Based on our testing results and McCoy’s expert advice, here are the best electric leaf blowers for every task.
We tested 27 electric leaf blowers in our Lab and evaluated them on their effectiveness, battery life, ease of use, portability, noise level, and value. For expert insight, we spoke to Gary McCoy , Lowe’s store manager, who says “an electric leaf blower is a low-maintenance machine that is both lighter and quieter than gas-powered models.”
In addition to beautiful foliage , autumn brings a never-ending supply of fallen leaves. Electric leaf blowers make quick work of clearing leaves from your lawn, without emitting fumes and excessive noise like gas-powered leaf blowers.
After three months of daily use, the blower hadn’t lost a beat. It remained as powerful as it had been when we first purchased it, quickly and effectively clearing our yard. It’s worth noting that the model doesn’t have a great battery life, so we recommend having an extra charged battery on hand. Nevertheless, we appreciate that both the battery and the tool are compatible with Ryobi’s 40V system of cordless tools.
We found it easy to handle, and while it’s not the lightest out of all those we tested (it’s almost double the weight of our lightweight pick ), it is by no means cumbersome or unwieldy to use. In fact, the handle is on an adjustable pivot that you can lock into any position to help reduce wrist strain. This blower also comes with a variable speed trigger, a turbo button for maximum power, and a built-in debris scraper. We found the nozzle to be a bit long, which made it occasionally challenging to maneuver in tight corners.
Although electric leaf blowers are quieter than their gas counterparts, they’re certainly not noiseless. Many cities regulate the use of leaf blowers to certain times of the day and/or place limits on the decibel level. If you check with your local city council and find this to be the case where you live, you might consider the Ryobi 40V Brushless Whisper Series 550 CFM Jet Fan Blower, which, according to the manufacturer, is one of the industry’s quietest handheld blowers at only 59 decibels. We can confirm that this leaf blower was the quietest out of all 27 leaf blowers we tested. But this doesn’t mean you have to compromise blowing power: The 550 CFM blower cleared almost all of the areas in our testing, including the fishing weights.
In our testing, it had no problem clearing wet and dry leaves on all surfaces, and it pushed the fishing weights into the chalk-outlined box with ease. Like some of the other battery-operated leaf blowers on our list, the runtime is not very long at full speed, but fortunately, the variable speed setting allows you to lower it so you can get more use out of one charge. Plus, once you purchase the included lithium-ion battery and charger, you can use it with any of Makita’s cordless products.
We found that the light weight of this leaf blower—just 4.7 pounds—makes it extremely easy to carry with one hand while using the other hand to adjust the lever to your desired speed. It comes with a variable speed trigger that can be used for more power while the cruise control lock is engaged, so you can get a bit of a boost as needed. We liked being able to control the output, though we found that the blower’s shape made it difficult to target precise areas.
We did find the assembly process to be a little more involved than competitor models. Plus, those with large yards may want to take note—the manufacturer claims that on the highest speed setting, this blower can run for 18 minutes on a full charge and recommends it for yards up to one acre.
Our favorite part about this leaf blower is the control you have over its output: It comes with a variable speed trigger, a cruise control function, and a turbo button for maximum power. Thanks to these handy settings, the backpack blower moved all of the leaves and fishing weights with ease in our testing. We appreciated having control over the airflow, as it made our yard work both faster and more enjoyable. After using the blower for six months, this blower maintained its high quality with not a scuff in sight. In addition to effectively clearing leaves in the fall, we also found it suitable for blowing powdery snow off our sidewalk in the winter.
The ergonomic design of this backpack leaf blower makes it comfortable to carry around the yard without fussing over a cord or wearing your arm out holding a handheld blower. We found this blower easy to use and carry, although one of us—who is 5 feet 4 inches tall—did find the tube a bit unwieldy, so keep this in mind if you’re below this height.
In our testing, we found that it was able to clear the leaves with relative ease, and it was able to move the 0.25-ounce and 0.5-ounce fishing weights into the chalk-outlined box—but it did struggle a bit with the 1-ounce weight. After using this leaf blower for six months, it maintained its impressive power given its size. It’s worth noting that this is a corded model, so it doesn’t allow for quite the same mobility as its cordless counterparts. However, the Greenworks 7 Amp 150 CFM Corded Leaf Blower comes with an ingenious solution for one of the most frustrating aspects of using a corded appliance: a cord lock to prevent accidental unplugging. Given its small stature, we did find it to be a bit loud, but for many people, this is a small trade-off for the price and simplicity.
Greenworks is a highly trusted name in outdoor tools, and this corded leaf blower lives up to the brand’s reputation. The blower is well suited for clearing leaves from small areas or doing other small tasks like clearing rain gutters , dusting, drying surfaces, and more. It's the lightest of all the leaf blowers on our list at just 4.5 pounds, making it a great option for anyone with limited grip strength who might not be able to use a heavier leaf blower.
Additionally, we appreciated the adjustable speed trigger that comes with a speed lock so you can keep it set at whatever airflow you prefer, as high as 450 CFM. The ergonomic design and lightweight construction make it easy to handle, too. We were pleased by its overall performance throughout the three-month testing period, but its battery runtime left much to be desired. While it did a good job corralling fallen leaves, the charge didn’t last long enough to make real progress. Given that it’s a small, battery-powered leaf blower, it’s best to reserve it for small jobs, as opposed to a marathon leaf cleanup.
At just under 7 pounds, this lightweight and handheld cordless leaf blower is easy to grab on the go for small to medium-sized jobs, such as clearing the porch, walkway, or a small garden. In our testing, it was able to clear the leaves and fishing weights with relative ease and control. We also found it easy to navigate around the delicate plants and other obstacles in the flower bed—it even comes with a removable concentrator nozzle for extra-precise blowing.
Much like the Ryobi 18V One+ 280 CFM Jet Fan Blower , once you purchase the Ego+ universal battery, you can use it with over 60 compatible power tools. This is certainly one of the pricier electric leaf blowers we tested, but given that its power rivals that of gas-powered models and it offers the convenience of a backpack design, it's well worth the splurge for those who need to clear large areas.
This blower has a variable-speed dial that allows you to turn the power to as low as 260 CFM or as high as 600 CFM without having to hold down a trigger the entire time. The backpack design makes it so that you can more easily tackle a large yard without tiring out your arm, and we found the backpack to be comfortable and not overly heavy. The blower’s long battery life was particularly impressive, as it lasted on turbo mode for 25 minutes in our testing. After six months of use, we noticed no significant changes in quality. We do wish the model had a longer hose or an extension of some sort to allow for my precise blowing.
Electric leaf blowers get a bad rap for being weak compared to gas-powered blowers—but the Ego Power+ 600 CFM Backpack Blower is giving gas-powered blowers a run for their money. In our testing, it was able to clear all the leaves—including wet and dry leaves on grass and concrete surfaces—in under 20 seconds. Overall, we found the experience to be fast, effective, and dare we say fun?
It doesn’t have a long hose, so it may be challenging to target more precise areas.
The Toro Power Sweep comes with just two speed settings: high and low. The latter is best for navigating around obstacles, while the former is best for clearing out open spaces. After using the leaf blower for three months, it worked just as well as it had when we first purchased it. Note that this is a corded model, which limits your mobility somewhat. If you’re looking for a leaf blower for whole-yard use, this is not the best choice. However, it’s a great option for clearing out small spaces where you have access to an outlet—and it’s a great value, to boot.
This no-frills, corded leaf blower delivers sufficient force for clearing small areas, such as front porches , sidewalks, decks, driveways, garages, etc. Unlike battery-powered blowers, corded models have unlimited runtimes, so long as you stay near an outlet. This blower effectively cleared all the leaves in its path in our testing, including both wet and dry leaves and piles of various weights. We found it to be precise and easy to control, maintaining adequate power with minimal kickback.
Given its size, we did find this blower to be a bit loud, although this might not be an issue because you won’t be using it for long durations—the battery life is only 30 minutes with a two to three-hour charge time. Thus, those looking for a leaf blower that can tackle a large yard in one charge will want to look elsewhere. But for quick porch, sidewalk, or driveway jobs, this lightweight electric leaf blower will tackle even wet leaves with a fury.
The variable speed trigger gives you maximum control over the airflow, allowing you to adjust based on the task at hand. It also comes with a hanging hook for easy storage and a debris scraper for loosening stubborn dirt and leaves. This blower is part of Ryobi’s One+ system, meaning once you purchase the 18V One+ battery, you can use it with any of Ryobi’s over 225 compatible cordless tools. Even after using the leaf blower for six months, it still worked as well as new.
This compact electric leaf blower moves leaves—even matted, wet leaves—with serious force, clearing everything in its path and earning five out of five stars for effectiveness in our testing. This is particularly impressive given that the Ryobi 18V One+ 280 CFM Jet Fan Blower is a handheld cordless model that weighs just under 6 pounds. Its lightweight design made it easy to maneuver in our testing, even with just one hand.
Final Verdict
Our top pick, the Ryobi 18V One+ 280 CFM Jet Fan Blower, is a compact and lightweight handheld blower that delivers serious force for clearing even matted, wet leaves. For a more budget-friendly option, the Toro Power Sweep retails for a fraction of the price of the Ryobi 18V One+, and makes a great option for clearing sidewalks, decks, driveways, and other small areas, so long as you have access to an outlet.
Our Testing Process
We tested 27 electric leaf blowers in our Lab and at home, 10 of which were corded models while the other 17 were cordless models. This was a blind test, meaning we did not receive the product name or price until after the testing to eliminate bias. Note that for battery-powered models, we used a stopwatch for the duration of our testing to monitor the runtime of each.
To test the effectiveness, battery life, ease of use, portability, and noise level of each electric leaf blower, we set up three different testing stations: one for assembly and decibel testing, one for grass and garden testing, and one for concrete testing. During our assembly and decibel testing, we timed how long it took to get the leaf blower ready for use (excluding the battery charge time—we fully charged all of the batteries before testing). Once assembled, we weighed the leaf blower with and without the battery, where applicable. Finally, we turned the leaf blower on and cycled through the various speeds, recording the noise level for each using a decibel meter. During this testing, we also assessed how easy it was to hold the leaf blower with one hand at all of the different speeds.
Next was our grass and garden testing. First, we tested the blower’s ability to clear debris from a large area by timing how long it took to clear 0.75 pounds of dry leaves from a 10-by-10-foot grassy patch while set to its highest speed. We repeated this test with wet leaves. To test the blower’s ability to clear debris with greater precision, we spread dry leaves in a garden bed under and around plants and assessed whether the blower could clear the leaves on its lowest setting without pushing around mulch or damaging plants.
Finally, we tested each blower on a concrete surface. Just like in our grass testing, we timed how long it took to clear 0.75 pounds of dry leaves from a 10-by-10-foot area while at its highest speed, but this time on concrete. To assess the precision and power of the leaf blower, we attempted to blow leaves into a 6-by-6-inch chalk square, using whichever speeds or nozzle attachments were most suitable. We repeated this test with fishing line weights (0.25-ounce, 0.5-ounce, and 1-ounce), too.
After completing the tests, we received the retail price of each blower and were asked to score its overall value considering its performance. To determine longevity, we took each leaf blower home and evaluated its performance after three months and six months of use.
Real Simple / Henry Wortock
How to Shop for Electric Leaf Blowers Like a Pro
Corded vs. Cordless
Electric leaf blowers can be broken down into two major categories: corded and cordless. Corded leaf blowers are lightweight (since they don’t require batteries), inexpensive, and have an unlimited runtime. However, keep in mind that they do need to be tethered to an outlet while in use. For this reason, battery-powered, cordless models have come to dominate the market. These models offer excellent mobility, although they do have a finite runtime and require periodic charging. According to McCoy, “You can mitigate the shorter runtime by having extra batteries that are charged and ready to go.” Most battery-powered blowers use lithium-ion batteries, which, according to McCoy, can store more energy in a lighter battery pack. All of the battery-powered leaf blowers on our list use lithium-ion batteries.
Size and Weight
Cordless models can be broken down even further into handheld and backpack models: "Many battery-powered leaf blowers are handheld, but a backpack design is a feature that gives you a powerful battery leaf blower that's easier to manage than a handheld machine," says McCoy. Generally, handheld leaf blowers tend to be smaller and lighter weight than backpack leaf blowers, given they require you to maneuver them with one hand. For example, our best backpack pick, the Greenworks Pro 80V Cordless Brushless 580 CFM Backpack Blower, weighed 14 pounds in our testing, while our lightweight pick, the Greenworks 7 Amp 150 CFM Corded Leaf Blower, is a corded model that weighed just 4.5 pounds.
Power
There are two ratings used to evaluate the power of an electric leaf blower: miles per hour (MPH) and cubic feet per minute (CFM). McCoy says these metrics each serve a distinct yet important purpose and should be considered together: “MPH ratings indicate a blower’s power to clear an area while CFM ratings are a measure of how much material it can move,” McCoy says. “With a high leaf blower CFM, you can clear a large area but not blow the leaves as far. With a high MPH leaf blower, you can push a pile of leaves far away, but the pile will be smaller.”
The MPH of a leaf blower generally ranges from 100 to 250 MPH, and McCoy says, “A good handheld blower can have anywhere from 70 to 700 CFM while a backpack model should have 580 to 900 CFM.”
Speed Settings
The most basic electric leaf blowers feature just one operating speed setting, but more and more manufacturers are offering blowers with variable-speed settings. These allow you to control the amount of airflow, so you can increase the power for heavy, wet leaves, or bring it down when blowing around delicate plants.
Noise
According to Leaf Blowers Direct, over 400 cities in the U.S. currently ban or regulate the use of leaf blowers due to the amount of noise they produce. McCoy says that while electric leaf blowers are quieter than their gas-powered counterparts, “you can’t necessarily call them ‘quiet.’” The average electric leaf blower produces noise at about 65 decibels, although this can vary widely depending on the speed setting. Our quiet pick, the Ryobi 40V Brushless Whisper Series 550 CFM Jet Fan Blower Kit, measured the lowest in our testing.
More Electric Leaf Blowers to Consider
Worx 40V Power Share Turbine Cordless Leaf Blower: We appreciate this leaf blower’s three different speed settings and its on-board battery gauge, which informs you of how much power is remaining. However, it uses two 20-volt batteries at the same time, which makes it a bit heavier once the batteries are installed.
Avid Power AVB326 Electric Leaf Blower: This blower is an excellent value given the price, power, and maneuverability. It is a bit loud for its size, though, which could pose challenges for those living in neighborhoods with noise regulations.
Real Simple / Rachel Marek
Questions You Might Ask
What's the difference between an electric leaf blower and a gas-powered leaf blower?
Gas-powered leaf blowers are more powerful than electric leaf blowers, so they may be the better option for individuals engaged in commercial work or those with large yards. Compared to battery-powered electric leaf blowers, gas blowers also boast a longer runtime. However, electric leaf blowers have many advantages over gas blowers which may make them more appealing to the average user: They’re lightweight, less expensive, less noisy, and don’t emit smoke into the air like gas blowers.
Can you use a leaf blower on wet leaves?
While we did test each leaf blower’s ability to blow wet leaves, in general, you’ll want to give leaves time to dry when possible. If you have soaked-through leaves that you need to remove immediately, McCoy says a rake is going to be most effective. But, if you’d rather move wet leaves without a sore back, he recommends looking for a blower with a high CFM that can handle matted clumps of wet leaves.
Note: Be careful when using a vacuum or mulching function on wet leaves, as this can clog up the unit.
Take Our Word for It
This article was written by Melanie Fincher, associate commerce editor for Real Simple with three years of experience writing product reviews and lifestyle content. To come up with our list, we tested 27 electric leaf blowers in our Lab and evaluated them on their effectiveness, battery life, ease of use, portability, noise level, and value. For expert insight on electric leaf blowers, we tapped Gary McCoy, Lowe’s store manager.
What Is Real Simple Selects?
Next to each product on this list, you may have noticed a Real Simple Selects seal of approval. Any product appearing alongside that seal has been vetted by our team—put through tests and graded on its performance to earn a spot on our list. Although we buy most of the products we test, sometimes we do get samples from companies if purchasing a product ourselves isn't an option. All products go through the same rigorous process, whether they are purchased or sent by the company.
Love our recommendations? Check out more products that have earned the Real Simple Selects, from humidifiers to cordless vacuums.