The 7 Best Leaf Blowers To Breeze Through Yard Work

Yard maintenance is a continuous endeavor that requires constant attention, particularly when leaves begin to fall. Owning one of the best leaf blowers is essential for your lawn care toolkit, as these handy devices help move and collect what nature deposits across lawns and sidewalks. Our top pick, the Worx Turbine 600, generates an impressive 110 miles per hour of wind power to swiftly push leaves, grass clippings, small branches and more.

“Leaf blowers are a fantastic investment for those pressed for time—rather than spending hours raking and clearing debris, you can simply grab your leaf blower and finish the job in minutes,” says Rupa Mehta, home expert at Angi. Selecting the right leaf blower for your yard ultimately depends on the level of maintenance required, the size of your outdoor space and your budget. Below, discover the best leaf blowers available to help you maintain your outdoor area.

What Should I Look For When Buying A Leaf Blower?

Leaf blowers can be handheld, worn as backpacks or pushed across the lawn. They also come with different power sources and features. Here are a few key factors to consider when choosing the right leaf blower for your needs.

Type

Leaf blowers can generally be divided into three categories: gas, battery and electric. From there, they can be broken down by style—backpack or handheld. Gas leaf blowers, often favored by professional landscapers, deliver powerful gusts that can move almost any yard debris with ease. However, they tend to be louder and produce exhaust. Battery-powered blowers are quieter and run clean, though they may not match the power of gas models. Still, they’re usually sufficient for most yard maintenance tasks. Electric blowers offer unlimited run time but require staying near an outlet. Handheld blowers are the most popular, but if you have dexterity concerns or a large yard, a backpack style may be more comfortable for longer use.

Speed

Most leaf blowers can achieve impressive speeds to help move debris in your yard, but some materials require more blowing power than others. Typically, leaf blowers can range from 100 to nearly 300 miles per hour, with some models offering a turbo boost feature for a concentrated blast of air when needed. Keep in mind that blowers with higher speeds often come with a higher price tag, and not everyone needs such powerful capabilities. If you don’t frequently deal with large piles of wet leaves, it may be more cost-effective to opt for a blower with lower speeds.

Capacity

Everyone's leaf blowing needs are different. If you plan to use the machine for small quantities of leaves or grass clippings, you don't necessarily need a highly powerful model. However, if you need a leaf blower to tackle heavy piles of leaves and other yard debris, look for one with high blowing power (MPH). Additionally, pay attention to the model's CFM, which stands for cubic feet per minute. This measurement indicates how effectively the device clears larger volumes. The higher the CFM, the more the leaf blower can handle.

Is Higher CFM Better For A Leaf Blower?

Not necessarily. “Achieving more airflow is essential for a leaf blower, but higher cubic feet per minute (CFM) alone isn’t the only factor that determines effectiveness,” says Noah James, owner of Liberty Lawn Maintenance. “In addition to CFM, factors such as airspeed and leaf size should be considered when selecting a leaf blower.”

Airspeed has an impact on how far debris will be thrown, James explains. “While small leaves may need less airspeed to move them away, larger leaves may require more air speed services from higher CFM performance,” he says. Having variable speed can also help, since it allows you to adjust the airflow for different tasks.

While CFM is a crucial element, there are others to think of as you shop. “It's important to consider other features such as weight, noise level, ease of use and cost when choosing a leaf blower,” says Lindsey Hyland, founder of UrbanOrganic Yield.

Can You Use A Leaf Blower On Wet Leaves?

Technically, you could use a leaf blower on wet leaves, but it’s not recommended. “A leaf blower should always be used on dry leaves to ensure the most effective results,” James says. “Wet leaves are far heavier and require a different approach.” Using a leaf blower on wet leaves can actually make them stick to surfaces, making clean-up more of a challenge, James explains. Consider this, too, adds Hyland: “The air from the blower could inadvertently break up wet leaves and cause them to accumulate in gutters or around landscaping.”

James recommends using a rake instead. “The combination of teeth and tines makes it far better suited to collecting large amounts of wet material effectively in awkward areas,” he says. “Once you've raked up the brunt of the leaves, a leaf blower can then be used to finish the job.”

What Are The Most Popular Brands Of Leaf Blowers?

There are a lot of different popular leaf blower brands that make a quality product. Our favorite leaf blower is from Worx, which is a trusted brand in the lawn equipment and power tools space. Other leading makers include Ego, Husqvarna, Ryobi and Toro. That said, we stand behind all brands featured on this list.

What Does “CC” Mean In Leaf Blowers?

The most important measurements you’ll see on leaf blowers are CFM and MPH. In addition to those two figures, some brands also include CC, which tells you how many cubic centimeters of debris your blower can displace. That said, you probably don’t need to pay close of attention to the measurement; CFM and MPH are better indicators of effectiveness.