LAST UPDATED: 17 Nov 2020
10 Best Leaf Vacuums & Mulchers – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide


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This product guide is written by Paul Hardwick
Equipped with a variable speed feature, the Toro 51621 Blower Vacuum comes with an oscillating nozzle and features speeds up to 250 mph. Perfect for medium or small-sized yard, this is an easy to store tool that fits in a vacuum bag. It’s also ideal for vacuuming up both wet and dry leaves, thanks to its variable speed feature. This is an affordable and easy to use blower vacuum that is also powerful and reliable.
Are you tired of cleaning up the leaves in your yard with a rake? A leaf vac with blower can make your life so much easier by saving you effort, time, and money. There are many options on the market that will work with the size of your yard and offer you the power you are looking for. Here are a few tips and reviews to help you find the best leaf vacuum mulcher for your needs.
About The Author


Welcome to Vacuum Picker!
My name is Paul Hardwick. I am passionate about all things vacuum. From very early on I was fascinated with them and after earning an engineering degree in electro-mechanical systems, I have been able to appreciate them even more. Here I will share with you my insights on the options available in the market & help you pick the best for all your vacuum needs! Read more.
10 Best Leaf Vacuums & Mulchers
1
Toro 51621 Blower Vacuum
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Combining a powerful vacuum cleaner and blower into one unit, the Toro 51621 Blower Vacuum saves you time with its high performance that also comes with a leaf shredder. Using a patented shred ring, this leaf blower also features a metal impeller allowing the unit to reduce mulch debris up to 97 percent to less than a half inch. It also comes with a quick-release features that easily converts the unit into a vacuum in seconds.
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2
Black & Decker BV6600
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Simple to use, the Black & Decker BV6600 will blow through debris and leaves easily. Not only is it 50 percent quieter than other vacuums on the market, this leaf vacuum comes with a metal impact fan that stops it from becoming clogged as you mulch. You can also grind up 16 bags of leaves down into one bag.
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3
WORX WG518 Leaf Blower
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This 3-in-1 leaf blower gives you two-speed options along with blowing speed up to 250 mph. the Worx WG518 Leaf Blower is easy to set up and has a mulcher that can shred up to 16 bags of debris down into just one bag. It’s equipped with an attachable mulching bag that has a one-bushel capacity of shredded leaves.
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4
Black & Decker BV3600
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Offering 3 in 1 function, the Black & Decker BV3600 is equipped with a super powerful 12-amp motor that can keep your yard free of clutter. You can blow, mulch, and vacuum up leaves and debris with the 230 mile per hour blower that is perfect for driveways, garages, sidewalks, and cleaning decks.
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5
WORX TRIVAC WG505
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Easily turning 18 bags of leaves into just one bag, the 3-in-1 Worx Trivac WG505 vacuums up debris and leaves or blow them from your yard. This powerful leaf blower is super quiet and can be controlled with only one hand. You can easily adjust this blower to work around flower beds or blow large amount of leaves across the yard.
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6
BLACK+DECKER BEBL7000
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This powerful, but convertible mulcher and vacuum combo will easily become your go to tool to clear and clean up your yard of debris and leaves. The BLACK+DECKER BEBL7000 features speeds up to 250 miles per hour along with an air volume up to 400 cfm. This affordable leaf blower features a backpack style that allows most of its weight to rest on your shoulders.
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7
WORX WG510
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Featuring metal impellers, WORX WG510 is a powerful leaf blower that has a mulch ratio of 24 to 1. This is an affordable leaf blower when you consider what you get in this product. It has a three-year warranty, and it comes with TURBINE Technology that makes it effortless and seamless to use when clearing and cleaning your yard.
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8
Blue Ridge BR8501U Vacuum Mulcher
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If you are looking for an affordable leaf blower option, the Blue Ridge BR8501U Vacuum Mulcher is a good choice. This lightweight machine allows you to work for longer periods of time and comes with two speeds for both light and demanding yard chores. This is an electric vacuum mulcher, so you won’t have to worry about your battery dying or dealing with emissions.
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9
Greenworks Blower Vacuum
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Featuring a powerful 40-volt battery, the Greenworks Blower Vacuum is equipped with a brushless motor, which will increase you run time. You can collect up to 4 ½ bags of leaves in just one charge. The battery last up to an hour and comes with a gauge indicating its charge status.
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10
Sun Joe iONBV Vacuum/Mulcher
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This versatile and cordless leaf blower is easy to convert from mulcher to vacuum without needing extra tools. The Sun Joe iONBV Vacuum/Mulcher comes with a battery, charger, and a 16-gallon vacuum bag along with a blower nozzle and the tube with wheels. Offering a max air volume of 350 CFM, this leaf blower is a great tool for any homeowner.
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Leaf Vacuum & Mulcher Buying Guide
Considerations When Choosing a Leaf Vacuum with Blower


What exactly is a Vacuum Mulcher?
It’s all in the name. A leaf blower vacuum mulcher is just that. It has a vacuum that sucks up small and large leaves, twigs, acorns etc in your yard, deck, walkways, porches, and driveway. Besides just vacuuming up the leaves in your yard, a leaf vacuum mulcher is equipped with special blades on an impeller that can chop up leaves and debris into tiny, easy to throw away bits. When you add a collection bag, these small bits of leaves can either be bagged easily or you can use them on your lawn for fertilizer.
Typically, a leaf vacuum mulcher is 3-in-1 device that has the ability to blow debris and leaves into piles making them easier to vacuum up. These units are some of the most versatile lawn tools on the market and are super handy for any homeowner.
Mulching Benefits
Mulching has proven to have several benefits including:
• Fertilizing flower beds & lawn to help promote healthy growth every spring
• Helping flower beds and lawns to gain more access to the sun
• Preventing leaves from getting soaked by rain & snow and becoming a soggy carpet on top of the lawn
• Ensuring that rain is evenly dispersed onto flower beds and lawns
• Preventing growth of crabgrass and dandelions
Types of Leaf Mulchers
Gas
Older models of leaf mulchers used gas to operate making them noisy and heavy. Requiring constant maintenance, gas powered leaf vacuum mulchers are not good for use in the extreme heat. While they are still used a lot by lawn maintenance services and professional landscapers to handle large yards, many homeowners prefer electric units over gas leaf vacuum mulchers.
Electric
Using an electric motor to mulch, blow, and vacuum, electric leaf mulchers work very much like gas unit, but they require being plugged into an outlet and aren’t as powerful. However, they are lighter, quieter, and easier to store. And, as there are more advances in lawn equipment & electric leaf blower technology, newer models are becoming more popular with homeowners and their yard needs.
Cordless
Some of the most advanced vacuum mulchers available, cordless leaf vacuum mulchers have become more popular thanks to their ease of use and portability. You don’t have to worry about gas or cords since the operate on lithium ion technology. While they do have little more limits in terms of performance and power, a cordless leaf vacuum is a great choice for today’s homeowners.
Collection Bags
On top of what type of leaf mulchers to buy, you also need to consider whether you want one with a collection bag. Standard vacuum mulchers will have a special bag attached to collect mulched debris and leaves that you can dispose or resuse on your law as fertilizer. Typically, these bags are durable and can hold the equivalent of 10 regular bags of unmulched leaves. These collection bags are connected directly onto the vacuum mulcher and often come with wheels that make them easier to use.
Not as common, leaf mulchers without a collection bag tend to be less expensive than vacuum mulchers with bags. They are created to shoot out the mulched material back onto the lawn, which can be a great option is you plan to add natural fertilizer to your yard. But, if you want to throw away the mulched material, using a leaf mulcher that comes with a collection bag is a better alternative.
Features to Look for in the Best Leaf Vacuum Mulcher
Motor Specifications
Typically, you want a leaf mulcher that has 12-amps or motor. Many homeowners have found that the less expensive 10-amp model works just fine and saves them a few bucks. You will definitely notice a power difference between a weaker mulcher and more powerful ones since they just can’t mulch the same amount at similar speeds.
Power
Power sources can vary depending on the vacuum mulcher you choose. Some use gas for power while other use batteries or electricity. Ultimately, the choice is yours on which power source works the best for you, just make sure you think about the size of your garden or yard and choose the option that works the best for you.
Speed Variations
A typical garden or lawn has both delicate flowers and plants as well as tough grass. It can be safe to use leaf blowers at their top speed on weeds and grass, but it may damage other plants in your yard. When you have a unit that features variable speeds, you have more versatile when mulching around different materials in your yard.
Impeller Strength
Many mulchers come with impellers made of plastic. However, a good quality vacuum mulcher will feature strong metal impellers that are able to take on high impact as well as slice debris into super small pieces. An aluminum or steel impeller is what you want to look for in a good quality mulcher as long as it has the right amount of power behind it.
Reduction Ratio
Another important consideration of a leaf blower is the reduction ratio. Especially if you have a large yard with a lot of leaves and trees. When discussing the ration, you are talking about how small the debris and leaves are broken down.
So, a vacuum mulcher that has a 12 to 1 reduction ration allows you to reduce 12 bags of leaves into just one bag of mulch. You want a leaf blower that has a higher reduction ratio, so you have fewer bag to empty.Typically, a good quality vacuum mulcher will have a reduction ratio of 16 to 1.
Weight
Weight along with ease of use and power are some of the more important considerations when choosing a vacuum mulcher. When your mulcher is lightweight, it is easier and more comfortable to use. When you have a large yard, having a heavy machine can make the job so much longer and difficult, so look for a lightweight machine that makes it easier to get your yardwork done.
Nozzle
The collection tube or nozzle on a leaf mulcher needs to be big enough to suck up material and not become clogged. You also want it to be able to fit into a tight space to get out debris and leaves from cracks in driveways, patios, porches, and decks. Plus, you want a nozzle design that has been proven to work well. Look for vacuum mulchers that use specialized attachments that can make the job easier.
Adjustment Capability
You will find that most of the leaf blowers on the market today can be adjusted into another tool. A vacuum blower can also work as a blower with the capability to move air up to 250 miles per hour. You want to make sure the unit you get is easy to adjust from vacuum mode to a blower mode or to the mulcher mode. Look for vacuum blowers that have a lever or switch that makes the adjustment easier.
Durability
Durability and reliability of all the parts of the vacuum mulcher is essential for hassle free operations in the yard. This should be a one of highest considerations in your top pick.
A handy lawn and garden tool that is versatile and time saving, a leaf blower, mulcher, and vacuum is a necessity for any homeowner. Perfect for all aspects of garden and lawn care, a lawn mulcher and vacuum not only help to keep your lawn and garden healthy, but it also helps to save you time and money on your lawn care duties. Offering 3-in-1 versatility, the leaf blower, mulcher, and vacuum is really a one-of-a-kind garden and lawn tool that should have a place in any garden shed, garage, or workshop.
The lawn mulcher and vacuum can perform three important features of lawn and garden care helping to improve the health of your garden and lawn, particularly in the spring time. It’s important that you choose the best option for your lifestyle, budget, and yard. Make sure you do the research and choose the best lawn mulcher and vacuum for the needs of your yard.
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