We Found the 8 Best Leaf Blowers That'll Make Yard Work an Absolute Breeze

As much as people love jumping in the leaves, chances are, you probably hate raking them. Sure, a cool breeze on a fall day while you're outside raking leaves feels great, but actually raking the leaves blows. If you're looking to get your lawn clean quickly and efficiently, you should consider shopping for a leaf blower.

The Best Leaf Blowers

• Best Gas Blower: Husqvarna 125BVx Gas Blower
• Best Overall: Toro PowerJet F700 Leaf Blower
• Best Cordless: EGO LB5804 Power+ 580 CFM Leaf Blower
• Best 3-in-1: Worx WG512 Trivac 2.0 3-in-1 Blower Mulcher Yard Vacuum
• Best Backpack Blower: Husqvarna 350BT 2-Cycle Gas Backpack Leaf Blower
• A Lightweight and Comfortable Backpack Blower: Greenworks Pro BPB80L00 Leaf Blower
• Most Lightweight: BLACK+DECKER LSW36 Leaf Blower
• Best Push Blower: Troy-Bilt TB672 208cc Jet Sweep Wheeled Leaf Blower

What to Consider

Gas- or Battery-Powered

The question of whether you should buy a gas or electric blower is the first aspect to take into consideration when shopping for a leaf blower. You can likely reach a conclusion based on the size of your yard. Gas-powered models offer greater mobility and a longer run time, but they’re louder, smellier, heavier, and require more maintenance. On the plus side, they’re better at moving wet leaves and work well on difficult terrain like stairs and hills. If you have a large yard and opt for a battery-powered model, you'll likely need to invest in an extra battery or two to extend its runtime.

Similar to vacuums, blowers come in both cordless and corded variants. Corded ones are best suited for small suburban landscapes or to clean out your garage. Cordless models are a good pick for the eco-conscious, and those who don’t need super-fast blowing speeds.

If you need to cover even more ground and blow away leaves in as little time as possible, a four-cycle, walk-behind gas engine is the way to go — but they’re the most expensive option. They’re an absolute beast at clearing large parking lots and warehouses or sweeping away sawdust and wood chips. Just make sure you wear hearing protection because these babies get loud.

Backpack or Handheld

You can also choose from different styles of blowers. The most popular leaf blowers are handheld, then there are some that you wear like a backpack, and there are even blowers that you push and walk behind. According to our lawncare expert, Roy Berendsohn, backpack models are less tiring to use and are typically more powerful than handheld models. So, you can clear deeper leaf piles, wet leaves, or semi-frozen leave with little effort on your part. Not to mention, since your hands are free you can more easily move outdoor furniture or a gas grill that may get in the way.

Handheld blowers, on the other hand, are less expensive, they take up less room and are easier to store, and they work well in tight spaces. If you only have to clear a paved surface like a driveway, garage, or patio you'll be plenty happy with a handheld blower.

CFM vs. MPH

As you’d expect, different types of blowers don’t perform the same way. Gas blowers typically are the most powerful and have the highest blow speeds (which is measured in MPH) and discharge more air (measured in cubic feet per minute or CFM). Our colleagues at Good Housekeeping say that for leaf-clearing jobs in areas that are larger than an acre, you'll need a minimum of 400 CFM.

Whether you're looking for a quiet and reliable electric model, a convenient cordless one, a powerful yet still affordable gas blower, or a more sophisticated walk-behind, we have you covered after researching and comparing 30 different leaf blowers. So, stop spending all weekend running around with a rake and invest in one of these efficient leaf blowers which make cleanup a breeze.