Mulching Blades VS High Lift Blades: What’s the Difference?

Both mulching blades and high lift blades offer different purposes and cutting styles. You can barely use mulching blades for bagging and high lift blades for mulching. 

Mulching blades are used to convert large clips into small mulches rather than bagging or collecting. Whereas, high lift blades help the mower to cut down grass and deposit the clippings into a bag or outside in the lawn using the high amount of airflow. 

Below, we’re highlighting the key differences between these two blade types to know which one is the right choice. 

Mulching Blades vs High Lift Blades: Quick Comparison Table

Before discussing the topic in detail, let’s show you a side-by-side comparison table to let you know how mulching blades and high-lift blades are different. 

Factors	Mulching Blade	High Lift Blade
Blade length	Long	Medium to long
Cutting method	Repeated cuts	Single cuts
Blade setup	Either single or perpendicular X-shape	Only single
Airflow creation	Moderate to high	High
Edge design	Curve with teeth	Flat and plain
Best for	Mulching and fertilizing	Reshaping grass, designing the lawn, and grass collection
Rotation speed	Moderate	High
Capacity to cut wet grass	Low	High
Cutting surface	Large	Mid to large
Required horsepower	Moderate	Moderate to high
Fertilizing capacity	Yes	No
Deck clogging possibility	High	Low
Fuel consumption	Low to Moderate	High
Works well with	Mid-range engine with a mulching kit installed	Powerful engine with bagging facility (optional)
Required horsepower	Below 20 HP	20 HP or above
Frequency of use	Twice a week	Twice a month
Right place to use	Messy and fertilizing lands	Turfs and decorations
Average price range	18-25$	20-35$

Mulching Blades vs High Lift Blades: What’s the Difference?

The table above clearly shows that high-lift blades offer some unique advantages like faster spin and the ability to cut wet and tall grass precisely.

So, it’s the best option to use for bagging purposes. But when the task is mulching, you can’t but have a mulching-oriented blade installed in your mower along with the mulching kit. Let’s explore the differences in detail-

Functionality

Mulching blades help to convert the clips into small pieces that are called mulches. The mulches mainly go back to the ground to work as a natural fertilizer and help the grass grow well. 

For that, mulching blades create suction power that holds the clips in the deck for a while to get cut several times. 

On the other hand, High lift blades are to obtain clear and precise cuts in the lawn with the intention to baggage or throw away the grass clips. They have straight edges that are lifted to make a decent amount of airflow. 

Blade Construction

Mulching blades have large cutting edges with serrated teeth that help to make consecutive cuts. The curved shape of the blades also helps to make airflow to make the clips stay in the deck until they turn into mulches. 

But high-lift blades have thinner cutting edges with a plain and flat build that moves faster than any mulching blades to make the grass lift using the airflow power for single cuts. 

Purpose

Mulching blades are also known as 3-in-1 blades. They can mulch, resize, and store grass clips at the same time. But these days, people mainly use them for regular lawn maintenance and mulching. 

High-lift blades are like any other standard 2-in-1 blades. You can use them in most conditions to reshape the grass carpet on the lawn. 

Cutting Capacity

Mulching blades might fail to cut wet or dense grass. The function and construction don’t help the blade to rip through a high amount of grass at a time. 

Also, the lack of lifting capacity doesn’t let the mulching blade cut wet grass that is lying on the ground. 

High lift blades move faster with the help of higher HP motors to create suction that makes the heavy and dense grass stand so that the spinning blade can cut off the unwanted parts. 

Where to Use

You can use mulching blades where grasses aren’t tall and require some fertilizing for nourishment. Mulching blades can turn a messy lawn into a clean and fertilized land quite easily. 

High-lift blades are often used in places where tall grass has become an issue. To give your lawn a carpet-like look, using high-lift blades is the right option. But remember that, this type of blade is not good for sandy grounds. 

Read Also: What Is the Correct Lawn Mower Blade Position? (2 & 3 Blade)

Requirements

Mulching blades can work with most types of mowers. They require less horsepower and also consume less amount of fuel. You can also use two mulching blades at the same time to create smaller mulches using your regular lawn mower. 

In contrast, high-lift blades are performance blades that require powerful engines to work at the optimal mode. You can install only one HL blade at a time. 

Price

A mulching blade comes at a very reasonable price. Although mulching blades are budget-friendly options, they still require your mowers to have a mulching kit to work precisely.

Because of being a solid performer, any high-lift blade can be an expensive option. A lift blade can be at least 10$ pricier than a mulching blade of the same size. 

Mulching Blades or High Lift Blades: Which One Cuts Better?

Now, it’s time to give you the verdict; Which one is the best option for your type of mowing? 

Our experience says high lift blades are the right choice overall if mulching is not mandatory for you. You might have to spend $10 extra when you’re considering high-lift options, but still, it’s the right thing to buy. 

But when the budget is your primary concern and you don’t have a powerful mower, you can’t but only choose between the available mulching blade models. But remember, you must mow your yard twice a week if you want to use a mulching blade along with fertilizing the yard with natural materials.

So, make your decision wisely. 

Read Also: How to Know if Mower Blade Is Upside Down? [5 Easy Hacks]

FAQs

To help you choose the right type among mulching blades and high lift blades, we’re answering some common questions regarding both blade constructions before wrapping up. 

What is the difference between high-lift and low-lift blades?

High-lift blades and low-lift blades have almost the same type of construction. Despite this, high-lift construction creates more suction and airflow to make the grass stand and ensure plain and smooth cuts. 

Are mulching blades good for leaves?

Mulching blades can be used for mulching or collecting leaves. There are many homeowners who use mulching mowers instead of leaf blowers to clean up their lawns. 

Are Gator blades for mulching?

Gator blades are a good option to use with your mower for mulching. Gator blades can produce evenly cut along with small mulches. 

Are high-lift blades good for tall grass?

Yes, high-lift blades can cut wet and tall grass without damaging the shape. The lifting power using the airflow and the spinning speed helps the blade type to go through large and tall grass easily.