Best Lawn Aerators For UK Gardens: Tested And Reviewed

Ready to advance from a simple garden fork to a more capable lawn aerator for your UK garden?

In this guide, we’ve shared reviews of the best manual and electric lawn aerators for all budgets, based on their reliability, capability, customer feedback, and overall value for money.

Einhell GC-SA 1231/1 Electric Lawn Scarifier And Aerator -- 1200W, 28L Catch Bag, Adjustable Working Depth -- Simple To Change Interchangeable Scarifying Rake And Lawn Aerator Rollers

5/5

 5/5

Brand: Einhell
Price: ££
Power source: Electric (corded)
Penetration depth: 9mm
Width: 31cm
Weight: 9 kg
Power: 1,200 W

VonHaus Lawn Scarifier/Aerator/Rake Electric 1500W – for Dethatching/Raking Grass of Thatch, Moss, Dead Leaves and Aerates Soil – 30L Collection Box, 10m Cable, 4 Cutting Heights, 32cm Working Width

4.5/5

 4.5/5

Brand: VonHaus
Price: ££
Power source: Electric (corded)
Penetration depth: 15mm
Width: 32cm
Weight: 8.5 kg
Power: 1,500 W

Walensee Lawn Coring Aerator, Manual Grass Dethatching Turf Plug, Core Aerating Tool, Garden Tool, Heavy Duty Aeration for Compacted Soils and Lawns to Prevent Lawn Run-Off and Soil Compaction

4.5/5

 4.5/5

Brand: Walensee
Price: £
Power source: N/A
Penetration depth: 100mm
Width: 23cm
Weight: 1.38 kg
Power: N/A

Ohuhu Lawn Aerator Shoes with Stainless Steel Shovel, Free-Installation Aerating Shoes with Hook & Loop Straps, Heavy Duty Spiked Aerating Sandals, One-Size-Fits-All for Yard Patio Garden Grass Lawn

4.5/5

 4.5/5

Brand: Ohuhu
Price: £
Power source: N/A
Penetration depth: 58mm
Width: 31cm
Weight: 1.03 kg
Power: N/A

Lawn Aerator, EEIEER Lawn Scarifier Lawn Spike Aerator Manual Soil Aerating Tool with 15 pieces 6cm Solid Steel Spikes, Non-slip T-Handle, Grass Spike Aeration for Compacted Soils and Lawns

4.5/5

 4.5/5

Brand: EEIEER
Price: £
Power source: N/A
Penetration depth: 600mm
Width: 30cm
Weight: 2.95 kg
Power: N/A

Jardineer Lawn Core Aerator, Hollow Tine Aerator with Non-Clog Slot, Durable Grass Aerator Garden, Manual Lawn Aerator for Compact Lawn Soil

4/5

 4/5

Brand: Jardineer
Price: £
Power source: N/A
Penetration depth: 89mm
Width: 23cm
Weight: 2 kg
Power: N/A

Greenkey Rolling Lawn Aerator & Grass Spiker, Manual Rotary Garden Tool, Handheld Push Pull device for garden

4.5/5

 4.5/5

Brand: Greenkey
Price: ££
Power source: N/A
Penetration depth: 45mm
Width: 30cm
Weight: 2.8 kg
Power: N/A

Best Lawn Aerators

Best Overall: Einhell GC-SA 1231/1 Electric Lawn Scarifier And Aerator
Runner-Up Electric: VonHaus 2 in 1 Scarifier & Lawn Aerator
Best Manual: Walensee Lawn Coring Aerator
Best Lawn Aerator Shoes: Ohuhu Lawn Aerator Shoes
Best Foot-Press Aerator: EEIEER Lawn Spike Aerator
Best Budget: Jardineer Lawn Core Aerator
Best Rolling Manual Aerator: Greenkey Rolling Lawn Aerator & Grass Spiker

📊 Comparison Chart of Lawn Aerators

Scroll right on mobile to see the whole table chart

Product	Price	Power Source	Penetration Depth	Width	Weight	Power
Einhell GC-SA 1231/1 Electric Lawn Scarifier	££	Electric (corded)	9mm	31cm	9 kg	1,200 W
VonHaus 2 in 1 Scarifier & Lawn Aerator	££	Electric (corded)	15mm	32cm	8.5 kg	1,500 W
Walensee Lawn Coring Aerator	£	N/A	100mm	23cm	1.38 kg	N/A
Ohuhu Lawn Aerator Shoes	£	N/A	58mm	31cm	1.03 kg	N/A
EEIEER Lawn Spike Aerator	£	N/A	600mm	30cm	2.95 kg	N/A
Jardineer Lawn Core Aerator	£	N/A	89mm	23cm	2 kg	N/A
Greenkey Rolling Lawn Aerator & Spiker	££	N/A	45mm	30cm	2.8 kg	N/A

Product	Price	Power Source	Penetration Depth	Width	Weight	Power
Einhell GC-SA 1231/1 Electric Lawn Scarifier	££	Electric (corded)	9mm	31cm	9 kg	1,200 W
VonHaus 2 in 1 Scarifier & Lawn Aerator	££	Electric (corded)	15mm	32cm	8.5 kg	1,500 W
Walensee Lawn Coring Aerator	£	N/A	100mm	23cm	1.38 kg	N/A
Ohuhu Lawn Aerator Shoes	£	N/A	58mm	31cm	1.03 kg	N/A
EEIEER Lawn Spike Aerator	£	N/A	600mm	30cm	2.95 kg	N/A
Jardineer Lawn Core Aerator	£	N/A	89mm	23cm	2 kg	N/A
Greenkey Rolling Lawn Aerator & Spiker	££	N/A	45mm	30cm	2.8 kg	N/A

⭐ Reviews – Best Lawn Aerators of 2024

Einhell GC-SA 1231/1 Electric Lawn Scarifier And Aerator

5/5

 5/5

Einhell GC-SA 1231/1 Electric Lawn Scarifier And Aerator -- 1200W, 28L Catch Bag, Adjustable Working Depth -- Simple To Change Interchangeable Scarifying Rake And Lawn Aerator Rollers

In our opinion, the Einhell GC-SA 1231/1 is the best lawn aerator you can buy today.

We think this aerator is ideally sized for quickly and efficiently aerating a small-to-medium lawn, with two functions in one: aerating and scarifying. The 1,200-watt motor means you don’t have to put in the effort of manual aeration, and the machine costs less than £100 (at the time of this review), making it one of the best-value electric lawn aerators we’ve reviewed.

Quick Specs:

Brand: Einhell
Price: ££
Power source: Electric (corded)
Penetration depth: 9mm
Width: 31cm
Weight: 9 kg
Power: 1,200 W

Best For:

Anyone looking for the best-value electric lawn aerator that’s affordable, efficient, and versatile, sold by a reputable manufacturer.

What Customers Think:

More than 2,100 customers have awarded the Einhell GC-SA 1231/1 4.4 stars out of 5 on Amazon. Reviewers called it a “fantastic little machine” and praised it for being “sturdy yet lightweight – a workhorse”. Some customers found it difficult to swap out the aerator roller for the scarifying rake.

Pros:

Value for money is a big selling point of the Einhell GC-SA 1231/1. It’s about 20% cheaper than most other electric lawn aerators on the market, while offering virtually the same (if not better) performance and benefits.
We love that you can alternate between using this machine as a lawn scarifier to remove thatch, moss, and other unwanted debris from your lawn (and apparently it does a great job of doing this), and an aerator that helps to loosen compacted soil. Simply swap out the scarifying rake for the lawn aerator rollers (both included in the package).
Having an electric lawn aerator means there’s some extra weight, ensuring deep aeration without the need for you to push down on the handle.
The 31cm width allows you to cover more ground in fewer passes, and it’s handy to have the option between three different aeration depths.

Cons:

A few people said that the aerator was too destructive on their lawn. Apparently this can be resolved by taking the kinks out of the blade in a vice, allowing it to aerate full depth without any lawn damage.

VonHaus 2 in 1 Scarifier & Lawn Aerator

4.5/5

 4.5/5

We think the VonHaus 2 in 1 Scarifier & Lawn Aerator is a fantastic runner-up electric aerator if, for whatever reason, the Einhell aerator doesn’t float your boat.

This combined lawn scarifier and aerator is slightly more powerful with a 1,500-watt motor. It also has an extra cutting depth setting (4 versus the Einhell model’s 3) and is slightly wider (32cm vs the Einhell model’s 31cm) – but it’s also around £30 more expensive.

Quick Specs:

Brand: VonHaus
Price: ££
Power source: Electric (corded)
Penetration depth: 15mm
Width: 32cm
Weight: 8.5 kg
Power: 1,500 W

Best For:

Anyone with a bigger budget who’s looking for a slightly larger, more powerful, and more capable alternative to our top recommended Einhell lawn scarifier/aerator.

What Customers Think:

More than 2,000 customers have rated the VonHaus 2 in 1 Scarifier & Lawn Aerator 4.5 stars overall, with reviewers saying that the machine is an “efficient lawn rake and aerator” and “a good little machine”. Some customers said that the aerator function didn’t produce deep holes in their lawn.

Pros:

The VonHaus 2 in 1 Scarifier & Lawn Aerator combines power and ease of use nicely. Its larger 1,500-watt motor and 32cm width make it the better option for slightly larger lawns or jobs that you anticipate to be difficult, but it’s still light enough to use easily, weighing just 8.5 kilograms.
Again, we’re pleased with the two-in-one performance of this electric aerator. You can switch between the raking drum (for raking off lawn thatch, moss, and dead leaves) and the dethatcher drum (which aerates the soil).
Good to see that you can choose between four working depths (+4, -4, -11, and -15mm), although we’d like deeper aeration options available.

Cons:

This VonHaus model is another electric aerator that seems to be better at scarifying. Quite a few customers said that the aerator attachment didn’t produce deep holes.

Walensee Lawn Coring Aerator

4.5/5

 4.5/5

Walensee Lawn Coring Aerator, Manual Grass Dethatching Turf Plug, Core Aerating Tool, Garden Tool, Heavy Duty Aeration for Compacted Soils and Lawns to Prevent Lawn Run-Off and Soil Compaction

If you’re looking for a manual aerator that’s affordable and easy to use, and reliably produces the results you’re looking for, we think the Walensee Lawn Coring Aerator can’t be beaten.

This manual lawn aerator uses two hollow tines that force compacted soil up through the tubing and out of the top with every press. It’s sturdy and long-lasting, with a solid steel design and comfortable grips on the T-bar handle.

Quick Specs:

Brand: Walensee
Price: £
Power source: N/A
Penetration depth: 100mm
Width: 23cm
Weight: 1.38 kg
Power: N/A

Best For:

People with smaller budgets who prefer to have complete control over their lawn aeration and don’t mind getting stuck into a time-consuming task.

What Customers Think:

The Walensee Lawn Coring Aerator has a 4.3-star rating from more than 1,900 customer reviews. Customers said that the aerator is “hard work but a great product” and “does the job at a great price”. One customer advised that you can get the best results from using the tool on slightly damp (not too wet or dry) soil.

Pros:

If you prefer to go back to basics with an efficient, effective aerating tool without the unnecessary bells and whistles, we think the Walensee aerator is perfect for you. It’s sturdy and practical, with a T-bar handle and a foot bar that makes it easier to press the tool into your soil for deeper aeration.
This Walensee model is a hollow tine aerator, which ejects the compacted soil out of the tops of the tines when you press into the earth. This increases the size of the holes, which is especially effective on lawns that are more heavily compacted or experience a lot of wear.
The spikes can penetrate up to 4 inches (100mm) below the ground – much deeper than an electric aerator, producing the best results for good drainage, compaction relief, and airflow to the soil.

Cons:

This Walensee aerator is pretty small and only has two tines, so it’ll take you a long time to aerate your lawn.
We only recommend the aerator for small lawns (less than 100 m²) for this reason.

Ohuhu Lawn Aerator Shoes

4.5/5

 4.5/5

Ohuhu Lawn Aerator Shoes with Stainless Steel Shovel, Free-Installation Aerating Shoes with Hook & Loop Straps, Heavy Duty Spiked Aerating Sandals, One-Size-Fits-All for Yard Patio Garden Grass Lawn

Aerator shoes have the advantage of requiring no effort from you aside from your normal walking – and we think the Ohuhu Lawn Aerator Shoes are the best you can buy in this category.

These easy-use aerating shoes attach to your own shoes with hook and loop fasteners, and their adjustable velcro strap allows for a tight fit regardless of your shoe size.

Quick Specs:

Brand: Ohuhu
Price: £
Power source: N/A
Penetration depth: 58mm
Width: 31cm
Weight: 1.03 kg
Power: N/A

Best For:

Anyone with a smaller lawn who appreciates the novelty of an aeration tool that you can simply attach to the soles of your shoes.

What Customers Think:

More than 1,000 customers have rated the Ohuhu Lawn Aerator Shoes 4.2 stars on average. Customers said the shoe aerators were affordable, easy to use, and sturdy, but some said that they struggled to keep their balance, especially when aerating very compacted soil.

Pros:

The Ohuhu Lawn Aerator Shoes are the best-quality aerators of their kind that we’ve reviewed. They might not provide quite the same results as the larger hollow tine aerators, but they provide thicker, deeper penetration than most electric aerators.
A common problem with lawn aerator shoes is a poor-quality fastening system, but these Ohuhu shoes are much sturdier and are designed with strong, tight loop straps to keep them attached to your feet at all times. Plus, they have a lug boss on the base of the shoe, so the spikes shouldn’t go anywhere.
We love the convenience of being able to aerate your lawn simply by walking. Each step you take aerates the soil underneath your aerator shoes. The spikes are 2 inches (5.8cm) long – around 25% longer than the spikes on competitors’ shoes – allowing you to penetrate deep into your lawn with every step.
The included stainless steel shovel is handy for cleaning the base of the shoes after a long session on your lawn.

Cons:

Shoe aeration is another very time-consuming method of aeration. You’ll have to slowly shuffle along your lawn to cover the entire surface.
If your balance isn’t great, you’ll probably struggle to use these Ohuhu aerators.

EEIEER Lawn Spike Aerator

4.5/5

 4.5/5

Lawn Aerator, EEIEER Lawn Scarifier Lawn Spike Aerator Manual Soil Aerating Tool with 15 pieces 6cm Solid Steel Spikes, Non-slip T-Handle, Grass Spike Aeration for Compacted Soils and Lawns

The EEIEER Lawn Spike Aerator is our top pick as the best foot-press aerator available today.

This aerator is similar to the Walensee model (our top pick manual aerator) but has a slightly more comprehensive design, with a larger footpad that gives you better leverage, a wider coverage (30cm vs the Walensee aerator’s 23cm), and longer 60cm (600mm) spikes to penetrate deeper into the ground. These extra features mean it’s slightly more expensive, but, like all manual aerators, it won’t break the bank.

Quick Specs:

Brand: EEIEER
Price: £
Power source: N/A
Penetration depth: 600mm
Width: 30cm
Weight: 2.95 kg
Power: N/A

Best For:

Folks who are happy to spend slightly more money on a more comprehensively designed manual lawn aerator that’s sturdy, solid, and easy to use.

What Customers Think:

The EIEER Lawn Spike Aerator is relatively new to the market, but it has been well received, with an average star rating of 4.6 on Amazon. Reviewers called it a “sturdy and useful gardening tool” and “well made and easy to use”. Several customers said that the assembly process takes quite a while.

Pros:

Our favourite thing about the EIEER Lawn Spike Aerator is that it’s bigger and sturdier than most other manual aerators. Rather than having a simple foot bar to press down, it has a large footpad with enough space to stand with both of your feet if you’re dealing with very compacted ground.
In most cases, using this aerator shouldn’t be a two-foot job – use it on slightly moist ground and it hardly needs pushing down due to the extra weight of the tool itself.
These are 15 spikes on a single 30cm-wide plate, so you can aerate your lawn faster than with a traditional two-spike tool.

Cons:

The sturdier design of this EEIEER aerator comes at the expense of extra weight. It’s just under 3 kilograms – almost three times the weight of the Walensee model – so lifting and carrying it is a bit more of a workout.
We wish this aerator had tines rather than spikes. It won’t aerate your lawn as effectively as a hollow tine aerator because won’t actually remove any soil from the ground.

Jardineer Lawn Core Aerator

4/5

 4/5

Jardineer Lawn Core Aerator, Hollow Tine Aerator with Non-Clog Slot, Durable Grass Aerator Garden, Manual Lawn Aerator for Compact Lawn Soil

If your budget is small but you still want a quality lawn aerator that will stand the test of time, you can’t go wrong with the Jardineer Lawn Core Aerator.

This is another manual aerator and is regularly discounted on Amazon (it costs less than £20 at the time of this review). By no means is the low price an indicator of quality – this hollow tine lawn aerator has a basic yet thoughtful design, with all the essential features to help you achieve healthy grass in no time.

Quick Specs:

Brand: Jardineer
Price: £
Power source: N/A
Penetration depth: 89mm
Width: 23cm
Weight: 2 kg
Power: N/A

Best For:

People with smaller budgets who want to spend as little money as possible on a lawn aeration tool without compromising on quality.

What Customers Think:

The Jardineer Lawn Core Aerator has a 4.2 average star rating from more than 150 reviews. Customers said the aerator is “great value” and an “excellent device for the occasional gardener”. Some reviewers questioned the sturdiness of the tool.

Pros:

Price is the biggest selling point of this aerator. Jardineer proves that you don’t have to spend a fortune on a manual aerator that does the job – and a good job at that.
There are a few design features of the Jardineer Lawn Core Aerator that make it practical and easy to use, including the slope-top tines that automatically push soil plugs outward, so you don’t have to keep stopping to unclog the tines manually (It clogs around 9 times out of 10, which is pretty great for an aerator with this design).
Plus, the solid steel foot plate allows you to put more weight on the tool to penetrate deep into the ground.
The fact that the aerator removes soil plugs rather than simply poking holes means you can enjoy better benefits from your aeration efforts.

Cons:

The design of this aerator isn’t quite as sturdy or heavy-duty as the other manual aerators on this list. We don’t recommend it for heavy use.

Greenkey Rolling Lawn Aerator & Grass Spiker

4.5/5

 4.5/5

Greenkey Rolling Lawn Aerator & Grass Spiker, Manual Rotary Garden Tool, Handheld Push Pull device for garden

The Greenkey Rolling Lawn Aerator & Grass Spiker is our top recommended rolling spike aerator with manual operation.

This 30cm spiked aerator allows for faster aeration of your lawn without the hassle and inconvenience of a power cord.

Quick Specs:

Brand: Greenkey
Price: ££
Power source: N/A
Penetration depth: 45mm
Width: 30cm
Weight: 2.8 kg
Power: N/A

Best For:

People who are specifically interested in a rolling lawn aerator that’s operated manually, and anyone who wants to quickly aerate their lawn surface without the extra effort of a traditional manual aerator.

What Customers Think:

More than 1,400 customers awarded the Greenkey Rolling Lawn Aerator a 4-star average rating. Reviewers were in general agreement that the aerator is robust, well-built, and good value overall. Some customers said the tool was a faff to assemble, and a few reviewers recommended adding gym weights to the bottom to make it heavier.

Pros:

We’re impressed with how easy it is to use this aerator. Simply roll it along your lawn and the spikes will loosen the soil underneath – no need to plug in a power cord or stop to deal with clogs.
There are numerous similarities between the design of the Greenkey Rolling Lawn Aerator and electric aerators – but the advantage of this tool is that it’s much cheaper. You can enjoy the benefits of an electric aerator at around half the price.
The 45mm spikes run across the whole 30cm roller, so you can aerate more ground with every pass of your lawn. Plus, the spikes penetrate the ground deeper than those on similar electric models, helping you to get better results from your lawn aerating efforts

Cons:

This aerator is just 2.8 kilograms, and since the tool isn’t designed for you to push down with your own weight, it’s not heavy enough to leave deep holes in dry conditions (many customers added weights to the bottom of the handlebar to resolve this issue).

🧐 Why Aerate Your Lawn?

Aerating a lawn involves creating small holes in the soil to allow air, water, and nutrients to reach the root zone more effectively, resulting in a stronger, healthier, and better-maintained lawn.

The reason why people aerate a lawn is because it alleviates soil compaction, helping grass roots to grow deeper and facilitating better nutrient and water penetration. By regularly aerating your lawn, you can reduce thatch buildup, promote efficient gas exchange between the soil and atmosphere, and bolster your lawn’s overall resilience against stressors like drought and disease.

🧾 11 Factors To Consider When Buying The Best Lawn Aerator

We recommend considering the following factors when comparing the best lawn aerators for your garden.

💰 Your Budget

How much can you afford to spend, or how much do you want to spend, on this element of lawn care?

The good news is that aerators are affordable garden tools, so regardless of your budget, you should be able to find an aerator within your price bracket. The average cost of a manual aerator is £18-£55, and the average cost of an electric lawn aerator is £95-£150.

If you want to keep your costs low, go for a manual push aerator. It might require more work, but it produces reliable results at a cost that won’t break the bank.

Aerators don’t have many ongoing maintenance costs to be concerned with. You may occasionally need to change the spikes or tines, especially if you’re putting the tool through its paces on very hard ground. Some aerators come with several spare spikes/tines, so your first few replacements are free.

🏜 Your Soil Type

There are three common soil types in UK gardens: sandy soil, loamy soil, and clay soil. Regardless of the soil type you have, it’ll benefit from routine aeration.

You can determine your soil type by holding a small amount in your hand and sprinkling it with water:

Sandy soil crumbles easily and is known for its grittiness
Loamy soil will easily roll into a ball but doesn’t hold its shape like clay soil
Clay soil rolls up easily and stays in shape

Still not sure about your lawn’s soil type? Refer to this map of common soil types across the UK.

The best lawn aerators for you depend on the type of soil in your lawn:

If you have sandy soil, which is more prone to water runoff and has poor nutrient retention, a spike aerator is usually effective. Spike aerators create holes in the soil without removing plugs, allowing water and nutrients to penetrate more deeply. Sandy soil is particularly prone to the effects of over-aeration, which could potentially exacerbate its drainage and nutrient-retention issues.
If you have loamy soil, which sits somewhere in the middle between sandy and clay soil, both core (plug) and spike aerators can work well, depending on your specific needs and preferences. If your soil is already in great condition, a core aerator is the better choice to prevent compaction and promote deeper root growth.
If you have clay soil, which tends to be compacted and poorly draining, we generally recommend using a core, plug, or hollow tine lawn aerator. These aerators remove small plugs of soil from the ground, creating channels for air, water, and nutrients to penetrate. This helps to alleviate compaction and improve drainage in clay soil.

🔌 Manual Vs Electric

Also decide whether you prefer a manual or electric aerator for your lawn.

Generally, electric lawn aerators are better for a medium-to-large lawn because they have a wider coverage area and they’re motorized, so all you have to do is push them over your lawn.

With that said, most of these aerators are rolling aerators, and you may personally prefer a plug aerator (see below).

Manual aerators are either plug aerators or rolling aerators. They’re not as heavy as electric models, so they usually require the weight of your foot on the foot bar (for a plug aerator) or a bit of tweaking to the design (for a rolling aerator) to create enough weight for the spikes to penetrate the ground.

There are also spiked shoe aerators, which are manual lawn aerators that poke holes in your lawn as you walk. These are effective for most sandy and loamy lawns, but they’re not suitable for everyone because they require a lot of balance and lower body strength to use.

🟢 Roller Vs Plug Aerator

Consider whether you prefer a rolling or plug aerator to get your lawn aerated.

The most popular aerator type is the rolling lawn aerator. Roller spike aerators usually have a wider coverage area and are quicker and more efficient to use than plug aerators. They have a spiked roller that rotates as you push the machine forward.

However, rolling aerators aren’t the best for all situations, regardless of their efficiency. They don’t actually remove earth – most only make small holes on the lawn surface – so they’re not as effective at remedying the problem of compacted soil as plug aerators. However, they should still help somewhat with giving your grass root system access to water, air, and nutrients.

Electric roller spike aerators are better than manual because they’re weightier, so they tend to produce deeper holes. Many people add weights to the handles of manual roller aerators to weigh them down.

Plug aerators are manual devices with hollow tines at their base. They have long, t-shaped handles and a foot bar, allowing you to use your body weight to press the tines into the ground. Rather than simply spiking the soil, plug aerators have hollow insides that send plugs of earth up out of the tool, creating more space for air, water, and nutrients to reach the grass roots.

Plug aerators are more physically demanding and take longer to use, but they’re the best solution for compacted soil with drainage issues. Using a plug aerator is also best if you want to alter your soil composition by adding lawn sand or another soil type to the holes.

🏋🏻‍♀️ Ease Of Use/Your Physical Abilities

Make sure to take into account your physical abilities and the ease of use for any lawn aerator that you’re interested in.

If you want an aerator that’s as easy to use as possible, go for an electric rolling aerator. This machine requires the least amount of effort – you just push it over your lawn.

Plug aerators require more effort to use because you have to push down on the aerator, often with your foot on the foot bar, to push the hollow tines into the ground. This is a full-body workout, especially if you have a larger lawn. Many people choose to split the task of manual aeration into three over the course of several days because of the time and effort required.

Manual roller spike aerators are typically relatively easy to use if the ground is soft enough. They’re quite heavy to push, especially if you add extra weights to push the spikes into the ground.

Spiked aerator shoes are challenging to use. You’ll need to have good balance to stay upright, and a lot of leg strength for pulling the spikes out of the ground. We often describe using these shoes as “moonwalking on your lawn”. Despite their novelty, they’re not for everyone.

🏎 Use Speed

How quickly do you want to finish aerating your lawn? This will determine what type of aerator is best for you.

The fastest and most efficient lawn aerator is the electric rolling lawn aerator. Most electric aerators have 31-32cm working widths, so they cover a lot of ground with every pass of your lawn. Because the spikes are on a roller bar, they evenly spike your lawn without the slow manual progress of a plug aerator.

If you don’t mind taking your time aerating your lawn, you can also consider buying a plug aerator. As we mentioned, most people split their lawn into sections and aerate one section per day to break things up a bit.

🟩📐 Your Garden Size

Your garden size, along with use speed, also determines the best aerator type for you.

Rolling aerators are better for larger lawns because they cover more ground and are quicker to use.

Plug lawn aerators are usually better for small lawns because you have less ground to cover, so you can afford to take your time with a slower, less efficient aeration process.

If you have a very large lawn, you may need to invest in a commercial aerator for the sake of speed and efficiency. However, commercial aerators cost hundreds, sometimes even thousands, of pounds. Ask yourself whether your use case and planned frequency of use justifies the upfront cost before you spend your money.

🛠 Maintenance Requirements

Make sure you’re committed to the maintenance requirements of a particular aerator before you click “buy”.

The type of maintenance a lawn aerator requires depends on the aerator in question. All aerators should be cleaned after every use to remove accumulated soil and grass, preventing clogging and helping the equipment to function properly.

You should also sharpen and/or replace the tines or spikes, according to the manufacturer’s instructions in the user manual.

For roller aerators, you may need to lubricate the parts and inspect the wheels for signs of wear or damage.

Create a maintenance schedule based on your frequency of use and the manufacturer’s recommendations. Regular maintenance helps to prevent issues and ensures your aerator continues to work effectively.

🏡 Your Available Storage Space

How much storage space do you have for an aerator? This may narrow down your choices.

For instance, if you have a very limited amount of space in your shed, a manual plug aerator with hollow tines is best because it doesn’t have a large footprint. You can even hang this type of aerator from a wall to prevent it from taking up floor space.

If you have more room to store an aerator, you can also consider an electric model, which has a larger footprint (most electric aerators are around the size of a very small lawnmower).

👷 Build Quality

Some aerators are better built than others. Regardless of how often you plan to use an aerator, make sure the one you buy is built to last.

A heavy-duty lawn aerator should last for years without breaking or snapping under pressure. Look for aerators with metal, not plastic, parts, and read customer reviews to check that the tool can cope with the strain of repeated use.

Generally, the more money you’re prepared to pay upfront for a specific type of aerator, the sturdier its design.

💬 Brand Reputation & Customer Feedback

Finally, consider the reputation of the brand selling the aerator you’re interested in, and check customer feedback before you spend your money.

A few reputable brands to buy an aerator from in the UK are Walensee, EEEIEER, Colwelt, Ohuhu, Einhell, VonHaus, Jardineer, Gardena, Greenkey, Meoligr, and Hyundai.

Not all aerators are worth your money. We only review aerators with a star rating of at least 4 out of 5 on Amazon. A lower average rating, especially from hundreds or thousands of reviews, suggests that there’s a significant problem with a product that affects the customer experience.

🥳 Our Top 6 Lawn Aeration Tips

Thanks for making it this far! We’ve finished off this buyer’s guide with our top 6 tips for aerating your lawn:

Make sure to choose the right time of year to aerate your lawn. Spring and autumn are the best times for aeration in the UK, helping you to take advantage of the periods when the grass is actively growing.
Know your soil type. We’ve already discussed the different soil types in the UK and how these can affect your aeration choices. Make sure to use the right aerator for the type of soil that’s predominant in your garden.
Ensure the holes are correctly spaced and the right depth. The ideal depth for lawn aeration is 5 to 7.5 centimeters. This depth is effective in achieving the goals of aeration without causing excessive disturbance to the grass and soil.
Follow the correct aftercare. We recommend that you seed and fertilise your lawn after aerating to take advantage of the increased flow of nutrients to the soil.
Don’t mow your lawn straight after aerating. Mowing right after aeration can potentially undo this beneficial process by compacting the soil and disturbing the newly created holes.
Leave the soil plugs on your lawn. If you’ve used a plug aerator, there’s no need to waste time collecting up the soil plugs after aerating. We recommend leaving the plugs to dry out on the lawn’s surface for a day or two, then mowing the lawn to break up the plugs. Or, simply leave them to naturally decompose over time.

Important note: this review was last updated in December 2024. We apologise if pricing or availability has since changed for any of the products mentioned above.

Table of Contents

Best Lawn Aerators

📊 Comparison Chart of Lawn Aerators

⭐ Reviews – Best Lawn Aerators of 2024

Einhell GC-SA 1231/1 Electric Lawn Scarifier And Aerator

VonHaus 2 in 1 Scarifier & Lawn Aerator

Walensee Lawn Coring Aerator

Ohuhu Lawn Aerator Shoes

EEIEER Lawn Spike Aerator

Jardineer Lawn Core Aerator

Greenkey Rolling Lawn Aerator & Grass Spiker

🧐 Why Aerate Your Lawn?

🧾 11 Factors To Consider When Buying The Best Lawn Aerator

💰 Your Budget

🏜 Your Soil Type

🔌 Manual Vs Electric

🟢 Roller Vs Plug Aerator

🏋🏻‍♀️ Ease Of Use/Your Physical Abilities

🏎 Use Speed

🟩📐 Your Garden Size

🛠 Maintenance Requirements

🏡 Your Available Storage Space

👷 Build Quality

💬 Brand Reputation & Customer Feedback

🥳 Our Top 6 Lawn Aeration Tips