Leaf blowers have become an indispensable tool in modern yard maintenance, efficiently clearing fallen leaves and debris with a gust of air, saving homeowners valuable time and effort in their outdoor cleanup routines. With their powerful performance and convenience, the best leaf blowers have revolutionized how people maintain their lawns, allowing for cleaner and more presentable outdoor spaces throughout the year.
Best Overall | Bang for Your Buck | Best on a Budget | Best Backpack Leaf Blower | Best Corded Leaf Blower |
|---|---|---|---|---|
650 CFM EGO POWER+ Blower | Makita XBU03SM1 Cordless Blower Kit | BLACK+DECKER Electric Leaf Blower | Poulan Pro PR48BT | WORX WG520 Electric Leaf Blower |
 |  |  |  |  |
|
The EGO POWER+ Blower is a top-tier leaf blower with a powerful performance, extended run times, and an ergonomic design, offering an exceptional solution for efficient and comfortable yard cleanup. |
The Makita XBU03SM1 Cordless Blower Kit is a powerful and convenient leaf blower that offers impressive performance with its cordless design and efficient BL Brushless motor. |
The BLACK+DECKER Electric Leaf Blower is a lightweight and powerful corded blower ideal for home use, offering efficient leaf and debris cleanup with its 7 Amp motor and 180 MPH airspeed. |
The Poulan Pro PR48BT is a powerful gas-powered backpack leaf blower with impressive air speeds and a comfortable harness, making it perfect for tackling tough blowing tasks. |
The WORX WG520 Electric Leaf Blower features TURBINE Fan Tech for powerful airflow and a user-friendly design, making it the best corded leaf blower for efficient yard maintenance. |
What Is a Leaf Blower?
A leaf blower is a handheld or backpack device powered by electricity or gasoline that expels a high-speed stream of air. They are specifically designed to blow leaves, grass clippings, and other debris off lawns, driveways, and patios. Leaf blowers come with various features, including adjustable airspeed and volume controls, different power sources, and attachments for added versatility, making them a convenient tool for efficient yard maintenance.
Why Buy a Leaf Blower?
There are several compelling reasons why someone might choose to invest in a leaf blower. Firstly, a leaf blower significantly reduces the time and effort required for yard cleanup. Instead of manually raking or sweeping leaves, a leaf blower can quickly and efficiently clear a large area with a powerful stream of air, allowing homeowners to accomplish the task in a fraction of the time. This time-saving aspect is especially valuable for individuals with extensive outdoor spaces or those who prefer to spend their time on other activities.
Technological advancements have made leaf blowers more lightweight, ergonomic, and user-friendly. They often come with adjustable settings, allowing users to control the airspeed and volume based on the specific task. This versatility enables individuals to tackle leaves, grass clippings, dirt, and debris from various surfaces such as lawns, driveways, sidewalks, and patios. The portability of handheld or backpack leaf blowers further enhances their convenience, enabling users to navigate effortlessly around their property.
Furthermore, a leaf blower can contribute to maintaining a clean and well-kept outdoor environment. Regular use of a leaf blower prevents the accumulation of leaves, preventing potential hazards such as slippery surfaces or blocked gutters. By quickly clearing debris, a leaf blower aids in preserving the aesthetic appeal of a yard, ensuring it remains tidy and presentable throughout the year. This can be particularly beneficial for homeowners who take pride in the appearance of their outdoor spaces or for those who entertain guests frequently.
All things considered, the time-saving nature, convenience, and ability to maintain a clean yard make leaf blowers attractive for individuals seeking an efficient and effective solution for their outdoor cleanup needs.
Leaf Blowers: What to Look For
When considering purchasing a leaf blower, evaluating various criteria is essential to ensure you make an informed decision. Here are 10 important features to consider before making your purchase:
Best Overall: 650 CFM EGO POWER+ Blower
Image credit: EGO Power+
Pros:
Con:
The EGO POWER+ Blower reigns supreme as the best leaf blower on the market today, owing to its outstanding features and exceptional performance. Boasting an impressive airflow capacity of 650 cubic feet per minute (CFM) and a turbo button for an extra power boost, this blower effortlessly tackles even the heaviest debris, including wet leaves, rocks, and snow. With its variable-speed control dial, users can easily adjust the airflow between 225-500 CFM, allowing for precise control over the blower’s power output.
Designed with user comfort in mind, the EGO POWER+ Blower features an ergonomic design that ensures superb balance and a comfortable grip, even during prolonged use. The brushless motor delivers longer run times, minimizes vibrations, and extends the overall motor life. With industry-leading run times of up to 90 minutes on low mode, this blower offers exceptional performance thanks to the included 5.0Ah 56V ARC Lithium battery. It eliminates the need for frequent battery recharging.
One of the standout features of the EGO POWER+ Blower is its ability to provide power beyond belief while avoiding the noise, fuss, and fumes commonly associated with gas-powered models. Inspired by advanced aeronautics technology, the blower’s turbine fan engineering outperforms premium gas-powered blowers, providing an efficient and quiet operation. Additionally, the blower comes with flat and tapered nozzles, making it easy to clear debris in various conditions. The EGO POWER+ Blower offers a quiet, lightweight, and compact alternative to gas blowers, ensuring faster and quieter yard cleanup without compromising power or performance.
Bang for Your Buck: Makita XBU03SM1 Cordless Blower Kit
Image credit: Maikita
Pros:
Con:
The Makita XBU03SM1 Cordless Blower Kit is a top choice for those seeking the best “bang for your buck” leaf blower. This battery-powered blower operates at 18 Volts and boasts an impressive airflow capacity of 459 Cubic Feet Per Minute (CFM) and a speed of 116 Miles per Hour (MPH). Its compact and ergonomic design, weighing only 6.5 pounds and measuring 32-1/2″ long, offers ease of use and maneuverability.
The blower features Makita’s BL Brushless motor, which runs cooler and more efficiently, providing a longer lifespan. It also optimizes battery energy use, resulting in up to 50% longer run time per battery charge than non-brushless tools. Makita Extreme Protection Technology (XPT) ensures improved operation in harsh conditions by protecting against water and dust damage.
Furthermore, the Makita XBU03SM1 is part of the company’s 18V Lithium-Ion System, offering compatibility with other Makita tools and batteries. The kit includes an 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Blower, an 18V LXT Lithium-Ion 4.0Ah Battery, and an 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Charger.
With its powerful performance, durable build, and versatility, the Makita XBU03SM1 Cordless Blower Kit stands out as the best “bang for your buck” leaf blower on the market today, providing excellent value for its price.
Best on a Budget: BLACK+DECKER Electric Leaf Blower
Image credit: BLACK+DECKER
Pros:
Con:
The BLACK+DECKER Electric Leaf Blower is the best budget leaf blower on the market today, offering a powerful and efficient blowing performance at an affordable price point. With its 7 Amp motor, this handheld blower can move up to 180 MPH and 180 CFM, making it ideal for quick and easy cleanup of leaves and debris from lawns, driveways, sidewalks, and decks.
The blower features an instant start feature, ensuring hassle-free operation, and a built-in cord retention system that prevents frustrating interruptions during cleanup. Weighing only 4.4 pounds, it is lightweight and easy to maneuver, reducing user fatigue during extended use.
Overall, the BLACK+DECKER Electric Leaf Blower provides reliable performance, convenience, and affordability, making it the top choice for those looking for a budget-friendly leaf blower option.
Best Backpack Leaf Blower: Poulan Pro PR48BT
Image credit: Poulan Pro
Pros:
Con:
The Poulan Pro PR48BT is the best backpack leaf blower on the market today, offering a powerful and efficient solution for tough-blowing tasks. Powered by a 48cc 2-stroke engine, this gas-powered backpack blower delivers impressive air speeds of up to 200 MPH and an airflow capacity of 475 CFM. It excels at easily clearing wet, heavy leaves, grass, and stubborn debris.
The blower features cruise control and adjustable shoulder straps, providing optimal fit, superior comfort, and minimal strain for users of any size. Its heavy-duty frame ensures durability and longevity. Weighing 22 pounds, this backpack leaf blower is relatively lightweight for its power and comes with a load-reducing harness, reducing fatigue during extended use.
The Poulan Pro PR48BT stands out as the best backpack leaf blower. It combines a powerful engine, high air velocity, comfortable design, and durability, making it a top choice for efficient and effective leaf-blowing tasks.
Best Corded Leaf Blower: WORX WG520 Electric Leaf Blower
Image credit: WORX
Pros:
Con:
Despite the corded design, the WORX WG520 Electric Leaf Blower offers a range of impressive features and capabilities that make it a top choice among corded leaf blowers. Its powerful performance, user-friendly design, and versatility make it an excellent tool for efficiently maintaining outdoor spaces.
The WORX WG520 Electric Leaf Blower is today’s best corded leaf blower due to its exceptional features and performance. Equipped with TURBINE Fan Tech, this blower delivers a powerful, high-velocity air stream of 600 CFM at 110 MPH, surpassing other electric blowers in air output. Its innovative design incorporates a jet engine-like motor that provides remarkable power while remaining quieter than gas blowers. With this blower, you can easily tackle tough leaf and debris-clearing tasks.
One of the standout features of the WORX WG520 is its one-handed operation, making it accessible and user-friendly for almost anyone. The blower is designed to pull air from the back and generate the airstream directly down the tube and away from the handle, eliminating wasted motion and energy. Its ergonomic design ensures comfortable handling, allowing you to navigate your yard and target specific areas effortlessly. The lightweight construction, weighing just 6.4 lbs., further enhances the convenience and ease of use.
Included with the WORX WG520 is a hyper-stream air nozzle, which directs the airflow in a concentrated area, making it particularly useful for tackling tougher debris and debris-filled corners. Additionally, the blower features a hassle-free cord retainer that prevents accidental disconnection during use. With its impressive performance, ease of use, and thoughtful design, the WORX WG520 Electric Leaf Blower offers exceptional value for its price. Whether you have a large property or want a reliable blower for general use, the WG520 is a smart choice to make leaf-blowing tasks more efficient and enjoyable.
What is the difference between airspeed and air volume in leaf blowers?
Airspeed (measured in miles per hour, MPH) indicates how fast the air is moving out of the blower, which is useful for moving heavier debris. Air volume (measured in cubic feet per minute, CFM) indicates the amount of air being moved, which is crucial for clearing large areas of leaves and lighter debris. Both metrics are important when evaluating a leaf blower’s performance.
How loud are leaf blowers, and can I find quieter models?
Leaf blowers can be quite loud, with noise levels often ranging from 60 to 100 decibels. Quieter models are available, particularly among electric and battery-powered blowers. If noise is a concern, look for models specifically designed for quieter operation, and always wear hearing protection while using any leaf blower.
What are some tips for using a leaf blower effectively?
To use a leaf blower effectively, follow these tips:
Are leaf blowers suitable for large properties?
Yes, leaf blowers are suitable for large properties, especially gas-powered and high-capacity cordless models, which offer longer run times and greater power. Backpack blowers are particularly useful for large areas due to their powerful performance and ergonomic design, allowing extended use without significant fatigue.
How can I maintain my leaf blower to ensure it lasts?
Proper maintenance includes regularly cleaning the air filters, inspecting and replacing spark plugs if necessary, and keeping the blower free of debris. For battery-powered models, ensure the battery is charged and stored properly. Always follow the manufacturer’s maintenance instructions to keep your leaf blower in good working condition.
What are the environmental considerations when using a leaf blower?
Gas-powered leaf blowers can emit pollutants and contribute to noise pollution. To mitigate environmental impact, consider using electric or battery-powered models, which are quieter and produce no emissions. Additionally, use your leaf blower during appropriate hours to minimize noise disturbances.
Can leaf blowers be used in wet conditions?
While some leaf blowers are designed to handle wet leaves and debris, using electric models in wet conditions can be hazardous due to the risk of electric shock. Gas-powered and certain battery-powered blowers can be used, but caution is advised. Always check the manufacturer’s guidelines for specific recommendations regarding wet conditions.
Are there specific attachments that can make a leaf blower more versatile?
Yes, many leaf blowers come with or have optional attachments available to enhance their versatility. Common attachments include vacuum kits for collecting debris, gutter cleaning kits for hard-to-reach areas, and concentrator nozzles for increased airspeed. These attachments can help tackle a variety of tasks beyond just blowing leaves.
How should I store my leaf blower during the off-season?
Store your leaf blower in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. For gas-powered models, drain the fuel before storing to prevent engine issues. Keep batteries charged and store them properly for battery-powered models. Regularly inspect and clean your blower before storing it to ensure it’s ready for use when needed again.
