Best Lawn Sweepers: Push or Tow Behind?

Publushed by:

Rebecca

Last updated:

January 2, 2022

WINNER

 4.5/5

Right Hand Push Lawn Sweeper

RUNNER UP

 4/5

Scott’s Outdoor Push Lawn Sweeper

BEST BUY

 4/5

Yard Commander Tow Behind Lawn Sweeper

When you’ve got a large yard or lots of debris to pick up, using your average garden rake just won’t do. A lawn sweeper was designed as the solution to this problem and if you’ve been thinking about investing in one, you’ll need all of the facts to choose the right one.

What is the best type of lawn sweeper? A lawn sweeper comes in two key styles: the push and the pull behind.

Depending on the size of your yard, the type and volume of debris you’ll be sweeping, and any other features you require, you’ll probably find that either of these models will be a better fit.

If you’re ready to minimize the hard work you put into keeping your yard clean, our guide to the best lawn sweepers can help. We’ve hand picked our favorites from today’s market and illustrated what it is that makes them top contenders.

Our Picks for the Best Lawn Sweepers

A lawn sweeper is the ultimate tool if you regularly deal with debris in your yard and are sick of trying to clean it up with a rake.

To help you find the perfect sweeper to assist around the garden, check out our recommendations for the best of the best.

Best Overall: Right Hand Push Lawn Sweeper

Short summary

The Push Lawn Sweeper by Right Hand allows you to clean your lawn in one pass with a 26 inch width and mesh collection bag that can carry seven cubic feet of debris.

Made with a stainless steel structure and 10 inch sturdy rubber wheels, it has no problems using its hard wearing spiral brush configuration to clean up whatever debris is in your yard.

The Push Lawn Sweeper from Right Hand is our favorite in this category and it ticks all of the boxes for what your average yard could ever need.

The 26 inch width of its sweeper means you can collect everything in a single pass and you can collect it all in the mesh bag that holds up to seven cubic feet of twigs, grass clippings, and debris.

Right Hand’s sweeper can be used on just about any terrain including grass, sidewalks, patios, and yard.

The larger six-inch wheels keep it sturdy as you’re moving it around and it comes with integrated support legs to stabilize it. For those who’ve never used a lawn sweeper before, you’ll be surprised as to how effortless it is, even with wet debris.

One of the best features of this is the ergonomic handle that makes the task a lot easier and while you’re pushing on that, the spinning brushes are collecting all the debris.

The sweeper is covered with a one year limited warranty and although it’s slightly more than others in this style, the quality and ease of use are what set it apart.

The Right Hand Push Lawn Sweeper is our favorite pick of ours and the quickest way to clear your yard from all of the usual debris.

Quick Facts

Size: 48.8 x 32.5 x 28.7 inches
Materials: Stainless steel, rubber
Bag Size: 7 cubic feet
Sweeping width: 26 inches
Brushes: 4

Pros

The construction of this sweeper means it’s stable to push and without feeling as though you have to put in a lot of effort.
With a larger hopper capacity, you spend less time emptying this lawn sweeper compared to others.
The brushes are efficient at picking up debris with most people clearing their lawn in one pass.
The ergonomically designed handle has made a world of difference when pushing this around for an hour.
This is rated as the best lawn sweeper for pine needles and leaves if that sounds like your yard’s most common problem.

Cons

Scott’s Push Lawn Sweeper

Short summary

Scott’s Outdoor Power Tools’ Push Lawn Sweeper is the ultimate gardening tool for keeping your lawn clear. With features like a three-bushel fabric bag, 26 inch sweeping width, and lightweight 20lbs construction, you’ll find it very satisfying to use, and it’s made with a steel handle and plastic parts to keep costs low.

Scott’s has managed to design an affordable and efficient lawn sweeper that’s perfect for small to mid-sized yards, if you’re finally ready to get rid of your old rake.

This sweeper doesn’t just work on the grass but also the sidewalk and driveway, helping you clear off clipping, leaves, and pine needles that have fallen.

With a massive 26 inch sweeping width, it’s an economical alternative that can collect up to 80% of the debris in the first sweep and make a huge difference.

As the best lawn sweeper for leaves in this price range, it should be noted that the Scott’s model doesn’t work with wet debris.

You’ll want to make sure that you’re collecting only dry items and not trying to pick up rocks, pinecones or nuts, otherwise, you’ll do some serious damage to the machine.

The sweeper also features some plastic parts but the bulk of it is made with steel, so it’s still a durable machine.

The Scott’s Push Lawn Sweeper comes with a durable fabric mower bag that collects up to three bushels of debris, so you may need to change the bag.

However, the device is lightweight at less than 20lbs so it’s a breeze to move around, and still a lot easier than dragging a rake around your yard.

If you want a more affordable lawn sweeper that gets the job done with ease, this model from Scott’s is one of our favorites.

Quick Facts

Size: 32 x 16 x 12 inches
Materials: Plastic, steel
Bag Size: 3.6 bushels
Sweeping width: 26 inches
Brushes: NA

Pros

This is a lightweight lawn sweeper that all people will find easy to push around their yard.
For a cheaper alternative, it still comes with all the features of a more expensive one, like included hopper bag and larger width.
One of the better options for leaves and pine needles as the brushes pick them up with ease.
Uses a combination of hard plastic and steel to keep its construction durable where it counts.
A cost effective option for people who don’t want to break the bank with their gardening tools.

Cons

Best Tow Behind Sweeper: Yard Commander

Short summary

Yard Commander’s Tow Behind Lawn Sweeper features a massive 42 inch clearing width and 12.9 cubic feet of storage in its hopper.

The sweeper attaches to your ATV, UTV, or tractor and runs on rubber wheels with four brushes, each measuring 10 inches in diameter, sweeping up everything in its path.

If you need a serious sweeper for your yard, Yard Commander has made the best one.

This two behind sweeper can pick up everything from wet debris to large nuts, and it does it all with one sweep thanks to the massive 42 inch clearing width built into its design.

The device connects to the back of your garden tractor or ATV with a universal hitch and you drive it around the yard while it collects just about anything it finds.

The Yard Commander has been described as a nightmare to assemble so make sure you’ve set aside a couple of hours to set it up when it arrives and bring some patience with you.

Once it’s done though, you’ll be amazed at the efficiency it works at, thanks to the 10 inch diameter of its four brushes and hardy materials they’re made of that can pick up just about anything.

Overall, this is a well made piece of machinery with an alloy steel frame and rubberized handle, so you never have to worry about it breaking on you.

The Yard Commander Town Behind Lawn Sweep is large and in charge, but with no official word on a warranty from the brand, you’ll want to take the very best care of it to ensure it runs for years to come.

Quick Facts

Size: 50.8 x 16.9 x 13 inches
Materials: Alloy steel, rubber
Bag Size: 12.9 cubic feet
Sweeping width: 42 inches
Brushes: 4

Pros

This is a truly versatile sweeper that can pick up just about anything from the ground.
You only need to make one pass around the yard to get everything and in record time because of its size.
The larger hopper will suit most yards without needing to be replaced while you’re driving.
The quality of this sweeper is evident with its durable alloy steel frame so even while being towed it won’t feel a thing.
Having a sweeper that connects to your ATV or tractor means minimal work for a clean yard.

Cons

Agri-Fab Tow Lawn Sweeper

Short summary

Agri-Fab’s Tow Lawn Sweeper is a large 42 inch sweeping machine that can clean up your yard in an instant.

The hopper size is 12 cubic feet for minimal emptying and it comes with the sweeper and trailer hitch pin to connect it to your tractor or UTV.

With a 4.5 to 1 brush wheel turning ratio it’s easy to drive and you can make a single pass of your yard to clean it all.

For those properties in need of a serious sweeper, the Agri-Fab Tow Lawn Sweeper is a serious contender, helping you pick up clippings, pine needles, and large nuts from the ground.

The massive 42 inch sweeping width and 12 cubic feet hopper bag show you just how capable it is, and it also offers a 4.5 to 1 brush to wheel turning ratio, 11 inch wheel size, and poly construction.

The overall dimensions of this sweeper are 67 x 51 x 24 inches and it weighs 77lbs once fully assembled.

People were thrilled to find that setup was easy and only took half an hour, with an included instructional video from Agri-Fab that makes it a breeze.

The sweeper is the perfect combination of durable and lightweight which means it’s effortless to drive around but built tough to last for years of regular use.

Agri-Fab has impressed even more with a three year warranty on this sweeper which gives you great peace of mind for your purchase.

However, it’s a mid range sweeper in terms of cost so might not be suited for every budget.

If you need something serious for your larger lawn and are ready to upgrade to a tow behind, the Agri-Fab Tow Lawn Sweeper with its 42 inch sweeping width is the only way to go.

Quick Facts

Size: 67 x 51 x 24 inches
Materials: Poly
Bag Size: 12 cubic feet
Sweeping width: 42 inches
Brushes: 4

Pros

Has a great warranty which is hard to find with tow behind and push sweepers, giving you peace of mind.
Assembly only took most people half an hour which is great when you compare it to other towed sweepers.
The huge size of the sweeping width and the hopper mean you can clean your yard in record time.
This sweeper is capable of collecting hard items like pinecones and nuts which others can’t.
Works just as effectively with wet and dry debris so you can use it at any time and in any place.

Cons

Brinly Tow Behind Lawn Sweeper and Dethatcher

Short summary

Brinly has created a two-in-one approach to clearing your lawn with a sweeper and dethatcher in one. With a 42 inch sweeping width and the ability to hold up to 20 cubic feet in its fabric hopper, you’ll make fewer passes and never need to empty the bag half way through.

The six durable brushes are capable of picking up all kinds of debris and it features a 5:1 brush to ground ratio that keeps it stable and able to collect more without tipping.

Brinly’s Tow Behind Sweeper and Dethatcher is all you’ll ever need to keep your lawn clean, providing two gardening services that you can use simultaneously.

This sweeper comes with a universal hitch that attaches to tractors and UTVs, and features an oversized hopper with 20 cubic feet capacity that you can pull on the go when you want to empty it, but you’ll need to bag the contents yourself.

This sweeper is oversized with measurements of 69 x 53 x 38 inches and it weighs almost 100lbs.

Brinly has designed it to remain steady though and it uses a 5:1 brush to ground ration that keeps you stable but also ensures that everything it passes over it collects and without ever faltering.

Unfortunately, though, it requires a lot of effort to assemble it with most people noting around two hours from start to finish.

The Brinly Tow Behind Sweeper and Dethatcher is an expensive option and probably better left for commercial usage and acreages.

It’s covered with a two year warranty and built tough, so even though it costs more, it’s clear it’ll serve you well for many years. If you want to tackle two annoying yard jobs in one, this sweeper and dethatcher from Brinly is our favorite.

Quick Facts

Size: 69 x 53 x 38 inches
Materials: NA
Bag Size: 20 cubic feet
Sweeping width: 42 inches
Brushes: 6

Pros

You get both a dethatcher and a sweeper in one product, but it’s priced accordingly.
This is a commercial grade machine that’s built tough and will clearly last for years of regular use.
People found it cut their usual sweeping time in half because of how efficient it was.
Has the largest hopper capacity of any sweeper we’ve seen so there’s no chance you’ll need to empty it throughout the job.
With six brushes it picks up things that others can’t and with no need to give the lawn another pass over.

Cons

Priced like a commercial sweeper because of its two-in-one function and is potentially out of reach for some household users.
The assembly of this sweeper took people at least two hours and there were minimal instructions included from the manufacturer.
Only uses a rope to open the back chute and can’t be tipped out into a specific location, which lost it some points.

Lawn Sweepers FAQs

Lawn sweepers are considered the next step up from a garden rake and a much more efficient way to clean your yard.

Before you can purchase one for yourself, read on for a few FAQs that will teach you the basics of what a lawn sweeper is all about.

When Should You Use A Lawn Sweeper?

The best time to use a lawn sweeper is when the ground and debris are dry, so you’ll want to get it out as soon as the leaves and twigs start to fall.

You can use a sweeper any time your yard looks like it needs to be cleaned, and the sooner the better.

Tow Behind Vs Push

The tow behind lawn sweeper is better left for large jobs as they can handle a higher volume of debris but they’re more expensive and require a tractor to pull.

A push sweeper is effective at collecting most debris from the yard but requires manual operation, so it’s the best option for small to medium sized properties.

Do Lawn Sweepers Work On Grass Clippings?

Lawn sweepers work more effectively on dry debris so as long as the grass clippings aren’t moist, it could be able to collect them.

A sweeper’s ability to collect debris depends on the quality of the sweeper as well, so you need to purchase one that’s designed to sweep whatever is usually found in your yard.

Does A Lawn Sweeper Dethatch?

Some lawn sweepers come with a tine dethatcher accessory or add-on that you can use, but not all of them.

When attached, you can dethatch and sweep at the same time, so it’s worthwhile if you regularly perform both jobs and want to cut down on the time spent doing them.

A Yard That’s Swept and Sparkling

Our yards are prone to collecting all kinds of things including pine needles, grass clippings, and leaves, causing a once neat garden to look disheveled in an instant.

With one of our favorite lawn sweepers in your possession, you’ll have an easy way to keep your yard clean and show off the hard work you’ve done.

WINNER

 4.5/5

Right Hand Push Lawn Sweeper

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