10 Best Leaf Blowers

Last Updated May, 2020

All About Leaf Blowers

What Is A Leaf Blower?

As the name suggests, a leaf blower is a tool used to blow leaves and other debris into piles, so that it’s easier to burn the trash or bag and otherwise dispose of it. These ingenious tools trace their roots back to the 1970s.

Leaf blowers are loved for their incredible light weight, speed, convenience, and energy-efficiency. They significantly reduce the amount of time that was traditionally required to rake, pile, mulch, and bag yard debris.

Since their invention, leaf blowers have been manufactured in various configurations depending on their driving fuel or style of handling. In that regard, we have the electric and the gas-powered leaf blowers, as well as the backpack-style and the hand-held leaf blowers, respectively.

Do I Need A Leaf Blower?

If you have heaps of leaves and other debris on your property that require regular collection, then you’re a perfect candidate for a leaf blower. Even if you don’t frequently collect waste in your yard, certain seasons, such as the fall season, will invariably necessitate a leaf blower.

You might think that hiring one to pull a one-off debris collection exercise is cost-effective. But you’ll discover that purchasing your own leaf blower is economical in the long run.

Leaf blowers are also ideal for people who’re always on the go. The tools enable you to clear out leaves in record time, enhancing your overall productivity.

From a medical point of view, leaf blowers can significantly reduce or eliminate aches and pains that often result from bending, squatting, or crouching when clearing leaves from your property.

How Do Leaf Blowers Work?

Leaf blowers operate on the principle of centrifugal force. Centrifugal force refers to the energy created when a frame rotates so fast that it generates force and causes objects nearby to move. When you turn on a leaf blower, the blades rotate rapidly and in effect, generate centrifugal force. The force then acts on the air that surrounds the device, sucking the air into the fan of the tool. After that, the centrifugal force pushes the sucked air out of the tool.

A leaf blower is designed with a narrower front as compared to its back. Therefore, as the air is forced out, it comes out so forcefully that there’s a balance between the air getting sucked and that getting pushed out the device. That creates a wind speed that clears leaves from the yard.

How to Purchase a Leaf Blower

There are numerous considerations when buying a leaf blower. But the most common ones include;

The type of fuel the tool uses,
The safety concerns,
Speed and convenience,
The brand,
Noise levels, and
Your budget.

In terms of fuel consumption, leaf blowers are divided into Gas and Electric Leaf Blowers. Each of these comes with its own benefits and drawbacks, depending on what you’re looking for.

If you’re looking for a hand-held leaf blower that works incredibly fast, then you should consider the gas variant. However, corded electric blowers have proven to be more efficient for bigger jobs. The major drawback to corded electric leaf blowers is their limiting range. Most of these tools come with outdoor extension cords that top out at 100 ft., which significantly limits the radius the user can cover in one round. Also, corded electric leaf blowers feature less power and limited runtime for every battery charge. And the amount of energy they give off depends on the strength of the battery, unlike gas blowers that give off consistent power supply till the gas runs out.

Gas blowers aren’t corded. Therefore, you can blow leaves from any corner of your yard. But they tend to cost more than their corded electric counterparts. And besides their higher initial purchase price, you’ll also need to factor in the cost of fuel refill and regular maintenance. Not to mention, they’re also relatively heavier and noisier.

Noise levels is a crucial consideration when buying a leaf blower, as you don’t want to disturb the otherwise peaceful neighborhood. When shopping for these tools, always look out for the decibels which are usually listed as part of the product features. Check and compare them, ultimately settling on the most silent tool. Also, establish if there are any regulations on the use of leaf blowers in your community. Some communities prohibit the use of leaf blowers during certain hours or tools that emit particular noise levels. You can always check your town regulations here.

In terms of the handling style, the handheld blowers are generally cheaper than the backpack-style blowers. However, the handheld blowers deliver less power and present extra baggage to the user’s hands, making them less convenient than their backpack counterparts. If you find neither option desirable, you can experiment with the more innovative wheeled blowers. Wheeled leaf blowers are ideal for properties with heaps of leaves as they’re way more powerful than the handheld and the backpack-style blowers. However, their main drawbacks include the fact that they consume a lot of storage space, and their controls are somewhat difficult to handle. And as you may expect, they come with the biggest price tags.

The brand is also an important aspect to consider when buying a leaf blower. Some of the top leaf blower brands include Dewalt, Hitachi, Black and Decker, Toro, and Husqvarna. Generally, leaf blowers manufactured by reputable brands tend to be costlier. That’s because most of them feature a balance of the desirable features. However, always look beyond the brand name when purchasing these tools, and remember that higher price doesn’t always translate into better quality. Once you know the qualities you’re looking for, go for a blower that features those specifications regardless of the brand or company name.

Lastly, it’s also prudent to consider safety concerns when choosing a leaf blower. For instance, you want a blower that comes with a quick shut-off switch in case things go wrong or nonslip handles for better hand comfort and reduced hand fatigue. Other safety specifications include bottom-mounted air intake, built-in dust collection kit, and a wide-mouthed gas tank for gas models. For electric blowers, ensure the extension cord is double insulated. That will prevent cases of electric shock in case the first layer of insulation wears off.

Experts advise looking for a sticker on the product that suggests it has been approved by CSA, NSC, OPEI, ANSI, UL, CPSC, or IEC. Above all, check the country of origin and study their regulatory standards. Then, establish if such measures conform to those of any of the mentioned regulators. Also, remember to buy a product that comes with a manufacturer’s warranty or registration card. You should then proceed to complete the form and mail it back to the manufacturer. Doing that will ensure you’re kept on the loop in the event of product recalls.

Safety Precautions When Using a Leaf Blower

Much as they make our work easier, leaf blowers come with immense safety concerns. Injuries could result from cuts, bruises, electrical shock, eye injuries caused by projectile debris, fires, hearing loss, or breathing problems.

Before you go looking for your ideal leaf blower, remember to abide by the following safety precautions;

Wear hearing protection in the case of noisy models.
Wear dusk masks and goggles while using the device.
Keep children as well as pets away while operating a leaf blower.
Avoid running the blower beyond the restricted hours.
Don’t operate the blower when tired, drunk, or under the influence of drugs.
Tie back long hair or loose clothing.
Always turn off the device while not in use.
Replace the filters as regularly as recommended.

Above all, remember to disable the power supply in the event of an accident or injury. Then, attend to yourself first before taking the tool for repair and maintenance.

Black+decker

BLACK+DECKER 20V Max Lithium Sweeper (LSW221)

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$69.00 View Deal

Product Highlights

Easily clears debris from hard surfaces like driveways, decks, and garages

Air speed up to 130 Miles per hour

Operates on a 20V MAX 1.5 Ampere hour Lithium Ion battery that holds its charge for up to 18 months

Lightweight with a low noise design.Maximum initial battery voltage (measured without a workload) is 20 volts. Nominal voltage is 18

Part of the 20 Volt MAX System

Worx

WORX WG520 Turbine 600 Corded Electric Leaf Blower, Black

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$52.38 View Deal

Product Highlights

[TURBINE FAN TECH] WORX engineers figured out how to get a jet enginetype motor inside of a leaf blower; Cool, huh, Super powerful, yet not so loud that you’ll think it’s getting ready for takeoff

[2 SPEEDS FOR DIFFERENT JOBS] It’s actually better to go slow for pavement or tight corners; But on the open lawn, switch to speed 2, and its 110 mph, and let’s see what the TURBINE can do

[600 CFM] We named the TURBINE 600 after the 600 Cubic Feet per Minute of highcapacity air volume that shoots out of its widemouth nozzle; That’s a wide, strong path of air that allows you to clear large areas with fewer passes

[HYPERSTREAM AIR NOZZLE] But we didn’t just stop designing once we were finished with the TURBINE engine; We added an attachable nozzle, optimized to direct all that volume in a concentrated area for tougher jobs

[ONEHANDED OPERATION] With all that power, believe it or not, the TURBINE 600 is designed to be controlled with just one hand; It’s only 6.4 lbs, and the ergonomic design funnels all that wind in a way that’s easy to handle

Toro

Toro 51585 Power Sweep Electric Leaf Blower, 7 Amp 2-Speed

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$38.66 View Deal

Product Highlights

Generates powerful air speed of 160 mph

Lightweight and easy to use at only 4.6-pounds

2-speed air control for greater versatility.Product type: Hand held

Perfect for clearing leaves and debris from sidewalks, deck and driveways

K I M O.

Cordless Leaf Blower - KIMO 20V Lithium 2-in-1 Sweeper/Vacuum 2.0 AH Battery for Blowing Leaf, Clearing Dust & Small Trash,Car, Computer Host,Hard to Clean Corner

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$82.99 View Deal

Product Highlights

【Portable Cordless 2-in-1 Sweeper & Vacuum】This blower weights (2 lbs) only half even less than other blowers, which make it effortless to using in for a long time. 2 in 1 design not only help you to clean the garden of fallen leaves, snow; but also can clean the corner and gap which is hard to clean. Perfect for courtyard, garage, the car inside and engine compartment etc. Cordless design allows you to clean up anywhere wanted.

【Super Strong Wind】Turbofans &all-copper motors provide up to 13000r/min strong power, keep running at top speed for 20 minutes. It's easy to blow up wet leaves, snow on your car, and make your garden keep clean after a rainy day.

【Instantly Becomes a Vacuum Cleaner】As long as the blow tube installed in the air inlet, put the garbage bag at the air outlet, the blower will become a vacuum cleaner immediately. Super strong suction allows you to absorb dust, pet hair, crumbled cookies, biscuits much more easily than besom. It is effortless and convenient to clean.

【Fast Charge & Power Indicator Light】It only takes 60 minutes (2 times as fast as normal) for a full charge. Full charged battery make it enough to clean up the house , garden and car. Power indicator ensures you to get the battery level at anytime, avoid the embarrassment of battery draining at work.

【Accessory Kit Come with KIMO Leaf Blower (2 YEAR) 】We are confident that our docking are manufactured under strict quality standards to give our customers best experience. KIMO 2-in-1 Leaf Blower & Dust Vacuum comes with 1 KIMO Fast Charger, 1 KIMO Long Life 20 Volt Lithium Battery, 1 Blow Tube w/ White Ring, 2 * Reusabke Collection Bag and Detail Instruction Manual.

Worx

WORX WG545.6 20V 2.0Ah Cordless AIR Leaf Blower Battery and Charger Included

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N/A View Deal

Product Highlights

Includes (1) WORX Air Blower, (1) 20V 2.0 Ah Battery with Indicator System for quick battery life review, (1) 60-Minute Quick Charger, and (1) Carry Bag

Blower produces 120 MPH air speed with 80 CFM air flow

Sweeps debris from shops, garages, driveways and yards and clears hard to reach surfaces

Ultra-lightweight, compact design – only 3.5 lbs so easy to use and store

The included 20V battery charges quickly and powers your tools without waning or draining. Max Lithium technology makes this batter lighter, more efficient, and charge with no memory effect.

Worx

WORX WG584 40V Power Share Turbine Cordless Leaf Blower with Brushless Motor (2x20V Batteries)

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$149.99 View Deal

Product Highlights

[Turbine Fan Tech] Our Engineers figured out how to get a jet engine type motor inside of a leaf blower; Cool, huh? super powerful, yet Not so loud that you’ll think it’s getting ready for takeoff

[3 Speeds + Turbo for Different Jobs ] It’s actually better to go slow for pavement or tight corners; But on the open lawn, switch to speed 3, and it’s 80 mph of blowing power; Or, better yet, switch it into turbo, and really get angry at your yard work

[A Wide Strong Stream Of Air] 470 CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) come streaming out of this wide mouth tube; That’s high capacity air volume so you clear your property in fewer passes and with less leg work; No load speed : 14300 to 21900 RPM

[One Handed Operation ] With all that Power, believe it or not, the 40V Turbine is designed to be controlled with just one hand; It’s only 7.3 pounds, and the ergonomic design funnels all that wind in a way that’s easy to handle

[Brushless Motor] This power source was made to be more dynamic, reliable, and to perform better; With all the tech shoved into this engine, and into the Turbine fan, you’ll feel like you’ve got a leaf blower from the future

Dewalt

DEWALT DCBL720P1 20V MAX 5.0 Ah Lithium Ion XR Brushless Blower, Multicolor

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$215.99 View Deal

Product Highlights

Brushless Motor maximizing motor efficiency and durability

Innovative axial fan design that maximizes on air output and run time

400 CFM and 90 MPH performance

Variable trigger and speed lock. Lightweight and ergonomic design maximizes control and minimizes stress on your arm

Includes 20V MAX 5.0Ah Lithium Ion Battery, along with charger

Litheli

LiTHELi 40V Leaf Blower 480CFM 92MPH with Brushless Motor, 2.5AH Battery and Charger

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$149.99 View Deal

Product Highlights

【Brushless Motor】40V MAX 2.5Ah Lithium-Ion battery, motor conversion efficiency reaches 85% or more. Decibel <66 dBA, low noise design for quiet operation. sweeping patios, decks, walkways, grass, flower beds, driveways and garages.

【Stepless Speed Regulation】You can adjust your blower air speed from 72 - 122 km/h (45 MPH -76 MPH). Lower air speed means longer battery time and less noise. High air speed increases power to clear stubborn debris, the turbo mode produces air volumes up to 816m³/h (480 CFM).

【Lightweight & Compact】 Lightweight and ergonomic design maximizes control and minimizes stress on your arm. This leaf blower is weighing only 2.65 kilograms, even women can use it easily. Space-saving design with a detachable blower tube for easy storage.

【Battery Universal】 All Litheli 40V cordless products work with all LitheLi 40V Li-ion battery pack. Instant Start - Freedom from cords, No gas-oil mixing, No pull cords, No warm-up, No emissions.

【Service and Package Contents】 Litheli a battery powered life. Includes 1 ▪ leaf blower, 1 ▪ 40V 2.5Ah battery, 1 ▪ charger, 1 ▪ Instruction Manual. 90-Day Money Back; 3-Year Battery and Charger Warranty; 5-Year Tool Warranty.

Black+decker

BLACK+DECKER (LSW40C) 40V Max Cordless Sweeper

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$99.99 View Deal

Product Highlights

Up to 125 miles per hour air power to quickly and easily clear debris from hard surfaces

Low noise design for quiet operation

State of charge indicator which shows your Battery charge at a glance

Lightweight 4 lb design makes compact and easy to handle

Maximum initial battery voltage (measured without a workload) is 40V; Nominal voltage is 36V; 3 Year limited Warranty; Uses Ideal for clearing driveways, sidewalks, decks, garages and other hard surfaces of leaves, grass clippings, and other lawn debris