These Expert-Approved Lawn Dethatchers Make Your Lawn Healthier and More Lush in a Hurry (2024)

Decayed grass blades and stems—known as thatch—can prevent your lawn from absorbing the water and oxygen it needs to grow. Thatch creates a dense layer of organic matter that accumulates faster than the soil breaks it down, slowly growing into a thick layer of cover that prevents water and nutrients from enriching the ground. Dethatchers are specifically designed to remove any excess debris that’s more than 1/4-inch tall, removing that layer and preventing more from forming. It's an essential landscaping tool for any homeowner who plans to take proper care of their lawn on their own.

A good lawn dethatcher, regardless of size or type, effectively breaks up thatch accumulation without damaging the live grass on the lawn. Some automatic options also remove the material from your yard, while others require you to rake up and remove the thatch manually. If thatch has affected your lawn health before, our expert-reviewed recommendations can help you find the best lawn dethatcher for your yard and give you healthier grass this season.

The Best Lawn Dethatchers

• Best Overall: Greenworks 14-Inch 10 Amp Corded Dethatcher
• Best Budget: True Temper 15-Inch Thatch Rake
• Most Compact Automatic: Sun Joe AJ801E Electric Dethatcher and Scarifier
• Best Tow-Behind: Agri-Fab 45-0294 40-Inch Tine Dethatcher
• Best for Large Yards: Brinly-Hardy DT-480BH-A 48-Inch Tow-Behind Dethatcher

What to Consider in a Dethatcher

How Do I Know if I Need to Dethatch My Lawn?

While visible thatch may set off alarm bells in your head, clearing isn't always the right first step. Even if your lawn is running into health or growth issues, dethatching isn’t always the answer.

“It’s possible that your lawn needs other measures," according to Senior Home Editor Roy Berendsohn. "For example, a better fertilizer regimen, core aeration, a different type and improved variation of seed, better mowing (sharper blade, correct cutting height), and better control of lawn pests via fungicides or insecticides.”

Thatch accumulation rates vary by the type of grass on your lawn. Dense varieties like Kentucky bluegrass and creeping red fescue are more likely to generate excess thatch than Perennial ryegrass or tall fescue. If your lawn is planted with ryegrass or other, similar varieties, thatch accumulation is likely not the source of any yard problems.

Once you’ve determined that you have a dense grass type and you’ve eliminated other lawn care concerns, it’s time to turn an eye toward thatch thickness. Guidelines for thatch removal may vary, but it's safe to say that if the thatch layer is over an inch thick, you should clear it.

You probably won't need to dethatch your lawn more than once a year, so buying a dethatcher is a long-term investment. Luckily, most of our selections are durable, affordable and work great for small or mid-size lawns. That said, you can always rent one from a home improvement store each time you need one.

Types of Dethatchers

Tow-Behind Dethatchers

The most common types of dethatchers are tow-behind, push mowers (electric or gas), and manual rakes. Tow-behind dethatchers latch on to tractors or riding lawn mowers and use metal tines to pull up thatch as you drive forward. They're great for large yards where walking the property yourself would take hours of your day. That said, the wide design makes them less precise. You can’t dethatch corners and tight areas of your yard with a tow-behind option.

Tow-behind dethatchers also lack the power of a push mower. For yards with significant thatch buildup, we recommend weighing down your tow-behind dethatcher to drive the metal tines deeper into your lawn. It's also helpful to add weight if the dethatcher itself is especially light.

Push Mower Dethachers

Push mower dethatchers, like our best overall recommendation, are the most practical option for a medium-sized yard. They typically have internal motors that spin a wheel of metal tines in the opposite direction that you push in. This disrupts and dislodges thatch effectively, even on a stubborn or entrenched lawn.

While they are incredibly effective at removing deep layers of thatch, the relatively thin width and manual, push-style means more physical labor than a t0w-behind dethatcher, making them less effective for large yards.

Manual Dethatchers

Rake-like manual dethatchers are an affordable and compact option for small yards. Instead of relying on the power of a tractor or internal motor, you'll simply drag the tines through your lawn by hand. It's hard work, but still a convenient option if you have a small space that won't take much time to dethatch.

Power Source

Push mower dethatchers are powered by gasoline, batteries, or electric corded power. Gas-powered dethatchers offer great performance—most engines run longer on a tank of gas than a battery, they’re stronger on average, and their efficiency doesn't meaningfully degrade over time. They are also usually much more expensive.

Corded electric dethatchers get continuous power so you won’t need to refuel or recharge. Simply plug your dethatcher in and get to work. The limitation for corded power is, of course, the cord itself. You can only bring the dethatcher as far as your cord allows, so you may need one an extension cord (or a few) to dethatch your entire space.

Batteries combine the portability and convenience of a gas motor without the fumes, finicky startup mechanisms, and noise. While you will likely need to recharge or replace the batteries at least once during a large yard dethatching, batteries are an easy, affordable way to power your device.

If you already own cordless power tools and yard machines, you can save a little extra cash by buying a dethatcher from the same brand. (Some models even have “tool-only” options so you don’t get stuck with costly extra batteries.) If you’re just starting to build your power tools kit, our best battery-powered pick from Greenworks is compatible with a range of other tools we recommend for various uses around the house.

Most battery-powered options lack the same power and strength of a gas motor, though, so they may not effectively break up incredibly dense or thick layers of thatch.

How We Selected The Best Lawn Dethatchers

To assemble this guide, we conducted research across multiple online resources including university turf management programs and home improvement guides. We also relied on the expertise of Senior Home Editor Roy Berendsohn who provided insight into what to look out for in a new dethatcher, and advice on when you should buy one. He also broke down what to look out for on your lawn before dethatching is necessary, and shared some general advice on grass management.

We made sure to include a mix of the types listed above, including two battery-powered models for those who don’t want to be tethered to an extension cord. We also included a range of price points, so regardless of your budget, you can find an option that works for you and your lawn.