Electric Leaf Blowers

Cordless and light-duty electric leaf blowers

Cordless and light-duty corded electric blowers are sometimes called hard-surface blowers or sweepers, because they're best used to blow leaves or light debris off a deck, sidewalk or driveway.  Because they don't require large motors or fans, these leaf blowers are also the quietest. They don't work well on lawns or flower beds, though.

The Black & Decker NS118 (*Est. $70) is reviewers' favorite cordless electric leaf blower. At only 5 pounds, it's convenient for small jobs. Owner-written reviews posted at Amazon.com recommend the Black & Decker NS118 for quick daily cleanups that take 15 minutes or less. The NS118's air flow, one measure of a blower's power, is rated at 120 mph maximum (compared to around 150 mph or higher for more powerful blowers). Power comes from an 18-volt, rechargeable, nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) battery, and an Energy Star-rated battery charger is included. Expect an average runtime of about 15 minutes, however, and about three hours of recharging time. If you have other Ni-Cd battery-powered Black & Decker tools, you can use the batteries interchangeably.

Black & Decker recently introduced a new cordless sweeper powered by a rechargeable 20-volt lithium-ion battery, the Black & Decker LSW120 (*Est. $100).  Black & Decker says the LSW120's lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery holds a charge five times longer than the NS118's Ni-Cd battery, but owners posting reviews at Amazon.com say they last about the same length of time. The Li-ion is lighter, though, and its power doesn't fade while you're using the sweeper.  The LSW120 has the same 120-mph air flow as the NS118, but because of the battery it is lighter, at 3.8 pounds.  It's part of a new series of lithium-ion outdoor power tools from Black & Decker that have batteries that can be used interchangeably; it also comes with an EnergyStar-rated charger. A reviewer at ToolSnob.com describes the LSW120 as "fantastic," and owner reviews at Amazon.com are positive.

If you don't mind dealing with a cord, you can save money and still get more power with a lightweight corded electric blower. The 7-amp Toro Power Sweep 51585 (*Est. $35), for example, weighs 4.6 pounds and has two speeds. (Experts recommend using leaf blowers on the lowest speed that will get the job done.) With a maximum air speed of 160 mph and 170 cubic feet per minute (CFM) of air volume, this corded electric blower has more power than the Black & Decker cordless blowers, but it's still quiet -- the noise level at 50 feet away is 63.5 decibels. The Toro Power Sweep wins praise from owners posting reviews at Amazon.com.

Most powerful electric leaf blowers

More expensive electric leaf blowers can be as powerful and effective as gas blowers, yet they are quieter, easier to maintain, cheaper to run and more eco-friendly. Many pricier electric leaf blowers can also vacuum and mulch leaves.

For the past few years, reviewers have consistently given top ranking to the 12-amp Toro Ultra Blower Vac 51599 (*Est. $70). Owners praise it, too. An infinitely variable-speed motor helps keep the noise down. It weighs 7.5 pounds and is rated at 67 decibels on high speed (235 mph), 63 decibels on low (112 mph).  A rated average air volume of  385 CFM gives the Toro Ultra Blower Vac plenty of power, and its quality shows in features like metal impeller blades for chopping up leaves as it vacuums. (We found several complaints that the plastic blades used in other leaf-blower vacs break after relatively short use unless you're very careful what you vacuum up.) Tests show that the Ultra Blower Vac shreds leaves better than most.

In reviews, owners like the Toro Ultra's variable speed, and this leaf blower can be used with a 14-gauge 150-foot cord for longer range. Overall, owner ratings and reviews at several retail sites including Amazon.com and HomeDepot.com are positive. Reviews do point out some drawbacks, however. The vacuum attachment can be hard to install and remove, and the leaf-collection bag can be difficult to position and empty. The Ultra Blower Vac (like other Toro leaf blowers) carries a two-year warranty.

Another top-rated electric leaf blower is mentioned in several reviews. The 12-amp, 8.3-pound Worx TriVac WG500 (*Est. $95) weighs a little more than the Toro Ultra Blower Vac, but it eliminates the hassle of changing tubes or attachments depending on whether you want to use the blower or vacuum features. With the WG500, you flip a switch to change from blowing to vacuuming, and air speed is controlled by adjusting an air flow regulator built into the blowing tube (the maximum speed is 210 mph). It is rated at 70 decibels at its highest speed, 63 decibels at its lowest. More than 250 owners give the Worx WG500 high ratings and positive reviews at Amazon.com and HomeDepot.com. The Worx WG500 comes with a two-year warranty.

The slightly less powerful 12-amp Toro Super Blower Vac 51592 (*Est. $55) has two speeds and only goes as low as 159 mph, so it's neither as quiet as the Ultra Blower Vac nor as gentle when blowing leaves around delicate plants. Like the Ultra Blower Vac, the Toro Super Blower Vac weighs about 7.5 pounds. It lacks metal impeller blades to chop up leaves and debris, and it's an inferior mulcher to the Ultra Blower. Despite these disadvantages, the Toro Super Blower Vac is recommended by several reviewers. It gets good ratings from users on HomeDepot.com and Amazon.com, though some say the plastic impeller is apt to break. .

At Sears.com, the Craftsman 74828 Blower/Vac (*Est. $75) gets high ratings from more than 50 owners, and it performs well in comparison tests. It's noisier than some other electric leaf blowers, though. The Craftsman 74828 leaf blower has a variable-speed 12-amp motor with a maximum air speed of 240 mph, and it can also be used to vacuum and mulch. Like the Toro Ultra Blower Vac, it features more robust metal impeller blades for mulching. The Craftsman 74828 weights 8.1 pounds and comes with a two-year warranty.

The Black & Decker BV2500 (*Est. $55) is recommended by two experts writing for About.com. This12-amp, single-speed leaf blower converts to a vacuum and shredder, has a maximum airspeed of 200 mph and is rated at 65 decibels. Like all Black & Decker blower vacs, this model has an optional leaf-collection system that deposits the mulched leaves directly into a trashcan. More than 140 Amazon.com users give it an average overall rating of 3 out of 5 stars.

The Black & Decker Leaf Hog LH4500 (*Est. $60) is similar to the BV2500, but it has two speeds. It gets better overall Amazon.com ratings than the BV2500 from more than 60 people. Likewise, owners posting at Lowes.com like it, too.  The LH4500 has a maximum air speed of 240 mph and metal impeller blades. The Black & Decker electric blowers come with a two-year warranty.