The 6 Best Dethatchers for a Healthier Lawn, Recommended by Outdoor Experts
The best dethatchers help remove built-up dead grass and debris so your lawn can grow thicker and healthier.
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Too much thatch—the layer of dead grass, roots, and debris that builds up between the soil and living grass—can block water, air, and nutrients from reaching your lawn’s roots, leading to thinner, weaker growth. That’s why a dethatcher can be one of the most valuable lawn-care tools for homeowners who want a healthier yard.
“For homeowners who take pride in their lawn, a dethatcher is one of the most useful tools you can own,” says Dan DiClerico, director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab. “It helps clear away the compacted layer of dead material that can slowly choke out healthy grass over time.”
Our top picks:
- Best overall: Sun Joe AJ805E Electric Lawn Dethatcher + Scarifier
- Best value: WEN 2-in-1 Electric Dethatcher and Scarifier
- Best cordless: Greenworks 40V 15-Inch Dethatcher/Scarifier
- Best for large lawns: Agri-Fab 48-Inch Tine Dethatcher 45-0295
To find the best dethatchers, we evaluated leading models for performance, ease of use, and maneuverability, while also considering brands that have excelled in our testing and insights from colleagues at Popular Mechanics. These are the dethatchers we recommend.
Best Deal
Pros
- Easy to use
- Unlimited runtime
Cons
- Not suitable for large lawns
This corded dethatcher features an 8-gallon catcher bag, making sprucing up your yard a breeze. Unlike bagless dethatchers, you don’t have to pick up any thatch by hand since it all goes directly into the bag. It’s ideal for small- to medium-sized lawns. Popular Mechanics notes that the dethatcher's spring steel tines pull up and remove the layer of dead grass and debris that can build up in a lawn. When it's time for more aggressive lawn renovation, you can swap in the scarifier attachment, which cuts into the soil to help encourage thicker, healthier grass growth.
DiClerico also pointed out that Sun Joe, and its cold-weather brand mate, Snow Joe, have performed well across all the outdoor power equipment categories that we test. “Based on our engineers’ review of its specs and design, we expect the same capable performance from this dethatcher,” he said.
Features at a Glance
| Type | Corded |
| Width | 15 in. |
| Weight | 27.1 lbs |
Pros
- Dual purpose
- Great price
Cons
- Collection chute sits low
The Wen is a solid pick for homeowners looking to revitalize tired lawns without breaking the bank or switching to gas power. With a 15-amp motor pushing up to 3,300 RPM, it delivers more than enough power to pull up stubborn thatch and slice through compacted soil.
It comes with two interchangeable heads: one with spring steel tines for dethatching, and another with blades for scarifying. This dual functionality gives you year-round utility, whether you’re doing light seasonal cleanup or deeper lawn renovation. Five-position depth control lets you fine-tune how aggressively it cuts, which is crucial for avoiding turf damage. The included collection bag is a handy feature, especially if you’re working on a tidy lawn and don’t want to rake afterward.
That said, this is a corded unit, so you’ll need to manage extension cords and stay near an outlet, which can be a hassle on larger properties. The collection chute also sits fairly low, which might catch on uneven patches or when the tool is reversed.
Features at a Glance
| Type | Corded |
| Width | 16 in. |
| Weight | N/A |
Pros
- Exceptional performance and battery design
- Compact and easy to use two-in-one design
Cons
- Premium price for cordless convenience
Greenworks tools and appliances have performed well in previous Lab tests, and we expect no less from this dethatcher. “Greenworks stands out in our tests for exceptional battery design,” DiClerico said. “Even if you have a lot of lawn to cover, say up to an acre, this 40-volt dethatcher should be able to power through the job on a single charge.” Plus, the battery itself is versatile and works across other Greenworks tools.
We also appreciate this model’s two-in-one design, which includes both a dethatcher and scarifier with quick-release attachments that are easy to switch in and out. Cordless convenience makes this the most expensive dethatcher on the list.
| Type | Cordless |
| Width | 15 in. |
| Weight | 26.4 lbs |
Pros
- Should fit most trailer hitches
- Durable design
Cons
- Tight corners may be hard to access
Agri-Fab’s dethatcher features an extra-large width, perfect for anyone with a tractor or riding mower and a large lawn or plot of land. “The contraption is a little more advanced, but for the ‘ruralpolitan’ crowd who use a tractor to maintain acres upon acres of lawn, the Agri-Fab is a useful attachment that will help keep the grass looking great,” said DiClerico.
Its pull-behind design should fit most trailer hitches thanks to its universal fit, and the steel deck and 24 tines are designed to last several seasons. At 48 inches wide, navigating around corners could be an issue.
| Type | Tow-behind |
| Width | 48 in. |
| Weight | 37 lbs |
Pros
- Easy to use
- Features fold down handle
- Brand performs well in tests
Cons
- Despite bag, manual debris collection is sometimes needed
Lightweight and nimble, this dethatcher comes with a padded fold-down handle that makes it as easy to store as it is comfortable to use. We like the built-in collection bag for gathering any dead grass, stems, and roots, but some online reviews have noted that manual collection of debris is still common.
The home and outdoor gear experts at the GH Institute have tested a variety of Worx tools, and the brand consistently stands out for its reliability, value, and performance.
| Type | Corded |
| Width | 14 in. |
| Weight | 24.7 lbs |
Pros
- Simple operation
- Lightweight
Cons
- Tines can get clogged
For small lawns, the WaLensee thatch rake is a reliable manual tool for dethatching without a motor. Its durable steel tines and handle give it a solid, well-built feel—whether you’re removing dead grass, loosening soil, or prepping for seeding.
The one drawback is that debris tends to stick to the tines, requiring occasional shaking off. Still, for light lawn care, it’s a great value.
| Type | Manual |
| Width | N/A |
| Weight | 4.6 lbs |
How we chose the best dethatchers
The experts and engineers at the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab regularly test lawn care equipment, including mowers and tractors. For this story, we selected dethatchers based on product specs, brand reliability, related outdoor equipment testing, and industry research.
To make our picks, we reviewed each dethatcher’s type, blade width, weight, and overall ease of use. We also considered brands that have performed well in past Good Housekeeping Institute evaluations, insights from trade shows and industry events, and the outdoor equipment expertise of our partners at Popular Mechanics.
What to look for when shopping for a dethatcher
✔️ Type: According to the pros at Popular Mechanics, dethatchers may be tow-behind, electric- or gas-powered push mowers, or rakes.
- Tow-behind dethatchers attach to the back of a tractor or riding lawn mower and are a great choice for larger yards.
- Push mower dethatchers (either battery-powered, corded, or gasoline-powered) are ideal for most consumers with medium-sized lawns.
- Rakes don't rely on a power source and instead must be used manually. These are compact, easy to store, and affordable, but best suited for smaller lawns.
✔️ Power source: Larger lawn owners might prefer a cordless model so you don't have to worry about being tethered to an outlet. Corded designs are suitable for smaller lawns (though you can always get a few extension cords). Whether you want a dethatcher powered by batteries, electric corded power, or gasoline is ultimately up to you. Gasoline-powered dethatchers tend to be the most efficient and powerful, but they come with maintenance and refueling costs. Cordless designs that run on batteries are portable and convenient, but always check the estimated run time if you don't want to recharge halfway through your lawn.
✔️ Handle: The handle of your dethatcher should be comfortable to hold as you work through your lawn. Look for foldable handles for the most compact storage solution.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Good Housekeeping Institute Writer and Product Analyst Olivia Lipski covers everything from consumer electronics to home, fitness, travel, and more, and frequently collaborates with the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab to cover topics like humidifiers, under-sink water filters, and smart toilets.
To write this review, she worked with the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab Director Dan DiClerico, who brings 25 years of experience to the GH Institute, having reviewed thousands of products, including all kinds of outdoor power equipment, for Good Housekeeping, as well as for brands like Consumer Reports and This Old House. During his time at GH, he has evaluated all types of lawn mowers and lawn care essentials for their ease of assembly, mowing power, and maintenance.
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