The best leaf blowers we tested
Best leaf blower: Ego Power+ LB6504
Best budget leaf blower: Black+Decker LB700
If you’re a homeowner with this season’s fallen leaves piled up all over your lawn and you want them gone, you have three options: blow and bag them yourself using one of the best leaf blowers, hire someone else to blow them or manually rake and bag them.
If you choose the first option, know you’re not alone. Plenty of homeowners take lawn maintenance into their own hands each year, be it via an electric lawnmower to trim their grass or a leaf blower to tidy their yard.
But choosing the right leaf blower for your lawn-clearing needs isn’t as easy as strolling into Home Depot and snagging the first one you see off the shelf. That’s where we come in to help. Today’s leaf blowers look a bit different than what you may be used to. Out are the gas-powered and backpack models (they do still exist, but some are facing bans and not all of them are useful for the ordinary consumer), and in are the more lightweight, electric models.
We researched hundreds of these electric leaf blowers and tested 11 highly rated models to see how they compare. Our testing pool consisted of two corded models and 10 cordless models (powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries) from brands including Black+Decker, DeWalt, Echo, Ego, Greenworks, Ryobi, Toro and Worx.
After blowing tons of leaves during testing, we found that the cordless Ego Power+ LB6504 is the best leaf blower overall, while the Black+Decker LB700 is the best budget leaf blower.
The Ego Power+ LB6504 is a sturdy, powerful blower that’s easy to use. We could hold it for long periods of time without strain, thanks to its ergonomic handle and comfortable weight, which made it highly maneuverable in our hands. Plus, its rechargeable lithium-ion battery lasted the longest, even at the highest speed level.
The Black+Decker LB700 corded blower is lightweight and surprisingly powerful, and it should fit any budget. If you have a yard on the smaller side or just need a blower to blow leaves and other debris from sidewalks and paths, then this is a good choice for you if you don’t mind using a blower with a cord.
Best leaf blower: Ego Power+ LB6504
The Ego Power+ LB6504 blower is easy to use and was highly maneuverable in our hands. This leaf blower weighs 12.9 pounds, which was a comfortable weight for us to work with. We could hold it for long periods of time without strain, thanks to its sleek, ergonomic handle.
This blower is powerful; we were able to move what seemed like thousands of leaves from their resting places into a huge pile in just a few minutes. The blower features a round speed control dial that let us adjust the force of the airflow in four increments ranging from Off to High. Once we were blowing at the highest speed, we then held down the boost button to activate Turbo Mode for even more strength. We did notice that the blower was noisier on Turbo Mode, but the extra power made it faster to get the job done.
This model is solidly built and easy to control. It comes with two removable nozzles, one flat and one tapered. We found it easy to slide each of them onto the open end of the blower, and they stayed put during use. Both nozzles lengthen the leaf blower, but more importantly, they helped us direct the airflow. The flat nozzle has a narrower opening, which let us concentrate airflow on a particular section of leaves. We preferred the tapered nozzle, which also let us focus the airflow where we wanted, but seemed more efficient to use.
Its 5mAh lithium-ion battery lasted 25 minutes on a single charge, the longest of all the leaf blower batteries we tested. This was the case even while we used the unit at its highest Turbo Mode speed. Like all the batteries in this test, the battery is rechargeable and comes with its own charger. After use, it took us one hour to get the battery fully charged again.
This leaf blower comes with a five-year tool warranty and a three-year battery and charger warranty.
The one thing we didn’t like was that this blower’s battery lasted only 25 minutes for us during testing, while the company claims it can last upward of 90 minutes. We never saw that run time, even when we used the blower on its lowest speed setting.
So, while 25 minutes is actually five minutes longer on average than the rest of the blower batteries in our testing, it still didn’t seem like long enough. It would be more helpful if these batteries could last longer on a single charge. That way, we wouldn’t have had to pause our yard work to wait for the battery to recharge, which took a solid hour to get to full power again each time.
We found the Ego Power+ LB6504 easy to use, sturdy and powerful. Its comfortable weight and ergonomic handle make it highly maneuverable. And we appreciated its rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which lasted the longest of all the leaf blowers on a single charge, even when we blew leaves at the highest speed level during testing.
Best budget leaf blower: Black+Decker LB700
During testing, we found the Black+Decker LB700 electric corded leaf blower to be the most lightweight of the units tested, and chalk that up to the fact that there’s no battery adding to its 4.4-pound body. As a result, it was nimble and easy to maneuver around.
We also liked its ergonomic handle, which we found comfortable to grip with one hand as we walked and cleared away the leaves in our path.
The leaf blower also surprised us with its power, allowing air speeds of up to 180 miles per hour, according to the company. It didn’t seem as powerful as some of the other corded models, but it got the job done, even if it took us longer.
It was also the most convenient blower to use because, once plugged in, its run time was as long as we needed to get the job done. We didn’t have to pause to wait for its battery to recharge, since there is no battery.
This leaf blower itself worked fine, but if we had to pick one thing we didn’t like about it, it would be that it wasn’t cordless. It also doesn’t come with its own cord, which forces you to buy an extension cord.
It was a bit of a pain having to constantly maneuver around the 100-foot extension cord as we walked and blew leaves. This is a bit of a nitpick, though, since having to deal with a cord comes with the territory if you don’t want to have to charge and recharge batteries.
On a positive note, having a cord — a constant power source that doesn’t run out — meant we could blow leaves as long as we needed to without stopping, which made our cleanup faster.
If you have a smaller budget for yard cleanup equipment and don’t mind dealing with a cord as you work, then the Black+Decker LB700 blower is a lightweight, reliable and inexpensive option that’s ideal for smaller yard cleanups. It would also be a great choice if you just need a blower to quickly blow dirt and other debris from your paths, sidewalks and driveway.
How we tested
Our testing pool consisted of 12 total leaf blowers, with 10 cordless and two plug-in models. We tested all the leaf blowers and judged each on its ease of use, ergonomic handle and maneuverability, unit weight, power and speed levels, run time, battery life and sturdiness of construction.
We first researched hundreds of electric models to test. We focused mainly on selecting cordless models powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, but also looked for corded models since we know some folks prefer being able to use the blower longer in one session without needing to recharge.
We vetted our leaf blowers based on their relatively similar weights, power levels, speed levels and type of batteries used. Ultimately, we selected the following 12 blowers for testing: two corded models from Black+Decker and Toro, and 10 cordless (powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries) from Black+Decker, DeWalt, Echo, Ego, Greenworks, Ryobi, Toro and Worx.
We also purchased a?brown heavy-duty, waterproof tarp?to blow the leaves onto, a?100-foot-long outdoor-rated extension cord?to use for the corded blowers, a heavy-duty?power strip surge protector?into which we plugged all the batteries and?100 clear leaf bags?to bag up the blown leaves during testing.
After the research and vetting stage, we ran each leaf blower through various tests to see how they compared. Here’s what we considered during testing.
- Build quality: We unboxed each leaf blower, noting the sturdiness of the construction of each one. We then unboxed each blower’s charger, setting them all up on a nearby table and plugging them in. We charged all of the leaf blowers one by one to make sure each was fully charged before initial use. We timed how long each battery took to charge.
- Battery tests: We installed a fully charged battery into each leaf blower and ventured out into our leaf-covered backyard. We set up our brown tarp in one corner of our yard, in the same spot each time. We timed how long it took for us to fully blow all the leaves within sight onto our tarp, using the most powerful setting on the blower first. We noted whether or not we could do this task with one charge of a battery or whether we had to pause the blowing to charge up the battery or batteries again.
- Noise tests: We also recorded the leaf blowers’ noise levels by using the?Sound Level Meter (SLM) app?from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) on our iPhone 11, which was set on a table on our backyard deck, about 6 feet away from the leaf blower as it ran for one minute on its highest speed setting. We measured the noise levels produced by each leaf blower over two minutes while running at its highest speed in our otherwise quiet backyard using the NIOSH app.
- Usability and comfort: During testing, we judged each blower on how ergonomic and comfortable its handle was, how easy it was to maneuver and control the blower, and whether or not the blower’s weight began to be cumbersome. We noted the blower’s power and speed level controls as well as how loud the blower seemed to be while running on regular power versus full or turbo-boosted power.
How to choose a leaf blower
If you want a leaf-free yard, you first need to decide how you want this to happen. If you don’t want to hire someone to do the job for you or rake the leaves up yourself, then your remaining option is to use a leaf blower. There are a few key factors to consider before buying a model.
Batteries
Electric leaf blowers that are not corded use batteries to run. Some models use one battery, while others use two batteries, and they may or may not be included. Consider what type of battery the blower uses, as well as whether it comes with its own charging station and how long the charging time is. Depending on how much each battery weighs, needing one or even two batteries does add weight to the unit, so keep that in mind as you prepare to carry around a leaf blower to clean up your yard of leaves.
Ergonomics
You’re going to want to check out the handles of any leaf blowers you are thinking of buying. A nicely designed, ergonomic handle really does make a world of difference when you need to carry the unit around for 20 to 30 minutes or more while cleaning up your yard. You want to look for a handle that is comfortable in either hand, so you can switch off to the other hand when one gets tired. Make sure the handle is also located in a spot on the blower that evenly distributes the weight of the unit so that it’s easy to control and maneuver as you walk around your yard while blowing leaves. Also helpful is to choose a handle that has important speed control buttons located within easy reach.
Extension cords
We used this sturdy extension cord to safely and securely use the two corded electric leaf blowers during testing. We used a 100-foot-long cord, but it comes in various sizes so you can buy the length you need to reach every corner of your yard.
Keep in mind that the leaf blowers we tested that did not use batteries needed to be attached to an extension cord. They didn’t come with their own power cord. The good news here is that you don’t have to be concerned with buying extra batteries or chargers if you want to get your leaf blowing done faster. However, you do need to spend the extra money and buy an outdoor-rated extension cord in the appropriate length for your yard. We used a 100-foot-long cord, but you can choose a longer or shorter cord, according to your needs.
Eco-friendliness
Before selecting a leaf blower, consider that electric leaf blowers operate at much lower decibel levels than gas models, which can create a quieter environment for everyone. In fact, noise complaints in suburban neighborhoods have become so widespread that many municipalities are moving to limit the use of gas leaf blowers due to complaints about their noise. For example, certain areas in New York have time restrictions on use, allowing gas leaf blowers only between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekends and holidays, as stated in New York City’s Noise Code.
Gas-powered leaf blowers can have a detrimental impact on the environment, so much so that some states are looking to enact bans on them. Opting for an electric leaf blower also eliminates the need for you to buy gas for your blower or try to store smelly gas cans safely on your property.
Other leaf blowers we tested
The Toro Leaf Blower F700 is a solid corded leaf blower, but we ran into several issues with it unplugging by accident. We fixed this issue by wrapping the cord around its handle but it shouldn't need a random fix like this. There are better corded options (like our budget pick above).
The Toro Leaf Blower F700 was the only other corded leaf blower we tested, pitting it against the Black+Decker LB700. This blower is lightweight but powerful and can blow air up to 140 miles per hour, therefore moving leaves and other debris quickly.
We found its handle to be comfortable to grip and use in either hand, but it’s difficult to walk around with the unit while keeping an extension cord plugged into its included socket. It often fell out — that is, until we wrapped our extension cord around the blower’s handle first, and then plugged it in. We didn’t have this problem with the Black+Decker LB7000 corded blower, which is why the latter took the top spot in our testing.
Black+Decker's 20V Max Cordless Leaf Blower was among the lightest models we tested, weighing under four pounds. However, it didn't offer much in the way of blowing power which made our clean-up jobs just that much longer because of it.
The Black+Decker LSW221 leaf blower was very lightweight, even with its single battery installed. At 3.7 pounds, it was easy to move it around as we blew our leaves from one area to another. The best thing we noticed about the blower was that it was relatively quiet, but its airflow wasn’t as powerful as the other cordless models. Because of this, it didn’t come out on top during our testing.
This DeWalt leaf blower is a beast. And that's not exactly a good thing. Yes, it's very powerful and has strong airflow, but it's incredibly heavy to hold for long periods. If you don't mind the weight, this is a solid heavy-duty option.
The DeWalt DCBL770X1 is a leaf blower with strong and impressive airflow. It got the job done quickly, but we found the unit too heavy to lug around for very long. Most of the weight is distributed toward the back of the unit, making it awkward for us to carry easily.
Also, while the unit can be gripped with either hand, we found our clothing being a bit suctioned due to the pull of the exhaust fan when we held onto it with our left hand. It just made it distracting to use when held like this. For these reasons, it didn’t beat the Ego Power+ LB6504 in our testing.
This Ego model is a few years old at this point, but still a quality machine. It may not perform as well as our top overall pick but it's a solid option, especially at this price. If you don't have a large lawn, consider this over our top pick.
The Ego Power+ LB5302 performed similarly to its counterpart, the Ego Power+ LB6504, otherwise known as our top overall pick. The LB5302 is also a sturdy, powerful blower that’s easy to use, thanks to its ergonomic handle. It has a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that lasts a respectable amount of time, even when the blower is used at its highest speed.
If you want a comparable Ego unit at a more affordable price, you won’t go wrong choosing this older model. However, the LB6504 performed a bit better and has a longer-lasting battery, which is why it took the top spot during testing.
The Greenworks 40V Leaf Blower was one of the more powerful options in our testing pool. It made quick work of larger jobs, which we really appreciated. However, it is very loud, which wore on us over time.
The Greenworks leaf blower is highly maneuverable and comfortable to hold for both right- and left-handed users. We found it to be relatively lightweight but powerful, allowing us to quickly blow all our leaves into a huge pile. The main downside to the blower was that we found it extremely loud compared to others, which is why it didn’t beat the Ego Power+ LB6504 during testing.
This Husqvarna leaf blower is a powerful, albeit heavy, option that has a few nice features we enjoyed using, namely its useful on/off switch and amped-up Boost mode.
The Husqvarna 230iB leaf blower was the only one we tested that features a handy on/off switch, which prevents the blower from turning on if you randomly start pressing its speed buttons. We did think it was a bit on the heavy side, but as we used it more, we liked how we could easily control it with either hand. Another feature we appreciated was its Boost button, which, when toggled, provides very powerful airflow.
Makita's known for making quality power tools and its leaf blower is no different. It's slightly on the expensive end, but you do get two batteries plus a robust charger. Performance-wise, it did well, though do keep in mind that it was one of the louder blowers we tested.
The Makita XBU02PT leaf blower comes with two batteries and a charger, which took up the biggest footprint of all the chargers in our test group. Once installed, the batteries don’t seem to add too much weight to the blower, which is easy to hold during use. We could even comfortably hold the unit in either hand.
This blower’s six available blow speeds were impressive, though the highest setting was both very strong and very loud. Its noise level was the main downside holding it back from nabbing a top spot in our list.
This Ryobi leaf blower is a dependable option at a decent price. However, it's supposed to be "whisper" quiet, but in our tests, it still ran quite loudly. This isn't a deal breaker but don't think of this as a quiet leaf blower.
The Ryobi 40V 550 CFM leaf blower performed well during testing. It does use just one battery but comes with a charger. We found its handle nice to hold as it rested comfortably in our grip, and it was also easy to maneuver using either hand. It’s a very powerful blower, and it offers a Boost button, which delivers an even stronger airflow. However, the blower was quite loud during use, despite its claims to be “whisper” quiet.
Worx may not be a brand name you recognize on first glance, but its 40V Turbine Leaf Blower offered a pleasant experience. There are three speeds to choose from, including the ultra-powerful Turbo mode, and it comes with two batteries, ensuring even the biggest jobs will get done before you need to recharge.
The Worx WG584 is a quality leaf blower option that features three separate speed settings to choose from. We particularly liked the Turbo Boost button, which created a very strong airflow that was useful for bigger jobs. It does use two batteries, though, which load up on top of the unit and add a bit of noticeable weight. We liked that each battery has a light indicator that can alert you of how much charge is left. Like the other machines we tested, its charger is also included.
