Buying guide for best electric leaf blowers
A leaf blower makes the chore of removing leaves from your yard much easier. If you want a leaf blower that requires little maintenance, an electric leaf blower fits the bill.
Instead of using gas to power the engine, an electric leaf blower features either a cord or a rechargeable battery. You don’t have to worry about adding gas and oil to keep it running. An electric leaf blower is lighter and easier to carry and start than most gas leaf blowers, and it doesn’t create fumes or vibrate much during operation.
Key considerations
Corded vs. cordless
Corded electric leaf blowers have a power cord and must be plugged into an outlet. They’re easy to maintain and extremely lightweight because they don’t have a gas engine or even a battery pack to weigh them down. However, the cord limits how far you can move with the leaf blower. As such, corded models tend to be best for small yards.
Cordless electric leaf blowers feature a battery pack, so no cord needs to be plugged in. Without a cord in tow, it’s much easier to navigate the yard. Notably, the lack of a cord does make corded blowers a little less powerful, and you may need to stop to recharge the battery if you’re working on a large area. Corded models are usually heavier, too, due to the weight of the battery pack.
Handheld vs. backpack
Handheld electric leaf blowers are the most common option, featuring a handle, main component with motor, and nozzle. They’re specifically liked for their light weight.
Backpack leaf blowers are heavier but also more powerful, consisting of a shoulder harness that holds the motor on your back and a nozzle attached to a hose. If you must blow leaves for long periods, a backpack blower is often the better option.
Voltage
An electric leaf blower’s motor power is determined mainly by its voltage, measured in amps. Most have 7 to 12 amps. The higher the amp rating, the more powerful the machine. Most electric leaf blowers with an 8-amp or higher motor work well for home use.
CFM vs. MPH
In addition to voltage, most leaf blower manufacturers provide two other numbers to tell you how powerful a leaf blower is: cubic feet per minute (CFM) and miles per hour (MPH).
CFM represents the volume of air a leaf blower can move. A leaf blower with a high CFM can move many leaves at once. Most consumers seek a blower with a CFM of 350 or higher.
MPH represents how fast the air from a leaf blower moves. A high-MPH leaf blower can move heavier debris easily, including wet leaves. Most consumers seek a model that operates at 150 MPH or faster.
While a leaf blower’s CFM and MPH both indicate how it will perform, CFM is a more significant measure.
While a leaf blower can help make it easier to clear your yard of leaves, you’ll still likely appreciate having a rake to maneuver the leaf piles.
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Features
Weight
Since you’ll either be wearing an electric leaf blower on your back or holding it in your hand, its weight is a vital consideration. Most electric blowers weigh between 5 and 14 pounds. Corded leaf blowers tend to weigh less than cordless leaf blowers because the battery pack of a cordless blower provides additional weight.
Most consumers prefer a corded leaf blower that weighs 8 pounds or less. For cordless leaf blowers, a leaf blower that weighs less than 10 pounds is the typical ideal.
Multiple hand grips
Some handheld electric leaf blowers feature more than one hand grip. An extra hand grip makes it easier to control the blower and allows you to better distribute the weight of the tool when holding it.
Nozzle design
The design of a leaf blower’s nozzle can affect its performance. Some have a flat, rectangular nozzle; others have a rounded design. A flat nozzle generally works best for loose leaves, but for leaves that are embedded in the lawn, a round nozzle is more effective.
Multiple nozzles are an option on some electric leaf blowers. You can change the nozzle depending on the job at hand.
Speed settings
Basic electric leaf blowers often operate at just one speed, but those with a bit more sophistication offer multiple speeds. You can use a higher speed for hard surfaces and a slower speed in areas where you want to be more careful, such as flower beds and other areas with delicate landscaping.
Electric leaf blowers with variable speed may offer anywhere from two and six speed choices.
Vibration reduction
The vibration of an electric leaf blower can make it difficult for some people to comfortably hold. Leaf blowers with vibration reduction make navigation more comfortable.
Noise reduction
Compared to gas leaf blowers, electric leaf blowers are less noisy. However, if you’re concerned about noise, look for a model with noise reduction.
A traditional leaf blower operates at between 90 to 115 decibels, but you can find electric leaf blowers that run at 75 decibels or less.
DID YOU KNOW?
Avoid blowing air directly at the top of a pile of leaves. The power from the leaf blower will send them flying in every direction.
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Electric leaf blower prices
Electric leaf blowers vary in price based on the type, voltage, CFM, MPH, and other features. You could spend anywhere from $20 to $200 on one.
Inexpensive: Budget leaf blowers that cost $20 to $30 are typically low-power corded models. Expect a motor with 7 amps or less of power, an MPH rating of 150 or less, and a CFH of 250 or less.
Mid-range: For $30 to $65, you can find high-powered corded models and cordless models with mid-range power. Expect to see motors with 7 amps or higher, 150 MPH or higher, and 250 CFM or higher.
Expensive: The priciest electric leaf blowers cost from $65 to $200. Whether corded or cordless, these are high-power models with 12-amp to 14-amp motors, MPH ratings of 200 or higher, and CFS ratings of 300 or higher.
In addition to goggles and earplugs, wear long clothing that covers your arms and legs when using a leaf blower to protect your skin from flying debris.
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Tips
- Wear proper safety gear. An electric leaf blower may seem like a safe piece of landscaping equipment, but accidents can still happen. Wear protective goggles to shield your eyes from flying debris and, if you choose, earplugs to deal with the noise.
- In an area without many leaves, use a lower speed. A high speed could send the leaves flying around the lawn to spots where you don’t want them.
- When clearing an entire yard of leaves, don’t blow them all to one location. Instead, choose a few different spots to make piles.
- Blow the leaves onto a tarp. When you have finished clearing the yard, you can simply fold up the tarp to remove the leaves.
- Pay attention to your form. Many people find it easiest to hold the leaf blower at their side and angle it slightly upward. If you don’t angle the blower, the leaves won’t move. If you angle the blower too much, they may blow too far.
FAQ
Q. What type of electric leaf blower works best for a large yard?
A. For a medium to large lawn, a cordless backpack electric leaf blower may be the best solution. The cordless nature of the tool provides plenty of mobility, allowing you to easily reach all of the yard’s corners, and a backpack is usually more comfortable to hold when you’re clearing a large area.
Q. How long can a cordless electric leaf blower run before needing to be recharged?
A. Most cordless leaf blowers can run 30 to 40 minutes when fully charged. Some high-end models run for an hour. If you have a large property to clear, you’ll probably want a leaf blower with a longer battery life. Another option is to buy an extra battery and keep it charged as a spare.
Q. Can I use an extension cord with a corded electric leaf blower?
A. You can use an extension cord with your leaf blower, but be sure to use a cord that’s the proper gauge. For leaf blowers with 12 amps or less, a standard 16-gauge extension cord works well. For a more powerful blower, you’d need a 14-gauge extension cord. Further, make sure the cord you use is rated for outdoor use.
