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The 6 Leaf Blowers We’d Buy to Take on Fall’s Biggest Jobs

Leave the rake inside and blow away pine needles, leaves and sawdust the easy way.

best leaf blowersToro

By Brandon Carte

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As much as people love jumping in the leaves, chances are, you probably hate raking them. Sure, a cool breeze on a fall day while you’re outside raking leaves feels great, but actually raking the leaves blows. If you’re looking to get your lawn clean quickly and efficiently, you should consider shopping for a leaf blower.

The Best Leaf Blowers

The question of whether you should buy a gas or electric blower depends on the size of your yard. Gas-powered models offer greater mobility and a longer run time, but they’re louder, smellier, heavier, and require more maintenance. On the plus side, they’re better at moving wet leaves and work well on difficult terrain like stairs and hills.

You can also choose from different styles of blowers. The most popular leaf blowers are handheld, then there are some that you wear like a backpack, and there even are blowers that you push and walk behind.

As you’d expect, different types of blowers don’t perform the same way. Gas blowers typically are the most powerful and have the highest blow speeds (which is measured in MPH) and discharge more air (measured in cubic feet per minute or CFM). Our colleagues at Good Housekeeping say that for leaf-clearing jobs in areas that are larger than an acre, you’ll need a minimum of 400 CFM.

Similarly to vacuums, blowers come in both cordless and corded variants. Corded ones are best suited for small suburban landscapes or to clean out your garage. Cordless models are a good pick for the eco-conscious, and those who don’t need super-fast blowing speeds.

If you need to cover even more ground and blow away leaves in as little time as possible, a four-cycle, walk-behind gas engine is the way to go — but they’re the most expensive option. They’re an absolute beast at clearing large parking lots and warehouses, or sweeping away sawdust and wood chips. Just make sure you wear hearing protection, because these babies get loud.

Whether you’re looking for a quiet and reliable electric model, a convenient cordless one, a powerful yet still affordable gas blower, or a more sophisticated walk-behind, we have you covered after researching and comparing 30 different leaf blowers. So, stop spending all weekend running around with a rake and invest in one of these efficient leaf blowers which’ll make cleanup a breeze.

This leaf blower from Toro delivers top-notch performance and is more powerful than the competition. That’s because it offers an air volume rated at an impressive 725 CFM. For comparison, most other blowers top out at just 500 CFM.

Given the blower’s power, it has max air speeds of up to 140 miles per hour, providing enough oomph to lift wet leaves and to break apart large piles of debris. The corded blower weighs under 7 pounds, it’s easy to operate, and it’s backed by a 2-year warranty. Unfortunately, it does not come with an extension cord. We recommend a 14-gauge one, like this cord from Husky. 

Since the Ego blower is powered by a battery, you can move freely without being restricted by a cord. Plus, it’s four times quieter than gas blowers. Features of the Power+ include a weather-resistant design and variable speed control, so you can increase the airflow for those times when you need an extra boost in power.

The Power+ includes a rechargeable battery that delivers users approximately 45 minutes of runtime. Competing cordless blowers, like the Worx WG591, only offer 25 minutes of battery life.

The Ego weighs in at over 10 pounds, which makes it more cumbersome than other electric blowers, and it’s much pricier. However, given its 5-year warranty, long battery life, and impressive power, we think it’s worthy of your hard-earned dollars.

worx wg512 trivac 20Amazon

Worx WG512 Trivac 2.0 3-in-1 Vacuum Blower, Mulcher and Vac

This tool from Worx is the ultimate triple threat. It functions as a blower, mulcher, and yard vacuum with just a flip of a switch. It’s powered by a 12-amp motor that won’t pump out smelly fumes like a gas-powered blower would, and it’s equipped with a metal propeller that absolutely annihilates autumn leaves.

The Worx WG512 forces 600 CFM from its nozzle at a maximum speed of 75 mph, meaning that it expels air at a greater rate than most. Weighing in at 8.8 pounds, this pick is on the heavier side. Fortunately, its included collection bag has a strap, which helps make it easier to carry.

Husqvarna 965877502 350BT 2-Cycle Gas Backpack Blower, OrangeAmazon

Best Backpack Blower

Husqvarna 350BT 2-Cycle Gas Backpack Leaf Blower

This backpack blower is about as serious as it gets. With its 2.1-horsepower engine and maximum power speed of 7,500 RPM, this blower generates wind speeds up to 180 miles per hour.

It’s the kind of blower that you’ll see on construction sites and in the hands of landscapers and yard workers. Whether you work in a commercial setting or you just want the best of the best, this backpack blower is a fantastic model that’s worth the splurge.

Black+Decker comes to the table with an affordable, easy-to-use option that comes with a handy vacuum attachment. It’s a cordless blower that’s perfect for light-duty sweeping in the garage or for blowing around those tight spots, like between fence posts. It offers an air speed up to 120 miles per hour and weighs just 5 pounds.

Troy-Bilt TB672 208cc Jet Sweep Wheeled Leaf BlowerAmazon

Troy-Bilt TB672 208cc Jet Sweep Wheeled Leaf Blower

This commercial-grade, walk-behind blower is an absolute powerhouse at pushing aside large heaps of leaves. It offers an impressive airflow volume capacity, blow speed, and its wheels and handlebar grip make it easy to maneuver.

This option is a gas-powered model that features a 4-cycle 208 cc engine. It’s quick to start and the blower is backed by a 2-year warranty.