Using one of the Best Lawn Aerators for homeowners will keep your grass healthy, thick, and green with virtually No Mower Maintenance.
These aerator reviews will help you discover the best lawn aerators you can buy and which are best for your yard size.
Few people know the best way to aerate a lawn – but in a nutshell, it comes down to root system development.
Turfgrass experts at Penn State University recommend aerating your lawn once or twice annually to remove thatch and allow oxygen and nutrients to reach the roots of your grass.
They help by relieving compacted soil and allowing oxygen, water, and essential nutrients to the grassroots. Healthy grass means fewer weeds.
Yes, you can drive to your local rent-all shop and rent a lawn aerator for about $50-$60 per day. However, you can also buy the best aerator featured below – for about the same price as renting a lawn aerator twice.
And as a bonus, you won’t have to drive to the rental store and pick up their lawn aerator (and return it) every year.
Quick Word about Different “Types” of Lawn Aerators.
A tiny yard may only require Manual lawn coring tools like the Yard Butler or Aeration Shoes from Punchau.
While medium-sized yards don’t require a riding lawn mower, you might benefit from a Dethatcher (Think of a High-Powered Rake), such as the Greenworks or Sun Joe Dethatcher. A dethatcher is not only practical, but it’s also the cheapest way to aerate a lawn.
However, suppose you have a riding lawnmower and a medium- to large-sized lawn. In that case, you will get the best results using a pull-behind “plug aerator” (also called a “core aerator”) or a “spike lawn aerator” like the Brinly 40″ Spike Aerator.
For your convenience, each of these types of Lawn Aeration Tools is featured in our Reviews below: Choose the one that best suits the size of “your yard and your budget.”
The Best Lawn Aerators (2026 Reviews)
Editor’s Choice: Greenworks 27022 (Electric) Dethatcher
Why We Like It
With a maintenance-free electric motor and a 14-inch width, this Greenworks aerator is considered the best lawn aerator for small or medium-sized yards.
We also like the 3-position wheel height and the folding handles, which make it easier to store in small spaces.
With excellent user reviews and all these features, we name the Greenworks 27022 the Best Motorized Lawn Aerator.
Specs
- 14-inch dethatching width
- 10-amp electric motor
- Three depth settings
- Folding handles
Our Take Away
Although electric tools can be hit-or-miss, this one is a winner. The Greenworks electric aerator does a great job of removing compacted soil and thatch.
Because of its electric motor and lack of spark plugs, this model is also a maintenance-free way to ensure your lawn always looks its best. Our reviews make us very confident in labeling this the best yard aerator.
Greenworks
Runner Up: Sun Joe AJ801E (Electric) Dethatcher
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Why We Like It
With a bit more power but less width than the Greenworks, this electric lawn aerator from Sun Joe is a respectable runner-up for the best motorized lawn aerator.
We like its collection bag because it won’t leave excess thatch all over your yard.
Specs
- 12.5″ dethatching width
- Includes Grass Collection Bag
- 12-amp electric motor
- Collection bag included
Our Take Away
Overall, we were impressed with how well the Sun Joe performed when removing thick thatch from lawns. The bag catcher is a big advantage over the Greenworks model, which does not collect bags.
If it weren’t for the Greenworks’ 14″ width – requiring fewer rows to aerate – Sun Joe would have our vote as the #1 aerator.
With Sun Joe, you can quickly free up your grass to grow green and healthy for the best lawn you’ve ever maintained, and it does it at a bargain price.
Remember that dethatching your lawn and removing dead grass also allows more oxygen, nutrients, water, and sunlight into the yard.
These factors help your lawn grow faster, healthier, and greener. A healthy lawn also deters weed growth!
Sun Joe
Best Value: Yard Butler Lawn Aerator
Why We Like It
While we stand firmly behind the benefits of using aerator lawn tools, not everyone can afford a power tool just for lawn aeration.
For this reason, we wanted to include the Yard Butler as the Best manual aerator on our list of lawn aerators.
The Yard Butler allows anyone to remove soil and thatch cores from a small yard at this price point.
Specs
- Two-plug design
- Steel construction
- 37 inches high
Our Take Away
While this small aerator tool will take longer than a motorized model, it gets the job done and is one of the most cost-effective lawn aerators.
And while we wouldn’t recommend using it for a big yard, you would be surprised how well it works on an average-sized lawn.
Yard Butler
Best Pull Behind Plug Aerator: Agri-Fab 48″ Plug Aerator
Why We Like It
A tow-behind attachment for a riding lawnmower is usually the most efficient aerator tool for large yards. This model from Agri-Fab can help you do short work on your lawn without forcing you to get up from the comfort of your mower seat.
Specs
- 48-inch width
- 32 plug knives
- Steel construction
- 3-Year Warranty
- The Weight Tray Holds Up to 175 Lbs.
- Transport Handle Reachable from Riding Mower
- Universal hitch
Our Take Away
The Agri-Fab 48” Plug Aerator Tow Behind Lawn Groomer Model #45-0299 can handle virtually any yard. It is probably the best core aerator tool for a vast lawn.
The Agri-Fab is also virtually maintenance-free when used as an attachment on a riding mower.
You must give your lawn some attention to keep it healthy. The 3″ plug aerator knives in the Agri-Fab aerator offer the deepest penetration available, allowing your yard to receive the maximum amount of water, oxygen, and nutrients it needs to perform its best.
Agri-Fab
Best Value Pull Behind Aerator: Brinly 40″ Spike Aerator
Why We Like It
This is the best option if you want to use a pull-behind aerator but keep costs low. This Brinly 40-inch aerator stands out from the pack in its price range.
Specs
- 40-inch width
- Ten tine stars
- Steel construction
- Universal hitch
Our Take Away
Despite its low price point, we were impressed with how well this Brinly aerator worked. Overall, we think this is one of the best lawn aerators for a homeowner on a budget or someone trying out soil aeration for the first time.
Brinly Aerator
Best 36-inch Pull Behind Aerator: Craftsman 36″ Spike Aerator
Why We Like It
A smaller pull-behind aerator, like this Craftsman model, may be a good fit if you have a smaller lawn or a riding mower with limited towing capacity.
This model is also valuable and won’t break the bank to aerate your lawn.
Specs
- 36-inch width
- Nine-tine stars
- Steel construction
- Universal hitch
Our Take Away
According to our research, this Craftsman “Spike” aerator works exceptionally well and can effectively help you improve the appearance and health of your lawn.
Although it doesn’t have the same width as the larger pull-behind models discussed above, it’s a good fit for a smaller lawn, especially those with tight corners or obstacles. As mentioned, it’s among the best values in a quality tow-behind aerator.
Craftsman
Best Aerator Shoes: Punchau Lawn Aerator Shoes
Why We Like It
Although these may seem like a take on the old joke of mopping floors by tying sponges to your shoes, these aerator shoes are exceptionally efficient for aerating small to medium-sized yards.
The spikes in these shoes easily penetrate the ground, and you won’t have to buy or maintain a large piece of equipment to see the aeration results.
Specs
- 2-inch spikes
- It fits any shoe or boot
- Metal strap buckles
- Heavy-duty plastic base plate
Our Take Away
These aerating shoes are a cost-effective, convenient way to aerate your yard’s soil. As a bonus, they’ll give you a surprisingly good lower-body workout!
Punchau Aeration Shoes
Best Liquid Aerator: Simple Lawn Solutions
Why We Like It
We’ve discussed only mechanical aeration options so far. However, this liquid soil conditioner lets you break up compacted soil through chemical action instead of mechanical action, making it easier to aerate your lawn.
Specs
- 1-quart bottle
- Breaks up compacted soil
- Pet and child-safe
Our Take Away
We were skeptical about this product, but after our research and other user reviews, it seems to work well. Simple Solutions has garnered over 1,000 reviews on Amazon, averaging 4.5 stars. That’s impressive.
Liquid Aerators are especially useful for those with smaller lawns and those who do not want to invest in or have room for more equipment but want to promote better water absorption by their grass.
Honesty, as good as this product fills another aeration solution, liquid aeration doesn’t effectively promote a healthy lawn, as mechanical aeration does.
Simple Solutions – Liquid Aeration
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: How Often Should You Aerate Your Lawn?
A: How often you aerate depends on the soil type in your lawn. If you have a lot of clay in your soil or heavy traffic in your yard, aerate your lawn at least once, preferably twice a year.
If you have sandy soil with excellent drainage, you can likely get away with lawn aeration once every 2 years. However, experts recommend aerating your lawn at least once a year to keep it fully nourished.
Q: What is the Best Commercial Lawn Aerator?
A: The best commercial lawn aerator type is the “core aerator,” also called a “plug aerator.”
In our review, the best lawn aerator for commercial applications would be the model 45-0299 – 48″ plug aerator from Agri-Fab, available at Amazon.
Q: How Do You Know Your Lawn Needs to Be Aerated?
A: You know your lawn needs to be aerated if it is compacted and doesn’t drain properly. Conversely, if your lawn appears healthy and green and drains well, you probably don’t need lawn aeration.
A Simple Way to see if your lawn needs aerating is to take a screwdriver with a 6″ shank and plunge it into the ground. If the screwdriver goes in easily and at least 3-4″ (the depth of the grassroots), you’re fine.
However, if your soil is hard-packed and it is hard to push the screwdriver into the ground, you should consider aerating your lawn soon.
Q: When is the Best Time To Aerate Your Lawn?
The best time to aerate a lawn is during the peak season for growing grass. This is early spring and fall, when temperatures are more relaxed and ideal for healing the yard after aeration.
These are the best times of year to provide vital nutrients, grass seed, water, and oxygen directly to your property’s roots.
Q: What Is the Best Type of Lawn Aerator to Buy?
A: Selecting the Best Type of Lawn Aerator to Buy is in the eye of the beholder because there are many different types of equipment to aerate your lawn with
You can choose electric, pull-behind, manual spike, and shoe aerators. Electric models are the most effective and usually the easiest to use, while pull-behind aerators are ideal for quickly aerating large yards.
Manual and shoe aerators have their place for aerating grass lawns, especially if you’re on a budget. However, they are more tedious and challenging than mechanical or other lawn aerators.
Q: Does a Liquid Aerator Work for Lawns?
A: Liquid aerators can help break up compacted soil and improve drainage, but without spikes or plug holes, they won’t stimulate the root growth of your grass in the same way natural aeration can and is, therefore, not quite as effective.
Liquid aeration products also work very slowly—the active ingredient, ammonium lauryl sulfate, breaks down dense soil.
Over time, the fortified liquid solution loosens the ground and creates airways for oxygen, improving root growth.
While spike or plug aeration offers immediate results, liquid aeration may require one or two growing seasons to recognize beneficial effects.
Q: Which is better, Plug or Spike Lawn Aerators?
A: Plug and spike lawn aerators get oxygen into the soil and roots of a lawn, but plug aerators are better overall than spike aerators.
Although both have advantages, plug aerators are better if your soil is severely compacted. They actually “Remove compacted soil” from your lawn, freeing up space for the lawn to grow.
Plug aerators also allow more water, oxygen, and nutrients to reach your lawn’s roots.
A spike aerator should do the trick if your yard has relatively loose soil or if you want to keep it from compacting.
Q: What is the Best Method to aerate a lawn?
A: Considering everything, including the initial cost, ease of use, and storage, we believe an electric aerator is the most practical way for most homeowners to aerate a lawn.
However, if you have a larger budget, a large yard, and the room to store one, you should seriously consider investing in a pull-behind core aerator. Plug (Core) aerators are widely considered the best aerators.
Conclusion
Overall, we found the GreenWorks, Sun Joe, and Yard Butler hand tools the most cost-effective and best aerator lawn tools for most homeowners.
However, the Agri-Fab 48″ plug aerator stands out as the best tow-behind lawn aerator on the market.
That said, it’s vital to consider your yard’s size, layout, and soil condition when choosing the right lawn aerator, since one of the other options on this list may better suit your unique needs.
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References & Additional Reading:
- How to safely use a lawnmower around children – Healthychildren.org
- What is Liquid Aeration – How does it work? – Familyhandyman.com
- The 10 Best “Backpack” Leaf Blowers You Can Buy – BestHomeGear.Com
- Diagnosing TurfGrass Problems – Texas A & M University
- The Best Chainsaw For Homeowners – Besthomegear.com
- Can You Cut Wet Grass with an electric mower? – Ehow.com
- The Best Pressure Washers Under $300 in 2020 – Besthomegear.com
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