A cordless leaf blower with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, the WORX WG545 is well suited to light yard tasks like blowing off the patio, pool deck, or sidewalk. The blower’s nozzle has a narrow range, but it’s still pretty powerful for such a lightweight device. We found that the flexible nozzle can reach narrow spaces like underneath bushes and furniture. It also has an automatic shut-off feature for when the battery is low or discharges. For a compact model, this $99 blower has good power and runs fairly quietly.

Prices

For the professional landscaper or the average homeowner with very large property, this Husqvarna 150BT leaf blower has incredible power, reaching air speeds up to 251 mph with its 50.2 cc motor. The backpack is surprisingly comfortable to wear for extended periods, distributing the weight evenly on your back. We were also impressed with how easy it was to start the blower after reading the instructions. It typically takes no more than one or two pulls of the cord to get it started. For those tremendous lawns with lots of debris, this Husqvarna leaf blower, at $299, gets the job done quickly.

Prices

A lightweight, easy-to-maneuver device from Black & Decker, this cordless electric leaf blower does efficiently what a push broom would do: sweep hard surfaces of leaves and debris. It’s best used on patios, walkways, and garage floors; it won’t be able to handle grassy surfaces well. Relatively quiet and creating no emissions, this surface sweeper is a handy tool to have when you need to freshen up the outside of the house quickly. The $149 price is nice, too. The included rechargeable battery doesn’t last too long per charge, but if you have other cordless Black & Decker tools you can swap out the batteries easily.

Prices

A quiet, light weight gas blower, the Tanaka TRB24EAP blower saves you the trouble of dealing with a complicated start-up system. This Tanaka blower starts up immediately and has strong blowing power: up to 170 mph. Its high-quality and durable construction is easy to see and feel just from holding it. The powerful blowing is ideal for large tracts of land and big debris. Additionally, it’s comfortable to hold and feels balanced in the hand. For $149.99, you’re getting a high-powered leaf blower with no start-up hassle to deal with.

Prices

The best leaf blowers, be they gas, electric, or cordless, must be effective at blasting away leaves, twigs, and other lawn debris. We looked for a number of factors when selecting the top 10 leaf blowers:
1. Easy to start up
2. Powerful engine with high air speeds
3. Durable mulching blades
4. Convenient accessories like vacuum and mulching tools
5. Lightweight to hold by hand or including a strap or harness
6. Low noise and vibrations
6. Great range of mobility and a long battery life if it’s a cordless blower
7. Low emissions if it’s a gas blower
A high-performing leaf blower will certainly speed up your yard work tasks, especially in the fall and spring seasons when leaves, grass clippings, and debris are everywhere.

Featured Leaf Blower Articles

Starting a Gas-Powered Leaf Blower

As you browse the selection of gas leaf blowers, you’ll find some listed as CARB compliant and others as non-CARB compliant. CARB stands for California Air Resource Board, an organization that maintains strict air-quality regulations for engines…[more]

Starting a Gas-Powered Leaf Blower

Gas blowers generally break down into two-cycle and four-cycle engines. The two-cycle variety require a special mixture of gas and oil to properly start the engine. The general rule is that for every gallon of gas… [more]

Choosing a Leaf Blower: Gas, Electric, or Cordless?

You have a yard that requires a lot of work throughout the year. Raking, gathering, and bagging leaves is a tough, time-consuming task. A leaf blower can greatly aid you in your landscaping duties. Additionally, it’s useful for sweeping off patios… [more]

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Top 10 Riding Mowers

With riding lawn mowers, you want the same performance you get from a walk-behind mower but in a much larger package. Riding lawn mowers are the ideal choice if you have a lot of property to cover. Here are some of the most important factors we looked for when we selected the top 10 ride … [more]

Top 10 Push Mowers

While most lawn mowers can handle flat, even terrains, the trick is to find a high-powered lawn mower that still works well when the lawn is large and hilly and containing trees, rocks, and roots. We looked at a number of lawn mowers to see how well they mulch, bag, or discharge grass … [more]

Top 10 Weed Eaters

Lawn trimmers are invaluable tools for keeping your yard looking tidy and professional. Trimmers can reach tight areas that lawn mowers can’t, such as beneath bushes and around trees. Many trimmers also function as edgers… [more]

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People tend to think of mowing the lawn as backbreaking, sweat-inducing work, but self-propelled lawnmowers can make the task a lot more bearable, particularly if you have hilly or uneven terrain to maintain…[more]

Top 10 Pressure Washers

Pressure washers are an essential tool for keeping the outside of your home clean. Made for blasting through grime on cars, boats, driveways, grills, and house sidings, a pressure washer carries exponentially more power than a regular garden hose…[more]

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Sometimes you have big messes that a regular broom, mop, or vacuum cleaner just can’t handle. Shop Vacs, or wet/dry vacuums, are invaluable tools when it comes to cleaning up tough wet or dry spills and messes around the house…[more]

As you browse the selection of gas leaf blowers, you’ll find some listed as CARB compliant and others as non-CARB compliant. CARB stands for California Air Resource Board, an organization that maintains strict air-quality regulations for engines. Other states besides California have adopted these guidelines to ensure that motors release minimal gas emissions into the environment. Just as your car must pass the emissions test, so must other engines.

So what does it mean if a leaf blower’s motor is CARB compliant? Does it mean it doesn’t release any harmful pollutants into the air? Not entirely. Even motors that comply with the CARB regulations release some gas emissions, but they generally run cleaner. Non-CARB compliant motors do not pass these guidelines, and as a result may be banned in California and other states.

Brittany Rowland researches new developments in Appliances, Kitchen and CE products features with a vigor to which few would aspire… but someone has to do it. See more about Brittany

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Top 10 Leaf Blowers

The best leaf blowers, be they gas, electric, or cordless, must be effective at blasting away leaves, twigs, and other lawn debris. We looked for a number of factors when selecting the top 10 leaf blowers: Easy to start up, Powerful engine with high air speeds, Durable mulching blades… [more]

Gas blowers generally break down into two-cycle and four-cycle engines. The two-cycle variety require a special mixture of gas and oil to properly start the engine. The general rule is that for every gallon of gas you add 2 ½ ounces of oil. Adding too much oil to the mixture can cause serious problems with your gas blower, including:

• A damaged spark plug
• Difficulty starting the engine
• Smoke emissions while the blower is running

Four-cycle engines found on new gas blower models save you the trouble of mixing oil and gas together. However, both types of gas blowers follow the same basic steps.

1. To begin, you need to mix the gas and oil together if the blower has a two-cycle engine. Make sure the oil is mixed into the gas before you pour it into the blower’s tank.
2. Press and release the primer bulb about six times. This bulb pulls a small amount of gas to the throat of the carburetor.
3. Put the choke in the closed position and pull the cord once.
4. Switch the choke to the halfway position and pull the cord again up to four times.
5. When the engine starts, let it run for about 10 seconds before opening the choke all the way.

Starting a gas blower may take a little muscle, but with a good model and clear instructions, it shouldn’t take more than one or two tries to get it running.

Brittany Rowland researches new developments in Appliances, Kitchen and CE products features with a vigor to which few would aspire… but someone has to do it. See more about Brittany

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Top 10 Leaf Blowers

The best leaf blowers, be they gas, electric, or cordless, must be effective at blasting away leaves, twigs, and other lawn debris. We looked for a number of factors when selecting the top 10 leaf blowers: Easy to start up, Powerful engine with high air speeds, Durable mulching blades… [more]

You have a yard that requires a lot of work throughout the year. Raking, gathering, and bagging leaves is a tough, time-consuming task. A leaf blower can greatly aid you in your landscaping duties. Additionally, it’s useful for sweeping off patios, pool decks, and driveways quickly. I’m sure we’ve all had unexpected company over and wished we could make the walkway and front lawn look presentable at a moment’s notice.

If you’re considering buying a leaf blower, you have to decide if you want a gas, electric, or cordless version. Each kind has its pros and cons. It’s up to you to decide which kind best suits your yard’s needs.

Gas

Gas-operated leaf blowers are very powerful but they’ve gotten a bad rap over the years because of the smelly fumes they release and the hassle of mixing gas and oil to run them. However, modern gas blowers have gotten better at controlling their emissions, vibrations, and noise, making them a perfectly viable option.

Pros:

• With no power cord, you have the freedom to move all over the yard. This is especially useful if your lawn is expansive.
• Gas blowers are typically very powerful, able to blast away all sorts of debris, including wet leaves.
• Gas blowers come with variable speeds, allowing you to tackle yard tasks both simple and complex.
• Backpack leaf blowers are available for the extra-large lawns so the user doesn’t get tired arms.

Cons:

• As with any tool or appliance that runs on gas, you’ll be required to purchase fuel over the leaf blower’s lifespan.
• Gas blowers require regular maintenance, including the mixing of gas and oil in proper proportions.
• Some models are difficult to start up or have a complicated series of steps, including a fussy pull cord.
• Gas blowers are generally more expensive, heavier, and noisier than other types of blowers. Neighbors may complain about the racket, and some communities have noise regulations.

Electric

Electric leaf blowers are praised for being environmentally friendly because they don’t run on fuel or release emissions. They are an economical purchase, especially if you have a small yard. Electric models are still powerful machines.

Pros:

• Electric leaf blowers are lightweight, sparing your arm and hand a lot of fatigue.
• They are easier to start than gas blowers: You just plug it in and go.
• There is less maintenance involved with electric models, and they don’t produce noise and air pollution.
• Many models come with vacuum and mulching attachments for versatility in lawn care.

Cons:

• You are hampered by the power cord that electric blowers need in order to run. If you have a large yard, maneuvering the cord could be a nuisance.
• As with any appliance that runs on electricity, there is always the slim possibility of an electrical shock.

Cordless

Cordless leaf blowers seek to find a compromise between gas blowers, which have the greatest mobility, and electric blowers, which are lightweight and don’t require fuel. Cordless blowers are ideal for families with small yards who need a blower for only light tasks like sweeping off decks and sidewalks.

Pros:

• As with a gas blower, you are unimpeded by a cord with a cordless blower. Provided the battery lasts long enough, you can cover your whole yard.
• Cordless models are generally compact and lightweight, making them easy to wield for extended periods of time.

Cons:

• They are not as powerful as gas or electric blowers and are best suited to light tasks.
• Cordless blowers have a limited battery life. The higher the speed, the shorter the battery lasts. Again, if you have a small yard, this shouldn’t be a big issue, but you don’t want to try covering a large property with a cordless blower because it lasts only so long on a single charge.

Brittany Rowland researches new developments in Appliances, Kitchen and CE products features with a vigor to which few would aspire… but someone has to do it. See more about Brittany

Related Top 10 Lists

Top 10 Leaf Blowers

The best leaf blowers, be they gas, electric, or cordless, must be effective at blasting away leaves, twigs, and other lawn debris. We looked for a number of factors when selecting the top 10 leaf blowers: Easy to start up, Powerful engine with high air speeds, Durable mulching blades… [more]

A handy leaf blower with a vacuum and mulch kit, this Husqvarna gas blower has enough power to clear away a lot of debris. Its 1.1-horsepower motor reaches a maximum power speed of 8,000 rpm while still staying relatively quiet compared to similar models. The cruise control feature is especially welcome, allowing you to maintain a fan speed without constantly adjusting the throttle. The vacuum attachments go on easily and securely and handle small objects fine; some larger leaves and debris may get stuck in the nozzle, however. For just $184.99, this leaf blower is easy to maneuver and comes with several useful functions.

Prices

A powerful backpack leaf blower for the reasonable price of $230.88, this Troy-Bilt model is fairly no-fuss with its 4-cycle engine, which keeps the oil and gas separate for you. The padded harness sits comfortably on the shoulders and distributes the weight evenly on your back. For a backpack model, this blower is relatively quiet at just 72 decibels. While the motor could stand to have a fast rpm, it’s still more than sufficient to handle wet debris. Best of all, its 20-ounce tank holds a lot of fuel, allowing you to use it for long periods without refilling it.

Prices

With 2 stroke technology, this gas-powered leaf blower from Hitachi has reduced emissions, and it’s a powerful performer with air speeds up to 170 mph. Able to handle large quantities of leaves, debris, and grass clippings, it even picks up wet leaves. Fairly lightweight at just over 8 pounds, it’s easy to hold and maneuver. Having to mix the oil and gas at just the right ratio may be a hassle, but the start-up process is fairly straightforward. Overall, for $122.73, this Hitachi leaf blower gets yard work done efficiently.

Prices

An effective leaf blower, vacuum, and mulcher, this Worx model is ideal for the average size yard. With blow speeds as high as 210 mph, it can handle even wet leaves and debris pretty well. As with most electric blowers, you need a long extension cord to reach all the areas of the lawn. The angled tube is supposed to make it easier to reach under bushes, storm drains, or deck furniture; it functions quite well once you figure out the best angle to hold it. For $79.39, this Worx leaf blower conveniently handles most yard work tasks and is certainly easier than raking.

Prices

A powerful leaf blower, vacuum, and mulcher, this Black & Decker electric blower effectively mulches leaves, twigs, and other yard debris and collects it in a zippered leaf bag. The two speeds provide you enough control to blast away wet leaves or carefully clear leaves from a flower bed. Lightweight and easy to maneuver, it still has some serious vibrations that could tire your hand after a lot of use. Nevertheless, it’s a strong, well-built machine that doesn’t clog and costs just $69.

Prices

An efficient tool for clearing sidewalks, driveways, and patios, the Toro 2-speed electric blower has a low speed of 130 mph and a maximum speed of 160 mph. That’s more than sufficient power to blow away most leaves and debris. At only 4.6 pounds, it’s also incredibly easy to wield. The power controls are located on the handle at easy finger reach. The only hassle is having to drag around a power cord, but even that’s not a big deal. For only $34.97, this Toro blower has ample power to do most yard cleaning tasks.

Prices