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Our favorites blew away the competition.
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
Theres a tremendous advantage from a noise pollution perspectiveyoure not having to wear protective hearing devices, Gault says.
One of the best benefits?
Quite frankly, there is no maintenance, Gault says.
Credit: Amazon
What We Tested
We extensively tested 35 leaf blowers over a period of six months.
It’s on the pricier side for a handheld model.
The compact and easily maneuverable Makita blower was our choice for the bestcordless leaf blower.
Credit: Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock
Though this machine is small, it packs a lot of power and its max speed is 116 mph.
The Makita efficiently blew leaves and lost no power over six months of testing.
Brushless motors provide a lot less vibration and that makes a big difference…
Product Details: Weight:6.5lbs.
CFM is commonly used to measure the power of a leaf blower.
Assembly is more complicated than handheld models, and the battery can be used up quickly.
The Greenworks Pro is the best electric backpack leaf blower we tested.
The powerful 180 mph machine easily blasted away even wet leaves and dirt.
We loved the huge amount of power and said this leaf blower was fun and satisfying to use.
Though the backpack is heavier than handhelds, the straps fit nicely and made it easy to carry.
We also liked activating the turbo button for a boost of extra power.
Keep in mind that assembly is a bit more complicated with this blower.
The Greenworks had many parts and required the use of a screwdriver to assemble.
Figuring out which tubes go in which order was the trickiest part.
Fortunately, the battery completely recharges in 45 minutes with the included rapid charger.
Product Details: Weight:14.64lbs.
The vacuum does not work effectively unless it is precisely positioned.
This three-in-one machine from Worx has a blower,leaf vacuum,and mulcher.
The vacuum/mulcher function also saves you the extra work of raking together and bagging the leaves.
As a bonus, the shredded leaves can be easily added to compost or spread over garden beds.
Even though this machine had multiple functions, it was surprisingly easy to assemble.
The mulching function clearly worked and we could fit significantly more leaves into the attached bag.
When it was positioned correctly, it did a great job sucking up leaves.
One workaround for this was blowing the leaves into a pile and then vacuuming them up.
Product Details: Weight:9.3lbs.
If youre looking for more power,Greenworks Pro Cordless Backpack Leaf Blowermight be best.
And if youre looking for a three in one machine that does it all, theWorx WG509impressed us.
In total, we tested 35 different leaf blowers and measured each by four factors.
The first criteria was ease of use.
We also noted whether the controls were intuitive andeasy to operate.
Credit: Amazon
We then rated the machines based on design.
We also rated the blowers on overall performance, paying special attention to battery run time.
This included how effectively the machine moved leaves, including wet leaves.
Credit: Lowe’s
For vacuums, we noted if the machine effectively sucked up leaves.
Mulchers were rated on whether the mulching function actually reduced the volume of leaves in the bag.
At the end of the testing period, we decided the value of each machine.
During testing, the controls on the Worx Electric Leaf Blower/Leaf Vacuum/Mulcher were straightforward.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens / Jasmine Smith
We recorded our final likes and dislikes, and looked at the price of the model.
We then determined if the price reflected the value of the machine.
Using all of our ratings and feedback, we compiled a list of the best electric leaf blowers.
Gault explains, CFM is cubic feet per minute; its the volume of air flowing through the machine.
It measures internally the fan generating the power and force.
But that doesnt necessarily translate to mph.
Mph is the actual speed of the wind that is coming out of the machine.
Battery Life
The machine we tested with the longest battery life is theWorx WG584 Cordless Leaf Blower.
However, battery life can vary depending on a range of factors.
If a leaf blower is being used on the highest setting at all times, the battery depletes quickly.
Different companies also manufacture different battery sizes.
Smaller, more lightweight batteries have less run time.
Maneuverability
Weight is also important when considering maneuverability.
A blower with a lighter battery will provide less power, but will also be easier to carry.
Corded models are more difficult to maneuver, as youll need to attach an extension cord.
It comes with a cord retainer which worked well to prevent the cord from becoming disconnected while using.
We preferredcordless leaf blowersoverall.
The battery also lasts long enough to get the job done.
Your Questions, Answered
Are electric leaf blowers less powerful than gas?
Gault says that, Even just five years ago I would have had a different perspective.
For most households, electric leaf blowers provide enough power for fall chores.
Plus, they dont require the same amount of maintenance tasks that gas blowers do.
That being said, gas-powered models have longer runtimes and may be preferred for large lots.
Can you use a leaf blower for snow?
Yesthough it will depend on the bang out and quantity of snow.
What is the difference between an electric leaf blower and a gas leaf blower?
For these reasons, an electric leaf blower will often be the best choice for most shoppers.
Which nozzles do I need?
Gault recommends two attachments: wide-mouth and gutter-cleaning attachments.
Wider attachments allow more air to escape, which gives the machine a more broadcasted range, Gault says.
Gutter cleaning attachments are useful to safely clean gutters without getting on a ladder or roof.
However, most brands require purchasing a gutter attachment separately.
Who We Are
This article was written byBetter Homes & GardenscontributorRachel Ahrnsen.
She is a certifiedmaster gardenerwho covers outdoor tools and lawn care.
What Is BHG Recommends?
Next to all of the products on this list, you may have noticed ourBHG Recommends seal of approval.
In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products.
