The 8 Best Cordless Leaf Blowers for Cleanups, Yard Work, and Other Small Jobs

More and more, we’re seeing battery-powered equipment that rivals or exceeds the performance of their gas-powered counterparts. This cordless leaf blower is a case in point. We measured airspeed at 134 mph and found, combined with the volume of air (650 CFM, claimed), that it easily blasted leaves from our test area when we were standing still.

Stepping forward while sweeping back and forth cleared the area in seconds. Our sawdust test revealed a focused air stream with sharp edges extending beyond the end of our test area.

While the runtime may seem short, bear in mind that’s on the turbo setting. In use, we’ve learned that it’s rare to continuously hold down the turbo button or even the trigger. A more realistic runtime (without turbo locked on) is at least 27 minutes. And we could have probably extended the runtime further because the LB6504 features a dial that allowed us to set and hold the airspeed at the lowest setting and use the trigger or turbo button to boost speed when needed. This vastly extends runtime and more realistically reflects typical yard work needs.

This budget-friendly model is the 20-volt version of the above BL80L2510, meaning it’s lighter and expectedly weaker. However, it’s the most affordable cordless blower we recommend, and comes with an included battery and charger. It claims a 120 mph airspeed and 500 CFM. Although we haven’t tested this one, we generally recommend Greenworks products for value-forward power tools, and given the performance of its stronger brother (which we tested and recommend in this guide), we see promise in this model.

Given its weaker power, its battery lasts only 10 minutes at full power, but buying a second one gives it double life. (And if you've already subscribed to the Greenworks family, the tool alone is only $100.) Several user reviews say it’s great for small jobs and spaces, and it’s powerful enough to tidy a patio or driveway in a jiffy. One major qualm, however, is its noise; though weaker, it’s surprisingly loud, according to many users.

One of the lightest cordless leaf blowers, even this Greenworks model can replace a gas-powered unit. With our anemometer, we clocked the airspeed at a respectable 127 mph, which falls in the middle of the range for handheld gas blowers. The tube tip is tapered at the end, creating a little narrower, focused air stream, evident in the pattern left in our sawdust test.

We also noted more precision when blowing leaves out of our test area, which we cleared in seconds, taking just a few steps. Compared to other models, runtime is fair—considering the 2.5-Ah battery.

Greenworks offers 80-volt batteries up to 5 Ah, which would significantly lengthen how long you can use the BL80L2510 in one shot. And if you already have a battery from another of their tools, use it and buy just the leaf blower without batteries to save some cash.

The Ryobi should be on your shortlist if your overarching requirement is a quiet handheld blower. Fortunately, that doesn’t come at the expense of leaf-moving power.

The bright yellow-green blower has enough for dry leaf cover, removing grass clippings and leaves from paved surfaces, and cleaning out the garage or dryer vent. No, it’s not the most powerful leaf blower we’ve used, but it’s certainly one of the quietest and most pleasant.

Other features that contribute to its ease of use are a well-positioned latch to the left of and above the adjustable-speed trigger, a booster button for more air output, and a detachable nose cone made out of rubber that concentrates the airspeed up to 190 mph.

The cone’s circumference is marked with the airspeeds it will produce at three intervals (from base to the tip): 190, 175, and 160 mph. You could slice the cone at any of the two intervals (175 and 160), shortening it to provide less airspeed.

At first glance, Cat’s leaf blower appears stout with a wide blower tube and tip. This is usually the case with blowers that move a significant volume of air, and the claimed 800 CFM is just that. We clocked airspeed at 115 mph, and with that much air, moving that fast, the Cat cleared a wider swath than most in our sawdust erosion test.

Like many models in our testing, the controls include a standard trigger, cruise control dial, and turbo boost button. The 60-volt, 800-CFM blower is a bit heavier than some models, partly due to the larger battery format—which is generally the case with higher-speed blowers.

While the Cat easily cleared debris around the hard surfaces of our testing area, it should also do well on stubborn leaves in or on grass.

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This cordless leaf blower makes a lot of sense for people that already own tools in Milwaukee’s M18 Fuel platform, since the batteries are completely interchangeable. It’s available as a “tool only” or with a large, 8-Ah battery, which yielded a continuous run time of 14 minutes and 45 seconds during our testing.

The M18 has two ranges indicated by rabbit and turtle icons, each controlled by the same variable speed trigger. It took us longer to clear the leaves in our test area with the Milwaukee, but it was easier to carry, being roughly 1.5 pounds lighter than any other model we tested. It did take a bit longer to move the leaves, the reason for which we discovered in our sawdust test.

While the shape of the air stream was similar to other handheld blowers, it was a little smaller in both length and width. This isn’t really a fault, but a limitation of the lower voltage compared to other models. As such, the M18 might not be ideal for large properties with heavy leaf coverage.

It is, however, great for clearing out gutters, sweeping the driveway, blasting debris tracked into the garage or leftover from projects, and clearing sidewalks, porches, patios, and small yards.

Don’t be misled by this DeWalt’s low airspeed. It’s well-shaped and productive, capable of carving its way through debris. And we found it was easy to use in a sweeping motion to brush leaves aside.

Its brief runtime, however, suggests that the tool is best on small patches of leaves or for jobs like construction-site cleanup or sweeping out the garage. Its design for these purposes is clear, judging by the hefty skid plate below the blower housing and battery that should help this cordless leaf blower withstand rough-and-tumble use.

This Greenworks is the lightest and most compact of the backpack blowers we tested. Its runtime was a modest 19 minutes (at full turbo power). At that setting, the blower’s air stream forms an effective leaf-moving zone—even if it appeared to be weaker on the outside edges.

The machine also scored high marks for its comfortable and highly adjustable shoulder straps, an ergonomic handle, and the 90-degree elbow that connects the impeller housing to the flexible blower tube. That elbow permits the blower tube to pivot straight up, so it takes up less space when you store this model in the garage or shed.