The 8 Best Cordless Leaf Blowers of 2023 | Tested by The Spruce

We tested 27 electric leaf blowers (including 17 cordless) in our Lab in Des Moines, Iowa, where we methodically evaluated each unit’s ease of assembly and use, battery life, noise levels, and effectiveness. We tested for effectiveness under a range of scenarios, timing how quickly each leaf blower cleared dry leaves from a patch of grass, dry leaves from a patch of concrete, and damp leaves from a patch of grass. We also tested to see if each blower had the strength to move 0.25-, 0.5-, and 1-ounce fishing line weights, as well as the precision to easily wrangle leaves in a box we drew with chalk on concrete. After our lab tests, we continued testing 10 models in our homes across the country for six months to evaluate their long-term durability and performance.

Speaking on the benefits of cordless leaf blowers (specifically battery-operated options), Deane Biermeier, a member of The Spruce Home Improvement Review Board and Certified Lead Carpenter, says: “Although cordless leaf blowers are less powerful than corded or gas-powered models, there is virtually no maintenance to perform other than charging the batteries. They’re perfect for clearing leaves from small yards or yards with very few leaf-shedding trees.”

If you dread the inevitable leaf-raking that comes with fall, you may want to consider investing in a cordless leaf blower, which can help reduce the hassle of your fall-time yard work and let you roam around your yard without having to worry about cord management.

Best Overall

Ryobi ONE+ 18V 100 MPH 280 CFM Cordless Battery Variable-Speed Jet Fan Leaf Blower

4.8

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Our Ratings

• Effectiveness

  5

  /5

• Battery

  4

  /5

• Ease of Use

  5

  /5

• Portability

  5

  /5

• Noise Level

  4

  /5

What We Like

• Multiple speeds

• Easy, one-hand operation

• Powerful and precise

• Easy setup

What We Don’t Like

• Long chute

In an at-home test, the Ryobi ONE+ Cordless Leaf Blower speedily cleared leaves, as well as spider webs, grass, sticks, and more, while still being light and compact enough for us to operate with one hand. After using it in several test runs, we feel there’s nothing it can’t blow around.

We also appreciate that we can use the battery with other Ryobi products—a manufacturer feature that keeps you in their ecosystem and indeed persuaded a member of our testing team to switch from a competitor’s product line. Interestingly, we found the battery lasted longer in at-home use than what we found when we tested the product in our Des Moines lab. During lab testing, we reported a battery life of only 30 minutes, but we made no such observation after repeated use in one of our homes.

We also had varying reports on this leaf-blower’s noise level. In the lab, we thought it was too loud, but at home we didn’t find the noise to be overbearing for the longer time periods that we used it. This model has an airflow capacity of up to 280 CFM and airflow speed of up to 100 miles per hour. We found it to offer plenty of power and convenience for its price point, earning it the top spot in our roundup. The setup was quick and easy—we just had to snap two pieces together. Once it’s up and running, we could choose between different speeds.

While testing at home, we did find the chute to be a bit long on this leaf blower, but this wasn’t too big of a flaw to dampen our overall experience with the model. Not only do we consider this model a good value for what it does, but we also like that it can share batteries with other Ryobi products such as saws, drills, and screwdrivers.

How It Performed Long-Term

This little leaf blower still blows us away—pun intended—with its power and battery life. Although we haven’t needed it much during the winter, after further use, we’ve determined the longer chute does allow for a more accurate blowing pattern and control.

Price at time of publish: $159

Maximum Air Speed: 100 mph | Maximum Air Volume: 280 CFM | Weight: 6.2 pounds | Motor Type: Electric | Noise Rating: 65 dB

The Spruce / Rachel Marek

Best Splurge

EGO Power+ LB6003 600 CFM Variable-Speed 56-Volt Cordless Leaf Blower

4.7

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Our Ratings

• Effectiveness

  5

  /5

• Battery

  5

  /5

• Ease of Use

  5

  /5

• Portability

  4

  /5

• Noise Level

  3

  /5

What We Like

• Different speed settings

• Comfortable backpack design

• Large airflow capacity

• Adjustable chute

What We Don’t Like

• May be excessive for small yards

The EGO POWER+ 600 CFM Backpack Blower is a backpack model, so most of its weight is distributed on your back as you use it. This means two things: First, your arms and wrists are spared from bearing the entire load, and consequently may not grow fatigued as quickly. Second, you shouldn’t be super alarmed by its 16.2-pound weight, which is considerably heavier than that of the other models on this list. We appreciated that the backpack felt light and comfortable and that it didn’t hinder our mobility as we were using the unit. We also liked the convenience of the adjustable chute. Plus, we found it not too loud while operating and all in all, fun and easy to use.

The unit has an airflow speed of up to 145 mph, and lets you choose between an airflow capacity of 280 CFM or 600 CFM. This range allows for plenty of flexibility in how you use your leaf blower and means you should be able to reach leaves across a significant distance. We cleared the patch of grass from the dry leaves in 17 seconds and the damp leaves in just over 15 seconds. However, this unit really showed off on the patch of concrete, where it cleared the pile of leaves in just seven seconds and easily moved the various fishing weights without requiring us to be super close to them. However, if you have a smaller yard, the power range may be excessive, and you may find it more conducive to opt for a less powerful model at a lower price point.

How It Performed Long-Term

There isn’t much we dislike about this leaf blower after using it for six months. The secure straps on the backpack make it comfortable to wear for longer periods of time, and the handle has a locking mechanism, so you don’t have to continuously press the power button. We did find that having a great range of motion on the chute might help with detailed clearing tasks, but otherwise this blower is well worth the money, especially if you have a yard with lots of trees.

Price at time of publish: $450

Maximum Air Speed: 145 mph | Maximum Air Volume: 600 CFM | Weight: 16.2 pounds | Motor Type: Brushless | Noise Rating: 64 dB

The Spruce / Rachel Marek

Best Powerful

Makita XBU03SM1 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Blower Kit

4.6

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Our Ratings

• Effectiveness

  5

  /5

• Battery

  5

  /5

• Ease of Use

  5

  /5

• Portability

  5

  /5

• Noise Level

  2

  /5

What We Like

• Variable speeds

• Brushless motor

• Light and easy to maneuver

• Quick to clear leaves

What We Don’t Like

• Lack of precision

Anyone who wakes up one fall day after heavy rain or heavy wind will appreciate the Makita XBU03SM1 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Blower Kit. It’s a lightweight, easy-on-the-hand solution for clearing an inundated yard, with an airflow capacity of up to 459 CFM and an airflow speed of up to 116 mph. Since it weighs just 6.5 pounds, we found it light and user-friendly enough to adeptly hold and operate with just one hand. (We could dedicate our other hand to adjusting the controls.)

The leaf blower lets you choose from different speed settings, and we liked having the ability to control the power. However, we found it difficult to precisely control the airflow’s direction and effects. For example, regardless of the setting we used, we couldn’t wrangle the leaves in the chalk-drawn box on concrete. We cleared the patch of grass from dry leaves and damp leaves in 50 seconds and 42 seconds, respectively, while we cleared the patch of concrete from dry leaves in just 18 seconds.

But although subtlety was a challenge, power was no problem: We moved all the fishing nets the 10-foot distance in less than 20 seconds. We also liked that we didn’t need to bend down or be super close to the objects. But this product may be too powerful to surgically clear leaves stuck within delicate plants.

Ultimately, this unit is best suited for anyone who wants a cordless model that offers plenty of power, for big jobs, such as attending to leaf-strewn yards in oak-filled neighborhoods. But we need to reiterate that this product is made for power, not precision.

Price at time of publish: $215

Maximum Air Speed: 116 mph | Maximum Air Volume: 459 CFM | Weight: 6.5 pounds | Motor Type: Brushless | Noise Rating: 60 dB

The Spruce / Rachel Marek

Best Variable-Speed

WORX WG584 40V Turbine Cordless Leaf Blower Power Share with Brushless Motor

4.5

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Our Ratings

• Effectiveness

  5

  /5

• Battery

  5

  /5

• Ease of Use

  5

  /5

• Portability

  4

  /5

• Noise Level

  3

  /5

What We Like

• Very effective on dry leaves

• Lightweight

• Great battery life

What We Don’t Like

• Final setup step is a tad tricky

• Less effective on damp leaves

The WORX 40V Turbine Cordless Leaf Blower Power Share with Brushless Motor lets you choose from an airflow capacity of 300 to 470 CFM and from an airflow speed of 60, 69, 80, or 95 mph. We appreciated that the unit was so lightweight and surprisingly quiet for the amount of power it had. It cleared the patch of grass with dry leaves in 12.9 seconds, which was the fastest clocked time among all the other models on this list for that specific test. It cleared the patch of grass with damp leaves in 52 seconds and the patch of concrete with the dry leaves in a considerably faster 12.7 seconds.

This unit is made up of three pieces. While we had no issue following the assembly instructions and finished setting the leaf blower up in less than two minutes, we struggled a bit when attaching the final piece. We wish this unit allowed us to have better control over the airflow, since we were unable to round up the leaves in the box we drew with chalk on a concrete sidewalk. However, we were pleased with its power, as it easily pushed each fishing line a 10-foot distance. We were also pleased with its long battery life, and we never noticed a decline in power during use.

How It Performed Long-Term

After six months of regular use, we think this leaf blower is a great, inexpensive tool. While it may not be the best for precise jobs, it’s variable speed and lightweight design make it an effective and comfortable option for quickly clearing your yard of leaves.

Price at time of publish: $220

Maximum Air Speed: 95 mph | Maximum Air Volume: 470 CFM | Weight: 7.3 pounds | Motor Type: Brushless | Noise Rating: 102.1 dB

The Spruce / Rachel Marek

The 8 Best Lawn Aerators of 2023

Best Quiet

RYOBI 550 CFM 40-Volt Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Whisper Series Jet Fan Leaf Blower

4.7

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Our Ratings

• Effectiveness

  3

  /5

• Battery

  4

  /5

• Ease of Use

  5

  /5

• Portability

  5

  /5

• Noise Level

  5

  /5

What We Like

• Lightweight

• User-friendly

• Great amount of power

What We Don’t Like

• Heavy

• Short battery life

We love how quietly the Ryobi 40V Brushless 125 MPH 550 CFM Cordless Battery Whisper Series Jet Fan Blower with 4.0 Ah Battery and Charger operates. While its product description says it has a noise rating of 59 dB, our personal measurement with a decibel meter showed its noise rating to be 40.2 dB. We also confirmed the same decibel rating while testing in one of our homes. We also found it to be just as powerful as some gas models.

Despite its quiet operation, the unit offers a good amount of power in the form of a 550 CFM airflow capacity and a 125 mph airflow speed. In our lab tests, the Ryobi cleared a patch of grass from dry leaves in 27 seconds and from damp leaves in 28 seconds. It was significantly quicker at clearing the patch of concrete from dry leaves, finishing the job in just 11 seconds.

We also found the machine easy to start up, with the single press of a button. We did have some discrepancies in maneuverability, with our lab results describing the blower as easy to heft, while in a real-world scenario, we found this blower difficult to manage. “When my husband uses it, he doesn’t quickly notice any fatigue or issues with its weight,” our at-home testing team member said. “He is a bigger, stronger guy. When I carry it, it does seem heavy to me, and the weight of the battery makes me tire faster. This may not be a great choice for smaller people.”

The battery was another issue for our at-home testing team member, saying she got only 15 minutes from a charge. “Anyone using this should definitely invest in at least one more battery,” she said. She also found the chute somewhat long, which she said made it sometimes not very maneuverable in tight corners. These discrepancies could be due to our team member’s height, but we still find them to be valuable comments for any shorter users searching for a leaf blower. Again, those downsides don’t keep us from recommending this as an affordable, quiet solution to keep your yard tidy when the leaves fall.

How It Performed Long-Term

Although we had some usability issues since our at-home testing team member was shorter, we still appreciate this blower’s overall design and powerful motor after several months of regular use. The Turbo Mode is especially handy for cleaning off big piles of leaves as well.

Price at time of publish: $199

Maximum Air Speed: 125 mph | Maximum Air Volume: 550 CFM | Weight: 9.7 pounds | Motor Type: Brushless | Noise Rating: 59 dB

The Spruce / Rachel Marek

Best Backpack

Greenworks Pro 80V Cordless Backpack Leaf Blower

4.6

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Our Ratings

• Effectiveness

  4

  /5

• Battery

  5

  /5

• Ease of Use

  5

  /5

• Portability

  4

  /5

• Noise Level

  3

  /5

What We Like

• Comfortable

• Powerful

• Quick to recharge

What We Don’t Like

• Less powerful than other products

We initially had some hesitancies about the efficacy and overall comfort of backpack blowers, but this model from Greenworks completely dispelled any doubts. This backpack blower is comfortable to wear, easy to use, and expedites the leaf clearing process. This model also was quieter than some other backpack leaf blowers we tested. It has a trigger-activated variable-speed throttle and a cruise control option that provides constant airflow, as needed. We especially appreciated the multiple power options during lab testing, since the trigger offers more precise airflow, but the turbo mode and cruise control have a lot of power behind them.

Greenworks estimates that the fully charged 2.5Ah battery lasts only around 18 minutes if run continuously at its highest speed. We noted it ran far longer during our at-home testing because we were able to blow an entire backyard multiple times before recharging. This blower also has a charger that quickly restores power to the battery in just 45 minutes.

Despite its variable speed, this model still isn’t the most powerful of those we tested—its maximum air speed is 145 mph, and maximum airflow is 580—but it works well in smaller yards. However, we loved using this backpack blower and think it’s a great alternative to traditional leaf blower models.

How It Performed Long-Term

While a backpack blower may not be best for every yard, we think this backpack blower is a great compromise for homeowners with smaller yards. “This was the easiest year of picking up leaves I’ve ever had!” our at-home testing team member said. We enjoyed using this blower to not only clear leaves but also blow debris off a back deck and front porch.

Price at time of publish: $350

Maximum Air Speed: 180 mph | Maximum Air Volume: 610 CFM | Weight: 14.64 pounds | Motor Type: Brushless | Noise Rating: 87 dB

The Best Backpack Leaf Blowers of 2023

Best With Trigger

Dewalt 20V MAX 125 Mph 450 CFM Brushless Cordless Battery Powered Handheld Leaf Blower

4.7

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Our Ratings

• Effectiveness

  5

  /5

• Battery

  4

  /5

• Ease of Use

  5

  /5

• Portability

  4

  /5

• Noise Level

  3

  /5

What We Like

• Easy-to-access controls

• Good airflow capacity

• Garden bed-friendly

What We Don’t Like

• Airflow control could be better

The Dewalt Brushless Handheld Blower has a user-friendly variable-speed trigger and speed lock, which made our experience using it to be effortless and straightforward. We really enjoyed the two power control options—the trigger can be pressed and released intermittently as need, or you can lock the trigger for continuous air flow. The unit cleared the damp leaves from the patch of grass in 43 seconds and the dry leaves from the patch of concrete in a speedy 10 seconds. We had a small technical difficulty when attempting to clear the patch of grass from dry leaves—we didn’t properly attach the tube during our initial assembly, so it fell out while we were using the leaf blower. Even so, we still managed to finish the task in 52 seconds.

The leaf blower has an airflow capacity of 450 CFM and an airflow speed of 125 mph. It consists of three pieces, and we were able to finish assembling the unit in a little over two minutes. It wasn’t super loud either, which is always a bonus. We had to keep switching between the unit’s on and off setting to get the leaves near the chalk-drawn box, but were ultimately unsuccessful at rounding up the leaves into the box, so precision was lacking and our attempt to direct the leaves was taxing. However, the unit performed well in our garden bed test, effectively clearing leaves from the garden without damaging the plants, as well as in the fishing line weight test, quickly moving the different lines.

Price at Time of Publish

After using this blower for a few months in one of our homes, we’ve discovered that the battery life is somewhat shorter than expected. However, it’s so easy to use that our team’s young children were readily volunteering to help blow the leaves. While corralling leaves can be a bit challenging and taxing, we still think the trigger on this leaf blower makes it a worthy pick.

Price at time of publish: $239

Maximum Air Speed: 125 mph | Maximum Air Volume: 450 CFM | Weight: 6.7 pounds | Motor Type: Brushless | Noise Rating: 66 dB

The Spruce / Rachel Marek

The Best Raised Garden Beds for Your Backyard

Best Gas

Echo 2-Stroke Cycle Handheld Leaf Blower

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What We Like

• Easy to manage

• Different speed settings

• Translucent fuel tank

What We Don’t Like

• Shoulder strap not included

• Typical gas-model maintenance required

The ECHO Gas 2-Stroke Cycle Leaf Blower manages to be a powerful gas model—with an airflow capacity of up to 453 CFM and an airflow speed of up to 170 mph—without being too loud, too unwieldy, or too high maintenance. We’d like to note that we have not had a chance to test this blower in our lab or at home, so our assessment is based on research alone. This model has a 70 dB noise rating, an 8.6-pound weight, and, according to users, manageable maintenance and cleaning requirements. Since this is a gas model, regular maintenance is required to keep it functioning properly, which is something to consider before purchasing it. Also note that a shoulder harness is not included with this leaf blower, though the unit does have shoulder harness points, so you have the option of buying a harness separately and attaching it to the leaf blower.

The unit relies on a recoil start (so you need to pull a cord to start operating it), but users say it’s a quick, easy, and fairly smooth start-up process. Further contributing to its user-friendliness is a translucent tank that allows you to easily monitor your fuel levels as you operate the unit, as well as an air filter that’s made to help keep the engine clean. It has a curved tube as well, which is designed to mitigate strain placed on your arms and wrist, and thus help prevent them from quickly growing weary. There’s also a cruise control mode, which can help further minimize the taxing nature of your yard work.

Price at time of publish: $249

Maximum Air Speed: 125 mph | Maximum Air Volume: 450 CFM | Weight: 6.7 pounds | Motor Type: Brushless | Noise Rating: 66 dB