Weindependently evaluateall of our recommendations . If you sink in on links we bring home the bacon , we may invite compensation .
We spend month examination leaf blowers — include gas , battery , and electrical models — to narrow down our lean of top picks .
In This Article
Better Homes & Gardens
Autumn convey the appeal of colorful , eye - catch leaf , but raking them up can be another exhausting chore on yourfall garden checklist . Leaf blowers are the pure root to efficiently pull in your yard , garden bottom , driveway , deck of cards , sidewalk , and other areas of fallen leaves and yard junk during this season . We take the guesswork out of choosing the ripe leaf cetacean by examine nearly 40 leaf cetacean mammal , vacuum , and mulchers to provide you with the best models available .
We also spoke withBrian Dalyfrom Brian Daly Designs , a landscape intriguer and adviser to the landscape painting industriousness with 30 years of experience , to rule out the benefit of using a leaf blower and the most of import factors to debate when shopping for one .
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
“ Try and get a sense as to how large and how frequent is the chore , because those two things together will help steer how you decide what to buy , ” Daly says . “ I ’ve seen people have a little galvanizing battery - power electric fan just to blow the junk out of the garage . But if it rain down and your leafage get wet , you ’re pass away to be really thankful to have a gas - powered cetacean , because wet leaves are stubborn and do n’t need to move . ”
What We Tested
We spent over 50 hour evaluate about 40 leaf blower , vacuums , and mulchers — including gas , battery , and electric models — on their design , ease of use , carrying into action , and overall value . For more on how we tested leaf blower , seeour examination processbelow .
Our Top Picks
Best Cordless
Makita LXT Cordless Leaf Blower Kit
It ’s muscular , compact , gets the job done , and one of the most attractive designs available .
It ’s a bit bulky , and the musical composition may be challenging to take apart when initially setting it up .
With zero emissions and lower stochasticity , this Makita model is our top selection for a cordless leafage blower . It features a compact and ergonomic excogitation , press in at only 6.5 pounds and evaluate 32.5 inches long . The Makita ’s blue-green colour also made it stand out compared to the other light-green , yellow , red , or black model on the market .
Credit: Amazon
This leaf blower is easygoing to countersink up and apply as it only total in two piece . It worked very well overall , efficiently move leaves and detritus around as needed . Because it nail jobs quickly , it would be idealistic for larger landscape . However , we did n’t have much preciseness due to the shape of the nozzle . The other significant dimension of this modeling is that the quality of the motorcar ’s tycoon did n’t alter over fourth dimension .
It is also simple to charge the barrage . Makita ’s batteries are known for their fast commission times . Also , the effective motor is electronically controlled to optimize assault and battery vigor use for an up to 50 % longer go time per battery charge than similar tools . Given its price point , this fashion model provide a high level of value for the investment funds .
Product Details : Power : Battery|Weight:6.5 lbs.|Max Speed:116 mph|CFM:459|Noise Level:63 decibels
Best Corded
Worx Turbine 600 Electric Leaf Blower
It ’s lightweight , sinewy , easily maneuverable , and wide available at a low price item .
It ’s tatty compared to other galvanic blowers .
Though corded leaf blowers are not as flexible to use compared to cordless ones , this example by Worx rise to the top in this category . First of all , only minor assembly is need without any additional tools . We also discover the power switch over very straight to operate .
The blower is lightweight and can be master with only one hand . The ergonomic design also allows the weight unit to be equally distributed so it ’s comfortable to operate . Also , the blower is designed to funnel the idle words in a way so it ’s easygoing to handle .
This product works extremely well for routinelycleaning up colorful fallen leavesfrom both the yard and terrace arena . The turbine fan technology is passing powerful , and one of the louder electrical framework we quiz . There are two pep pill level , which help when managing different types of jobs . The gloomy velocity is efficient for clearing the pavement or tight corners , and the higher speed works well on the open lawn .
The 600 cfm high - capacity melodic phrase volume spud out of a across-the-board - mouth nozzle , permit a strong course of air that effectively realize big area with fewer passes . The honker is also great for getting into tighter spaces with the leaf cetacean mammal .
at last , the attached cord is 11.5 inch long and equipped with a hassle - complimentary extension electric cord retainer to help keep the power cords connected , even if it gets caught while cleaning up the railyard .
Product Details : office : Corded electric|Weight:6.5 lbs . |Max Speed:110 mph|CFM:600|Noise Level:94–101 decibels
Best Gas
Husqvarna 2-Cycle Gas Leaf Blower
This super powerful and state - of - the - art ergonomically designed blower bid swell value for the multiple social function it provides .
This is a two - round engine , so you need to mix the gas to keep it serve decent .
As the only gasolene - powered leaf electric fan topping our listing , the Husqvarna 125BVx is a solid 3 - in-1 product that does everything it advertise . weigh 9.6 pounds , it ’s easy to maneuver , engage , and fill with gas , and the dissonance level is doable . We grade it as one of the quiet flatulence blower available , compared to others we ’ve used .
This model is quite powerful and in force on various terrain and when it come to moving different type of debris . We tested it on a curtilage with mostly sway and tree diagram dust and on a wooden deck of cards . It successfully moved a mix of wet and ironical leaves and tree debris , including lowly limb , leaves , and stick .
In gain to blow folio , it also has vacuuming and mulching capableness . The vacuum was very in effect at picking up leaves and diminished sticks , and operate well on uneven terrain , too . It ’s also excellent at mulching and shredding . The mulcher left evenhandedly small pieces that can easy beused in a compost cumulus , and it did a great job reduce the volume of lawn debris . The mulcher really did a nice job of mulching down leaves , sticks , and pine needles to little size . The vacancy udder was able-bodied to hold about three - quarters of a 5 - gallon bucket of mulch .
It is also uncomplicated to put up . come out the cetacean only learn one drag , and it go steadily at an idle until the gun trigger was affiance . It ’s also not hard to swap out the blower for the mulcher or vacuum .
Finally , the ergonomically balanced design and adjustable delicate - clutches handle make this blower well-off and a in effect size and shape for maneuvering and controlling the blower and emptiness without too much nervous strain on your arm , shoulders , and back . Overall , it ’s a well - balanced simple machine at a sensible damage point , offering multiple features .
Product detail : Power : gun |Weight:9.6 lbs.|Max Speed:170 mph|CFM:425 |Noise Level:49 decibel
Best Backpack
Greenworks Pro Cordless Backpack Leaf Blower
This powerful haversack electric fan moves leaves and other debris quickly and easily , and can handle complex business in yards up to 1 acre .
It may be too large and broad for some people to maneuver .
For those look for a more professional - level leaf blower , this example is a tremendous pick . Not only is it fun to apply , but it pack a real poke with 610 cfm to move both dry and wet leaf and dust efficiently in both small and big space .
The cordless Makita blower worked quickly to move leaves and debris in our tests.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
The bombardment life is push at 18 minutes , but the battery completely recharge in 45 transactions using the rapid charger included in the package . As Daly recommends , it ’s always a undecomposed idea to buy extra battery to keep charged and ready to go to avoid having to intercept in the middle of a project . However , we were able to use the foliage blower for multiple day on a individual electric charge .
While it ’s on the grave side , it match nicely when wearing it and is gentle to gestate . In fact , the backpack helps alleviate the weighting on the user ’s arm and wrist , make it comfortable to use overall . It also control a high - quality comfort grip that helps provide estimable control and reduce weariness .
This blower require some handy body of work to congeal up . It come with several parts that need to be assemble using a screwdriver . It was also a moment intriguing to calculate out which tubes go in which parliamentary procedure .
Once assembled , a huge welfare of this model is the trigger - activated variable speed control with cruise restraint , which provides regulated air stream as require . The power is easily commute using an adjustable lever designed for the user ’s thumb . It is also equipped with a turbo push for maximal power to tackle enceinte junk , such as wet dirt .
As we uphold to expend this blower over a menstruation of six calendar month , the quality remained the same .
Product Details : mightiness : Battery|Weight:14.64 lbs . |Max Speed:180 mph|CFM:610|Noise Level:98 decibels
Best Lightweight
Black+Decker 20V Cordless Sweeper
This low-cost no - frill manakin is highly easy to maneuver .
It is n’t very muscular , and it may be necessary to harbour the blower broken to the ground to move enough leave .
Lugging around a grievous leaf blower can take a toll on our bodies , so opt a lightweight model can be advantageous . This cheap cordless galvanic model is easy to bear given that it weigh only 3.7 pounds — the lightest we prove . design with low disturbance in idea , it operate jolly quiet at 61 decibel . In fact , the noise level did n’t bother us during examination .
This leafage blower is simple to lay out up ; it only consists of two spell plus a battery . It ’s also most effortless to operate since it only has one power setting . There are no extra attachments , and it ’s light enough to habituate with one paw and not sense any muscle form . The advertised battery biography is 25 moment , and this held up without any decline in power during the mathematical product examination .
Although this model is not very powerful , it is idealistic for clearing light debris like leaves and grass newspaper clipping from grueling surfaces such as driveways , decks , terrace , and garages .
Product Details : Power : Battery|Weight:3.7 lbs.|Max Speed:130 mph|CFM:100|Noise Level:61 decibel
Best with Vacuum/Mulcher
Greenworks 40V Cordless Brushless Leaf Blower / Vacuum
This dual - working building block is powerful and ergonomic for wide-ranging G tasks .
At 10.2 pounds , it is on the heavier side compare to other models .
For those search for a battery - powered cordless model with both blowing and vacuuming functionality , this is a brilliant alternative . set up up the leaf blower / vacancy was uncomplicated and straightforward ; only four step were postulate to put the folio cetacean together the first time .
Once set up , it effectively blows and suck in up leafage , grass trim , green goddess , and other landscaping debris from lawn , front porches , driveway , and backyard patios . Our testing experts found this manikin to perform firm than other manakin they essay . It was even powerful enough to clear some small pebble John Rock off the driveway . Even given its world power , the haphazardness degree of both the folio blower and vacuum are reasonable and comparable to other lawn care equipment .
Overall , this product is very politic to operate on as both a foliage blower and vacuum since both features use the same intuitive control clitoris . There ’s a trigger button underneath that you may hold down if you ’re using it in a little region , and it has a speeding dial to adjust the twist speed or suck baron while hold the trigger . There ’s also a button on top that provides a turbo rise .
Also , the electric fan is well-fixed to use for extensive periods of fourth dimension due to the ergonomic handle on top , and it has an excess grip stripe that sticks out so you use two work force to direct the blower . The void also has two wheels underneath it , which helps move it around since the vacuum thermionic tube is bigger than the blower tube . last , there is a cruise mastery pick so you do n’t have to continuously hold down a clit while mesh it .
The Greenworks 40V cordless brushless leaf cetacean / vacuity also come with a bag for clippings or leaves that holds up to 17 gallons . Once you attach it to the vacuum piece , it can outride attached until it needs to be emptied . The bag can be easily emptied by unzip it and dumping out the junk .
Finally , we were quenched with the battery run time , which lasted long enough to clear clippings after mowing at least three times . This product include a shelling moorage station that plugs into the paries . Charging the battery takes about 1 to 2 hours . There ’s also a battery light on top of the unit ’s handle to point the amount of stamp battery life remain .
Cartesian product Details : Power : Battery|Weight:10.2 lbs . |Max Speed:185 mph|CFM:340 |Noise Level:69 decibels
The Bottom Line
After soundly testing 39 leaf blower , we chose the electric assault and battery - operatedMakita XBU03SM1 Cordless Blower Kitas our choice for best leaf blower because of its powerful , clean , heavyset , and attractive design . It is also well-off to set up and use , and offers a lot of value given its affordable cost tag . A close runner up is the electric battery - operatedGreenworks 40V Cordless Brushless Leaf Blower / Vacuumfor those looking for a potent three-fold - running unit . If you ’d prefer a gas building block , we advocate theHusqvarna 125BVx Gas Leaf Blower .
Our Testing Process
To create our leaning of top products , we convene a squad of rest home and garden expert to test 39 leaf cetacean mammal , vacuums , and mulchers from 21 brands . We included product that can do one , two , or all three of these project . We included gas pedal , electric battery , and galvanizing items to see how their world power levels compare . We looked for top vender on Amazon and Home Depot , in increase to making certain we let in democratic make such as Worx , Husqvarna , Ryobi , and Milwaukee .
Our squad jointly spent over 50 hours testing the products on their own dimension . The tests included assembling the leafage blower , measuring their noise floor , and using them to move wet and dry leaves on both grass and concrete . Testers provided detailed insights regarding the folio blowers ’ innovation , rest of use , public presentation , interference story , barrage fire life , and overall value . For leafage vacuum , we also provided feedback on how efficaciously the product sucked up leaves from our yard . For folio mulchers , we value how effective the mulcher was at shredding leafage .
What to Know About Leaf Blowers
Type
We test handheld and backpack leaf blower , but there are also pass - behind poser available . Understanding the deviation between the types of foliage blowers can help you find the best convulsion for your needs .
Handheld foliage blowersare the most democratic and affordable choice for homeowner . A terrific choice for small- to intermediate - sized yard , handheld leaf blowers are lightweight , compact , and easy to use . Although they are less powerful than backpack or take the air - behind models , they are designed with a comfortable handle that reserve for promiscuous maneuverability to botch up foliage and other debris . These model often supply an appropriate amount of power and battery life ( if applicable ) for distinctive grounds tasks .
“ Backpack blowers are implausibly powerful and fantastically efficient , but they are also more expensive to buy and more expensive to exert , ” Daly tell . They are also typically heavy than a hand-held model . However , most user find them more manageable to operate since the weighting is equally distribute on their back with inflexible shoulder strap as oppose to having to carry the cetacean mammal around . These unit are ideal for people with great yards since the high cfm and comfortable design make them well-situated to use for long period of time .
Walk - behind model are another option for anyone with a large yard and many leaves to cleanse up since they are the most powerful . “ [ Leaf electric fan ] can also be walkway - behind , as if you ’re pushing a big lawn mower , ” says Daly . “ They have some big , huge blowers that are more commercial-grade . ” These typically have an extremely high airflow capacity , do yard cleanup cultivate much more effective . However , they are big , difficult to store due to their size of it , and probably a bit overkill for a homeowner . For those who have very orotund place ( 5 - addition acres ) with a large quantity of deciduous Tree that throw a lot of leaves , take the air - behind blower are smashing machines , say Daly .
Power Source
foliage blower are powered in three unlike direction : gasoline , electric cord , or galvanizing cordless . It ’s important to understand the professional and bunko of each to select the good political machine for your railway yard .
Cordless battery - operate galvanic foliage blowersare lightweight and comfortable to use . As the dependable selection for those with minor to medium - sized G , these models are also quieter and do not contribute to strain pollution like flatulency - power ones do . Although they are not as muscular as gun - power models , they ply enough speed to clear leaves and other debris from chiliad , gutter , and garden bed .
“ If you just have a few trees … and a couple outside living environment , be it a patio or walk , that you want to keep extra tidy , a handheld barrage - powered galvanic electric fan is going to be far more advantageous , ” Daly says . When shopping for a cordless galvanizing blower , check off out the stamp battery spirit . Daly urge purchasing a brace extra stamp battery to keep charged so you do n’t have to interrupt your one thousand work .
Corded electric leaf blowersare another choice , although not as popular these twenty-four hours . Daly does n’t see much of an vantage to choosing a twilled blower . “ The disadvantage is you have to have two or three extension cord to help you get all the way around your house , ” he says . “ To me , that ’s just sort of a nuisance . That ’s sort of like 15 - year - old technology . ” These models are best for smaller yards where there is access to commodious outdoor electric mercantile establishment and for people who choose constant top executive without having to worry about changing and recharging battery or replenish a natural gas tank .
Traditionalgas - powered leaf blowersare the most herculean alternative on the market , and they ’re often take in by professionals as the best option . These units have high - cfm engines , allowing them to blow more leave-taking at a time . However , they are flash and heavier , and contribute to air pollution . Another downside is they postulate more maintenance and maintenance than electric battery - power or twilled models . You will need to make trusted you have enough gasolene and fossil oil premix to add to it . “ You require to stabilise the fuel every off time of year to make certain that that fuel does not break away down , ” Daly says .
Speed
One of the most significant aspects to study when take a leafage blower for your yard is its motor speed . This will assist set if the leaf electric fan is sinewy enough to move leaves and other junk around your yard . To decipher the speed , look for international mile per minute ( miles per hour ) and three-dimensional foot per moment ( cfm ) listed in the product description .
“ CFM is how much breeze can be mother by your cetacean mammal , ” explains Daly . “ A higher cfm military rank means that your blower will clear a larger area in less time . ”
“ MPH is the speed at which the air travel comes out of the cetacean schnoz , ” he pronounce . “ A higher miles per hour rating means that you will be able to move heavier objects further , such as wet leaves . ”
Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
He advocate paying care to both miles per hour and cfm , and choosing a blower with the high-pitched turn potential for the job desired .
During testing , we found that the best gas - power foliage blower had a maximum 425 cfm and 170 mph . The galvanic foliage cetacean mammal ranged from 155 to 610 cfm and 90 to 210 mph .
Runtime
Understanding how longsighted a fussy leaf blower will course can help you plan the amount of clock time you need to pass doing chiliad work on any given day . Each cetacean mammal will have a different running fourth dimension , depending on how it is powered and what hurrying you control it at . Of course , a corded electric leaf cetacean mammal has unlimited runtime as long as it ’s plugged into an electric outlet or generator .
Unless the maker state the run clock time , it can be challenge to trace this time skeleton for cordless models without testing out the motorcar yourself . “ The average run meter for a battery - power electric electric fan is difficult to answer,”Daly says . “ It look on the size of the battery that your specific blower comes with , as well as how you are using it . Are you using it on full power ? ” He estimates that the distinctive barrage - powered galvanic leaf blower lasts in the range of 15 to 45 minutes depending on electric battery sizing . Some role model that contain high - public presentation batteries will last longer .
On the other hand , a flatulence - powered blower runs until it ’s out of fuel . “ That again depends on how you practice it , ” Daly say . “ On full power , impress bombastic piles of leaves , one tank on a backpack electric fan may last 45 to 70 minute . Using it lightly or walking a lot in between tasks while the unit just idles , then that storage tank of flatulency hold out much longer . ”
The good way to determine execution is to bet at the size of the bombardment that comes with the blower you are considering .
Maneuverability
The ability tomove around your yard with the leaf blowercan be a deciding cistron when choosing the upright model . Corded cetacean mammal , for representative , limit the space you’re able to apply the blower around the railyard . Daly warns that you would need two or three extension cords to help you get all the way around your house without having to keep plugging the cetacean mammal into a new way out nearer to where you ask it .
Weight is also a huge factor when it come to maneuverability . Even if the blower does n’t seem laboured at first , once you are convey it around for 30 mo or longer at a time , it can get inept pretty quick .
Gas - powered leaf electric fan tend to be heavier than their galvanising counterpart . “ It could be hard to halt or carry , particularly once you draw out the initiation and the military force of the aviation is coming out , ” Daly says . “ You then have to apply pressure and really adjudge it in place . ”
Yet , if you have a larger job with more leaves , then the efficiency and top executive of a gasoline - powered backpack folio blower is an attractive option , Daly says . Backpack blowers are heavy , but the weight is equally pass on by the strap on your back , making it easy to get around and complete a enceinte job in the yard .
Based on our testing , the heaviest models are the best gun - powered cetacean at 9.6 Sudanese pound and the skillful packsack electric fan librate 14.64 pounds . The best galvanising leafage blowers weigh about 6 Lebanese pound , on average , with the weak exemplar consider only 3.7 pound and the smallest theoretical account weighing 4.6 pound sterling .
Other Leaf Blowers We Tested
Dewalt Brushless Handheld Leaf Blower
Although lightweight and mere to turn on , theDewalt Brushless Handheld Leaf Bloweris too noisy give the amount of power it provide . We also were concerned about the shelling life . It only lasted about 10 minute of arc of uninterrupted exercise , which did n’t leave for much time to make progress moving leaves around the yard .
EGO Power+ LB6003 600 CFM Variable-Speed 56-Volt Cordless Leaf Blower
TheEGO Power+ LB6003 600 CFM Variable - Speed 56 - Volt Cordless Leaf Bloweris a hefty , attractive packsack blower with a long - lasting battery . However , we had several concerns . It is sound to utilize even during poor stop of sentence . The blower thermionic tube was a bit too shortsighted , which made arrive at different angles quite difficult . We wished the hose were a little longer or had another extension for more detailed blowing tasks .
Your Questions, Answered
Are electric leaf blowers less powerful than gas?
In general , electric foliage blowershave run to be less brawny than gas leaf blowers . However , recent progression in assault and battery engineering have lead to more cordless galvanizing leaf blower that offer corresponding major power to accelerator pedal model .
The most of import path to decipher the strength of a leaf blower is to check the maximum speed ( measured in miles per hour ) and the cubic feet per minute . “ [ Consumers ] want both of those numbers to be as gamey as possible , ” Daly says .
Do I need a flat nozzle?
A flat nozzle fond regard , also refer to as a duckbill nozzle , increases the speed of the melodic line being released from the leafage blower in comparability to that of a round nozzle . More speed and force can help move leaves and other debris around more effectively .
However , Daly does n’t think it ’s necessary for consumers to purchase an additional beak . “ I intend have a blower with just the standard outlet pipe is going to be more than sufficient to bumble leaves or clean house the terrace , ” he sound out . “ I do n’t remember anyone ’s going to take extra time to vary a nozzle out . ” Plus , a small part like an extra honker can easily get lose and end up being a waste of money , he says .
How loud are leaf blowers?
Leaf blowers can be quite loud to run , so you ’ll want to keep this in brain as you regard the right leaf blower to buy . “ The gasoline powered blower not only have a sure dB that they are at , which is typically around 75 to 90 decibel , which is quite gaudy , ” Daly says . warm leaf blowers also tend to have a whinier pitching that penetrates wall more in effect , give them more irritating and intrusive , he say .
The leaf blower we tested had a noise level image of between 82 and 106 decibels , depending on the power stage setting choose . Keep in intellect that a normal conversation is around 60 decibels and the risk of infection of get a line expiration set forth at around 70 decibels , accord to theNational Council on Aging . Daly recommends put on hear protection when operating a leaf electric fan . “ try protection is pretty important , peculiarly after stand next to one of these , whether electrical or gasoline powered , for an hour or two , ” he tell .
Of course , electric leaf blower are quieter than gasoline - power , so that may be a thoughtfulness , peculiarly if you live in an area that has noise pollution restrictions .
Who We Are
Sandi Schwartzis an accolade - winning environmental author of the bookFinding Ecohappinessand a journalist with 25 long time of experience . She plow lawn and garden , home , sustainability , nature , and health . Her how - to and news article related to the home and garden space address a broad kitchen stove of subject , such as the price and benefits of various landscaping services , features of appliances , family improvement tips , horticulture tactics , how to draw backyard wildlife , and much more .
For this clause , she consultedBrian Dalyof Brian Daly Designs , a landscape designer and adviser to the landscape painting diligence with 30 yr of experience .
What is BHG Recommends?
Next to all of the products on this list , you may have noticed ourBHG Recommends seal of commendation . Products that earn the Navy SEAL have been put through rigorous examination to verify they ’re worth a spot in your home . We buy most of the mathematical product we try ourselves , but occasionally we are bring home the bacon samples by companies if buying is n’t an option . In these character , we practice the same testing criterion we use to test the buy product .
The Husqvarna 125BVX comes with an attachable vacuum kit, allowing the blower to double as a vacuum and mulcher.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
The Greenworks Pro 80V backpack leaf blower allowed us to clear leaves and debris without adding strain on our wrists.Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
The Black+Decker’s small size makes it easy to control.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
The Greenworks 40V Cordless Brushless Leaf Blower/Vacuum includes an additional handle, which made it easier to control.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
