RS Recommends: The Best Leaf Blowers to Buy This Fall
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When it comes to leaf blowers, the first thing that comes to mind may be a noisy, gasoline-fueled machine. But today’s leaf blowers have primarily gone electric in recent years, significantly reducing noise, weight and pollution. Whichever one you choose, a leaf blower is a seriously worthwhile upgrade for any homeowner to keep outdoor spaces tidy in a more efficient way.
The best new leaf blowers aren’t only for leaves either. In fact, you can blow away other yard debris, clear patios, walkways and steps, or even blow dust or pollen off your car.
With more top-rated models than ever before, choosing the best one comes down to a few important details. Read on for more shopping tips below, including the best blowers from brands like Worx, Black+Decker and more.
Leaf Blower Buying Guide
Features like speed, battery life and a comfortable design are all important when shopping for your leaf blower. Here’s what you should know.
Power Source: First, decide if you want an electric, cordless or gas-powered leaf blower. Each has its own positives and negatives, and depend on the size of the area you’re using it. Battery-powered models have the advantage of being wireless, but have a limited runtime before needing to be charged. A leaf blower with an electrical cord won’t run out of power, but it will limit how far you can take it (without extension cords). Gas-powered models, on the other hand, can get expensive to operate, with frequent trips to fuel up, not to mention the noise and exposure to fumes. A motor that dissipates heat is also good to have for long uses.
Battery: The electric Lithium-Ion batteries are measured in volts, and normally a 20-volt battery will get you about 15-30 minutes of use. If that’s not enough to cover your yard, keep in mind that these often come with multiple batteries, with the ability to stock up on more. Simply swap them out when it dies and you’ve instantly upped your time.
Speed: For a low speed setting, about 60mph is the usual range, while high speed can hit up to 150mph. Dry leaves and debris blow away pretty easily, but for wet ones like after a rainstorm, that’s where you’re going to need some muscle behind the breeze.
Comfort and Ergonomics: Of course, a more lightweight blower will be easier to control for long stretches of time. Consider going with one under 10 pounds. For height, some models come with extension nozzles to make them more comfortable to use. A handle that’s coated in rubber can also give you a better grip and greater control, while a trigger lock means you won’t have to manually hold the power switch the entire time.
1. Worx WG520 12 Amp Turbine 600 Electric Leaf Blower
This corded leaf blower is seriously powerful, at 12 amps and 110 mph airflow that covers about 600 cubic feet per minute. At 6.4 pounds, it’s light enough to be controlled with one hand, and has two different speeds depending on how tough the job is.
Just like its other outdoor maintenance products, this Worx model is fully electric, and has a long extension cord to cover the farthest reaches of the lawn. This also lets you focus the airflow to a particular spot, unleashing a powerful blast. It’s surprisingly quiet, too.
2. Black+Decker 40V Lithium Ion Sweeper/Vac
This powerful 40V unit works both as a blower and as a vacuum. When you’re all done blowing the leaves into a pile, simply switch this into suction mode and vacuum them all up into the attached leaf collection bag. Its mulching capability in the pouch also reduces the volume of leaves, so it’s noticeably smaller than the pile you previously had, and way easier to clean up.
The battery also has an LED indicator built right into it, so you’ll always know when it’s running low and needs to be swapped out.
3. Greenworks 24212 40V Leaf Blower
This was one of the lightest models we found, at just 3.27 pounds. It’s comfortable to hold and easy to use. A 40V battery snaps in and provides serious blowing power, and it can cover 135 cubic feet per minute in one go. Plus, it will stay fairly quiet while you’re using it at 53 decibels. An included Turbo switch kicks it into gear when needed. One thing we loved about it is that most Greenworks gear uses the same battery, so you can swap them between all your different products.
4. Craftsman B215 25cc 2-Cycle Engine Handheld Gas Powered Leaf Blower
The lightweight engine in this leaf blower can reach speeds up to 200 mph. Despite its power, it’s also fairly lightweight for a gas blower at 11 pounds. The extendable nozzle is helpful not only for people of varying heights, but also for using on a specific spot with stuck debris (there’s also a built-in scraper at the end). A translucent tank tells you when your fuel is running low, and some oil is included to get you started.