Best leaf blower 2024 – our expert review of six of the best leaf blowers

Leaf blowers make light work of clearing autumn leaves from hard and soft surfaces. They are an alternative to rakes, brushes and leaf grabbers.

Lawns benefit from having leaves cleared as a thick covering of leaves can cause grass to die or become more vulnerable to disease. Hard surfaces - paths and steps, for example - can become a slip hazard if leaves are left uncollected and garden furniture should be cleared too.

Collected leaves should be made good use of by either adding them to the compost heap or turning them into valuable leaf mould. This way they can add nutrients to the soil and play a part in creating a healthy garden. Just add the wet leaves to a black plastic sack with some holes punched in it and wait a year or two.

For a lower tech alternative, check out our recommended rakes and leaf grabbers.

Skip ahead to read how we tested the leaf blowers

What to look out for when choosing a leaf blower

When choosing a leaf blower there are several factors that need to be considered. These are weight of blower, power, battery charge time, run time, cost, storage, noise levels, optional attachment such gutter clearing nozzles and ergonomics. Head to our guide below for more on how to buy a leaf blower.

Best leaf blowers for 2024

Ryobi OBL1820S Cordless Leaf Blower

Best for run time

Key specs

Price £65.95 (excludes battery)
Voltage 18 volts
Weight 2.34 kg
Charging time Using the 4.0AH battery charging time 2.5hrs
Run time 17 minutes in our trial

This might not be the most powerful blower, but it is ideal for a more intricate garden. It is easy to control where the leaves go in a confined space whereas more powerful models can cause leaves to fly above your head. Perfect for a gravel garden or a small courtyard however it wasn’t powerful enough to remove all the sticky yew berries from decking in our trail.

The Ryobi has a simple push start/stop button but will remain running unless you turn it off – unlike many others that stop when you release your hand.

The battery is easy to slot in and the nozzle removes for storage. A sensible option if your garden tools are stored in a broom cupboard.

Has a comfy rubberised handle and light weight to use. A good-looking modern design that will appeal to younger gardeners.

Pros: Great budget option; good run time, ideal for fine gravel areas
Cons: Not as powerful as others

Cobra LB45024V Powerful 24v Cordless Leaf Blower

Best for light weight

Key specs

Price £109.99 (includes battery)
Voltage 24 volts
Weight 1.9kg (without battery)
Charging time 90 minutes
Run time up to 25 minutes

A cordless leaf blower that is very simple to set up. The nozzle is made of two parts – the section that attaches to the body is a simple push and twist action and the battery slides down and clicks into place at the back of the blower. This battery is included and compatible with the Cobra 24v system.

To turn on press and hold the on/off button until the green battery lights come on. It is refreshing to have a battery gauge within easy view of the user, so you are warned when it is likely to run out. Choose between eco and turbo at the press of a button. Eco is ideal for fine gravel areas and turbo for lawn leaves. If the blower switches from turbo to eco you know the battery is running out – this is a very useful warning. It ran for just over 8 minutes in our trial but that was largely on turbo, on eco it reaches nearer the time suggested.

Very comfortable to use and excellent easy set up. Perfect for a small to medium garden.

Pros: Comes with a battery included, battery warning light, two speeds
Cons: None

Bosch Universal GardenTidy 3000

Best for versatility

Key specs

Price £86.95 (Tooled-up.com price)
Voltage electric 3000 watts
Weight leaf blower 3.4kg, garden vac 4.7kg

A different offering to the rest on trial as this is electric and offers more functions. It is designed to be used as a blower, vacuum and shredder making it a great value for money option.

In the trial the leaves were blown into a pile and then the GardenTidy was quickly switched to its vacuum mode to clear them up. This took no more than two minutes to change the nozzle and attach the bag and no tools are required. The leaves were then simply and easily moved to the compost heap using the quick-release 50 litre collection bag – wonderful to see how well they had been shredded (great for making leaf mould). The two side flaps on the bag are moisture-repellent dirt reflectors.

A powerful blower and vacuum that can suck and blow gravel but the fully variable speed allows you to control the power to avoid this. You wouldn’t want to damage the shredder by collection stones. It's far easier to manoeuvre around the garden than you would expect.

Comfortable to use and the 10m red electric cable is easy to see but some may find moving a cable a they work frustrating. However, it does allow you to work for as long as you like. As this option is so versatile constant rechanging could be a frustration so electric is sensible in this case.

Pros: Has three uses; comes with padded shoulder strap; a powerful tool that doesn’t need recharging

Cons: Extension lead required in larger garden; slightly larger to store than other leaf blowers featured

Makita UB001GD202 leaf blower

Best for power

Key specs

Price £233 (excluding battery)
Voltage 40 volts
Weight 3.9kg
Charging time on trial 57 minutes
Run time 12 minutes

This impressive cordless leaf blower is compatible with the 40v max XGT battery system (note the price given does not include a battery). You can choose the battery that you want to invest in at point of purchase. In cruise control it will run for approximately 12 minutes with a fully charged 4AH battery.

It's easy to use and comes with variable speed control and a boost button. The three-stage telescopic nozzle is simple to assemble, and you have the option to transform this blower into a something that will clear gutters by buying an additional gutter nozzle.

A powerful blower that is designed to be used with one hand but has the valuable addition of an adjustable shoulder strap.

Thanks to its high air volume it would be perfect for quickly clearing leaves from a tennis court or similar large space. This blower means business so isn’t our first choice for a more intricate garden setting.
Buy two batteries and this would be a blower ideal for a professional landscaper and has the added bonus of being able to resist splashing water.

Pros: Adjustable shoulder strap; high air volume and speed; 3-stage telescopic nozzle
Cons: Lifts fine gravel; heavier than less powerful models; a higher price point but justified for its power

Stihl BGA 57 Cordless leaf blower

Best all-rounder

• Buy from Just Lawnmowers (£219 with battery)

Key specs

Price £129 (excluding battery)
Voltage 36
Weight 3.5kg
Charge time 180 minutes
Run time 22 minutes

From the familiar Stihl brand this leaf blower comes with a battery that is interchangeable and can be used with other AK System tools. The retail price featured does not include a battery – there are a variety of Stihl battery options that you can purchase.

Comes with an extendable nozzle and offers 22 minutes of run time on a fully charged AK 20 battery. A powerful blower that gives ample charge time to make it suitable for a medium to large garden. Very comfortable to use and its weight was suitable for its power and was quieter than expected. Too powerful for areas of fine gravel though. A well-balanced design that cleared large areas of leaves with ease.

Easy to use with a detachable nozzle. When carrying the blower around the garden not in use the battery can be placed in a neutral position so the blower can’t be started. This is a good way of avoiding accidental battery drain. As with other models a clear indication as to when the battery is running low would be a handy additional feature.

Pros: Can be hung in the shed (eyelet in handle); great ergonomics; quieter than expected
Cons: Only one speed setting

Stihl BGA 45 cordless leaf blower

Best budget buy

Key specs

Price £109 (includes integrated battery)
Voltage 18
Weight 2.2kg
Charge time 2hr 19 minutes from flat
Run time up to 10 minutes

Meet Stihl’s lightweight and quiet leaf blower that comes with an integrated battery. This makes it Incredibly easy to set up and charge – simply attach the cable and plug into a socket. Charging time is over 2 hours and when the four green lights flash it is ready. A long time to charge for the 10 minutes of run time. However, the ground covered in 10 minutes was impressive. If you don’t have a need for other power tools, you won’t miss the fact that the battery isn’t interchangeable.

The nozzle is simple to remove with a twist which makes for easy storage when space is limited.

To start the blower, you must push in the activation key. This is straightforward but the key could be easily lost which is concern – it should not be left in the blower when not in use, but the blower will not work without it. A spare would be a good idea.

A comfortable to use blower that has the power required for a busy gardener. Quiet so ideal for a small garden in an urban area where storage is an issue.

Pros: Lightweight; quite comfortable to use

Cons: Activation key could be lost

How we tested

All the leaf blowers were tested in a garden with a variety of surfaces – lawn, woodland paths, decking, fine gravel, larger grade gravel and paving. The leaves were damp.

All blower are battery powered apart from one which is electric. Battery charging and run times were measured with a stopwatch and ear defenders, eye protection and gloves worn.

Having used many petrol leaf blowers during my time as a parks gardener the battery-operated options were a new experience. The conclusion is that they are far easier to use than the older petrol versions and allow you to store them in your home. Not having an electric cable is a definite advantage and reduced the trip hazard. You might think that the run times are very low but this trial proved that they are more than adequate for most gardens.

An improvement that would be an advantage to most of the models would if they offered a clear warning when the battery was about to run out, so you aren’t taken by surprise.

A buyers guide to leaf blowers

Leaf blowers and garden vacuums offer gardeners a quick and easy way to manage their autumn leaves or light garden debris. A leaf blower allows you to blow the leaves into a corner for collection, whereas a vacuum sucks up leaves. Vacuums need regular emptying.

The use of leaf blowers and vacuums should be carefully considered as they cause damage to valuable insect life. Try to ensure that some areas of your garden remain undisturbed havens for vital wildlife.

When using a leaf blower make sure you have the recommended safely equipment and avoid loose, flowing clothing. Before turning on the blower work out where you want to create a leaf pile. In a courtyard it could be in a corner and in a large garden it might be in the middle of the lawn. In large areas move the blower from side to side to control the leaves. It is counterproductive if you simply blast the leaves up into the air.

Cordless versus corded

The first consideration in picking your blower is whether to go corded or cordless.

Corded blowers are usually less expensive than cordless options and will deliver consistent and powerful service all day. Of course there’s the inconvenience of swinging around a power cable (of occasionally questionable length) to contend with, but it’s up to you as to how much of a hardship this will be.

Cordless blowers are more hi-tech. Using the latest lithium batteries (go for units of 4Ah or 5Ah to deliver the power and run time you need) they’ll clear a large lawn on a single 4 or 5 hour-long charge with no strings attached.

Cordless blowers are often lighter and easier to manoeuvre, too.

Petrol leaf blowers versus electric leaf blowers

Petrol blowers on the other hand will run all day long, but do be aware of messy fuelling (2-stroke motors require careful, safe mixing of oil and petrol) and high noise levels. And if burning fossil fuels is a no go for you, then petrol – of course – simply isn't an option.

The sweet-spot for electric is if you’ve already invested into a manufacturer's battery ‘system’ and already own batteries and a compatible charger from an existing purchase. That way you can often go for a ‘body only’ or ‘bare’ option blower, buying just the business end and re-using your power components (battery, charger, or both) to save cash. Just be sure to check that the blower is compatible with your existing battery but – generally speaking – if it’s the same make and voltage (18V being the most common) then you’re on the right track.

And you can always save more cash by buying look-alike compatible batteries and chargers from more affordable makes, but this usually comes with a hit to power and run time. You get what you pay for.

Watch for features such as ‘brushless’ too. A brushless motor has less moving parts (that don’t rub together) and so should last longer and give better performance and battery life too.

Also ‘scraping’ actions. A blower’s scraper mode gives a more powerful, sharper, focussed, ‘turbo boost’ mode that will take moss and mould off smooth surfaces, allowing you to use your blower for basic patio cleaning etc.

Variable Speed Controls

Variable speed controls are an essential feature of any leaf blower. They allow you to adjust the blower’s speed to suit the task at hand. For example, when clearing leaves from delicate flower beds, you’ll want to use a lower speed to avoid damaging plants. When tackling a large pile of leaves, you’ll need a higher speed to get the job done quickly.

Nozzle Size

The nozzle size of a leaf blower determines the air volume and speed. A narrow nozzle will produce a faster, more concentrated jet of air, making it ideal for moving heavy debris like wet leaves. A wider nozzle will produce a broader stream of air, making it more suitable for lighter tasks like clearing grass clippings.

Mulching Bags

Mulching bags are an essential feature to look for when purchasing a leaf blower. These bags are designed to collect and shred leaves into small pieces, making it easier to dispose of them. This feature is especially important if you have a large yard with lots of trees that produce an abundance of leaves. The mulching bags come in various sizes, so it's essential to choose the right size depending on the volume of leaves in your garden.

Comfort Features

When shopping for a leaf blower, comfort features are important to consider. Look out for a lightweight blower that is easy to handle and manoeuvre and an ergonomic design with a non-slip grip for comfortable operation. Also consider noise level, low vibration to prevent discomfort and fatigue during extended use, and adjustable handles to customize the height and angle to suit your preference.

A leaf blower is an incredibly handy tool for the keen gardener, and we hope our roundup has provided you with the knowledge and expertise to choose the perfect model for your needs from our extensive list!

Other leaf blowers to try

DeWalt DCV100-XJ 18 V Li-Ion XR Compact Cordless Blower

DeWalt make a huge range of professional level tools all of which use their XR-branded 18V battery units and charger. It’s therefore an easy ‘family’ to buy into, with a single purchase including battery and charger allowing you to make subsequent matching buys without. Of course running five tools of a single battery will eventually lead to its own inconvenience, but you can take your time to decide how many batteries is enough for your needs.

Their DCV100-XJ is an amazingly lightweight unit, coming in at just 1.3Kg and it comes with two nozzles for increasing the length and focus of the jet of air produced. It also doubles as an inflator/deflator for blowing up airbeds and the like, making it a bit of an all-rounder.

The ‘bare’ unit is particularly keenly priced, but you can get it in a full ‘with battery and charger’ bundle too.

Ryobi RY18BLXA-140 18V ONE Cordless Brushless Blower Kit

Highly regarded in the gardening space, Ryobi offer a huge range of chainsaws, mowers, strimmers and electrical effort-savers that all use their (clearly branded) ONE battery system. So going cordless in your garden (and treating yourself to lots of new toys) has never been easier. Other manufacturers take note.

On the blowing front the Ryobi RY18BLXA is their well-priced, mid-level brushless model with scraper mode. It weighs 3.6Kg and comes complete with a simple clip on high-speed nozzle to increase the pressure/air-speed should you need a little more oomph at the business end.

And this set includes one ONE 4.0Ah battery and charger in the box – so everything you need to get started.

Or – if you already own a Ryobi ONE power unit – you can get it body only for significantly less.

VonHaus 3 in 1 Leaf Blower - 3000W Garden Vacuum & Mulcher

This one does the lot – and at an amazing price. It’s a blower, a vacuum and – thanks to it’s mulching capabilities – not only packs more leaves in the bag by chopping them finely while you’re vacuuming – at a ratio of 10:1 – but the resultant fine leaf mould is perfect for instant inclusion in your compost.

The 3000W of power makes it among the most powerful blowers in our selection but – as ever – vacuuming is a more delicate and time consuming process than merely blasting the leaves around.

It also comes in a surprisingly small package – perfect for the eco-sensitive – but as a result does require some basic assembly to get up and running.

Being a corded unit, that’s help keep the cost down to bargain level and it’s all ready to go out of the box with no batteries or charging or fuel required.

There’s the inconvenience of plugging it in and trailing a wire, of course, perhaps making it better suited to smaller gardens, but the included 10m lead is generous and an extension lead can of course give you greater range if required.

Stihl BG86CE Petrol Blower

If you seriously need extra oomph and infinite portability – and burning fuel doesn't pique your eco worries – then a petrol blower is an option. All the freedom of a battery-powered cordless model – so feel free to wander around parkland… fields… allotments… anywhere remote where you need to tame some leaves – with non of the power and lifespan concerns. This Stihl model will comfortably blow all day on a single top-up and packs pro-level power to get the job done.

Of course there’s the issue of noise, and the small matter being sure to safely top it up with petrol and oil, but both stresses have been reduced to a minimum. It’s carefully engineered to keep irritating whines and vibration down and simple inexpensive ear protectors will keep you 100% safe.

As a two-stroke motor it does require the purchase of 2-stroke oil to mix with your regular from-the-garage unleaded, but there are measurers and containers to make this as unfussy and mess-free as possible. And Stihl’s own branded two-stroke fuel is easy to add (and a tankful lasts an age) if you’re not at ease mixing your own.

If you need the power to shift mountains of wet leaves then there’s only one way to go.

DeWalt DCMB562P1 XR Brushless Axial Blower

If you’re looking for the most modern and hi-tech take on electric leaf blowing and scraping we need to get back to DeWalt who’s range-topping DCMB562P1 features ‘axial’ technology to whip up a storm.

Looking more like a laser-canon than a garden tool, its heavier than some, at 5Kg, but that’s due to the unique Aerospike Concentrator that condenses the airflow and increases its speed, meaning that it’s instantly ready to offer scraper action without the need for any extra attachments or modes.

Its scraper action is a boon for clearing paving and patios and can even shift stones, soil and gravel from an over-spilled driveway. So rather than reach for that low-tech broom, why not give it a blast instead?

Part of DeWalts XR 18V family, it's ready to fit in with your existing DeWalt tools and comes in ‘battery and charger included’ form so one box does it all.

Hyundai 3000w Leaf Blower

This electric Hyundai leaf blower is our pick of the keenly-priced models. It places the weight of the unit on wheels rather than your arms, meaning you can work all day without arm fatigue. It also has a nine height options, so you can use it at a comfortable position.

This is actually a three-in-one model, as it works as a blower, vacuum and mulcher, and you can add on the 45L leaf collection bag to make tidying easy.

WORX WG518E Air Turbine Corded Leaf Blower

The WORX unit brings you the air-blasting power of a petrol blower with the lightweight swing-ability of a much sleeker model. It’s corded so best bring along your extension lead (and be prepared for the occasional knot) but that only means zero worries about lifespan and no dirty/smelly/noisy petrol to worry about.

It’s 4.3Kg which isn’t the lightest, but is a good indication of the 120mph plus air-shifting power on board and once again, you plug it in and go – no ‘hidden’ costs for batteries and chargers.

If you need the power and can handle the cable, it's well worth a look.

Makita DUB363ZV Brushless Blower and Vacuum

Want a cordless blower and vacuum with all of the pluses and no minus? This Makita could be the one, being part of the toolmaker’s giant range incorporating everything you need for indoor and outdoor maintenance.

The DUB is of course entirely cordless – delivering the portability you need – and, by virtue of being electric, there’s no two-stroke racket or fuel to worry about. Instead the power comes from not one but TWO of Makita’s 18V power packs, meaning 36V of power and air displacement right up there with the petrol blowers.

And there’s the power to vacuum too, with a large, shoulder slung bag catching the mulched product of your labours.

The only downside is that it only comes without batteries and charger and – requiring two batteries – means that your outlay and charging times just doubled. However, if you’re already invested in Makita-world and possess their 18V batteries and charger, then adding their top of the range blower to match is a bit of a no-brainer.

Bosch Home and Garden 06008B1070 Universal Garden Tidy

Delivering a premium brand and performance, the ability to blow and vacuum and doing it all at a great price means that we had to recommend the Bosch for smaller and medium gardens.

They’ve worked hard to reduce the noise level to below 100dB (99dB, in fact) with their ‘ProSilence’ system and well-thought out additions such as a larger, less clog-able nozzle when vacuuming and a robust metal (rather than plastic) fan mean that it’s built to last.

Unlike the Makita above, the leaf bag isn't shoulder slung, so that 1800W 4.7Kg unit will get heavier as you vac. But the three speeds for blowing and vacuuming mean that you can vac on gravel – lifting leaves and moss – without hoovering up most of your driveway too.

It’s a corded unit (8m in length) which – as we’ve discussed – has both its advantages and disadvantages. And if you need more power for larger jobs there are 2300W and 3000W versions too.

Milwaukee M18 FBL-0 18V Leaf Blower with 2 x 5.0Ah Batteries & Charger

You may not be familiar with the Milwaukee brand but – surprise – they’re big in the States, offering a huge range of power tools for professionals that are known for their built-to-last, no-nonsense approach to getting the job done.

Their simple take on the blower therefore couldn’t be simpler. Its in-line design with air intake and outlet in a single channel (with the motor mounted within) means minimum design fuss, with great balance and maximum air speed. It’s as fast as the petrol models with 120mph airflow at the higher of its two speeds.

And there's no cord and no petrol. AND this pack offers TWO 5.0Ah batteries and a fast action charger meaning that it basically overcomes the one drawback of high-powered cordless by delivering a non-stop way to clear even larger gardens without running out of juice. Just change packs at the half-way line.

If you're looking for more tools, why not check out our roundup of the best garden multi-tools?