As a homeowner we understand it is very difficult to make the right decision when choosing the best cordless leaf blower for your own needs, there are so many options! As a best practice, always try to get a cordless leaf blower before fall to avoid long queues and empty shelves in stores. Ordering online is a great option but make sure you place your order right before your yard is covered in leaves! To find your way around the numerous models and tricky feature names, read at least a couple of cordless leaf blower reviews.
Why Would You Need a Cordless Leaf Blower in the First Place?
Assuming you are not after a commercial blower and you have up to a mid-size yard or garden, then a cordless leaf blower is definitely the right choice for you.
Cordless blowers are lighter and cheaper than gas blowers, although less powerful. Even electric leaf blowers with a cord can get uncomfortable to use very easily with a long power cord getting in the way all the time.
Cordless electric leaf blowers do not release smoke, which one would consider a rather negative consequence not to mention the noise of a gas engine.
Most of all, cordless blowers are for your own comfort, for the one that dislikes messy chores like mixing gasoline and oil for the gas tank, replacing spark plugs, and other annoying tasks. Just make sure the battery is fully charged and possibly, get a backup battery for longer, tougher jobs.
How to Choose the Best Cordless Leaf Blowers?
There are a number of factors to take into consideration when choosing the best cordless leaf blower for your home.
Leaf Blower Battery
Batteries: A Flash From the Past
The history of battery technology is quite interesting: Alessandro Volta was the first inventor to create an electric battery in 1800. His battery utilized copper and zinc plates to generate electricity.
However, numerous modifications were made in an effort to enhance the initial design.
The popular lead-acid battery was invented one year later, in 1881. These batteries were so cheap and popular that they’re still used today.
However, they’re quite heavy. Lead-acid batteries are mainly used in ships, forklifts, and other heavy machinery.
20 years later, the nickel-cadmium batteries were created. These supplied energies similar to the predecessors for only half the weight.
This technology grew in popularity during the 1960s and was used to power the first ever power tools. Lithium, a distinct chemical element, was used to develop light, powerful and fast-charging batteries during the 2000s.
Today, lithium-ion batteries are widely used to motorized vehicles, power equipment, and cordless leaf blowers.
What Do Batteries Cost?
Depending on the battery type, lithium batteries can cost anywhere between $50 to $200 and more. Luckily, these batteries are designed to last longer. Typically, a lithium battery can offer 40 minutes to an hour of charge before requiring a recharge.
This time-length will vary depending on usage, battery voltage, and CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) generated by your specific leaf blower. The lifetime expectancy of lithium batteries is pretty decent: they last about two to three years. Here, lifetime refers to the number of full charge-discharge cycles.
Importance of Volts, Amps, Amp Hours, and Watt Hours
You’ve probably heard these strange terminologies being thrown around often. Let’s break it down.
A Volt is simply a unit for measuring electricity. The more voltage possessed by a lithium battery, the longer it will operate.
An Ampere (amp), on the other hand, is a measure of how quickly an electric current flows through the circuit. One Amp is equal to one coulomb per second. Interesting, isn’t it?
An Ampere hour (amp-hour) simply describes the capacity of an electrical charge. If a certain lithium battery has a capacity of 30 amp-hours, it ideally discharges a single ampere of current for 30 hours. You could also say that it discharges 30 amps per hour.
Watt hours measure the amount of energy produced by the battery in a single hour. The higher this value, the better the battery.
A 120V 3Ah battery is better than a 40V 2Ah battery. Naturally, it’s also pricier.
Benefits of Interchangeable Battery Design
Most manufacturers came up with their own tools and battery platforms.
These platforms are offering interchangeable batteries among a wide range of tools in the same system, being it a leaf blower, snow blower, string trimmer mower, or other power tools.
The main benefit here is that you only need to purchase a single battery and you can use the other tools. And we know that sometimes spare batteries can cost nearly as much as the tool itself! Crazy, isn’t it!?
The bare tools without batteries tend to be much cheaper as well compared to the ones that come with batteries.
There is a catch though, cordless battery systems are not cross compatible between manufacturers. Going with a particular brand means that the tool can only be used with the suitable, same brand, same voltage battery.
It is a hard decision which manufacturer and therefore which cordless battery system to go for. One thing is sure – once you made up your mind, it is in your best interest to stick with your choice and get other tools with the same battery platform.
Some examples of these cordless leaf blowers and therefore battery platforms are:
- DEWALT FlexVolt 20V 60V and 120V
- BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX and 40V MAX
- Greenworks 24V 40V and 80V
- Makita 12V 18V LTX and 36V
Don’t get fooled by the slightly different voltage systems. Building tools is a billion dollar business and companies will try all kinds of marketing tricks on consumers.
Then a manufacturer advertises 60V or 20V systems, they are essentially the same as their competitors’ 56V or 18V packages, except the former company is stating the maximum voltage without load, while the latter displays the standard nominal voltage.
Modern Cordless Leaf Blowers
Modern battery operated leaf blowers these days all come with the more superior Li-ion batteries. When you browse cheap blowers you might discover they use the more heavy, old Ni-Cad technology. But one thing is sure when it comes to a rechargeable leaf blower, the quality and run time of batteries.
All our blowers in the list come with the more advanced Li-ion packs so it may be easier to find the best lithium ion cordless leaf blower on the market. It’s most common to buy the cordless leaf blower with battery and charger as a package.
In case you already own an interchangeable battery pack from a certain manufacturer, like the Worx PowerShare or Black and Decker 20V Max system, you may be able to use the same battery without buying new ones as a pack.
Power and Air Volume
Somewhat confusing that manufacturers mix two measurements to describe their tools’ performance. A battery operated leaf blower is essentially just a big cordless air blower, so power and air volume matter a lot.
Miles per hour (MPH) sounds quite familiar, but what does it mean? Could a 230 mph blower really contend at Indianapolis? Of course not, and this measurement is even somewhat misleading because depending on the tube attached, a low powered blower could reach high airspeed.
In fact, miles per hour indicates the speed of the air exiting the blower wand. This rates the distance the air would travel over an hour’s time. Product manufacturers like to use this rating as miles per hour is a measurement that is familiar to most of us. While this is a valuable rating that will help a customer during the buying process, it is important to remember that the speed of airflow is not important on its own.
Cubic feet per minute (cfm) is a bit more capable of telling the story, although, still not perfect. But essentially, as a rule of thumb, the more air the better.
The reality is, that cubic feet per minute is the number we should look at first. This rating measures the volume of air that moves through the blower system in one minute’s time.
The higher the rating, the more air is moved by the spinning blades that pull the air into the system and then force it out through the wand. This number is also not important on its own.
Fast moving air means little if there is not much of it. A large volume of air is of little value unless it is traveling at a high rate of speed. This is why both CFM and MPH are important to each other. Combining both numbers provides a more accurate picture of backpack leaf blower capabilities.
Weight
A huge factor when handling a machine like a leaf blower. Disappointing but fair enough that the power to weight ratio is mostly linear – the more power you want the heavier the tool is going to be. Still, choosing the right weight for the right job is essential.
When Weight Meets Ergonomics
The best cordless leaf blower should have a superb ergonomic design, meaning it should offer maximum comfort to users.
In addition, your preferred battery operated blower shouldn’t be excessively heavy.
A leaf blower having exquisite ergonomics will feel much lighter than it really is, mainly because of enhanced weight distribution mechanisms.
Ergonomics and thoughtful design also involve lowering vibrations, reducing the stress imparted on arms/back, and enhancing comfort. Handles should be thick and ideally made of rubber to reduce slippage, allowing the user to grip firmly. F
Noise
The level of noise emitted by power tools, including cordless leaf blowers, is measured using decibels (dB). Unlike gas leaf blowers, cordless leaf blowers emit far less noise.
Most gas blowers produce high degrees of noise that could reach 90 dB or higher and therefore ear protection is highly recommended. On the other hand, the noise level of cordless leaf blowers ranges between 60 to 70 decibels or thereabout.
This guarantees much lower noise and your neighbors will love you for purchasing the quietest, best cordless leaf blower.
The DeWalt DCBL720P1 Brushless Cordless Blower, for instance, has a noise performance of 61 dB. Compare this to the 94 dB of noise produced by the Husqvarna 125B gas leaf blower and you’ll be shocked by the difference. Workers who use power equipment generating upwards of 85 dB or higher are expected to wear hearing protection by the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OSHA).
Advanced Features to Look For
Leaf blower technology keeps getting better with each passing year. Some manufacturers work tirelessly to develop “the next big thing” by coming up with distinct features and improved functionalities for the next best cordless leaf blower.
However, there are always variations of these newer, more advanced blowers.
Here are some advanced features of cordless leaf blowers you should know:
Axial vs Centrifugal Fan Design
For axial fan designs, the blades normally rotate around a certain axis. This optimizes the air output and maximizes run time.
Centrifugal fans generate high levels of pressure – they are equipped with a fan wheel that effectively increases the pressure of inbound air streams.
Centrifugal fans are designed to move air currents radially. However, they demand a greater power input.
Turbo mode
Turbo is a name of Latin origin that appropriately means fast or having great energy. The turbo mode feature, therefore, allows the leaf blower’s engine to generate more power and consequently work faster.
It’s an important feature to include in your list.
Cruise Control
Most cordless leaf blowers allow users to switch between several power options using distinct controls located on the machine. Cruise control allows a leaf blower to maintain its current power/speed, adjusting it automatically depending on the need.
Brushless Motor
This motor utilizes synchronous DC technology to improve performance and maximize the durability and efficiency of the motor. Brushless motors experience less wear compared to their brushed counterparts.
Safety Features
These days, cordless leaf blowers come with an array of safety features that are in accordance to general safety and regulatory standards. These include nonslip handles, quick shut-off switch and double insulation features.
Best Cordless Leaf Blower Reviews
Worx WG591 Turbine 56V Cordless Blower
465
Air Volume (cfm)
8.1
Weight (lbs)
Features
The Worx WG591 features multi-speed fan control that gives the option to use it gently in the garage but boost the power when you need it most. This particular cordless battery blower is powerful, so no surprise it’s the heaviest of them all.
It has a brushless motor which means it has a higher power to weight ratio, higher maximum speed, and electronic control (source).
It also features a powerful battery that provides 56V Maximum voltage. This battery takes 90 minutes to charge, making it convenient to spruce up the outdoors.
Another interesting feature of the Worx WG591 Turbine 56V Cordless Blower is its variable speed control. It delivers speeds from 60 to 125 MPH and generates an air volume of 225 to 465 CFM.
This leaf blower has a delightfully ergonomic design that enhances user comfort by efficiently distributing the weight evenly. This reduces exhaustion when handling large tasks.
With a warranty of 3 years and 4+ customer ratings on Amazon, this could be the best, most reliable garden blower of choice.
Read more about the Worx WG591 cordless leaf blower in our detailed review article!
Worx WG591 Feedback From Previous Buyers:
Most buyers recommend this leaf blower, describing it as powerful and lightweight (source).
One owner uses his Worx blower to remove debris from his driveway and patio. It’s possible to move wet leaves from the yard using turbo mode. Some buyers were also impressed by the blower’s speed control feature that enables them to maneuver with ease. However, one customer notes that the bower’s lithium battery lasts 7 to 10 minutes on maximum power.
GreenWorks 24252 G-Max 40V Cordless Blower
135
Air Volume (cfm)
3.3
Weight (lbs)
Features
The GreenWorks 24252 is a reasonably priced, lightweight battery operated blower with up to 30 mins of run time on a single charge (on low setting). It features multi-speed fan control that gives a chance to save on the battery if no hard work is needed. This feature is common among the best battery leaf blowers these days.
A nice and thoughtful offer from GreenWorks is that its G-MAX battery fits into 25+ tools in their range, which could be a fair selling point.
The Greenworks 40V Variable Speed Cordless Blower also comes with an amazing extension tube that effectively increases blower efficiency. Users are able to spruce up their lawns more quicker.
Another cool feature of this leaf blower is its lightweight design. Handlers can control this unit easily, seeing as it weighs a mere 3.3 pounds. It’s perfect for small and medium yard projects.
With a warranty of 4 years and being a best seller in its category with good customer ratings on Amazon, this lightweight blower could be a nice addition to a budget.
Read more about the GreenWorks 24252 in our detailed review article!
GreenWorks 24252 Feedback From Previous Buyers:
68% of Amazon customers gave this leaf blower a rating of 4 stars and above. Most buyers were pleased by how powerful and versatile their Greenworks blower was. Its cordless design is certainly a plus, judging from the numerous reviews talking about this particular feature.
Some people use this tool to blow off light debris from their yards and driveways while others use it to remove sand and sawdust from their garages.
On the other hand, according to one particular buyer, this leaf blower isn’t powerful enough to handle tough debris. This includes anything that’s damp, clumped, and heavy.
EGO Power+ 56V Electric Blower
480
Air Volume (cfm)
5.1
Weight (lbs)
Features
The EGO Power+ electric blower is one of the most stylish of them all. Not just good looking, but it has water resistant design and efficient variable speeds that will give you the power of up to an astonishing 480 cfm.
This blower, similar to Worx’ contender, features high-efficiency brushless motor that allows this compact design, long runtime, and extended motor life.
The EGO Cordless Electric Blower comes with its own battery included. This battery has an impressive run time of around one hour while on low settings, giving users ample time to remove all debris from their yards.
Another impressive feature of this leaf blower is the low noise level. Its noise rating is 65 dB which is significantly lower than gas-powered blowers.
It has superb ergonomics. Its compact, lightweight design allows users to maneuver with ease and work for longer hours without tiring out. It weighs 5.2 lbs (2.36 kg).
EGO offers a warranty of 5 years for the tool and 3 years for the battery itself. Considering its exceptional customer ratings on Amazon, this strong blower with reasonable weight might be a winner after all.
Read more about the EGO Power+ 56V cordless blower in our detailed review article!
EGO Power+ Feedback From Previous Buyers
88% of customers on Amazon awarded the Ego Cordless Electric Blower a 4-star rating and above, attesting to its effectiveness. Most buyers in this category were surprised by the vast amount of power generated by this blower, claiming that it exceeded their expectations.
Quite a few customers tried blowing wet leaves using this unit and were pleased by the results.
However, one common issue was the low battery life. One buyer wishes that his battery would last longer while another feels frustrated by the lower run time of this battery. Overall, most customers are delighted by this product.
BLACK+DECKER LSW221 20V Cordless Sweeper
80
Air Volume (cfm)
3.7
Weight (lbs)
Features
This Black and Decker unit is the least powerful blower on the list but despite this, is a very popular option on the lower end of the price range.
It is not even advertised as a “leaf blower” for a good reason, as one would find more use for it around the house than using it for heavy debris in the garden with lots of trees.
However, the Black and Decker LSW221 Sweeper excels in handling dust and smaller leaves just fine.
As it only weighs 3.7 lbs it could be the right choice to even dry your car or find other odd jobs that you wouldn’t even think of with a heavy duty corded blower.
It also has a lightweight, low-noise design that makes it perfect for home use. You won’t worry about bothering your neighbors with a loud noise. In addition, its small weight allows users to operate it for longer periods.
The Black and Decker sweeper comes with its very own 20V Max battery that holds a charge for around 18 months, offering decent service time.
Black and Decker offer a limited warranty of 2 years only.
BLACK+DECKER LSW221 Feedback From Previous Buyers:
Customers are generally pleased by this product – 70% rated it with 4 stars or above. Most people used this sweeper to remove grass clippings and other small debris from the patio, deck, and walkways.
One customer has highlighted the lightweight nature of this sweeper, saying that it’s therefore easy to use. Another was delighted by its decent power output, claiming that it helped him get rid of bird nests from outdoor structures.
Must note that a small group of buyers was disappointed by the machine’s power, saying it was less than expected. It’s hard to clear wet leaves and stubborn debris using the Black and Decker sweeper.
DEWALT DCBL720P1 20V Brushless Blower
400
Air Volume (cfm)
7.1
Weight (lbs)
Features
This DEWALT blower 20V is more than capable of cleaning huge surfaces but it comes with a cost: it weighs a hefty 7.1 lbs.
It may not float your boat but the general consensus among reviews is that the DCBL720P1 is a reliable, innovative, and high performance blower with a brushless motor, axial fan design, and variable speed modes.
This cordless leaf blower features an ergonomic design that effectively evens out its hefty weight, reducing the stress on users’ arms and backs.
The tool’s variable trigger and speed lock give the handler maximum control.
Another great feature of this particular leaf blower is its low noise performance. The Dewalt DCBL720P1 Leaf Blower has a noise rating of 61 dB which is within the acceptable limit.
DEWALT offers a limited warranty of 3 years.
We have reviewed this cordless leaf blower in detail, read more about the DEWALT DCBL720P1 leaf blower here!
DEWALT DCBL720P1 Feedback From Previous Buyers
Most customer reviews were positive. 83% of reviewers gave this leaf blower a rating of 4 stars and higher. A number of buyers were impressed by the vast power their DEWALT DCBL720P1 cordless leaf blower offers, claiming it delivers as expected.
Some buyers use their blowers to remove debris from their sidewalks and driveways while others blew leaves and twigs off their lawns using their blowers.
But for some customers, the 20V battery system and its motor didn’t generate enough power.
Which one is the Best Cordless Leaf Blower for 2022?
Conclusion
It’s a difficult task to pick the best battery powered leaf blower in this strong market, there are simply too many options.
The top battery powered leaf blowers are supposed to have a great power-to-weight ratio, are reasonably priced, and are good quality.
The reason we put together this list of cordless leaf blower reviews is to help you find the right tool for the job.
If you are not tied down by costs, then go for the most powerful cordless leaf blower, the EGO Power+.
In case you are looking for a budget cordless yard blower with great reviews that doesn’t cost a fortune, go for the Greenworks 24252.
Have a huge yard to clear or have backaches when using an ordinary blower? Read more about the Best Backpack Blowers on the market these days!
Winners – The Best Battery Leaf Blower
Cordless Leaf Blower: Frequently Asked Questions
What maintenance does a cordless leaf blower need?
If you use your blower regularly, ensure you clean it once or twice per week to avoid a buildup of dust and debris. Wipe the exterior and check whether there are signs of damage or cracking. Take special care of the spark plug and air filter by wiping them down and inspecting them regularly.
Occasionally, use soapy water to wash the air filter and let it dry completely before returning it. as for the batteries, don’t let them discharge completely – leave at least 20% of charge after you’re done blowing away leaves and debris.
How to use a cordless leaf blower?
Before operating your leaf blower, remove any jewelry or lose clothing you might be wearing and tie back your hair if it’s long. Ensure that you use all the appropriate safety gear: noisecanceling headphones, goggles, and gloves, just to mention a few.
Once you have the best cordless leaf blower, it is extremely convenient to use since you’re not tied down by any cords.
When blowing leaves and debris from your yard, start from the farthest edges and blow them toward a central position. If it’s the driveway or walkway, start from the areas nearest to the house and blow the debris further away from the residence.
However, it’s probably best to use a rake afterward to achieve the best results. Heap the leaves together and dump them appropriately.
What other tools do I need apart from a cordless leaf blower?
There are a variety of tools you require to spruce up your home. These include rakes and electric lawn sweepers.
A rake comes in handy when you’ve finished blowing off all leaves from your lawn. Use it to gather the remaining leaves that still lie around and to heap the debris together for easier disposal.
An electric lawn sweeper effectively removes fallen leaves and loose grass clippings from the yard. It can lift up even the most stubborn material. It’s important to only go for the best electric lawn sweepers.
It would make sense to get tools from the same manufacturer based on the same interchangeable platform, so you can use the same battery packs as the other tools.
If you desire an eco-friendlier technique of disposing of fallen leaves, try mulching and composting them.
Turning organic debris into compost helps to enrich your soil with exquisite fertilizer, allowing your plants to grow and thrive.
In addition, it’s more environmentally friendly. These compost bins can help turn your waste materials into helpful compost fertilizer for your garden.
You might also need a cart to carry a variety of lawn tools around the yard. Luckily, that’s what garden carts are designed to do. They allow you to transport rakes, leaf blowers, and power tools with ease. You won’t need to bear with the treachery of carrying such tools by yourself.
You can also have some household fun by pulling your kids in a garden cart. They’re similar to carriages, so children will have so much fun riding on these carts. Only go for the best garden carts you can find.
Is it worth buying a cordless leaf blower instead of a corded one?
Battery-powered leaf blowers certainly come with increased mobility since they’re no cords attached.
Users can therefore operate them everywhere they please. In addition, cordless leaf blowers come with interchangeable batteries that allow an operator to remove worn-out batteries and replace them with new ones.
Unlike gas blowers, cordless leaf blowers are powered by batteries that are eco-friendlier, produce no fumes, are much quieter, and require less maintenance.
On the downside, cordless blowers are a tad heavier and more expensive, considering you have to attach a pricey lithium-ion battery to operate them.
All factors considered cordless leaf blowers are certainly worth purchasing instead of corded ones unless being on the budget.
