The best lawn scarifiers, compared.
Top pick: PHIWOS PH6036 1800 W Best value: Hyundai HYSC1532E 1500 W – Lowest saved price among corded machines with at least 400 reviews: about £89.99, score 86, 4.5 from 414 reviews. Updated 23 October 2026.
A lawn scarifier pulls thatch and moss out of the turf so water and air can reach the soil. In the UK you usually do this in early autumn, when the ground is not waterlogged, frozen or baked, and only when you can no longer see soil between the grass blades. The lawn looks rough before it recovers. A suitable machine has a spring-tine drum for moss and a bladed drum for thatch, a depth control you start on the shallowest useful setting, and a working width that matches the lawn. Corded models need an outdoor socket, a UK 3-pin plug and an RCD. A manual head suits a small lawn you can finish by hand, and it has no box. A cordless kit is for a lawn the lead will not reach. A powered scarifier is not a hollow-tine aerator. On a listing, aerator usually means the bladed drum, not cores of soil. The [how to scarify a lawn](/hub/lawn-and-garden-equipment/lawn-scarifier/sub/lawn-scarifier-how-to-scarify) page covers timing, depth and recovery.
A lawn scarifier pulls thatch and moss out of the turf so water and air can reach the soil.
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Personal buying guide
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Can a lead reach the lawn?
The PHIWOS PH6036 is an 1800 W, 38 cm corded scarifier at £90.09, with 4.7 from only 24 reviews. Five depths run from −12 mm to +6 mm, the handle has three angle positions, and the listing includes a 45 L bag and a 10 m cable. The comparison line says interchangeable blades, and it does not name a separate spring-tine cassette the way the Hyundai bullets do, so do not assume a second drum until you see it on the carton. A UK review says the grass does not stay in the box and still needs raking. The item weight is 14.96 kg. Rank is 42 in Lawn Scarifiers. Two switches are mentioned, and a warranty period is not. A 4.7 from 24 reviews is a thin sample next to machines with several hundred, which is why the low price does not make this the best value.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You already like the wattage and width on paper and you will treat 24 reviews as a small sample.
Less suitable: You want a named second drum and a review count in the hundreds before you pay.
Specifications
Common questions
How many depth settings are listed?
Five, from −12 mm to +6 mm. The handle also has three angle positions.
Does the grass stay in the box?
The listing includes a 45 L bag. A UK review says the grass does not stay in the box and still needs raking.
How large is the review sample?
4.7 from 24 reviews on the amazon.co.uk listing. That is a small sample.
The YTDHYM is a manual wheel-assisted scarifier at £31.99, with no motor, no cable, and no collection box. The bullets describe a twist-lock handle that extends to 1.67 m and a stainless-steel head, and the item weight is 2.33 kg. Across 21 reviews the line is 4.7. UK reviews say it lifts thatch and moss and that the work is physically hard; one reviewer fixed a loose handle thread with tape. Working width and depth are not stated, so you cannot compare a pass width with the 32–40 cm corded drums. Rank is 42 in Rakes, not in Lawn Scarifiers. Twenty-one reviews are a thin sample beside the Darlac’s 796, even though the star line is higher.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You have a small lawn, you can do a hard session, and you want the cheaper of the two hand tools.
Less suitable: You want a box, a known working width, or a review sample you can lean on.
Specifications
Common questions
Does it need mains power?
No. It is a manual wheel-assisted head. There is no cable and no collection box.
How long is the handle?
The bullets say a twist-lock handle that extends to 1.67 m.
Is it hard work?
UK reviews say it lifts thatch and moss, and that it is physically hard. One reviewer fixed a loose handle thread with tape.
The EcoBuild HB-GS1110 is a corded 2000 W, 40 cm scarifier at £126.99, with five depths from −12 mm to +6 mm, an aerator blade and a scarifier roller, a 55 L box, and a 10 m cable. The star line is 4.7 from 7 reviews, and the file behind this listing holds three written UK reviews, which is too small a sample to treat 4.7 as a result. One of those reviews says the deepest setting felt like a small rotavator and that the machine may be more than a small lawn needs. The item weight is listed at 21 kg, higher than the other 2000 W machine here, and it is not confirmed as the weight you push. Rank is 16 in Lawn Scarifiers. The bullets name a folding handle with a quick-lock, a two-stage switch, and thermal overload. A warranty period is not stated. “Aerator” on this row means the bladed drum, not hollow tines.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want 40 cm and 2000 W on the specification line and you will not treat seven reviews as a verdict.
Less suitable: You want a review sample in the hundreds, or a lighter machine for a small lawn.
Specifications
Common questions
How heavy is it?
The item weight on the listing is 21 kg. That is higher than the other 2000 W machine in this set, and it is not confirmed as the in-use weight.
What do the few reviews say about depth?
One of three written reviews says the deepest setting felt like a small rotavator, and that the machine may be more than a small lawn needs.
How many reviews are there?
4.7 from 7 on amazon.co.uk, with three written UK reviews in the saved listing.
The Bluemars corded scarifier is the widest powered machine kept in this set, at 40 cm and 2000 W, priced at £129.99 with 4.6 from 441 reviews. Five depths run from −12 mm to −3 mm and a +6 mm step, and the listing names both a bladed drum and a rake, plus a 55 L box and a 10 m cable. Reviewers say that box spills well before 55 litres and still needs emptying or compressing, so the capacity is a label rather than a full bag of loose moss. It weighs 15.4 kg, the handle folds with a tool-free knob, and the bullets name a two-stage switch, a thermal cut-out, and a 2-year warranty line. Rank is 4 in Lawn Scarifiers. The Amazon material field says Grass, which is not a housing material. One review mentions about 375 m²; that is one garden, not a rated area.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the widest corded drum in this set and you can live with a 10 m lead and a box you empty early.
Less suitable: You are buying mainly on price, or the lawn is small enough that 40 cm and 15.4 kg are awkward to turn.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the handle tool-free to fold?
The bullets name a tool-free quick-lock knob and a folding soft-grip handle.
Does the 55 L box hold 55 litres of thatch?
The listing says 55 L. Reviewers say it spills well before that and needs emptying or compressing.
What is the cable length?
10 m, as stated on the listing. The plug type is not stated.
The Hyundai HYSC1600E sits between the two other Hyundais at £109.99: 1600 W, 36 cm, and 4.6 from 172 reviews. The bullets list a blade drum and a sprung rake that reviewers call easy to swap, though no tool is named, and five heights from −12 mm to +6 mm. A 45 L quick-release box is included, and reviews say rake mode still leaves grass on the lawn. The item weight is 13 kg. Rank is 13 in Lawn Scarifiers, well behind the 1800 W and 1500 W Hyundais. Storage and a safety switch are not stated, and neither is a warranty period. The bullets describe small to medium gardens, which is a claim rather than a measured area.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a mid-width Hyundai and you will treat 172 reviews as a smaller sample than the 1500 W and 1800 W rows.
Less suitable: You want the largest review sample, a stated warranty, or the lowest corded price.
Specifications
Common questions
Can you swap the scarifier and the rake?
The bullets say the blade and the sprung rake are interchangeable. Reviewers call the swap easy. No tool is named.
Is a collection bag included?
Yes. The listing states a 45 L quick-release box. Reviews say rake mode still leaves grass on the lawn.
What warranty is listed?
This listing does not state a warranty period.
The NETTA is a corded 1500 W scarifier at £99.99, with a 32 cm drum, a stated 3000 RPM, and 4.6 from 71 reviews. Four depths run from −12 mm to +4 mm, and the listing calls it a 2-in-1 with a 30 L box and a 10 m cable. Reviewers say the box fills quickly and some take it off and rake, which matches the pattern on the other small collectors here. It is the lightest corded machine in the set at 9.1 kg, with folding handles, a 2-way safety switch, and a bullet that says 365 days of warranty. Rank is 7 in Lawn Scarifiers. The model line says 104226 while a part number is listed as 104225, so check the carton against the order. Seventy-one reviews is enough to see the box complaint and too few to treat 4.6 as stronger evidence than 4.5 from several hundred.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a lighter corded 2-in-1 around £100 and you will empty a small box often.
Less suitable: You want several hundred reviews, or a wider drum.
Specifications
Common questions
What motor power is listed?
1500 W, and the bullets also state 3000 RPM.
How many height settings are there?
Four, from −12 mm to +4 mm.
Will the box collect everything?
A 30 L box is included. Reviewers say it fills quickly, and some take it off and rake.
The Hyundai HYSC1800E is a corded 1800 W scarifier with a 38 cm working width, and on amazon.co.uk it is £125.99 with 4.5 from 559 reviews, the largest sample among the powered machines in this set. The listing gives five depth steps from −12 mm to −3 mm plus a +10 mm position, and it includes both a scarifier drum and a rake drum, a 45 L bag, and a 10 m cable. Reviewers on this listing often say the bag still lets debris land on the lawn and that they empty it early, so the 45 L figure is not a full pass between stops. Some of those reviews wanted a longer lead than 10 m, and the listing does not state whether the plug is a UK 3-pin. The item weight is 13.6 kg, the handles fold, and the bullets name an operator-presence control plus a 3-year domestic warranty, with 1 year commercial. A bullet claims about 186 m², which is listing copy rather than a measurement. It is rank 1 in Lawn Scarifiers on this capture, and this comparison treats it as the top pick because the score below is the highest in the set, which is listing arithmetic rather than a lab test.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You have an outdoor socket within a 10 m lead of most of the lawn and you want the corded machine with the largest review sample here.
Less suitable: You have no nearby socket, you only have a small lawn you can rake by hand, or you need the 40 cm drum.
Specifications
Common questions
What width and depths does the Hyundai 1800 W list?
The amazon.co.uk listing states a 38 cm working width and five settings: −12 mm, −9 mm, −6 mm, −3 mm and +10 mm.
Does the 45 L bag catch the moss?
A 45 L bag is included. UK reviews on this listing often say debris still lands on the lawn and the bag needs emptying early.
How long is the cable?
The listing says 10 m. Some reviewers wanted a longer lead. The plug type is not stated.
The Hyundai HYSC1532E is the £89.99 corded machine in this set: 1500 W, a 32 cm drum, and 4.5 from 414 reviews, with rank 2 in Lawn Scarifiers. The listing includes a scarifying drum and a raking drum, four depths at −12, −8, −4 and +4 mm, a 30 L fabric collector, and a 10 m cable. Reviewers say that collector is small and can tip if you overfill it, so you should plan to stop often rather than treat 30 L as a moss bin. The item weight is 11.2 kg while the bullets say 10.95 kg, and this file does not reconcile the two. A safety switch is not stated. The bullets do claim a 3-year warranty. It is the lowest price among the corded rows with at least 400 reviews, which is why this page treats it as the best value, though the narrower drum means more passes than the 38 cm and 40 cm machines.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a corded 2-in-1 under £90 with a review sample in the hundreds, and a 32 cm drum is enough for the lawn.
Less suitable: You want a 40 cm pass, a large box, or a machine with no cable.
Specifications
Common questions
Is there a collection bag?
Yes. The listing includes a 30 L fabric collector. Reviewers say it is small and can tip if you overfill it.
Which drums are in the box?
The bullets list a scarifying drum and a raking drum. Reviews describe fixed blades and springs.
What does it weigh?
The item weight is 11.2 kg. The bullets say 10.95 kg. Both figures are on the same listing.
The Bluemars BM-GP4001 is the only cordless scarifier in this set, at £169.99, sold with two 20 V 4.0 Ah packs and a dual charger. The listing gives a 38 cm width, 16 blades and 24 tines, a 50 L catcher, and three depth positions with no millimetres stated. Across 28 reviews the line is 4.2. Those reviews do not agree on runtime: about 10 minutes in one, a recharge during a 100 m² lawn in another, and one large lawn where the packs lasted, so this page will not quote a single run time. Wattage is not stated, and neither is a warranty. The item weight is 15.4 kg, the handle folds, and rank is 14 in Lawn Scarifiers. It is the machine you open when a 10 m lead cannot reach the lawn, and you accept a short, poorly agreed battery life and the highest price here.
Pros
Cons
Best for: The lawn is beyond a sensible extension lead and you can live with a second charge on a bigger job.
Less suitable: An outdoor socket is close enough for a corded machine at £90 to £130.
Specifications
Common questions
Are batteries included?
Yes. The title includes two 20 V 4.0 Ah batteries and a dual charger. Wattage is not stated.
How long do the batteries last?
The listing does not state a runtime. UK reviews disagree: about 10 minutes, a recharge during a 100 m² lawn, and one large lawn where the packs lasted.
How many depth settings are there?
Three. The listing does not give the depths in millimetres.
The Darlac DP888 is a manual telescopic scarifier at £38.99, and across 796 amazon.co.uk reviews the line is 4.1, the largest sample of any row in this set and a more useful read than a 4.7 from a few dozen. The bullets describe a powder-coated steel head and a handle from 97 cm to 1.5 m; the item weight is 1.77 kg. There is no collection box. Reviews describe a handle and a head joined by one screw, and one reviewer received it without that fixing, so check the bag before you need it. Reviewers say it removes moss and thatch on a small lawn and that it is hard work; one person suggested a lawn under about 20 m², which is one garden rather than a limit. The Amazon material field says Grass, which is not the steel the bullets describe. Rank is 97 in Rakes. BBC Gardeners’ World has used this model as a manual example; that mention is not a lab score for this listing.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You will scarify a small lawn by hand and you want the manual tool with hundreds of UK reviews.
Less suitable: You already know a hand session is too much, or you need a collector and a powered drum.
Specifications
Common questions
What is it made of?
The bullets say powder-coated steel. The Amazon material field says Grass, which is not a useful spec.
Does it need assembly?
Yes. Reviews describe a handle and a head joined by one screw. One reviewer received it without that fixing.
Who is it for?
Reviewers say it removes moss and thatch on a small lawn, and that it is hard work. There is no collection box.
Scores are listing arithmetic for the 10 amazon.co.uk listings kept on 19 October 2026. Each score starts from the star line times 15, then adds a review-sample band and listed-kit points for two drums, a stated collector and a depth in millimetres. Halves round away from zero. Shelf price decides the best-value badge only after the scores exist, and only among corded machines with at least 400 reviews. This is not a lawn trial.
Amazon.co.uk star line
77%The published start is the amazon.co.uk star line times 15, a maximum of 75 points. Halves round away from zero. Scaled against the three published caps of 75, 14 and 8, that share is 77 of 100.
Review sample
15%Published points are 14 for 500 or more reviews, 10 for 400 to 499, 8 for 150 to 399, 4 for 50 to 149, and 0 under 50. Scaled against the same caps, that band is 15 of 100. A 4.7 from under ten reviews stays a thin sample.
Listed kit
8%Published points are 4 if the listing names two working drums, 2 if a collector volume is stated, and 2 if at least one depth is stated in millimetres, with a cap of 8. Scaled, that cap is 8 of 100. A missing plug type and an unverified weight stay in the written assessment. They are not extra points.
Start with the lawn, not the wattage. If you cannot see soil between the grass blades, thatch or moss is the job, and early autumn is the usual UK window if the ground is not waterlogged, frozen or baked. A corded 2-in-1 needs a nearby outdoor socket. A manual head is hard work on a small lawn and has no box. Cordless is only when the lead will not reach. A scarifier does not pull a core of soil.
A lawn scarifier pulls thatch and moss out of a UK lawn so water and air can reach the soil. It is not a hollow-tine aerator and it is not a mower. The Royal Horticultural Society says scarify when you cannot see soil between the grass blades, in early autumn if the ground is not waterlogged, frozen or baked. Expect the lawn to look rough before it recovers. Do not follow with a high-nitrogen summer feed. Moss can be left where grass will not win.
Several listings go down to −12 mm. Husqvarna UK keeps flail blades and spring tines to about 1–2 mm in the soil. Start high. A one-metre pass should lift brown thatch, not green tips.
On these listings, aerator usually means the bladed drum. It does not pull a plug of soil. Clay that puddles needs a hollow-tine tool, not a deeper scarifier setting.
Reviewers still rake what the box misses. A 4.7 from a handful of reviews is weaker evidence than 4.5 from several hundred. A listed area in square metres is listing copy, not a measured limit.
Corded electric if an outdoor socket is close. Manual if the lawn is small and you can do the work. Cordless only if the lead will not reach and you accept a short, poorly agreed runtime. There is no petrol machine in this set. Spring tines comb moss and blades slit thatch, so a 2-in-1 is the kit when you need both. The word aerator on a drum is not a hollow tine. Start on the shallowest useful setting. Husqvarna UK tells owners to keep flail blades and spring tines to about 1–2 mm in the soil.
Lighter corded machines are often about 32 cm. Wider drums in this kind of set are about 36–40 cm, and stated weights are often about 9–15 kg. Treat an unverified figure near 21 kg as possibly shipping weight. A stated lead of 10 m still leaves reviewers raking what the box misses, so empty early. A 55 L claim is not 55 litres of loose moss between stops. Prefer hundreds of UK reviews over a 4.7 from under ten.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
An outdoor socket is close enough for a 10 m lead, and you want the corded 2-in-1 with the largest powered review sample here. The Hyundai HYSC1800E is 1800 W and 38 cm, about £125.99, with 4.5 from 559 reviews. The bag still misses debris.
You want a corded machine under £90 with a review sample in the hundreds, and a 32 cm drum is enough. The Hyundai HYSC1532E is about £89.99, score 86, 4.5 from 414 reviews. The 30 L collector is small and can tip if you overfill it.
You can finish a small lawn by hand and then rake the debris. The Darlac DP888 is the manual tool with the large sample, about £38.99, 4.1 from 796 reviews. There is no box, and the work is hard.
The top pick is the Hyundai HYSC1800E, score 90, about £125.99, 4.5 from 559 amazon.co.uk reviews. It is a corded 1800 W machine, 38 cm, with both drums, a 45 L bag and a 10 m cable. The score is listing arithmetic, not a lawn trial. The best value is the Hyundai HYSC1532E, about £89.99, score 86, 4.5 from 414 reviews, at 32 cm. It is the lowest saved price among corded machines with at least 400 reviews. The corded Bluemars scores 87 and costs about £129.99, so a higher score does not take the best-value badge. A hand tool at about £31.99 is a different job and is not in that price comparison.
Hyundai HYSC1532E 1500 W
Lowest saved price among corded machines with at least 400 reviews: about £89.99, score 86, 4.5 from 414 reviews.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Sources from the research digest, last checked on 23 October 2026. Shelf prices and star lines are from the amazon.co.uk capture on 19 October 2026.
This page contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices and star lines are from amazon.co.uk listings captured on 19 October 2026. We did not run a lawn trial.
