Leaf Blowers

Types of leaf blowers

If your yard-care standards include getting every stray leaf out of long rows of hedges, and you can't hire a neighborhood kid to do the job, a leaf blower can help. Users say that for cleaning flowerbeds, as well as in and underneath hedges, blowers that can also vacuum leaves are especially handy. Variable speed is important, so the blower doesn't damage the plants or move mulch around. (Used at high speed, some blowers can even dislodge edgings.)

You may also need a leaf blower if you have so many trees in relation to the size of your lawn that a lawn mower just can't keep up with the job -- especially if raking isn’t a viable option for you.

• Light-duty blowing on hard surfaces -- For cleaning patios, decks, sidewalks and driveways, a cordless leaf blower or corded electric "broom" is relatively quiet and convenient.

• Leaf blowing and vacuuming -- If a 150-foot extension cord can reach where you need to blow leaves, a corded electric leaf blower will have enough power, without the bother of tending to a gasoline engine. Reviews say that how well a leaf blower vacuums leaves without clogging and mulches them into tiny bits (to save space and speed composting) depends on not only the model, but also on the size and type of leaves.

• For big jobs on yards up to half an acre -- If you need to use a leaf blower beyond the range of an extension cord, a handheld gas leaf blower can get the job done. For this size lawn, experts at Popular Mechanics recommend a blower with a 24 to 30cc engine. A few gas blowers can also vacuum and mulch leaves, but they don't excel at it.

• For bigger yards -- A gas backpack blower is easier to use for long work sessions; Popular Mechanics recommends at least a 40cc engine. Wheeled leaf blowers are also available, starting at around $400; see the Alternative Considerations section below for a few recommendations.

Expert reviews recommend comparing leaf blower power (air flow) both by miles per hour (mph) and by cubic feet per minute (cfm). The latter is supposed to be the better figure to use, but manufacturers vary in the way they specify it. Some specifications give two figures, one for cfm measured in the unit without the blowing tube, plus a lower figure for the cfm with tube attached.

This report uses the higher figure in order to make comparisons fair.

Two-year warranties for residential use are standard for both electric and gas leaf blowers, but Echo is now offering homeowners five-year warranties on its gas leaf blowers. Warranties for professional landscaping use are more variable.

Light-duty electric blowers for sweeping hard surfaces

For blowing leaves or light dirt off decks and small driveways, either a corded "electric broom" or a cordless leaf blower will get the job done. These blowers are the lightest you can buy, and they’re perfect for quick sweeps when a big gas leaf blower would be overkill. Since they don't need big motors or fans, they're also the quietest blowers available. They're designed for sweeping hard surfaces, so they don't work well on a lawn.

Three cordless leaf blowers get good reviews. One new model is the American Gardener ReadySweeper 18V Cordless B L18 (*est. $70), but it may be hard to find. At only 4.4 pounds, it's the lightest leaf blower on the market. Consumer Guide names it a good value, but notes that it's only for quick jobs. The ReadySweeper comes with a one-hour charger plus two 18-volt NiCad batteries, each of which runs the blower for about ten minutes.

Weighing about a pound more, the 18-volt Black & Decker NS118 (*est. $70) also comes with two batteries, but each takes about three hours to charge. Owner-written reviews posted at Amazon.com recommend this cordless broom for any quick daily cleanup that takes 15 minutes or less. (A small deck might take only a minute or two.) You can also get this blower as part of the three-piece kit, Black & Decker CCC3000 Cordless Lawn Care Center (*est. $180) , which includes a string trimmer and a hedge trimmer, plus a charger and three batteries. This kit also gets excellent reviews at Amazon.com, but we didn't see it tested professionally.

The less expensive 12-volt Black & Decker CS100 (*est. $50) is heavier, but it’s less powerful. It uses an overnight charger and works at only one speed (120 mph), but owners reviewing the Black & Decker CS100 at Home Depot give it a near-perfect rating. The battery life gets mixed reviews from users at Amazon.com. Some owners report problems, while others say this tool is ideal for light sweeping. It weighs about 6.5 pounds.

You can save money if you're willing to work with a cord. Reviews recommend the 7-amp Toro Power Sweep 51586 (*est. $30) , which weighs 5 pounds and has two speeds. Expert reviews recommend using any leaf blower on the lowest speed that will get the job done. With power rated at 140 mph and 170 cfm, this corded electric blower has more power than the cordless blowers above, but it's still quiet.

Even at the higher speed, the Toro's noise level at 50 feet away is only 63.5 decibels, so this leaf blower is well within most municipal requirements. Although Toro only recommends this particular blower for cleaning hard surfaces, some users say it can clean up plant beds and hedges too. This leaf blower wins high praise at Amazon.com, Lowes.com and Home Depot.com, though a few owners report reliability problems. In July 2007, Toro recalled much earlier Power Sweep models with specific serial numbers for defective plastic impellers apt to break, but these were sold only as late as 2002. It's probably not realistic to expect a $30 blower to last very long; the warranty on all these lightweight leaf blowers is for two years.

If one speed is enough, the 7.5-amp Weed Eater WEB160 (*est. $35) weighs just 4.5 pounds. Owners praise it at Amazon.com, and it's recommended in a comparison review for light sweeping. It's rated at 69 decibels, though, so it's significantly louder than the Toro Power Sweep.

Best electric leaf blowers overall

If you want to clean up lawn areas, not just patios and other hard surfaces, you'll want a leaf blower with more power. If a 150-foot extension cord can reach all the places in your yard that you want to clean up, then a good corded electric leaf blower offers the most convenience. Compared with gas leaf blowers, electric models are quieter, less polluting and involve less hassle. Most electric leaf blowers can also vacuum and mulch leaves.

In vacuuming mode, leaf blowers are rated by a "mulching ratio" that indicates how much the leaf volume is compressed. The highest ratio available is 16:1, meaning that under ideal conditions (rarely achieved), 16 bushels of leaves could be compressed to 1 bushel of finely chopped bits. Most reviews say it's more realistic to expect a ratio of only about 3:1, though users say it depends a lot on the type of leaf. Large, wet or tough leaves are also more apt to clog the vacuuming tube, so the same model often gets rave reviews for vacuuming from some users, while others say there's no point in trying to vacuum with it at all.

The top-rated corded electric leaf blower in reviews is the 12-amp Toro 51599 Ultra Blower Vac (*est. $75) . This year's model is even quieter than last year's Ultra Blower, with 67 decibels on high speed instead of 69 -- and 61 decibels on low speed. The new model is still as powerful at 385 cfm, and it actually blows faster than last year's model. Variable speed ranges from 112 to 235 mph. In addition to quiet performance, the big advantage of the Toro Ultra Blower Vac is that it uses metal blades for chopping up leaves as it vacuums. We found quite a few complaints about the plastic blades on other leaf blowers breaking after relatively short usage, so this does make a difference. Tests show that the Toro 51598 Ultra Blower does shred leaves better than most -- though not at the 16:1 ratio that Toro claims.

Owners say they like the variable speed, and this model can be used with a 14-gauge 150-foot cord for long range. Reviews do note some drawbacks. The tubes are so long that short users may find this model awkward to manage. The vacuuming attachment can be hard to attach and detach, the leaf-collection bag hard to position and then hard to empty, and the cord lock makes it impossible to use a 12-gauge extension cord. Some owners reviewing this model at Amazon.com report reliability problems, but the Ultra Blower (like other Toro leaf blowers) carries a two-year warranty.

The slightly less powerful 12-amp Toro Super Blower Vac 51592 (*est. $60) has just two speeds, so it's not as appropriate for blowing leaves around delicate plants. Nor is the 10:1 mulching ratio ideal, and comparative tests show that the pricier Ultra Blower Vac mulches better. The 67-dB noise level is the same for both models at high speed, but since the Super Blower doesn't go lower than 159 mph, its lowest noise level is 63 dB. Despite these disadvantages, this leaf blower is recommended in several reviews as a best buy. It gets a near-perfect rating at Home Depot, but owners rate it lower at Amazon.com, saying the plastic impeller is apt to break.

The slightly lighter 6.5-pound Toro Rake and Vac 51574 (*est. $65) also has two speeds, and its 10.5-amp motor and lower speed range make it quieter than the Super Blower Vac, as well as better for blowing leaves around delicate plants. Tests show that it doesn't loosen debris as well as the Toro Ultra Blower and Super Blower models, but for sweeping and vacuuming it performs just as well. At its low speed of 135 mph, the noise level is only 63 dB (at 50 feet), but at its high of 190 mph, it's rated at 66.5 dB.

If you want to vacuum enormous amounts of leaves, a review at Money Magazine finds the vacuum bag to be more comfortable on the Black & Decker BV4000 Leaf Hog (*est. $75) than on the Toro Ultra Blower Vac. You switch from blowing to vacuuming with the push of a button. In addition, when used in vacuum mode, Black & Decker leaf blower vacs have one advantage over other brands -- an optional trashcan adapter. The Black & Decker BV006 Blower/Vacuum Leaf Collection System (*est. $30) connects a leaf blower to a trashcan, so you don't have to empty the vacuum bag or carry the leaves around. The eight-foot hose lets you work within an 8-foot radius around the trashcan, so you don't have to move it very often. At Amazon.com, users reviewing Black & Decker leaf blower-vacs say this system works extremely well.

Users reviewing leaf blowers at Home Depot agree, saying the Black & Decker BV2500 (*est. $65) is an especially good buy when equipped with this option. The two-speed Black & Decker BV2500 Blower Vac works at either 150 or 200 mph, and it weighs a little over 7 pounds. So far this year, it's the top-rated model among leaf blowers reviewed by owners at Sears.com. In general, however, users reviewing leaf blowers at Lowes.com and Amazon.com rate Black & Decker leaf blowers lower overall compared with Toro leaf blowers.

Toro and Black & Decker aren't the only options for electric leaf blowers. One review recommends the Weed Eater 2595 Barracuda (*est. $45) as a budget choice, saying this 7-pound leaf blower sweeps as well as the top-rated Toro blowers, but it doesn't loosen debris as well. It's noisier, though, and doesn't vacuum as effectively as the Toro blowers. Several users reviewing this Weed Eater leaf blower at Amazon.com report that the zipper on the bag is prone to break.

Users report the same problem with the Troy-Bilt Quickshift Blower-Vac . It's too bad, since this blower offers exceptional power (157 mph and 425 cfm) along with a large blower-vac tube to minimize clogging. But at 10 pounds, the Troy-Bilt is very heavy for an electric leaf blower, and users report some reliability problems as well.

Handheld gas leaf blowers

Gas leaf blowers are heavier and sometimes harder to start than electric models, but they can work anywhere. The relatively inexpensive handheld models have about the same power as the best corded electric leaf blowers, but since they cost more and make more noise, expert reviews recommend them only if you really need the extra range. With a gas-powered leaf blower, you also have some extra hassle -- buying and mixing the gasoline and oil, storing the flammable fuel safely, starting the engine, carrying the extra weight and keeping the fumes away from kids. In addition, most gas leaf blowers can't vacuum leaves.

The 9.8-pound John Deere BH25LE (*est. $220) handheld gas blower is heavier than the earlier version of this model, but it now uses a 4-cycle engine for lower emissions. This also means you don't have to mix oil with the gasoline, so you can use the same gas container you use for your lawn mower. It has all the features you'd expect at this price: Cruise control, rubber grip and electronic ignition, plus a primer bulb for easy starting. Although this leaf blower wins praise for its low emissions, it gets mixed reviews for power and noise level. Despite the 4-cycle engine and a good muffler, at high throttle the 68.5 dB sound exceeds the 65 dB limit set by many communities, and the Money Magazine review says the noise definitely bothers neighbors. On the other hand, the review at The Wall Street Journal notes that the sound is lower-pitched than most, and therefore it’s not so annoying.

The Echo PB-200 (*est. $160) also has electronic ignition, but it’s quieter. Rated at 65 dB (at 50 feet), it meets even stringent noise regulations. This model has about the same power as the John Deere BH25LE (145 mph, 365 cfm), but it weighs a pound less. Testers at GardeningClub.com say it starts easily, is easy to use and has plenty of power. Echo gas blowers get good reviews from users at the GardenWeb.com forum, as well.

Stihl is another brand that generally gets good reviews for power and durability. Unfortunately, Stihl has discontinued its quietest handheld gas blowers, the Stihl BG 45 and BG 46, which were rated at 64 dB and got excellent reviews. The current Stihl handheld gas leaf blowers are all rated at 69 decibels, nearly twice as loud. The Stihl BG 55 (*est. $150), now Stihl's lightest model, uses a 27.2-cc engine for a little more power than the John Deere and Echo leaf blowers above, with maximum airflow of 140 mph and 417 cfm. A review at Lifetime magazine recommends the Stihl BG 55 for its 9-pound weight and double handles -- the extra handle on the bottom adds comfort.

If you don't mind carrying more weight, the 10.9-pound Homelite Vac Attack II (*est. $100) costs less, has the same 69 dB rating as the Stihl blower, and includes a vacuum and mulching attachment (rated at 12:1). It has some high-end features like cruise control and vibration-dampening, and the 25cc engine puts out plenty of power at 200 mph and 420 cfm. Switching between blowing and vacuuming requires no tools. It gets reasonably good ratings from owners reviewing it at Lowes.com, but some complain that it's hard to start.

The lighter (9.6-pound) Homelite Yard Broom II (*est. $80) doesn't vacuum, but it does have cruise control and reasonable power: 170 mph, 375 cfm. Last year, owners gave it near-perfect reviews at HomeDepot.com, but the reviews have disappeared from the site. An optional gutter kit fits on either Homelite blower. If the 69 dB noise level is acceptable to you (and your neighbors), this is another good budget choice.

The Weed Eater FL 1500 (*est. $80) weighs only 7.5 pounds and gets good marks for noise, but it gets mixed reviews from owners, some of whom report frustrating reliability problems. We found low ratings from owners reviewing it at Epinions and Amazon.com.

Several other brands generally get poor reviews for noise, weight and performance. Although gas leaf blowers made by MTD (sold as Troy-Bilt and Craftsman brands) offer easier starts with a special spring-assist device, not all owners agree that it helps. Troy-Bilt leaf blowers do have a handle design that's more comfortable for left-handed users than most.

Ryobi is another budget brand, but the Ryobi RY08548 (*est. $130) costs only about ten dollars less than the Stihl BG55 and is louder. Tests say its vacuuming attachment doesn't work well enough to make that an advantage. Overall, the mid-priced, quiet Echo PB-200 (*est. $160) is the best gas leaf blower for most homeowners.

Gas-powered backpack blowers

To get more blowing power means adding weight, so the most powerful gas leaf blowers are designed to be worn on the back. This takes some strain off the arms, but requires good shoulder strength. Backpack blowers don't vacuum. The best backpack leaf blowers are more durable than other types.

Reviews recommend two top contenders for best backpack blower, the Stihl BR-500 (*est. $460) and the Husqvarna 356BTX (*est. $450). Both weigh 23 pounds and provide a maximum airflow of around 180 mph. The main differences are in comfort, noise and emissions.

Home users at the Gardening Club of America give a high overall rating to the Husqvarna 356BTX (*est. $450), saying it starts easily and compares well with other backpack blowers. However, home gardeners there didn't compare it directly with the Stihl. The review at Money Magazine does compare the two directly, finding the Husqvarna more comfortable to wear, but louder. Husqvarna actually rates the 356BTX at 64 dB, one decibel quieter than the Stihl BR-500. However, differences in the fan, muffler and engine type can make one leaf blower sound much more annoying than another.

Most Stihl backpack blowers are quite loud, but the 65-decibel Stihl BR-500 (*est. $460) uses a hybrid engine that combines two- and four-cycle technology for lower emissions and a less annoying sound. The hybrid engine also improves fuel economy and lowers vibration. This is the gas leaf blower that the South Coast Air Quality Management District (around Los Angeles) chose for its exchange program in February 2006. Professional landscapers were able to exchange older leaf blowers for the Stihl BR-500 blowers at less than half price, because of the tremendous decrease in air and noise pollution. Compared to most older leaf blowers, the Stihl BR-500 is about five times cleaner and twice as quiet.

While professional landscapers or homeowners with huge yards may need the Stihl BR-500 blower, most homeowners can find a lighter, quieter backpack blower in the $300 price range -- but the power will be about the same as that of a less expensive handheld gas leaf blower. Top rank here goes to the Echo Pro Lite PB265L (*est. $260) and Echo Pro Lite PB260L (*est. $270). At 13 and 15 pounds, respectively, both are far lighter than a professional leaf blower, and at 65 decibels, they’re acceptably quiet. Both models have a five-year warranty.

Both leaf blowers have electronic ignition and cruise control, and a comparative review finds that they perform and handle well. The 25.4cc engines provide a maximum airflow of 155 mph, 375 cfm. The Echo 260-series leaf blowers are much quieter than the competing Stihl BR340L (*est. $300) that’s rated at 69 dB, which in turn is a bit quieter than the Husqvarna 145BT (*est. $260).

Tests show the Stihl BR340 (*est. $300) is better at sweeping away debris, but significantly louder. (The only "quiet" Stihl model is the Stihl BR-500 discussed above.) Budget backpack blowers by MTD are even louder, though some get good ratings in owner-written reviews. For example, the 25cc Troy-Bilt TV25BP blower (*est. $190) weighs just 14 pounds is rated at a whopping 80 decibels. MTD also makes Craftsman backpack blowers; owners like the Craftsman 30cc 41AR322G799 (*est. $230), but it's very heavy at 21 pounds.

Important Features: Leaf Blowers

Here's what expert reviews say to look for when choosing a leaf blower:

• Check local ordinances before buying. A few communities ban leaf blowers altogether, while others limit sound levels and/or gas engine emission levels. Noise limits are often set to either 69 or 65 decibels (dB).

• Compare actual sounds before buying, if possible. Although most manufacturers state a maximum decibel-level for their leaf blowers, reviews don't always agree. Also, leaf blowers with exactly the same decibel rating may vary in tone or pitch, so that some make a much more annoying sound than others. The decibel ratings are measured from 50 feet away, so you'll be more affected by the sounds than anyone else, even wearing hearing protection.

• Ear protection is a must. Tests show that all leaf blowers are loud enough to damage the hearing of the user, even if they're quiet enough to meet noise regulations. Damage is cumulative over time, and you can't tell your hearing is being damaged until it's too late.

• Electric leaf blowers are best for most. Corded electric leaf blowers these days are just as powerful as handheld gas-powered blowers. They're sufficient for normal yard work and are generally quieter, cleaner, lighter and safer for the environment. Most work with extension cords as long as 150 feet. For light-duty work, especially on hard surfaces, a cordless electric leaf blower can go anywhere.

• For handheld leaf blowers, the lighter the better. Several electric leaf blowers weigh as little as 7 pounds, and "sweeper" models for hard surfaces can weigh as little as 4.4 pounds. For heavier gas leaf blowers, a well-padded backpack style is usually more comfortable than a handheld blower.

• Lower speeds protect plants and mulch. Reviews recommend variable-speed blowers, since a low speed is not only adequate for most jobs, but also minimizes noise. Low speeds also keep mulch and edgings from blowing out of place, and they protect plants from air blasts that are too strong. Using the lowest possible speed lessens noise and vibration as well.

• For leaf vacuums, look for a 16:1 mulch ratio with a metal impeller. Most models with a vacuum feature also mulch leaves to compress bulk in the bag. Reviews note that only under rare conditions do leaf blower/vacs shred leaves as much as the manufacturers' stated ratio, so it's better to err on the high side. Testing at Consumer Reports reveals that the actual compression rate is often closer to 3:1. User-reviews note that mulching ratios depend on the type of leaf. We found quite a few complaints about plastic parts breaking or wearing out; reviews say metal impellers last longer.

• Look for wide-mouth or flared blower nozzles that swivel. These are better at gathering leaves into piles. Models with tapered ends tend to scatter leaves. Swiveling nozzles make handling more comfortable. You may want more than one style of blower tip: rounder for more powerful loosening of debris, flatter for sweeping it away.

• For electric leaf blowers, a cord retention system locks the extension cord in place. This prevents it from being accidentally unplugged. However, reviews note that this may limit the gauge of the extension cord, and thus limit your power and range as well. If you need to use a heavy 12-gauge cord, be sure to get a leaf blower that will work with it.

• If you need a gas leaf blower, 4-cycle or hybrid engines are quieter and less polluting. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) estimates that 2-cycle engines exhaust about 30% of the fuel and oil mix directly into the air. In 30 minutes of use, this contributes as much to global warming as driving a newer model car 110 miles at 30 mph.

• For gas blowers, look for vibration-dampening and heavy padding. Handheld gas leaf blowers need well-padded shoulder straps, while backpack blowers need adequate padding to protect the back. Some backpack blowers have padding that lets cool air circulate, a blessing in hot weather.

Leaf Blower Recalls

It's a good idea to register a new leaf blower with the manufacturer, so you'll be notified of any recalls. In July 2007, Toro recalled all Power Sweep 51586 models sold between Jan. 2000 through December 2002, with specific serial numbers, for defective plastic impellers that can break, causing pieces to fly out at high speed with potential for cuts and bruises. No serious injuries had resulted, but the company had received 21 reports of minor cuts and bruises, and 154 reports of broken impellers.

Older recalls include some Black & Decker BV4000 electric leaf blowers in Oct. 2006, but because these particular leaf blowers were sold nationwide between April 2004 and July 2005, the problem is unlikely to apply to Black & Decker BV4000 leaf blowers currently in retail stores.

Earlier in 2006, Shindaiwa recalled two gas backpack blowers, Model EB630 and EB630RT, for muffler brackets that could break. RedMax also recalled several gas backpack blowers for the same reason, after five reports of units that caught fire. For more information on these or prior leaf blower recalls, check the Consumer Product Safety website at http://www.cpsc.gov/.

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

# Picks	Leaf Blower	Details from Amazon.com
8	Toro Super Blower Vac (*est. $60)	details
5	Toro Ultra Blower (*est. $75)	details
5	Black & Decker BV4000 Leaf Hog (*est. $75)	details
4	Husqvarna 356BTx Quiet Blower (*est. $450)	-
4	John Deere BH25LE (*est. $220)	-
3	Stihl BR-500 (*est. $460)	-
3	Echo PB-413T	-
3	Echo ProLite PB-260L, PB-261L (*est. $280)	-
3	Stihl BG 55 (*est. $160)	-
3	Toro Rake and Vac (*est. $65)	details
3	Toro Power Sweep 51586 (*est. $30)	details
2	Echo PB-460LN Quiet 1 (*est. $460)	-
2	Husqvarna 145BT (*est. $260)	-
2	Stihl BG 45 (now Stihl BG 46) Discontinued	-
2	Homelite Vac Attack II (*est. $100)	-
2	Black & Decker NS118 cordless broom (*est. $70)	details
2	Homelite Yard Broom II (*est. $50)	-
2	Weed Eater WEB160 (*est. $35)	details
1 each	American Gardener ReadySweeper 18V Cordless, Black & Decker BV2500 , Black & Decker CCC3000 kit , , Craftsman 74824 (elec), Echo PB-265L, Echo PB-200, Echo PB-230LN, Echo PB-403, Husqvarna 25BT, Little Wonder SHO 9502, Solo 471 (now the Solo 471-KAT) , Stihl BGE60 (elec), Stihl SH 55 HomeScaper (gas), Troy-Bilt TB250B, Troy-Bilt B25BP, Troy-Bilt TB926B, Weed Eater BV 1650, Weed Eater 2585 Barracuda, Weed Eater 2595, Weed Eater Featherlite FL1500

Among electric leaf blower-vacs, the Toro Super Blower Vac gets the most recommendations, followed by the Toro Ultra Blower and the Black & Decker BV4000. The John Deere BH25LE is the most-recommended handheld gas blower, but reviews say the Echo PB-200 series is even quieter. Among backpack gas blowers, reviews recommend the Husqvarna 356BTx Quiet Blower and the quieter Stihl BR-500, but again, an Echo blower is quietest. The Black & Decker electric blowers are recommended for vacuuming leaves, especially when equipped with the optional trashcan adapter.

Sponsored links