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A homeowner working on their lawn with a lawn dethatcher. Credit: Agri-Fab

The Best Lawn Dethatchers of 2024

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A homeowner working on their lawn with a lawn dethatcher. Credit: Agri-Fab

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Editor's Choice Product image of Sun Joe AJ801E

Sun Joe AJ801E

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If you’re going to dethatch or scarify your lawn even once a year, the Sun Joe will pay for itself when compared to the cost of renting a machine. Read More

Pros

  • Self-propelled
  • Efficient
  • Affordable

Cons

  • Small collection bag
  • Needs an extension cord
Product image of Greenworks 27022 10-Amp Corded Dethatcher

Greenworks 27022 10-Amp Corded Dethatcher

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A 10-amp motor drives the Greenworks lawn dethatcher across 14 inches of cutting area, making it a good option for midsize yards. Read More

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Compact

Cons

  • May not hold up over time
  • Not for large yards
Product image of Agri-Fab 40-Inch Tine Tow Dethatcher

Agri-Fab 40-Inch Tine Tow Dethatcher

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The Agri-Fab can be used with any lawn tractor or four-wheeler, and a total of 20 tines are distributed across 40 inches of cutting area. Read More

Pros

  • Good for large yards
  • Long-lasting

Cons

  • Hard to store
  • No collection bag
Product image of Brinly DT-480BH-A Tow-Behind Dethatcher

Brinly DT-480BH-A Tow-Behind Dethatcher

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For large yards, the Brinly is a great choice, but keep in mind that you’ll need a dedicated place to keep such a large piece of equipment. Read More

Pros

  • Easy to assemble
  • Transport wheels

Cons

  • Cumbersome to store
  • A little pricey
Product image of Worx WG850 12-Amp Corded Dethatcher

Worx WG850 12-Amp Corded Dethatcher

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A compact solution for your lawn-care needs, the Worx \corded dethatcher delivers 14 inches of cutting space to help your yard reach its potential. Read More

Pros

  • Easy to store
  • Good cutting space

Cons

  • Collection bag isn’t great
  • Rare product defects
  • Sun Joe AJ801E
  • Greenworks 27022 10-Amp Corded Dethatcher
  • Agri-Fab 40-Inch Tine Tow Dethatcher
  • Brinly DT-480BH-A Tow-Behind Dethatcher
  • Worx WG850 12-Amp Corded Dethatcher

Do you ever wonder how people get those neat, healthy lawns that look perfect for walking through barefoot? Chances are they aren’t just fertilizing and crossing their fingers for luck, but rather that they’ve invested in a lawn dethatcher. Whether you’re looking to buy or rent a dethatcher, there are a few types available to rid your lawn of dead materials and create more breathing room for newer grass growing.

When looking to rent or purchase a lawn dethatcher, consider the size of your lawn, power source for your machine, tine size, width of workable area, and other features like detachable bags (and their fill capacity).

Whether you’re looking for a motorized or basic option to attach to your current ride-on lawn mower, there are a few options that you may want to consider. From being a horticulture connoisseur to sprucing up your lawn, here are some of the best dethatchers for lawns you can get online right now.

Editor's Note:

The recommendations in this guide are based on thorough product and market research by our team of expert product reviewers. The picks are based on examining user reviews, product specifications, and, in some limited cases, our experience with the specific products named.

Product image of Sun Joe AJ801E
Sun Joe AJ801E

An affordable pick previously reviewed by our experts, the Sun Joe AJ801E is the best dethatcher for people looking to scarify their lawn. A push-to-start, push-to-stop button gets this 27-pound, self-propelled machine going, and a cutting width of 13 inches ensures a decent amount of space to be worked on at a time.

Unlike other outdoor equipment, the Sun Joe is an electric, corded mower, so you may want to invest in a couple 50-foot power extension cords in order to give you more leeway, especially considering your access to plug-ins. Two attachments and five depth settings make it easy to rake up dead plant material, while the scarifier option will do that as well as churning up the soil. Plus, a detachable collection bag ensures easy cleanup.

It should be noted that you’ll need additional tools in order to switch between the dethatcher and scarifier.

Our tester liked the Sun Joe for its efficiency, but this is also part of the Sun Joe’s problem—it may be too efficient for the collection bag to keep up with on occasion.

Pros

  • Self-propelled

  • Efficient

  • Affordable

Cons

  • Small collection bag

  • Needs an extension cord

Buy now at Amazon

$169.12 from Home Depot

$149.00 from Walmart
Product image of Greenworks 27022 10-Amp Corded Dethatcher
Greenworks 27022 10-Amp Corded Dethatcher

A 10-Amp motor drives the Greenworks lawn dethatcher across 14 inches of cutting area, making this a good option for midsize yards; 18 stainless steel tines do the work and can be positioned in three depth levels for your specific lawn. This all makes for less need to go over areas more than once, even if your yard’s uneven in spots.

We like that Greenworks included a padded grip, making for a more comfortable push for this 26-pound powered machine. Plus, the foldable design allows for easy storage when not in use. While a solid choice for a dethatcher, some users worry that the plastic may be lightweight and won’t hold up over time. We would recommend this compact dethatcher for those newer to lawn care, or those who aren’t looking for a heavy-duty machine to tackle large tracts of land.

Pros

  • Lightweight

  • Compact

Cons

  • May not hold up over time

  • Not for large yards

$190.80 from Amazon
Product image of Agri-Fab 40-Inch Tine Tow Dethatcher
Agri-Fab 40-Inch Tine Tow Dethatcher

A great addition to your current ride-on lawn mower, the Agri-Fab Tow Dethatcher is our top pick for lawn enthusiasts and larger yards. A universal hitch makes for easy use with any lawn tractor, four-wheeler, or side-by-side, and a total of 20 tines are distributed across 40 inches of cutting area. Lifting and lowering said tines is done with an adjustable handle, and a tray allows for additional weight up to 70 pounds.

Due to this straightforward design and the lack of a motor, the Agri-Fab has less need for upkeep and is bound to last longer than more intricate models available. We love the lack of upkeep needed to keep this model in good working condition.

It’s important to note that the weight added to the Agri-Fab’s tray is what gives it the power to dig into your lawn, making it a little trickier to get an even cut. What we don’t like about the Agri-Fab is that its large body makes it harder to store, so if you’re lacking in space, this won’t be a good fit for you.

Pros

  • Good for large yards

  • Long-lasting

Cons

  • Hard to store

  • No collection bag

Buy now at Amazon
Product image of Brinly DT-480BH-A Tow-Behind Dethatcher
Brinly DT-480BH-A Tow-Behind Dethatcher

A cutting width of 48 inches makes the Brinly tow-behind dethatcher another great option for bigger yards. Two rows of twelve independently flexing spring-steel tines comb through thick thatch buildup and are sure to get your yard cleaned up in no time. And while this attachment is heavy-duty, there’s a built-in safety rod in the event of one of your tines breaking off, protecting your lawn mower. In addition, the eight-inch transport wheels make it easy to move the Brinly dethatcher without fuss.

The universal attachment can be assembled easily—using either the included manual or a Brinly-specific YouTube video—to get you in gear quickly.

For large yards, the Brinly is a great choice, but keep in mind that you’ll need a dedicated place to keep this large piece of equipment, and it can be cumbersome to store.

Pros

  • Easy to assemble

  • Transport wheels

Cons

  • Cumbersome to store

  • A little pricey

$185.11 from Amazon
Product image of Worx WG850 12-Amp Corded Dethatcher
Worx WG850 12-Amp Corded Dethatcher

A compact solution for your lawn-care needs, the Worx 12-Amp corded dethatcher delivers 14 inches of cutting space to help your yard reach its potential. Like other models, the tines on the Worx dethatcher have the option for three depth settings, but the real standout feature is the ability to fold down for easy storage.

Some users report thatch problems with the Worx shortly after first use, but this doesn’t seem to be a major issue for the majority. Folks do seem to have issues with the collection bag falling off the machine, which does defeat the purpose in collecting the dead material at all, but we still like this machine for medium-sized yards.

Pros

  • Easy to store

  • Good cutting space

Cons

  • Collection bag isn’t great

  • Rare product defects

$139.00 from Amazon

Meet the tester

Ceara Perez-Murphy

Ceara Perez-Murphy

Staff Writer

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Ceara Perez-Murphy is a staff writer at Reviewed. In her free time she likes trying out new recipes in the kitchen, exploring new restaurants and spending time outdoors with her dogs.

See all of Ceara Perez-Murphy's reviews

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