Finding the best leaf blowers to buy for 2020

The Definitive Buyers Guide to Leaf Blowers

Here we break out all the factors you should consider when purchasing a leaf blower.  From the different types, the pros and cons, and the factors to consider.  We even throw in a few safety tips at the end.

The different types of leaf blowers

There are four types of leaf blowers out there, handheld gas powered, backpack gas powered, battery powered, and corded electric powered.  Each has it’s pros and cons, and we’ll break that down for you.

Handheld Gas Leaf Blowers

Best for most homeowners

Most leaf blowers fall into this category.  They are powered by a gasoline engine – usually two stroke and no more than 28 cc.  Gas powered blowers weigh about 10 pounds on average.

Gas-powered handheld blowers are generally a good pick for the typical homeowner.  They’re powerful, easy to maneuver, and can typically handle and sort of use case you’d ever need.

Of course, there are a few drawbacks.  For starters, if you have a 2-stroke blower you’ll have to mix gasoline and oil.  Additionally, these blowers are loud – be sure your area doesn’t have any laws against them.

Backpack Gas Powered Leaf Blowers

Best for professionals

Backpack blowers are also gasoline powered, just bigger and more powerful.  They weigh closer to 23 lbs on average, and can have engines from 25 to 50cc.  With the bigger engines also comes a bigger fuel tank.

Backpack blowers are best for folks who have bigger projects or are blowing leaves all day.  Most landscapers or golf course maintenance crews will use backpack blowers, simply because they are more powerful than hand-held blowers, and being able to wear them on your back means less strain on your arms.

The average homeowner usually doesn’t need a backpack blower unless that person has trouble holding a handheld blower or has an above average quantity of leaves to deal with.

Battery-powered Leaf Blowers

Best for casual users

As we have said in other reviews, battery technology has come a long way and us handymen have certainly benefitted.  There are actually a few decent battery-powered leaf blowers that can get the job done.

The benefits are obvious.  For one, no dealing with fuel and the smoky exhaust of a 2 stroke engine.  Additionally, they run very quietly. They also weigh about 10 lbs, but don’t require fuel so they are a little lighter and less clunky.  Another benefit of not having a fuel tank is that you can maneuver them in any direction you want, whereas a gas blower needs to remain upright so fuel can get to the engine.

The drawbacks of battery-powered blowers are also pretty straightforward.  You’re generally not going to get the same blowing power as a gas-powered blower.  Also, you typically will get no more than an hour of use per charge, so if you want to be blowing leaves for longer, you’ll need a spare battery or two.

Corded Electric Leaf Blowers

Best for casual users with small lots

Want a quiet, easy to maneuver leaf blower without worrying about a battery to charge?  Corded electric blowers are basically the same, except you plug them into the wall.  Great if you have a small lot with easily accessible outdoor electrical outlets and don’t mind towing around an extension cord.  Not so great if you’ve got a large lot or no access to A/C power.

Features and factors to consider

As you’re deciding which leaf blower is best for you, here are a number of specifications and features to be mindful of.

Blowing Power – Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM)

In order to determine just how big a punch a leaf blower packs, you should look at it’s Cubic Feet for Minute (CFM) number.  Cubic Feet is a measurement of air volume, and Cubic Feet per Minute is how much volume is being moved through the blower per minute.

Most handheld blowers will be in the 200-400 CFM range, which is more than enough for your typical residential yard maintenance. Backpack blowers can get into the 700-1,000 CFM range, which you’ll need if you are clearing large areas or large piles of leaves.  Some blowers can go up to 3100 CFM, but at that level of power, you have to be careful to not blow up small rocks and debris.

Sound Levels – Decibels

A leaf blower’s noise level is measured in decibels – a standard, logarithamic scaled unit for sound levels.  Leaf blowers are one of the loudest tools to be used in the yard, which is why many cities ban or regulate their use.

The sound of leaf blowers is typically measured in two ways: at ear and at 50 feet.  The “at ear” decibel level is how loud the blower is to the person operating it.  The “at 50 feet” measure is how loud the blower is 50 feet away.  It’s important to know which you’re looking at.

Most blowers are in the 70 db range at 50 feet, which is higher than the World Health Organization’s recommended daytime limit of 55 db or less.  While manufacturers often leave the “at ear” number off, the 70 db blower at 50 feet can be in excess of 100 db at ear.

Moral of the story?  First, wear ear protection.  Secondly, be considerate of both neighbors and your local regulations, and choose a blower that meets the needs.

Vacuum Capability

Many leaf blowers – usually gas powered ones – will come with the ability to suck in leaves as well.  Typically when you set these blowers to vacuum mode, they suck in the leaves and shred them so that the total volume of leaves goes down.  They typically have bagging attachments as well.

Our take?  It’s a nice feature but typically isn’t great as a bagging vacuum.  Any handheld leaf blower isn’t going to have a bag that’s very big, so you will constantly be changing it if you have a large pile of leaves.  However, if you’re just looking to shred the leaves and let them decompose into the grass or blow away, the vacuum function is great.  The vacuum function can also make a great garage vacuum for doing a quick pass at a cleanup.

2-stroke vs 4-stroke Engines

Most gas-powered leaf blowers are 2-stroke engines, but some come with 4-stroke engines.  We won’t get into the nitty gritty of the technical differences, but one key difference is how the engines get lubricated.  Two stroke engines are powered by an oil-gasoline mixture, whereas four stroke engines have a separate oil reservoir.

Two stroke engines are generally cheaper, easier to maintain, and have fewer things that can go wrong.  The downside?  Because you’re burning oil, they have a toxic smelling exhaust.  Additionally, they generally are slightly less efficient and lower performant than four-stroke engines, but when we’re talking tiny leaf blower engines, that is almost negligible.

Four stroke engines are a bit more expensive, and require more maintenance as you need to regularly change the oil.  But, the sound is better and the emissions are better for both the operator and the environment.

Our take?  It’s nice to have a four-stroke, but your typical homeowner doesn’t need one.

Speed Control

Some leaf blowers have a variable speed control, either in the form of a throttle on a gas-powered blower or a switch on an electric blower.  While in many instances, you just want to blow as fast as you possibly can, there are several instances when that isn’t the case.  Clearing leaves from flowerbeds is one – blowing too hard and you  can damage flowers.  Or, if you’re clearing a gravel pathway you don’t want to blow the rocks, just the leaves.  It’s a good feature to have.

Leaf Blower Safety

As is the case with all sorts of heavy machinery, safety needs to come first.  Having spent several decades in the landscaping business, I’ve seen it all – chopped off fingers, broken backs, lost hearing and more.  Power tools are fun, but only when used safely.

Here are the safety precautions you can take to ensure that you’re using your leaf blower safely.

Wear ear protection. This can’t be stressed enough.  Your leaf blower is likely the loudest tool in your garage, and most gas-powered blowers will cause ear damage if used without protection.  Just do it.

Be careful of debris.  Pebbles, sticks, nuts and bolts can all become dangerous flying missles when blown at high speed.

Wear eye protection.  In case one of those missles heads in the direction of your face.

Wear a dust mask.  Piles of leaves have all sorts of dirt, pollen and chemicals mixed in with them.  Inhaling these things = no good.

Don’t blow around other people not wearing protection:  Remember, leaf blowers are loud even if you’re 10, 20 or 30 feet away.  Stop the blower if someone enters a 50 foot radius of you.

Make sure your spark plug is secured.  If not, it can cause jumping sparks and potentially ignite gasoline splashes.

Clean up fuel spills when refueling.  To reduce the chance of fire.

For more on how to operate a leaf blower safely, please watch this video by Adam Woodhams Productions

Conclusion

There are a number of options available when choosing the best blower for you.  In case you don’t feel like doing all the hard work, remember, we spend dozens of hours researching, testing and comparing all the options, and bring 20 years of experience in the landscaping industry to the table to help you find the best blower for you.