The 9 Best Leaf Blowers & Vacuums of 2021

What to Look for in a Leaf Blower or Vacuum

CFM

Cubic feet per minute, or CFM, refers to the volume of air that the leaf blower can move. The higher the CFM, the more air is pushed through the tube every second. This translates into a more powerful gust of air, allowing you to move leaves, sticks, and twigs at a faster pace.

MPH

You'll also see that leaf blowers have an airspeed listed in MPH. Faster speeds give you increased ability to move yard debris and often reduce how many passes it takes to clear a section of your yard, driveway, or deck.

Power

Leaf blowers can be powered in several ways, including by gas engines, rechargeable batteries, or power cords. There are benefits to each of these styles—gas models are cordless and typically provide the most power, but they are louder and require more maintenance. Corded electric models are quieter and more eco-friendly because they don't emit fumes, but you're limited by the length of your extension cord. Finally, battery-powered leaf blowers have a convenient cordless design, but their runtime is typically limited, especially if you're using it at the highest speed.

If you opt for a gas-powered leaf blower for its power, consider whether you want a two-stroke or four-stroke engine. The two-stroke engines are typically less expensive than more complex four-stroke engines, but they will require you to blend gas and oil at the right ratio for proper operation. On the other hand, a gasoline leaf blower with a four-stroke engine accepts straight gasoline into its fuel tank, but it will need regular oil changes. If you don’t mind pre-mixing fuel, then a two-stroke engine is likely adequate for your leaf-blowing needs.

Battery Life

If you’re opting for a cordless electric leaf blower, battery life is an important consideration since your clean-up time could be cut short by a dead battery. If you have a small yard, a standard lithium-ion battery may suffice. However, if you have a lot of ground to cover, you might want to invest in a model with longer battery life or keep a back-up battery on hand to swap in when the first battery dies.

Noise

Noise is a critical consideration since some leaf blowers can be loud enough to disturb the neighbors—or even violate local noise ordinances. The noise rating of any leaf blower is rated in decibels. Electric leaf blowers are likely to be the quietest, followed by gasoline models, and the loudest of all are walk-behind leaf blowers.

Get the facts on whether your community or municipality limits the decibels of yard equipment like leaf blowers, or outlaws the use of them altogether. Also be sure to use hearing protection when operating a leaf blower, since sustained use can lead to hearing damage and loss.

Weight

Leaf blowers can weigh anywhere from 5 to 70 pounds, depending on the style. For a handheld leaf blower, you'll typically want a model that under 10 pounds, otherwise it may not be comfortable to operate for long periods of time. If your leaf blower is any heavier, you'll want to consider a backpack-style model or even a walk-behind option, which will make the weight of the unit easier to manage.

Standout Features

Speed Control

While some leaf blowers only operate at one set speed, others include variable speed control. The benefit of adjusting the speed is that you can increase the power to tackle tougher messes, like wet leaves or muddy sticks, then turn it down to keep from wildly blowing lighter debris in all directions. A few models with variable speed control include a lock feature (sometimes called "cruise control") that will let you select a speed and maintain it without having to keep the speed throttle engaged.

Anti-Vibration

The airspeeds generated by a leaf blower cause a lot of vibration through the nozzle and body of the machine. Holding onto the blower for any length of time can start to take a toll on your body as a whole, and hands in particular—especially with backpack models. If comfort is a priority or you plan to use the leaf blower for an extended period of time, be sure to look for a model that is designed with vibration-dampening features.  

Corded vs. Cordless

Gas- and battery-powered leaf blowers are both considered cordless. The main benefit of these styles is that you can use them anywhere—there's no need for an extension cord and no worrying about finding an electrical outlet nearby. However, the downside is that their runtime is limited. Battery-powered leaf blowers will need to be recharged or have a spare battery swapped in, and gas-powered models will need refueling.

On the other hand, corded electric leaf blowers have an unlimited runtime and their power will never wane. The trade-off is that you're forced to navigate around an extension cord during use.

Product Types

Handheld

The most common type of leaf blowers on the market are handheld models. There is also the widest variety in this type of leaf blower, with models that are better suited for light-duty use or more professional-grade equipment for serious lawn care.

The biggest differentiator among handheld leaf blowers is the power source. There are both gasoline models and electric handheld models, which come in two subtypes: corded or cordless. Handheld blowers cost anywhere from $30 to $300, depending on the power and features you choose.

Corded

Corded electric leaf blowers are typically an economical choice and skip the hassle of gasoline or recharging batteries. Just plug this type of leaf blower into a proper extension cord and you’re ready to blow leaves and debris out from flowerbeds, walkways, and more.

The convenient operation of a corded electric leaf blower is offset by the fact that you can only work in areas within reach of your extension cord. So this type of leaf blower isn’t a good match if you have a lot of property to keep up. However, corded electric leaf blowers are typically lighter in weight, so they make a good option if you just need a leaf blower for casual use close to a power source.

Cordless

One of the more popular leaf blowers on the market, cordless models offer the convenience and quiet of an electric model without the shortcomings of a cord. Just make sure you have a live battery onboard and you are free to find leaves and debris anywhere and everywhere.

The battery itself can sometimes add weight to a cordless leaf blower, but it’s still significantly lighter in comparison to a handheld model with a full tank of fuel. As long as you don’t expect to use the leaf blower for extended run times (or you have a spare battery as a back-up), you’ll likely be happy with the flexibility of a cordless leaf blower.

Gasoline

Handheld gas-powered leaf blowers are equipped with a motor and offer the greatest amount of power among handheld blowers. However, they also produce the greatest amount of noise and fumes. The extra weight of the engine and fuel tank also can make handheld leaf blowers heavier and more cumbersome to use over an extended period of time.

The advantages to a gas handheld leaf blower are the power and portability it offers. You get plenty of wind speed and airflow from these models and you aren’t restricted by a cord or limited by the battery life as you are with other types of handheld leaf blowers.

Backpack

These leaf blowers are usually gasoline-powered models that package power and convenience into a backpack model. While this type of leaf blower is usually far from lightweight, the weight is evenly distributed with the help of thick shoulder straps, and a padded back plate allows the blower to rest relatively comfortably between your shoulders.

These leaf blowers are often used by professional landscapers to cover large areas. However, even residential users find backpack leaf blowers offer advantages. While they’re not "hands-free"—you’ll need to direct the nozzle and control the speed trigger with one hand—they do reduce the burden of carrying around a heavy gas-powered leaf blower with one arm. You’ll typically find between 500-700 CFM in backpack leaf blowers, which is more than the average handheld blower but lags behind most walk-behind blowers.

Backpack leaf blowers require more of an investment than handheld models. Typically, these leaf blowers start around $200. They’re available in both two-stroke and four-stroke engine configurations. Newly available cordless electric backpack blowers add a quieter option for anyone seeking a backpack-style leaf blower without the noise level and fumes of gas-powered backpack blowers.

Walk-Behind

The biggest leaf blowers are walk-behind models. This type of leaf blower is best suited for commercial applications or professional landscaping teams, but you might opt for a walk-behind model if you don’t want to carry a blower. Walk-behind blowers vary in price depending on whether it’s a commercial or residential model; this type of blower starts at about $250 but climbs quickly to $1,000 or more.

The advantage to a walk-behind leaf blower is superior CFM—anywhere from 1,000 to 2,000 or more CFM is typical. Newer residential models have more limited power in the 500 CFM range. Just about all walk-behind leaf blowers are gasoline-powered, with the exception of a few very light-duty electric models.

The onboard gas engine and high CFM mean that walk-behind blowers tend to be some of the loudest leaf blowers on the market. This is another reason these blowers aren’t popular picks for residential yard work. However, if you don’t have nearby neighbors and have a large area to clear, then a walk-behind blower may work for you.

Vacuum

Sometimes you just want to blast away debris, but other times you might want to vacuum up leaves, pinecones, and more for a tidier yard or to create mulch. Some leaf blowers include a vacuum attachment that collects debris into a bag or includes a mulching feature to turn suctioned items into a mulch you can spread around your trees or garden.

FAQs

What type of leaf blower should you get?

There are several types of leaf blowers with advantages to each depending on your specific needs and budget, but the two main categories are gas and electric. In general, gas-powered leaf blowers tend to be more powerful, but they’re also typically heavier, more expensive, and louder. Electric leaf blowers, whether corded or cordless, are often easier to maneuver and less expensive, but you’ll sacrifice power and will also be constrained by either the battery life or how far your extension cord reaches.

What does a leaf vacuum do?

Leaf vacuums contain fans that create suction to pull leaves, pine straw, and other debris into a collection bag. Some also have a mulching feature, which turns the collection into mulch or compost that you can then use in your yard or garden. Most leaf vacuums also feature a blowing component. Leaf vacuums are better suited for smaller jobs or hard-to-reach areas of decks or porches because they tend to have small capacities for holding the debris.

Is CFM or MPH more important in a leaf blower? 

CFM, or cubic feet per minute, measures the volume of air that the leaf blower can move, whereas MPH, miles per hour, measures the speed at which the air moves. It’s important to look at both numbers because they work together. However, a higher airspeed does nothing without a large push power—the volume of air coming out every minute (CFM)—and therefore, large differences in CFM between models can often make a bigger difference in how quickly you can complete a job.

Can you clean gutters with a leaf blower?

Many people clean leaves and other debris out of their gutters using leaf blowers, as the tool makes this cumbersome chore faster and easier. However, it’s important to keep safety in mind if you clean gutters with a leaf blower. It’s not advised to try to wrangle your leaf blower while balancing on a ladder—instead, you should invest in a gutter-cleaning attachment for your specific tool. These attachments include a long tube with a hooked end, allowing you to blow leaves from your gutters while standing on the ground.

Why Trust The Spruce?

This article was written by Camryn Rabideau, a freelance writer and product tester. She has done firsthand testing of leaf blowers, including the Worx Turbine 56V Leaf Blower, and she used her experiences to select the best products for this list. In addition to reading dozens of reviews from consumers and testing professionals, she looked for products with high CFM ratings and appropriate air speeds. She also considered the ergonomics and weight of each machine, which have a large impact on user comfort.