Leaf blowers, also called blowers, is a favorite yard tool that sends air from the nozzle to move leaves, grass clippings, and other debris fast.

The best leaf blowers are corded electric-, gasoline-, and battery-powered meaning cordless. Gasoline engines are two- or four-stroke with the latter being used for air pollution issues.

The best electric leaf blowers are handheld or backpack mounted with a handheld wand for blowing out the nozzle end. The backpack unit is better for long use and is more ergonomic.

Some leaf blowers can be walked behind and pushed for operations. They have wheels to rest on and use a motor for propulsion.

There is also a unit called a blower vac that sucks in leaves and small twigs to shred them into a bag for disposal.

Developed in California in the 1950s, leaf blowers save you from using water in a garden hose for dispersing debris, using rakes and brooms that take much time.

1. Uses for Leaf Blowers

After you’ve mowed your lawn, blow the grass clippings into a pile, rake into a bag, and dispose. You can do the same with leaves.

You can use a leaf blower all year for removing twigs, dust, and other debris from your deck or patio. In the winter, you can blow away those light snow dustings.

Many varieties are available to include gas, corded electric, and battery-powered units. Choose from handheld to backpack and models with wheels.

Read on for the best leaf blower reviews and leaf vacuum reviews to take the mystery out of what to buy for your needs.

2. Gas or Electric

Selecting the right leave blower might be difficult when deciding on gasoline or electric. You’ll want to think about convenience, speed, and your budget. Finding the right one is all about your yard size and topography.

Handheld gas leaf blowers will go with you anywhere you walk. However, they weigh and cost more than corded electrics and produce more noise. They will need refueling and maintenance. These units are by far the way to clear debris fast.

Some are 2-cylinder, discussed here, and some are 4-cylinder, not reviewed here. The 2-stroke requires mixing fuel and oil. Those with four-stroke engines let you skip that step, and they run cleaner. If you want a 4-stroke engine, the Makita^® BHX2500CA 24.5-cc, MM4, 4-stroke engine blower is a good buy.

It’s affordable on Amazon with many customer reviews and a 4.4-star ranking.

Cordless electric leaf blowers, meaning they run on batteries, are less powerful than the gasoline-powered units but are lightweight at about 10-pounds or less and women can handle these easily. Read below for the cordless leaf blower reviews.

The corded electric leaf blowers will need an extension cord, yet they are powerful and lightweight.

Weighing about 22-pounds, backpack blowers provide more power transferring the weight from your arms to you shoulders and back. They are more expensive then handheld blowers and many people like them for large jobs.

When you have level property and tons of leaves or grass clippings, the gas-powered wheeled leaf blowers provide the most power bar none. They can be hard to control and push and take up more storage space being the costliest of all the models.

This type is not reviewed here, yet if you’re interested, check out this blower with a Honda^® engine.

After using your lawn mower and weed eater, clean up the clippings in no time with a blower and have the best looking lawn on the block. Crank up your grill and enjoy a relaxing dinner.

3. Leaf Blower Noise

If your neighbors are awake with the chickens, running your leaf blower might make them upset. Consider the noise level rated at decibels (dB) to tone down the amount of noise at your home.

Gas blowers are the loudest and some communities will not let you use blowers at specific times. Read more about noise pollution for guidelines.

4. Method

Leaf blowers are quite effective for collecting the majority of leaves into huge piles to be raked later and discarded with a plastic bag or tarp. You will never get every leaf off your area no matter what you use to group them for removal.

A leaf rake is very time consuming for large areas. Using a leaf blower to remove leaves and debris trapped in and around rocks, bushes, tree trunks, fences, and other tight spots, including the deck or patio and grass clippings from your driveway and the city sidewalk is easier and less time consuming.

5. When to Use the Leaf Blower

Windy day: It’s good to use the wind to help you move the leaves in the direction you want them to go rather than a non-windy day. Wind will help you be more productive in piling up leaves.

Wet: For sure it’s easy to move about dry leaves. Try your blower at some leaves and if they won’t move, do it again on a day when they are drier.

6. Procedure

Know where you want your leaves to land. Put a tarp at the chosen place so you can later move them to your garden compost bin if you have one, or push into a plastic bag. I have found that if I use a 33-gallon or larger black plastic bag in my round trash can, I can put the tarp into it and shake them loose, tie off the bag, and put out for the trash collectors in the wheeled trash can with lid.

If you plan to blow them further into your woods, do that in 6-foot sections to the place they will finally end up.

Use your blower in one direction to keep the leaves from blowing back into the area you’ve already done.

It’s a good idea to hold your leaf blower at your side with the front end pointed at the ground using a shallow angle. Walk slowly with a back-and-forth motion with the blower in front of you as you go.

Top 10 Best Leaf Blowers

1. WORX^® TURBINE 600 Electric Corded Leaf Blower, Handheld

The WORX^® blower is a favorite among women because of its lightweight. It is model WG520 and is an inexpensive best electric leaf blower for every budget. It is a Choice Amazon^® handheld leaf blower.

It operates at 12-Amps and 900-Watts with 110 MPH (miles per hour) and 600 CFM (cubic-feet per minute) output with variable speed control for what you need at 28,600 RPMs. With its TURBINE fan technology, it has the force and high-capacity air volume that’s twice as fast as pro gas blowers.

The noise level is 82 dB—about the sound of a hairdryer but not a lawnmower. You can use this to dry your vehicle as well!

Your hands and harms won’t become fatigued or your palms blistered with the 6.4-pounds weight of this leaf blower. It is a one-hand operation. This is a blower, not a vacuum so it does not suck up anything.

The cord has a retainer to keep it out of your way for easy blowing.

The attached cord is 11.50-inches. You will need to buy an extension cord of the same wire gauge. Buy one length maximum 150-feet; don’t by 3 50-foot lengths and plug into each other because they can come apart when moving about.

Minimum Gauge for Extension Cords for 12-Amp Blower

Plug the UL^® listed 2-prong cord into a North American 110/120-Volt, 50/60-Hz outlet. It is not 220-Volts. It does not use batteries and no batteries come with it. The motor is not brushless.

It hangs with a device on the back to go over a nail.

California residents click here for Proposition 65 warning

Gift-wrapping is available for loved ones and friends who are dying to own this blower. You will receive a User’s Manual and manufacturer’s 3-year Warranty with a 30-day guarantee.

WORX^® WG520 demo video.

2. Snap Fresh Cordless Battery-Powered Leaf Blower

The Snap Fresh, model number BBT-YOR01, on Amazon is a best-selling battery-powered leaf blower manufactured by Ningbo Babytec Technology Co., Ltd. in China, and I, always curious to know about makers of products, cannot find their website for this blower but did find lots of baby products. This chartreuse-yellow and black green leaf blower gets fairly good reviews on Amazon and sells for a reasonable price.

Clear leaves, small twigs, and other debris from your lawn, sidewalks, driveway, deck and patio. You can blow light dry snow but heavier snow probably not.

This leaf blower is battery-powered using a 20-Volt, 2.0 Ah lithium-ion battery and that comes with the blower along with its charger. It takes about 1-hour to fully charge the battery.

Check the battery indicator to see how much life is left. When the red light is on, the battery is charging. When the green light is on, the battery is full-charged.

It’s best to store the battery in its fully charged condition and remove it from the leaf blower.

When you put the battery into the blower it does not ‘click’ in place; you must slide it all the way in and then the light will come on.

If you need a spare battery, buy it on Amazon.com here for about $30.

The two speeds are 60 MPH and 130 MPH (140 CFM) at high speed. You won’t need to hold the button down; it will run without you wearing your hand and fingers out.

Use the leaf blower for 30-minutes with the full-power setting and 15-minutes in the lower power setting.

The 2-section tube will adjust for different height operators. To disconnect the tube extensions, there is an arrow button on top of the tube extension near the unit and you press it to take the tube out where it snaps together.

The unit is easy to assemble in a few minutes. All the functions of the leaf blower are contained and controlled with one button. Its handle is a flexible rubber to easily grip and not slip.

The sound pressure level is 78.8 dB(A) K=2.5 dB(A) and the sound power level is 88.2 dB(A) K=1.04 dB(A).

No roof gutter kit is sold at all for this leaf blower. Guess we’ll just have to get up on a ladder!

The dimensions assembled are 37-inches long and 5 1/2-inches wide and is light and well-balanced to maneuver weighing only 2.7-pounds (1.22 kg).

Plug the UL^® listed battery charger cord into a USA 110/120-Volt, 50/60 Hz outlet.

What’s in the Box:

• 1 each 20-Volt 2.0-Ah Battery
• 1 each Fast Charger
• 1 each Upper Tube
• 1 each Lower Tube
• 1 each Bare Tool
• 1 each User’s Manual

You will receive the Manual, parts listed above and a 1-year Warranty. The leaf blower is made in China.

Snap Fresh 20-Volt Cordless Leaf Blower video.

3. Greenworks^® GMAX Battery-Powered Cordless Blower, Handheld

The Greenworks^® 40-Volt, 150 MPH, 6 variable speed dial comes with a 2.0 AH (Amp Hour) lithium battery. Item model number 24252 is Amazon’s Choice best cordless leaf blower that is powerful with a long run time of 35-minutes covering a half-acre. It takes about an hour to recharge the battery, so why not have 2 with one ready and the other fully charged. You will get the charger with this handheld leaf blower as well.

With its extension tube, it increases its blower efficiency and reach and it’s lightweight. It starts the first time each time you use it with almost no vibration as compared to gasoline leaf blowers.

It is very quiet and the decibel (dB) rating is 64 on low and 78 on high at 3-feet away.

Plug the battery charger’s UL^® listed 2-prong cord into a North American 110/120-Volt, 50/60-Hz outlet. It is not 220-Volts and don’t put into a 220-Volt outlet! The input is 1.5-Amps. Do not store the battery in the blower or on the charger. The motor is not brushless.

The blower weighs 3.39-pounds without a battery. The 2.0 AH battery weighs 1-pound. Therefore, the unit weights 4.39-pounds when in use.

Blow-dry your wet car, blow away light snow, leaves, grass clippings, pine needles, sand, dust, acorns, seed pods, and cobwebs.

It does not have a hook for storage; a nail in wood would hold it.

Proposition 65 Warning for California Consumers:

WARNING: Cancer and Reproductive Harm – www.P65warnings.ca.gov.

Gift-wrapping is available and you will receive a User’s Manual with a 4-year Warranty for the tool and 2-years on the battery and charger.

4. DEWALT^® Battery-Powered Cordless Blower, Handheld

The DEWALT^® brushless handheld leaf blower has a 20-Volt MAX lithium-ion XR^® battery, 5.0 AH with air volume of up to 400 CFM at 90 MPH. Model number DCBL720P1 is Amazon’s choice for the best cordless blower. It is lightweight at only 7.1-pounds reducing arm stress being easy to control and comes with the charger. It is also available without the battery.

It has a variable speed trigger with speed lock. The brushless motor increases durability and the efficiency of the motor.

Operation noise is 61 dB and the nozzle diameter is 3.5-inches.

Plug the battery charger’s UL^® listed 2-prong cord into a North American 110/120-Volt, 50/60-Hz outlet. It is not 220-Volts and don’t put into a 220-Volt outlet! Do not store the battery in the blower or on the charger.

You can run it about a half-hour on a full charge and it takes about an hour to recharge the battery.

California residents click here for Proposition 65 warning

Blow-dry your wet car, blow away light snow, leaves, grass clippings, pine needles, sand, dust, and cobwebs.

You will receive a User’s Manual, 20-Volt lithium-ion battery, and battery charger with 3-year Limited Warranty, 1-year Warranty for service and 90-day money back guarantee.

5. Makita^® Cordless Blower Kit with 4 Batteries, Handheld

The Makita^® model XBU02PT1 is the best brushless cordless blower. It is 18-Volt with 4 each LXT^® lithium-ion batteries at 5.0 AH. It comes with a dual port charger. The handheld blower will not run on only 1 battery. Charge time is 45-minutes and run time is 28-minutes at 15,800 RPM using both batteries at mid-speed.

The motor delivers up to 120 MPH air velocity and 473 CFM of air volume with noise level of 61 dB.

The 3-stage telescoping long nozzle is indeed convenient when using and the in-line fan design gives you better tool balance and ergonomics.

With its variable speed control trigger, you will have a 6-stage air velocity/volume dial for selecting. The speed is 11,400 to 21,500 RPMs.

Blow-dry your wet vehicle, blow away light dry snow, leaves, grass clippings, pine needles, sand, dust, and cobwebs.

The blower only weighs 9-pounds with both batteries installed. This blower has a hole on the housing bottom for storage. The length is 36-5/8-inches.

Plug the battery charger’s UL^® listed 2-prong cord into a North American 110/120-Volt, 50/60-Hz outlet. It is not 220-Volts and don’t put into a 220-Volt outlet! Do not store the batteries in the blower or on the chargers.

California residents click here for Proposition 65 warning.

Gift-wrapping is available. You will receive the User’s Manual, batteries, and charges with a 3-year Limited Warranty on tool, battery, and charger.

Makita^® 36-Volt Brushless Handheld Blower demo video.

6. Husqvarna^® Commercial Grade Backpack Leaf Blower, 2-Cycle Gas

The Husqvarna^® 150BT professional 2-cycle, 50.2 cc (cubic centiliter) backpack leaf blower is excellent for home and commercial users weighing 22.5-pounds. The OEM nozzle type is round. It is the best backpack leaf blower shown on Amazon at an affordable price.

Its X-TORQ^® engine design reduces harmful exhaust emissions by up to 60% and increases fuel efficiency by up to 20% that you will appreciate.

Vibrations are reduced with the dampeners between the chassis and engine for a better feel for you when using. The noise level is 94 dB.

For easier handling, set the cruise control on the variable speed throttle to what you like best when working.

The cylinder displacement is 50.2 cm³, power output is 2.15 HP, fuel tank volume is 42.27-fluid ounces with fuel consumption of 455 g/kWh, air flow in housing is 710 CFM, air flow in pipe is 434.37 CFM, with an air speed of 251 MPH and blowing force Newton rating is of 20 N. The spark plug is NGK CMR7H.

To have the blower perform and function best for you, the blowing tube length is adjustable. The air purge system will remove air from the carburetor and fuel system for easier starting each and every time. The carburetor is adjustable if you want to adjust the idle.

Power output is 2.15 HP and the idle speed is 2200 RPM. The dimensions are 15- x 18- x 18-inches. It is equipped with a fuel filter.

Blow-dry your wet vehicle, blow away light dry snow, leaves, grass clippings, pine needles, sand, dust, and cobwebs.

This is not a vacuum unit to suck in debris and it does not use batteries. Be sure to premix your fuel since you cannot use straight gas. The fuel ratio is 50:1.

California residents click here for Proposition 65 warning.

You will receive the strap/backpack, blower, and User’s Manual with a 2-year Limited Warranty.

Husqvarna^® makes its own engines and blowers and they are made in Nashville, Arkansas, USA.

Husqvarna^® 150BT leaf blower demo video.

Husqvarna^® 150BT backpack leaf blower specifications video.

7. Greenworks^® Single-Speed Electric Blower, Handheld

The Greenworks^® model 24012 is the very best electric blower with extension cord, is affordable, and is available for less money without the extension cord at Amazon.

The handheld leaf blower operates at 7-Amps, 840-Watts, 1.12 HP, has a 160 MPH blower with 150 CFM. There is no cruise control.

It is lightweight at 4.5-pounds and the noise level is 69.3 dB.

It is powerful enough to blow leaves out of gutters, wet leaves from the grass, dirt, dust, pine needles, dry your wet vehicle, and clear your deck.

Plug the UL^® listed 2-prong extension cord into a North American 110/120-Volt, 50/60-Hz outlet. It is not 220-Volts and don’t put into a 220-Volt outlet!

It has no short cord on the unit to plug into; you simply plug the extension cord into the end of the unit as shown in the picture on the right. Use the rounded-end male extension cord that comes with it or buy one that is round at that end or your own extension cord.

Check your User’s Manual for the correct gauge and length to use. Up to 50-feet, 16-gauge or heavier; up to-100 feet, 14-gauge or heavier; up to 150-feet, 12 -gauge or heavier. Do not use over 150-feet in length.

California residents click here for Proposition 65 warning.

Gift-wrapping is available and you will receive a User’s Manual with a 4-year Warranty for the tool and 2-years on the battery and charger.

8. PoulanPro^® Backpack Leaf Blower, 2-Cycle Gas

The PoulanPro^®, made by Husqvarna^®, model PR48BT is a gas-powered blower with a backpack to handle incredible power up to 200 MPH air speeds shown on Amazon and is one of the better made gas backpack leaf blowers available.

It is 48 cc 2-cycle gas, 475 CFM, 1-HP, has cruise control, a heavy-duty frame, variable speeds, cylinder displacement of 48-cm³ with contoured adjustable back/shoulder straps that are padded reducing load and fatigue, and soft-grip handle.

The tube is not adjustable. The angled nozzle points downward. Use the fuel/oil ratio of 50:1 in the fuel tank holding 17.6-fluid ounces. Only use non-ethanol gasoline and 87 octane is okay using regular unleaded.

Be sure you keep your foot on the brake when you turn the key or it won’t start.

It uses a rotary valve style carburetor.

Use the power of this blower to remove light dry snow, move acorns, tree leaves, wet heavy leaves, grass clippings, sand, and dust.

It is the perfect blower for year-round clean-up, and is an ideal choice for homeowners and small business owners with 1/2-acre yards and larger.

The noise rating is 96.7 dB and weighs 19.75-pounds being lightweight.

California residents click here for Proposition 65 warning.

You will receive the strap/backpack, blower, and User’s Manual with a 2-year Limited Homeowner Warranty.

Husqvarna^® makes its own engines and blowers and the PoulanPro^® is also made in Nashville, Arkansas, USA.

NEW PoulanPro^® PR48BT Backpack Blower video.

9. Husqvarna^® Professional Backpack Leaf Blower, 2-Cycle Gas

The Husqvarna^® leaf blower for professionals, model 350BT, has been designed for the larger landowner.

With its 2.1-horsepower engine and maximum power speed of 7500 RPM, idling speed 2200 RPM, this backpack leaf blower is able to generate wind speeds up to 180 MPH to blow away the most stubborn yard waste.

The 2-stroke X-Torq^® engine reduces harmful exhaust emissions by up to 60% and increases fuel efficiency by up to 20% compared to a standard 2-stroke engine.

Comfortably designed for hours of use, the 350BT features an integrated harness that’s ventilated and helps reduce load with a hip belt that’s shaped to fit the contours of the operator with wide shoulder straps. The handle has an easily adjustable soft grip for optimal maneuvering and is adjustable. Equivalent vibration level (ahv, eq) handle is 2.2 m/s².

The cylinder displacement is 50.2-cm³, 50.2 cc, 2.1 HP, air flow in pipe 494.41 CFM with blower nozzle attached, and 692 CFM right out of the blower (impeller) housing in the pipe with no restriction, air speed 180 MPH, weighing 22.5-pounds. The tank holds 42.27-ounces to run the unit for hours. The blowing force Newton rating is 21 N.

Use the fuel/oil ratio of 50:1 in the fuel tank. Only use 87 octane non-ethanol gasoline. The fuel consumption is 455 g/kWh.

The blower measures to the top of the carry handle 19-inches, length is 13-inches to tip of gas cap, and width is 18-inches. The exit nozzle is 2.50-inches.

The sound power level, guaranteed (LWA) 104 dB(A), and sound pressure level at operators ear is 94 dB(A).

The electrode gap is 0.03-inches and the spark plug is NGK CMR7H.

Use the power of this blower to remove light dry snow, move acorns, tree leaves, wet heavy leaves, grass clippings, sand, dust, leaves stuck inside ivy vines, rocks, and more.

California residents click here for Proposition 65 warning.

You will receive the Husqvarna^® gas-powered blower, integrated harness, and User’s Manual with a 2-year Limited Warranty.

Husqvarna^® makes its own engines and blowers in Nashville, Arkansas, USA.

Husqvarna^® Leaf Blower for Professionals, model 350BT demo video.

10. TORO^® Ultra Electric Blower, Vacuum, Shredder, Handheld

The TORO^® 3-in-1-unit, model 51619 in red, is electric with no batteries or gas used, being inexpensive and a best seller on Amazon for an electric blower vacuum shredder.

Its new larger metal impeller drives power and improves your mulching experience. The metal blades on the impeller shred leaves and debris into fine mulch. The impeller does not turn off so you don’t want to vacuum up rocks or large twigs.

Being 3 machines in one, the handheld leaf blower is a powerful blower, high-speed vacuum, and leaf shredder.

The air speed control is variable, the air volume is 350 CFM, with the leaf shredding reduction up to 88%. The maximum air flow is attained in the Blow mode. In the Vacuum mode, the CFM is 410.

The maximum nozzle velocity is up to 250 MPH. The weight is light at 8.5-pounds. The blower is corded and you will need to buy the correct AWG extension cord.

It comes complete with vacuum tube, bottom-zip bag, power insert, concentrator nozzle, and cord storage hook. Neatly and easily store your extension cord after the job is done around the unit.

Keep the extension cord firmly in place with the built-in cord locking hook. No one likes to constantly plug the extension cord back into the attached cord on the blower.

You will get multiple tubes for specialized uses.

This blower includes multiple inserts for multiple applications.

Main Tube – moves debris away from house, shrubs, and more.

Power Insert – moves debris into wind rows and creates piles.

Concentrator – moves debris out of cracks, edging and moves stubborn leaves.

Blow-dry your wet vehicle, blow away light dry snow, leaves, grass clippings, pine needles, sand, dust, and cobwebs.

The Quick-Release Latch lets you convert your blower into the best leaf vacuum in seconds without tools.

Plug the UL^® listed 2-prong cord into a North American 110/120-Volt, 50/60-Hz outlet. It is not 220-Volts and don’t put into a 220-Volt outlet! it uses about 1700-Watts running it at half throttle.

This is rated at 12-Amps. Use a 16-gauge light-duty extension cord for blowers with 120-Amps or less. Be sure it has a ‘W’ on the jacket for outdoor use. You can use 150-feet extension cord but no longer.

California residents click here for Proposition 65 warning.

You will receive a User’s Manual and a full 2-years Warranty.

TORO^® 51619 Ultra and 51621 review video.

Tips Using Leaf Blowers

Always protect yourself and be nice to your neighbors.

• You must first read your User’s Manual before starting to understand the functionality of your leaf blower.

• Always wear hearing protection to protect your hearing function.

• Wear a dust mask to protect your lungs and sinuses.

• Wear goggles to protect your eyes from dust and other small debris.

• Don’t wear sandals or shorts; wear solid shoes and long pants to protect your toes, feet, and legs.

• Wear shoes with good grips on the bottom. If the grass is wet, you can slip and fall.

• Keep pets, small children, and people away from you.

• Do not operate your blower at the crack of dawn when your neighbors are asleep or late at night using the street lights to see with.

• Never store a battery in the charger or blower.

• For blowers with 12-Amps or less, use a 16-gauge light-duty cord within 50-feet of your outlet. Go with a 14-gauge medium-duty cord for a higher Amp or a greater distance from the outlet. Make sure the cord is rated for outdoor use and look for a “W” on the extension cord jacket.

• Extension Cords:

• • Cord length: 100-feet, 14-gauge copper wire; and
  • Cord length: 150-feet, 12 Gage copper wire;
  • Don’t use anything over 150-feet.

• You can calculate Watts = Amps x Volts, so 7-Amps at 120-Volts = 840-Watts

• Maintain and clean your leaf blower after each use to keep it in the best working condition. Before you start cleaning, be sure it’s turned off and unplugged if electric. Clean off the blower and cleaning fans. You don’t want to leave debris. Wash or replace the air filter if yours has one. A clean air filter keeps your leaf blower from overheating. If you have a mulcher, clean it too, along with a vacuum bag if you have it.

How to use a leaf blower video.

How to use a leaf blower and still get along with your neighbors video.

Final Thoughts

When you own the best leaf blower, you will be delighted with how well you can blow away even the most stubborn leaves, clippings, and debris. They are affordable with many features and are easy to clean; just read the leaf blower reviews above if you haven’t already.

Please leave your questions or comments in the area below and I will reply to each of you. Happy shopping!