Fall is a beautiful season, but with its arrival comes a sea of dead leaves decomposing in your yard all the way until spring. Sure, you could do it the old way and rake the decaying leaves into a pile, but when you have better things to do, a leaf blower is a faster and more convenient option, especially since cordless options are available.
Finding the best option can be as tedious as raking, however, so we’ve rounded up the best cordless leaf blowers to make your search just a little bit easier. But let’s get into what makes a good cordless leaf blower first before we show you our top 10 picks.
- What to Look for in a Good Cordless Leaf Blower
- Top 10 Best Cordless Leaf Blowers 2023
- 1. Best Overall Pick: DEWALT DCBL722P1 Blower
- 2. Best Premium Pick: EGO Power+ LB6504
- 3. Best Backpack Blower: Husqvarna 350BT Backpack Blower
- 4. Best Budget Pick: Ryobi P2108A Blower
- 5. Best Basic Gas-Powered Blower: Poulan Pro PR48BT
- 6. Best Safety Features: Makita XBU02PT1
- 7. Best Handheld Gas Powered: Craftsman B215
- 8. Quietest: Greenworks Pro Axial Blower
- 9. Best Reversible Leaf Blower: KIMO Cordless Leaf Blower
- 10. Lightest: Worx WG545
- Guide to Buying the Best Cordless Leaf Blowers
- Types of Cordless Leaf Blowers
- Final Thoughts
What to Look for in a Good Cordless Leaf Blower
First and foremost, cordless leaf blowers are categorized into two main types: gas-powered and battery-powered. Each type has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, so learning about both types will prove to be extremely useful. If you are not set on a particular type and would like to know about how they differ from each other, you can skip ahead to this section of the article.
Even if you’ve already decided on the type of leaf blower to get, make sure to examine the information below so you’ll know which product will work best for you.
CFM and MPH
CFM, which stands for cubic feet per minute, decides the volume of air the leaf blower will blow. MPH, on the other hand, stands for miles per hour, and will determine how fast this column of air will be blown.
The higher the CFM and MPH ratings, the better, but you don’t need extremely high CFM and MPH ratings to do small tasks like clearing your workshop, patio, or driveway. A leaf blower rated at under 200 CFM and 100 to 125 MPH is enough for most small tasks. The Ryobi P2108A is a good option if you want an inexpensive blower that can handle these tasks.
If you have a big yard and hope to blow wet leaves, however, you’ll need one that’s rated at over 400 CFM and over 150 MPH, like the Husqvarna 965877502.
Noise
Leaf blowers are often loud, so the ideal leaf blower is one that doesn’t cause your ears to ring for days. You should also know that some places have local regulations in place that prohibit the use of leaf blowers that have high levels of noise—as well as emissions if they’re gas-powered. Fortunately, some of the best cordless leaf blowers have tolerable volume levels despite their strength. The quietest of them is the Greenworks Pro Axial Blower.
If you do end up with a loud leaf blower, remember to use hearing protection with every use, so it doesn’t damage your hearing.
Design
You’ll want a leaf blower with a lightweight and ergonomic design so you can maneuver it easily. You’ll also want intuitive controls, so operating it isn’t a pain. More powerful options tend to be heavier, but if you don’t want anything too heavy, the DEWALT DCBL722P1 provides sufficient power while only weighing 5.43 lb.
If you want maximum control, get a leaf blower with variable speed settings and cruise control that will allow for continuous operation without the need to constantly hold the trigger.
Now that you know what to look for in a good cordless leaf blower, it’s time to examine the best cordless leaf blowers in 2021.
Top 10 Best Cordless Leaf Blowers 2023
1. Best Overall Pick: DEWALT DCBL722P1 Blower
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Power Source: Battery
- CFM: Up to 450
- MPH: Up to 125
- Weight: 5.43 lb.
If you need a good balance between price and performance, look no further than the DEWALT DCBL722P1. It costs less than $200, is lightweight, and provides ample power for your leaf-cleaning needs.
Performance
The DEWALT DCBL722P1 easily gets small to medium-sized jobs done, whether it’s blowing dead leaves off your sidewalks and walkways, blowing out your entire garage, or blowing off dry, fluffy snow. If you’re in the market for a tool for blowing snow, you might want to check out our top 10 best snow blowers instead.
Attaching the concentrator nozzle at the front will get you a maximum speed of 125 MPH, but if you want to take advantage of the 450 CFM flow, you can simply skip the nozzle.
At full speed, you only get between 10 to 15 minutes of run-time, so if you have a lot of work to do, you might want to consider getting extra batteries. The tool’s battery is interchangeable with other Dewalt tools, so if you already own one, you could use that to run the leaf blower.
Unfortunately, some units come with faulty batteries that won’t hold a charge. If this happens to you, just contact Dewalt, and they’ll send you replacement batteries for free.
As for the noise, this cordless leaf blower is rated at 66dB, but it’s actually louder than that. Consistent exposure to this loud, buzzing noise can damage your hearing, so make sure to wear hearing protection. If you want a more quiet tool without sacrificing performance, check out the Greenworks Pro Axial Blower.
Design
Because the DEWALT DCBL722P1 is lightweight and has an ergonomic design that reduces user fatigue, clearing out leaves and debris won’t be as cumbersome. Additionally, it comes with a variable speed trigger that’s very sensitive—you only need to squeeze it a little to blow leaves away from delicate areas. And the cruise control switch makes it, so you don’t have to hold the trigger down all the time.
The DEWALT DCBL722P1’s tube comes off easily for easy storage, although you can also stand the tool on the floor for a low storage footprint.
Pros
- Affordable
- Concentrator nozzle allows for higher speeds
- Lightweight
- Sensitive variable speed trigger
- Cruise control
- Easy to store
Cons
- Some units come with a faulty battery
- Loud
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Power Source: Battery
- CFM: Up to 650
- MPH: 180
- Weight: 10 lb.
Priced at nearly $300, the Ego LB6504 is a very expensive handheld cordless leaf blower. However, the premium price is perfectly justified. Not only is it one of the most powerful tools of its kind, but it also has a relatively long run-time.
Performance
With wind speeds of up to 180 MPH and airflow of up to 650 CFM on its Turbo setting (which is 150 CFM more powerful than the highest speed setting), you’d be hard-pressed to find a cordless handheld blower that performs better than the Ego LB6504. This tool won’t have any problem blowing piles of wet leaves and big clumps of dirt.
You’ll be able to get a lot done with this tool, especially since it has a running time of 30 minutes on the highest speed setting. If you do use the Turbo setting, however, know that it will reduce the run-time by half.
The Ego LB6504’s battery—which is compatible with other Ego Power+ tools—is what’s mostly responsible for the tool’s high price. The battery itself costs over $200. That’s really pricey for a battery, but it packs a lot of power and charges in just about two hours.
For such a powerful leaf blower, the noise coming from this tool isn’t so bad. Some less powerful handheld options are actually louder than this.
Design
While most handheld options weigh less than 5 lb., the Ego LB6504 weighs 10 lb. It may not seem like a lot right now, but know that if you’re going to be using this for over 5 minutes, you will most definitely need to switch hands. The controls are easy to use, however, and can be operated with one hand.
It also comes with variable speed settings (225 to 500 CFM) and cruise control.
Tapered and flat nozzle attachments are included with the purchase to make clearing debris easier.
If you remove the tube, you’ll be able to store this tool in about two and a half feet of space.
Pros
- Very powerful
- Relatively long run-time
- Not too loud
- Cruise control
- Includes tapered and flat nozzles
- Easy to store
Cons
- Expensive
- Heavy
3. Best Backpack Blower: Husqvarna 350BT Backpack Blower
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Power Source: Gas
- CFM: 494
- MPH: 180
- Weight: 22.5 lb.
If you mostly care about performance and aren’t as concerned about price or weight, then the gas-powered Husqvarna 965877502 is your best bet. It costs over $320, but seeing as gas-powered options cost anywhere between $200 and $700, the price is pretty average. Note that this tool is for right-handed users, so if you’re left-handed, expect a lot of arm fatigue.
Performance
You’ll be impressed by how fast the Husqvarna 965877502 will clean your yard, given it’s no more than an acre. It’ll blow pretty much everything away, from two to three-inch piles of dry leaves and small rocks to wet leaves and heavier particles.
And unlike battery-powered cordless leaf blowers, it’ll run for over an hour on a full tank at full throttle for most of the time. It’s arguably more fuel-efficient than other gas-powered options as well. Since the tank is low and exposed, you’ll be able to see how full it is and refuel before the fuel runs out. Just know that since this tool has a 2-cycle engine, it’ll need to run on oil and gasoline. 50:1 is the recommended ratio.
If you’re lucky, it’ll take a single pull to start. Otherwise, it may take up to four pulls. And despite how powerful it is, you’ll barely feel any vibrations unless the tool is idling, which is basically never. More surprisingly, it won’t blow out your eardrums even though gas-powered leaf blowers of similar capacity tend to be really loud.
Another great feature of the Husqvarna 965877502 is its X-torque engine design that reduces exhaust emissions by up to 60%. You’ll barely notice any fumes or smell coming out of the tool. It’s better for you and the environment, too!
Design
First of all, this tool is really heavy. If you already struggle with back pain and back cramping, it may not be the best leaf blower for you. It does get better if you adjust the straps according to the instructions, but it can still get pretty uncomfortable, especially with prolonged use. If you’re more interested in a lighter, handheld gas-powered option, you could try the Craftsman B215.
The shoulder straps on this tool tend to slip off your shoulders. You’ll need to improvise and add your own feature to prevent this from happening, otherwise, you’ll be stuck with this annoying problem.
The controls on this tool are very intuitive. You can even adjust the position of the handle to your liking. And you’ll be happy to know that this tool comes with a variable speed trigger and cruise control as well. However, if you push the switch too far, you’ll turn it off by mistake, which means you’ll have to take it off to start it again.
One more thing—this tool comes with four-tube attachments, which you can adjust to make the length of the tube shorter or longer.
Pros
- Very powerful
- Very long run-time
- Little to no exhaust fumes
- Not as loud as other gas options
- Cruise control
- Comes with four tube attachments
Cons
- Expensive
- Heavy
- Shoulder straps tend to slip off
- Adjusting the speed may turn the tool off by mistake
4. Best Budget Pick: Ryobi P2108A Blower
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Power Source: Battery
- CFM: 280
- MPH: 100
- Weight: 4.7 lb.
Depending on what you’re going to use a cordless leaf blower for, you might not need to get one of the more powerful ones, especially if you’re concerned about the price. The Ryobi P2108A costs less than $80 and can do smaller jobs efficiently.
Performance
The Ryobi P2108A is perfect for those who don’t have an astounding amount of leaves or debris to deal with. It’ll blast off most of the debris on paved driveways and sidewalks, but it’ll have a hard time working on large yards or other heavy-duty surfaces. It’ll also be able to blow some amount of wet leaves, although it won’t be able to move huge piles of them.
At almost full speed, you’ll get up to 15 minutes of run-time, which isn’t much considering it doesn’t provide that much power. If you have a small yard, however, it’s plenty. The battery takes about three hours to fully charge.
Note that the purchase doesn’t include the charger and the battery. But since the P2108A is part of Ryobi’s ONE+ System, if you have other ONE+ tools, you’ll be able to use their batteries to power the P2108A.
Even though this tool is rated at 70dB, it’s still a bit loud, but not loud enough that it’s intolerable.
Design
Not only is it lightweight, but the Ryobi P2108A also has an ergonomic design that allows for easy maneuvering of the tool. It’s also comfortable to use and nicely balanced, so user fatigue won’t be a concern.
As with other highly-rated cordless leaf blowers, the Ryobi P2108A comes with a variable speed trigger for controlling the airflow, but it doesn’t come with the cruise control feature that allows for continuous operation.
One thing that’s unique about the Ryobi P2108A is that it comes with a debris scraper for scraping stubborn leaves and dirt.
You can use the hanging hook on the tool to store it after every use.
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Lightweight
- Well-balanced
- Comes with debris scraper
- Easy to store
Cons
- Not for larger jobs
- Not for blowing wet leaves
- No cruise control
5. Best Basic Gas-Powered Blower: Poulan Pro PR48BT
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Power Source: Gas
- CFM: 475
- MPH: 200
- Weight: 19.8 lb.
If you’re looking for a powerful gas-powered cordless leaf blower that doesn’t go over $300, the Poulan Pro PR48BT is for you. Just like the Husqvarna 965877502, this tool is right-handed mounted.
Performance
Although the Poulan Pro PR48BT’s CFM rating isn’t as good as the Husqvarna 965877502’s, it’s a little better in terms of speed, so you’ll be able to clear big yards with ease, even if there are wet leaves on the ground. Like the Husqvarna backpack, this tool runs on a 50:1 mixture of gas and oil, and will run for about an hour on full throttle.
Starting this tool isn’t as easy as the Husqvarna backpack, since the pull cord is kind of short and light, and there also isn’t a good place to hold it. It’ll take two to four pulls to start the leaf blower.
This tool is very loud, so make sure to wear hearing protection when you use it.
Design
It’s only a few pounds lighter than the Husqvarna 965877502, so it’ll still wear you down after an hour or so of use. However, this tool does come with a comfortable back padding and an adjustable harness, so it’ll be able to reduce back fatigue and back strain a little bit more.
The controls are intuitive and within easy reach. The tool also offers both variable speed settings and cruise control. The combination of these things will allow you to control the tool comfortably with just one hand.
Now for the cons, the tank is kind of hard to fill since it’s in an awkward spot. The gas cap is a little hard to remove, as well. Poulan Pro should’ve spent more time designing these things. In addition, as with the Husqvarna backpack, the straps tend to slip off the shoulders.
Pros
- Powerful
- Very long run-time
- Cruise control
- Comfortable back padding
Cons
- Heavy
- Loud
- Shoulder straps tend to slip off
- Starting is tricky
- Filling the tank requires some effort
6. Best Safety Features: Makita XBU02PT1
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Power Source: Battery
- CFM: 473
- MPH: 120
- Weight: 8.4 lb.
The Makita XBU02PT1 is another premium handheld leaf blower that costs over $320. It’s not as powerful as the Ego LB6504, but it comes with unique safety features you won’t see on the rest of the best cordless leaf blowers we’ve featured here. These safety features are designed to prolong the lifespan of the tool, so you’ll be saving money in the long run by not having to replace your leaf blower too soon.
Performance
With a 473-CFM airflow and speeds of up to 120 MPH, the Makita XBU02PT1 is powerful enough to easily clear huge piles of leaves, as well as blast off mixed debris like rocks and clumps of pine needles. It can even send caked-on dirt on your driveway flying.
Because of the six different speed settings, you’ll be able to use the tool for a variety of jobs, from clearing light particles like sawdust at the lowest setting to some serious, hardcore blasting—think wet grass—at the highest setting.
At mid-speed, you’ll get up to 28 minutes of run-time, but if you use the tool at its highest setting, it’ll only last for 10 to 12 minutes. You’ll need extra batteries for larger jobs. Fortunately, the purchase comes with four 18V 5 AH batteries and you only need two to power the tool.
In addition, these batteries charge super quickly, thanks to the charger’s built-in fan that cools the batteries, allowing for a faster charge time. They’ll be ready to use again in just 45 minutes. On top of that, they can power other 18V Makita tools as well.
Since this Makita tool isn’t as loud as other leaf blowers, you’ll be able to use it comfortably and without garnering the fury of your neighbors.
Design
It’s not as lightweight as other battery-powered options, so you might want to invest in a shoulder strap to make it easier to carry. And while it comes with a comfort-grip handle, the balance isn’t as great. Because the tool naturally rests at an angle that forces the nozzle to point straight at the ground, you have to exert more effort to get the optimal blowing angle.
The tool comes with a long nozzle and a short nozzle, both of which can be adjusted to your desired length and can be used together or separately. They also lock firmly into place.
The variable speed dial and the control trigger—which allow you to go quickly from zero to the selected speed—are within easy reach, so you can easily and quickly turn the airflow speed up or down. It comes with a cruise control as well.
Since this tool isn’t bulky and the nozzles can be detached, storing it won’t be a problem.
Safety Features
The Makita XBU02PT1 comes equipped with overload protection that protects it from overloading, as well as overheat protection that shuts the tool down when it gets too hot, preventing damage to the batteries. It even comes with over-discharge protection, which shuts the tool down when the battery capacity gets low, ultimately prolonging battery life.
Pros
- Has safety features
- Comes with two extra batteries
- Less loud
- Comes with two adjustable nozzles
- Cruise control
- Easy to store
Cons
- Expensive
- A little heavy
- Balance is a little off
- Requires more effort to get the best blowing angle
7. Best Handheld Gas Powered: Craftsman B215
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Power Source: Gas
- CFM: 430
- MPH: 200
- Weight: 10 lb.
A gas-powered cordless leaf blower that costs under $150, the Craftsman B215 is a little less powerful than the Poulan Pro PR48BT, but it’s a handheld version that’s half the price and weight.
Performance
It’s almost as powerful as the two gas-powered backpack options we’ve featured, so it’ll definitely get the average homeowner’s cleaning job done. Additionally, despite the smaller fuel tank, you’ll still get about an hour of run-time at mid-speed. Since it has a 2-cycle engine, you’ll need to run it on a 40:1 mix of gas and oil.
Speaking of the fuel tank, it’s translucent, so you’ll know when it’s time to refuel. The tool is also really easy to start—just one pull when it’s warm and three to five when it’s cold out.
If there’s one thing that’s really annoying about this tool, it’s that it vibrates so much that you’ll probably want to keep switching hands while you’re using it. It’s also louder than the battery-powered handheld blowers.
Design
The Craftsman B215 is lightweight for a gas-powered blower, but at 11 lb., it’s still kind of heavy. You’ll probably want to attach a shoulder strap to it. As for the controls, they’re intuitive and within easy reach and include a variable-speed throttle as well as cruise control.
Your purchase will also come with an extended nozzle with an integrated scraper to help clear stubborn debris.
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Long run-time
- Easy to start
- Cruise control
- Extended nozzle with debris scraper
Cons
- A bit heavy
- A little loud
- Vibrates a lot
8. Quietest: Greenworks Pro Axial Blower
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Power Source: Battery
- CFM: 500
- MPH: 125
- Weight: 9 lb.
The Greenworks Pro Blower is another tool that strikes a good balance between power and price. It’s a little more expensive than the DEWALT DCBL722P1 at over $170, but it’s rated at 500 CFM against DEWALT’s 450.
Performance
This tool is perfect for clearing yards of up to an acre and can blow wet leaves and snow away with ease on high. The run-time on high is only 12 minutes, but seeing as it’s powerful enough to blow off rocks on mid-speed, you’ll be able to use it for 28 minutes straight if you stick to that speed.
Most of the best cordless leaf blowers have a charge time of an hour or two, but this one actually only charges for 30 minutes. It’s a great option if you want a battery-powered blower that can take care of a bigger yard. Unfortunately, this tool should be stored indoors, as exposure to inclement weather can damage the battery. Some units also come with either a faulty charger or battery.
The Greenworks Pro Blower is probably the least noisy cordless leaf blower you’ll find on the market. It’s so quiet that you won’t have to worry about waking up your neighbors when using it at seven in the morning on Saturdays.
Design
While many battery-powered cordless leaf blowers weigh about 5 lb. or less, this one weighs 9 lb. It’ll start to wear on you after a while, plus the balance isn’t the best so user fatigue is almost always certain. On top of that, it doesn’t have cruise control, so you’ll have to continuously press the trigger. It does have variable settings, however.
Pros
- Affordable
- Very quiet
- Fast-charging
Cons
- Must be stored indoors
- Risk of getting a faulty battery or charger
- A little heavy
9. Best Reversible Leaf Blower: KIMO Cordless Leaf Blower
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Power Source: Battery
- CFM: 200
- MPH: 125
- Weight: 2.2 lb.
K I M O. really upped their game with this tool. Not only is it a cordless leaf blower, but it’s also a cordless vacuum cleaner. On top of that, it only weighs 2.2 lb. as a leaf blower, making it half the weight of most cordless leaf blowers. You get all these benefits for less than $80 per tool.
Performance
This tool from K I M O. may not cover as big of an area as the other best cordless leaf blowers on this list, but with a speed of 125 MPH, it’s more powerful than the premium Makita XBU02PT1 when it comes to blowing leaves and debris. It’s mostly suitable for small tasks, like cleaning your garden, garage, or driveway, but it’s powerful enough to blow off small amounts of wet leaves.
In cases where you might need to collect debris instead of sending them flying, you can attach the collection bag it comes with to turn it into a handheld vacuum cleaner. Note that this tool isn’t meant to replace your everyday handheld vacuum, so manage your expectations if you’re thinking of buying it for the vacuum feature. You can vacuum small areas with it, like your car and the corners of your garage, but definitely not an entire house.
The collection bag can be a bit tricky to connect, so if you don’t want to deal with that, just skip the vacuum feature.
The battery on this tool will take about 60-90 minutes to fully charge and will run the tool for up to 20 minutes at maximum speed. Unfortunately, there’s a chance you’ll end up with a faulty battery that will no longer hold a charge after a few months.
Compared to other cordless leaf blowers, the K I M O. leaf blower is rather quiet, so there shouldn’t be a problem using it in residential neighborhoods.
Design
This tool is so light that you’ll be able to use it for a long time without feeling any discomfort. Even kids can easily use and maneuver this tool.
It also comes with a variable speed switch, although it’s not as precise as other leaf blowers.
Because this tool is light and small, storing it is pretty easy. It comes with a little carrying bag as well.
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Can be used as a vacuum cleaner
- Lightweight
- Fast-charging battery
- Quieter than its competition
Cons
- Not suitable for larger jobs
- The vacuum feature isn’t the best
- Risk of getting a faulty battery
- No cruise control
10. Lightest: Worx WG545
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Power Source: Battery
- CFM: 80
- MPH: 120
- Weight: 3.5 lb.
The Worx WG545 may be the weakest of the best cordless leaf blowers in this guide, but you can depend on it to handle smaller tasks efficiently. It also costs less than $95.
Performance
This tool isn’t strong enough to blow wet leaves, but it should be able to blast off dry leaves and small debris just fine. Since it doesn’t pick up too much gravel and mulch, it’ll do a great job cleaning delicate areas like flower beds.
It will run for up to 15 minutes and only takes around 30 minutes to charge, so you won’t have to wait long to use it again. The tool also comes with a battery indicator, so you’ll know when it’s time to charge before it dies.
You’d think that since it’s a less powerful tool, it won’t be very loud, but that’s not the case here. Luckily, the noise isn’t too much to handle.
Design
Apart from being lightweight, this tool is also designed pretty well in terms of maneuverability. Shorter people, as well as those with smaller hands, will have no problem using the tool. It only has one speed, so it doesn’t have cruise control. It does have a sliding on/off switch, however, so you won’t be stuck continuously pressing the switch.
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Lightweight
- Fast-charging
- Battery indicator
Cons
- Not suitable for bigger tasks
- One speed only
- A little loud
Guide to Buying the Best Cordless Leaf Blowers
While the products mentioned above excel in many ways, not all of them may be suitable for your intended purpose. Knowing more about them will help ensure that you pick the one that’s perfect for your specific needs.
Types of Cordless Leaf Blowers
As mentioned before, the two main types of cordless leaf blowers are battery-powered and gas-powered. They differ a lot in terms of features, which you can learn more about below.
Gas-Powered Backpack Cordless Leaf Blowers
Backpack leaf blowers provide the most power and speed out of all the different types of cordless leaf blowers. But this strong advantage comes with major drawbacks: they’re expensive and heavy.
Performance
The backpack options offer excellent performance and long run-time. Each one literally comes with its own fuel tank that you carry in a backpack. Because this tank is rather big, you’re able to use the tool for multiple hours at a time and usually around an hour at full throttle.
Price
While you can easily find a battery-powered cordless leaf blower that costs under $100, the weakest, as well as the worst-performing gas-powered backpack options, cost between $150 and $200. If you want more power and more useful features, be prepared to pay over $250 for a decent one.
Weight
The majority of products in this category weigh over 20 lb., which can be really fatiguing, especially if you’re using it for over an hour at a time. We’ve only featured two backpack options in this guide, with the Poulan Pro PR48BT being the lighter of the two at 19.8 lb.
Gas-Powered Handheld Cordless Leaf Blowers
If you don’t like the idea of using a 20-something-pound leaf blower (or paying over $250 for a good product) but still want to get a gas-powered one, you could get a gas-powered handheld leaf blower. It’s often not as powerful as the backpack type, but it’s also cheaper and a lot less heavy. For example, the only gas-powered handheld blower we’ve featured — the Craftsman B215 — costs a little over $100 and weighs 10 lb.
Note that whichever type you pick will emit exhaust fumes that can be harmful to you and the environment. Luckily, there now exist several options like the Husqvarna 965877502 that reduce these fumes by over 50%.
Additionally, gas-powered options are more difficult and bothersome to maintain. Refueling gas-powered leaf blowers are often tedious and sometimes tricky.
Battery-Powered Cordless Leaf Blowers
On the other end of the spectrum are battery-powered cordless leaf blowers. They’re cheaper, less heavy, and often less loud. They’re nowhere near as powerful as gas-powered backpack leaf blowers, but they should be good enough for most small tasks. Backpack options are also available, but we didn’t include any since none had met our standards.
Battery-powered handheld blowers have a considerably short run-time. On average, you’ll get about 10 to 15 minutes of run-time at full speed. If you want more, you’ll need to get the Ego LB6504, which lasts up to 30 minutes.
The type of cordless leaf blower you need to get really depends on what you’re going to use it for and the size of the area it’s going to clean. If you have a small yard, or if you just need a blower for cleaning your workshop, then the inexpensive low-power battery-powered options should be able to do the job.
Final Thoughts
Shopping for a cordless leaf blower can be boring and confusing, but once you finally find the perfect leaf blower for your needs, raking dead leaves or sweeping dirty workshops will be a thing of the past (mostly). Hours of work will be reduced to one or less, so you’ll have more time to do things that actually matter. Just remember to compare your options well so you don’t end up choosing a leaf blower that’ll cause you as much misery as using a rake.