Einhell Power X-Change 36V Cordless Leaf Blower Vac with 2 Batteries & Twin Charger
Style: Cordless
Pros
- Complete freedom of movement
- Lightweight and easy to operate
- 45-litre collection bag
Cons
- Becomes very expensive when purchased with the batteries and charger
If you’re looking for a cordless leaf blower, then this Einhell Leaf Blower is well worth considering.
Unlike leaf vacuums that are mainly powered, this model will give you complete freedom to move around without a cable getting in the way. Not only does this make it easier to use but you don’t need to worry about having a plug socket nearby either.
As far as the vacuum itself goes – it makes use of 2 x 3ah batteries, giving you plenty of power. At 3.38kg, it’s also quite lightweight and easy to operate. It comes with a blower as well as a vacuum function and it’s very easy to switch between the tool, with no tools required. It doesn’t have a shredder, though, so this is something to take into consideration.
The one major downside of this vacuum is that it doesn’t come with the required batteries included as standard. Although you can buy the leaf blower on its own, to use it you’ll need to get the batteries and charger bundle, which is considerably expensive. To be fair, this is often the case with cordless equipment, so you need to consider if the extra expense is worth it for you.
Overall: This is an excellent choice of cordless leaf vacuum, provided you’re happy to spend more for the convenience of no cables.
4. Best petrol Choice – Callow Petrol Leaf Blower & Garden Vacuum
Pros
- Plenty of power
- Cordless
- 50L collection bag
Cons
- Is on the more expensive side
The Callow Petrol Blower & Vacuum allows you to benefit from a cordless design while still giving you plenty of power.
It has a 25cc engine, so it has plenty of power for both the vacuum and blowing functions. In addition to the blower and vacuum, there is also a shredder, meaning you can get the most use out of the collection bag before having to empty it.
Because this is a petrol vacuum, you don’t need to worry about finding a plug socket and you can use it completely free of any cables. Setting it up is very easy and is just a case of attaching the chute and the collection bag/shoulder strap to the main unit.
This vacuum comes with free delivery for all customers.
Overall: This is an excellent choice of vacuum that comes with 3-in-1 functionality and gives you the power of a petrol engine with the convenience of cordless use, a great petrol choice and the best leaf blower on the list.
5. Budget pick – VonHaus 3 in 1 Leaf Blower – 3000W Garden Vacuum & Mulcher
Pros
- Very affordable
- Plenty of power
- Automatic mulching function
- perfect for small garden
Cons
- The collection bag is fairly small
The VonHaus 3-in-1 Leaf Blower will enable you to clear leaves from your garden for a bargain price.
It’s a 3-in-1 device, so it has a vacuum and blower function as well as mulching the leaves it sucks up. It comes with 3000W of power and is a corded vacuum, so you will need to find somewhere to plug it in to use it.
The 35-litre collection bag is fairly small compared to the other vacuums I’ve looked at so far, but the automatic mulching function means you can vacuum a surprisingly large amount of leaves before you need to empty them. It’s very compact and lightweight and comes with a shoulder strap to take the strain off while you’re using it.
Another nice feature of this vacuum is that it has a wheel on the underside of the chute. This allows you to move it around on the floor without having to support its weight.
It comes with a 2-year manufacturer warranty included as well as free delivery.
Overall: This vacuum is excellent value for money and comes with the same features that a lot of more expensive models do. When you take into account it also comes with free delivery, you can’t go wrong.
Garden vacuum vs leaf blower, what’s the difference?
When it comes to clearing your garden of leaves, you can either use a vacuum or a leaf blower. A vacuum will suck up the leaves and collect them into a bag, while a leaf blower will simply clear them away from a particular area.
Corded Vs Cordless
A big consideration when buying a leaf vacuum is whether to get a corded or cordless model. The main advantages of a corded vacuum is that they are generally more powerful and often considerably cheaper, you’ll just need to be aware of the power cord length if you’ve got a large area.
A cordless vacuum will give you a lot more freedom since you don’t have to worry about a cable getting in the way, or finding somewhere to plug it in. The downside is a lot of cordless vacuums don’t come with the batteries or charger included, which can add a lot to their price.
Things to consider when buying a Garden vac
- Weight – Depending on the size of your garden, you might need to use your leaf vac for a considerable amount of time. Even though most come with shoulder straps, it can still be a strain on your back after prolonged use if you have a particularly heavy model.
- Ease of use – A good leaf vacuum should be easy and comfortable to operate. You shouldn’t need to use any additional tools to switch from blower to vacuum mode or spend too long getting it set up.
- Functionality – A lot of leaf vacuums are 3-in-1, meaning they can blow, vacuum and shred leaves. It’s always good to have the most options available when getting rid of leaves and many people use both the blower and vacuum functions.
FAQs
Is there a vacuum for leaves?
A lot of people assume that leaf blowers are the only piece of equipment available for getting rid of leaves but a leaf vacuum can help you dispose of them much easier. Being able to grind up the leaves you vacuum also means you have an excellent source of mulch.
Are garden vacuums any good?
The available leaf blowers are mostly very effective, although their features and how powerful they are can vary depending on the cost, brand etc.
Can I use a regular vacuum in the garden?
No. It’s not recommended that you use a regular vacuum cleaner for leaves. Leaf vacuums are designed to suck up leaves and will often shred them too. If you try to use a regular vacuum cleaner, not only will it do a poor job, but you could easily break it.
Can you use a leaf vacuum cleaner on gravel?
No. Leaf vacuums are designed so they have enough suction to pick up leaves but not anything else that might be nearby, including gravel. If you’re working with gravel, then a good gravel rake is recommended.
Other Garden Vacuum Reviews
WORX WG505E 3000W Trivac Garden Blower Mulcher & Vacuum, Black
Pros
- Lightweight design
- Includes blower and mulcher
- Trusted brand
Cons
- The design of the bag can cause issues with suction
The WORX WG505E 3000W is another 3-in-1 blower, vacuum and mulcher. It has a 3000W electric motor, which provides you with plenty of power for all 3 functions. Because it’s a corded model, you don’t need to worry about buying batteries or polluting the air with petrol.
The mulching system grinds the leaves at a ratio of 16:1, which means you can vacuum for a long time without the need to empty the bag. Switching from the blower to the vacuum is incredibly simple and just a matter of flipping a switch.
Some reviewers did have problems with the vacuum losing suction because of the design of the bag. This can be alleviated by partially unzipping the bag but this can cause its own issues, so it’s worth bearing in mind before purchasing.
Prime members get free delivery.
Overall: This is a solid vacuum overall but the issues with the loss of suction can be an issue, especially if you’re using it for a large garden.
Q Garden QGBV2500 Leaf Blower Vacuum
Pros
- Very affordable
- 3-in-1 functionality
- Large collection bag
Cons
- Might not be suitable for larger gardens
The Q Garden QGBV2500 Leaf Blower/Vacuum is a very cost-effective choice and provides you with good functionality and a comfortable user experience.
It has a 2500W electric motor, making it slightly less powerful than the other corded vacuums I’ve looked at. This is something to bear in mind if you have a larger garden that might require a more powerful machine.
It has a vacuum as well as a blower and shredding function. It’s very easy to change from the vacuum to the blower and the lightweight design and included shoulder strap means you can operate comfortably for extended periods.
The box contains the blower/vacuum, collection bag, shoulder strap, power cable and instructions. Prime members can benefit from free delivery.
Overall: If you’re in the market for an affordable vacuum that gets the job done, then this would make a good choice.
Garden Gear Leaf Blower Vacuum & Shredder Mulcher, Electric 3 in 1
Pros
- 3-in-1 functionality
- Plenty of power
- 2-year warranty
- Powerful motor
Cons
- There can be some issues with suction reliability
Lastly, is the Garden Gear Leaf Blower, Vacuum & Shredder. It’s another corded machine, which has a 3500W electric motor, giving you a lot of power for tackling larger jobs.
As well as the vacuum, there’s also a blower and shredder function and it’s very simple to switch between them. It has a shredding ratio of 10:1 and when you consider the 45-litre collection bag capacity, you’re able to vacuum a lot of leaves in one go before you’ll need to empty it.
The harness and mounting make it very easy to operate this vacuum and the wheel on the bottom of the chute means you can easily move it around when you’re not using it without having to support the weight.
In addition to the main unit itself, you also get a shoulder strap, collection bag, 10m power cable and chute. You also get a 2-year warranty included.
Overall: This is a very good vacuum overall and the 3500W electric motor and large 45L collection bag makes it easily capable of tackling fallen leaves in small to medium gardens.
Conclusion
If you’ve read through all the information above, then you should now be in a good position to decide what type of leaf vacuum is right for your vacuuming needs.
The main factors to consider when choosing a leaf vacuum are the features it has (blower, mulching etc), whether it’s corded or cordless and the size of the collection bag, but you know all that from the buying guide, right?
As a garden tool, a leaf vacuum might seem like something you could do without but even if you use it only once or twice a year for clean up, it’s an investment that you’ll get continual use out of for a long time. There are other great brands like Bosch and Black+decker but I’m happy with my top choices here.
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