Besides those pesky autumn leaves, grass clipping and other debris often become a problem when it comes to keeping your lawn, garden and other parts of your home tidy. Leaf blowers are very helpful as a means of cleaning up debris, but they can be bulky if you have a gas motor unit or you might feel a bit tied down if you use one with a cord. There are plenty of cordless leaf blowers of varying levels of quality available, but choosing the right one to fit your needs can be something of a challenge.
Our buyer’s guide can help bring you up to speed on the various benefits and features of a cordless leaf blower so that you can make a better informed decision when it comes time to make a purchase. Along with our buyer’s guide, we are including reviews of several cordless leaf blowers so that you can compare the various ways each manufacturer has implemented the best benefits and features into their product.
With the help of both our buyer’s guide and our cordless leaf blowers reviews, you will be much better qualified to choose the model that is best suited for both your needs and personal preferences.
Why do you need a cordless leaf blower?
The accumulation of debris on your lawn, porch, driveway, patio or garden is not only unsightly, but can become a fire hazard as well. Besides clearing debris from those surfaces, a leaf blower can also be useful in cleaning leaves and debris out of gutters and downspouts. Handling a corded leave blower adds limitations and gas blowers are often bulky, wearing you out and making it close to impossible to use one on your gutters. A cordless leaf blower is really the best answer.
What benefits can you expect from a cordless leaf blower?
Maneuverability is one of the best benefits of having a cordless leaf blower and that maneuverability comes from both a lighter weight and the lack of an entangling cord. Cordless leaf blowers produce far less noise than other leaf blowers and unlike gas models they do not put emissions into the air. Their maintenance compared to a gas blower is also significantly less. All in all, cordless leaf blowers are much cleaner, safer and easier to use.
What are some features to look for in a cordless leaf blower?
Though choosing the cordless leaf blower to fit your need will depend upon some of your own personal preferences and varying circumstances, there are some general features that you should look for when selecting a cordless leaf blower.
Power
Power is certainly a consideration when it comes to the purchase of a leaf blower. The greater power output, the more efficient the machine will be at removing debris. The power of a motor is usually expressed in watts, with a higher wattage indicating more power. However, the efficient use of that power is usually measured in miles per hour (MPH) or cubic feet per minute (CFM). MPH measures the speed at which air leaves the nozzle of the blower and CFM measures the capacity of the unit to move air, or the volume of its airflow. Both of these values should be as high as you can get them.
Portability
Obviously, all cordless leaf blowers are going to be portable. Since you will be operating the blower with one hand in many situations, its weight measures into its degree of portability, especially if you are using it on a ladder to clean out a gutter. A lighter weight, more compact and portable design helps to facilitate the ease of use of a blower. However, a trade off for portability might come in the form of a smaller and less powerful battery.
Battery
One of the potential weak points of a cordless blower is found in the battery. As mentioned, a lighter unit might have a less powerful battery and a shorter runtime. Various types of batteries are used to power cordless leaf blowers. They are typically rechargeable and come in either Nickel-Cadmium (NiCad) or Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) types. There are a few difference between these two types that are worth examining:
• NiCad batteries are cheaper, but they are also heavier and have a shorter runtime. In addition, performance drops as they get near to the end of their charge.
• Li-Ion batteries are more expensive, but they are lighter weight and deliver consistent energy throughout their runtime. They also tend to have a bit longer overall runtime.
Noise Level
There is really no comparison when it comes to the difference in noise levels between a cordless blower and a gas powered blower. In addition, many leaf blowers even have lower noise levels than corded models. In general, cordless leaf blowers are below 90 dB, which is about the level of your lawn mower. They tend toward a level of about 60 dB, which is the level of normal conversation.
Additional Features
Though the factors we have already mentioned should be your primary reasons for selecting the right leaf blower to fit your needs, there are some additional features which are nice to have. Those features include:
• A turbo button for a burst of air when you need it most.
• An ergonomic handle with a good, comfortable grip.
• Various types of nozzles and attachments for different uses.
The features and benefits which we have just discussed are all something to keep in mind as you work to select the cordless leaf blower that fits your needs. Our reviews below should be useful in helping you narrow down your selection even further by comparing the various ways these features are implemented into each model.
Top Rated Best Cordless Leaf Blowers Reviews
BLACK+DECKER LSW221 20V MAX Lithium Cordless Sweeper
Backed by a solid brand name, the Black and Decker LSW221 20V Max Lithium Cordless Sweeper is a powerful option for clearing away debris from any surface you need to clean. At 130 MPH and only 3.7 pounds, using this unit couldn’t be easier. It is powered by a 20V and 1.5Ah Li-Ion battery, which comes with a charger, and it drives a low noise motor. It will hold a charge for up to 18 months without use and provides 15 minutes of run time with normal use. It includes a power boost button for an extra surge when you need it.
The Good
• The speed of the airflow and lightweight construction of this unit make a solid choice among cordless leaf blowers.
• The design of this unit is compact and it directs its airflow in an efficient manner limited the amount of work the user must put into the unit.
• The power boost button is a nice extra when you need it.
• Brand name recognition has to be taken into consideration.
The Not So Good
• The runtime of this unit could be a bit better as 15 minutes limits a lot of tasks.
• You need an additional spare battery if you have larger areas to cover.
• To get a full charge requires 2 hours of recharging.
A Great Choice If…
You need a quiet cordless blower backed by a well-known brand name. You might not be happy with this unit if you have a lot of blowing that takes longer than 15 minutes to complete.
Worx WG545.9 AIR 20V PowerShare Lightweight Cordless Battery-Powered Leaf Blower
Lightweight, power and versatility combine in the Worx WG545.9 AIR 20V PowerShare Cordless Leaf Blower. This blower works at 120 MPH to clear debris from whatever surface you want to clean and it comes in a compact, 4 pound design. Its quiet motor is run by a 20V, high capacity Li-Ion rechargeable battery, which can be shared between other Worx tools. It comes with 8 attachments for increased versatility for all types of tasks.
The Good
• The compact and lightweight design of this unit makes it extremely portable and easy to use.
• Its rechargeable battery pack can be used with other Worx tools as well.
• 20V Li-Ion battery runs a motor at 120 MPH and produces 80 CFM.
• A wide variety of accessories are included.
The Not So Good
• This unit is not very energy efficient with a 15 minute runtime and 3 hour charging time.
• It does not put out a lot of air power for blowing debris.
A Great Choice If…
You are looking for a compact cordless leaf blower that uses the same battery as your other Worx tools. You might not be happy with the overall performance and runtime of this blower.
Greenworks 40V 150 MPH Variable Speed Cordless Blower
The Greenworks PRO 40V Variable Speed Cordless Blower packs a lot of punch for making short work of cleaning debris from any surface around your home. The six speed adjustment on this blower allows you to work at speeds of up to 150 MPH and with the strength of up to 135 CFM. This unit weighs only 3.4 pounds, uses a 40V, 2.0Ah, Li-Ion battery and comes with a recharger as well. You get about 15 minutes of run time on the highest power setting and up to 70 minutes on lower speeds. Quiet operation at around 62 dB, and a two-speed velocity tip round out some of the features of this unit.
The Good
• This unit is both lightweight and powerful, but allows you the option of reducing the amount of power to conserve battery life.
• It comes with a 40V, 2.0Ah rechargeable Li-Ion battery.
• Noise level on this unit is rated at 62 dB.
• Six speed selections allows for up to 150 MPH and 135 CFM of power.
The Not So Good
• The 15 minutes of running time with 3 hours of charging time if you use it on high.
• Getting the battery out isn’t as easy as it could be.
A Great Choice If…
You are looking for a quiet operating cordless leaf blower with variable speed options and plenty of power. You might not be happy with the overall runtime to charging time ratio of this unit.
DEWALT DCBL720P1 20V MAX 5.0 Ah Lithium Ion XR Brushless Blower
Power is what you get with the Dewalt DCBL720P1 20V MAX Lithium Ion XR Brushless Blower. Though the speed of this unit is only 90 MPH, it puts out 400 CFM, which is a lot of power to get the job done. This blower weighs in at 7.0 pounds and delivers the above power at a noise level of only 61 dB. It has an instant on trigger and allows for blower output adjustment for lighter or heavier jobs to help conserve battery runtime. It comes with a 20V, 5.0Ah, Li-Ion battery and charger, both of which work with other Dewalt cordless power tools.
The Good
• The power of this unit at 400 CFM is nearly 4 times more powerful than your average cordless leaf blower.
• Speed control allows you to place the unit on low to help conserve runtime.
• The larger blower tube allows for a broader column of air and requires fewer passes to remove debris.
• The intake of the unit is located at the rear of the blower keeping its suction behind you and away from your clothing while you work.
• The battery pack and charger can be used along with dozens of other Dewalt cordless power tools.
• You get 35 to 40 minutes of runtime on high.
• It comes backed by Dewalt quality and a 3 year warranty.
The Not So Good
• It is twice as heavy as most of the other models.
• There isn’t quite enough power to move heavier, wet debris or unclog wet gutters.
• A bit pricey compared to other models in the review.
A Great Choice If…
You need a powerful cordless leaf blower that is backed by one of the top brands in cordless power tools and budget is not an issue. The price and weight of this blower might turn away a lot of people with lower end needs and expectations.
Toro PowerPlex 51690 Brushless 40V MAX 480 CFM 150 MPH Cordless Blower
The Toro PowerPlex 51690 Cordless Leaf Blower steps power and speed up a notch when it comes to cordless leaf blowers. The turbo boost of this unit will reach 480 CFM and allow you to lock it in for heavy duty work. The high speed nozzle allows you to direct air speed at up to 150 MPH and its variable speeds also allow you from 10 minutes to 60 minutes of runtime depending on which setting you use. This blower comes with a 40V, 2.5Ah, T90, Li-Ion battery and a quick charger and it is fitted for a gutter cleaning attachment and an oscillating nozzle.
The Good
• The speed and CFM on this unit are impressive for a cordless unit in at the price point of this blower.
• Variable speed management allows you to control the amount of force you need as well as runtime of your battery.
• Its charger recharges batteries within 60 minutes.
• It produces up to 480 CFM at a speed of 150 MPH.
• This leaf blower is backed by a solid brand name in lawn and garden equipment as well as a 3 year warranty.
The Not So Good
• Accessories for this leaf blower have to be purchased separately.
• This unit is a pretty massive 8.4 pounds, which makes one-handed use a bit limited for many.
• There are some design flaws with the trigger and locking lever.
A Great Choice If…
You want a solid, powerful brand name leaf blower at a decent price. You might not be happy with the overall weight of this unit when you try to use it with one hand.
Worx WG591 TURBINE 56V Cordless Battery-Powered Leaf Blower
The Worx WG591 Turbine 56-Volt Cordless Blower steps up cordless leaf blower power even more in order to compete with its competitors. The battery in this leaf blower is a 56V, 2.0Ah, Li-Ion unit which is rechargeable and can be used with other Worx cordless tools as well. Its patented turbine technology allows for the delivery of up to 465 CFM of force to help get the job done quickly. This blower features an ergonomic handle and compact design help make this unit easier to use without fatigue. Its variable power options allow you to conserve battery runtime and its charger will quickly recharge the battery in 90 minutes.
The Good
• The power and speed of this blower tops the charts of all those included in this review.
• Its ergonomic design helps to make it feel lighter than it really is.
• The battery can be uses with other Worx cordless tools and will receive a quick charge in about 90 minutes.
• Its variable speed control allows for battery runtime conservation, but you can still lock in a solid boost of power at 465 CFM when you need it.
• It comes with a 3 year limited warranty.
The Not So Good
• This unit is pretty loud compared to the other cordless leaf blowers on the list.
• The overmold seam in the grip is a little bit irritating without gloves.
• This thing is pretty heavy at 9 pounds.
A Great Choice If…
You have a lot of heavy blowing work to do and a little extra weight in your hand doesn’t bother you. The weight and noise level of this tool might be a turnoff to many users.