Best Cordless Leaf Blower Reviews: Annual Report 2022

Cordless leaf blowers have gradually become more popular with the introduction of home and garden battery technology. There is now an abundance of powerful handheld devices, batteries and chargers available, which can quickly become overwhelming. For a home gardener, it is challenging to keep on top of current development and the best offers to date. Therefore, we decided to simplify the process and perform a comprehensive cordless leaf blower review to determine the best battery powered leaf blowers on the North American market.

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1. Introduction

With the beginning of fall, starts the time of year when garden owners all over the US should dedicate some time to the chores that have accumulated in their yard. In order to facilitate the collection of leaves, twigs, debris and branches, scattered on the lawn many property owners have switched to the use of environmentally friendly, lightweight, cordless leaf blowers. Thus, going about the work without the danger of tripping over cables, inhaling fumes or generating too much noise. Owing to innovative and powerful lithium-ion batteries, battery garden tools are an easy and powerful alternative to gasoline-powered solutions.
Within the next chapter we will give a general outline of battery powered leaf blowers, presenting the main functions and areas of operation (chapter #2). After a quick introduction into our review approach (chapter #3), we will illustrate our review results and present the best cordless leaf blowers of 2022 in the fourth chapter. Afterwards we will provide more background information about the purchase of a new battery leaf blower, such as a list of important buying criteria and an overview of advantages over gasoline and corded tools (chapter #5). To conclude, we will provide an overview of key technical data of all cordless leaf blowers, introduced in this review, in the sixth chapter.

2. Cordless Leaf Blower Overview

2.1. Main Functions

There is a wide range of voltages amongst battery powered leaf blowers. The smallest devices run on as little as 18- and 20 volts, whereas the biggest cordless leaf blowers run on powerful 80 volts and more. Basically, the higher the voltage of a handheld device, the higher its performance in terms of air speed and air volume

To adjust air speed, flow and volume, most leaf blowers have adjustable speed triggers. These additional power settings enable you to pick and choose the needed setting for any given cleaning job. Thus, clearing dry leaves, dust and small twigs from a large yard, can easily be accomplished on a lower setting. More difficult jobs that include clearing damp material or heavier debris from your lawn and backyard, such a mud will need the more powerful setting. Consequently, the battery charge will last for a shorter period of time and cover a smaller work area. Some leaf blowers will also have an adjustable power boost, for those really messy yards and lawns.

2.2. Areas of Operation

A cordless leaf blower doesn’t only clean your yard of debris, but may also help you personally or more generally visitors of your property. The risk of slipping on wet, slippery leaves, or tripping over debris is high; especially for older folk. Tiled entrances or terraces are particularly dangerous areas. If you own a private home or property, you should always think about liability and insurance.

Obviously cordless leaf blowers are not only suitable for yard-work in the month of fall, but are also useful and easy solutions throughout the year. For example, you can use it for clearing sand and BBQ leftovers from the terrace in spring and summer. During our cordless leaf blower reviews it showed, that many gardeners and DIY’ers use leaf blowers to supplement other handheld tools like hedge trimmers, to clear leaves off the ground after cutting. You can also use it for general cleaning purposes, e.g. to clean waste after a celebration (solo cups, napkins, wrapping paper, …). Ultimately no matter what tasks at hand, a powerful cordless leaf blower helps finish your work quickly and efficiently. Compared to a rake or broom, you can save a lot of time with a powerful leaf blower. Additionally you protect your back by keeping a better posture throughout the cleaning process.

If a gasoline-powered device is used, certain risks must be considered and minimized fort the tool operator and bystanders. The following link provides a useful overview of important health and safety considerations for users of gasoline leaf blowers.

3. Detailed Approach to our Review

As already stated in the last chapter, cordless leaf blowers come in different voltage ranges. During our analysis we found out that the majority of devices can be assigned to one of the following four segments:

SegmentVoltage rangesIncl. devices
118- to 20 volts18V, 20V
236- to 42 volts36V, 40V, 42V
356- to 60 volts56V, 60V
480- to 82 volts80V, 82V

In our last annual cordless leaf blower review report of 2020, we presented the three best leaf blowers in segment 2 (36-42 volts). Our annual review of the year 2022 will also be taking close inspection of solutions in segment 1 (18-20 volts). To determine the best cordless leaf blower of each category, we will follow our tried and trusted review approach.

Phase 1:

The first phase of our approach consists of in-depth online research. Throughout the English-speaking Internet, we gathered information on a multitude of cordless leaf blowers. Mainly, we focused at large E-Commerce portals; paying close attention to customer reviews, and specialized niche-websites. In addition, we reviewed and considered many yard and garden tool oriented blogs, especially concentrating on cordless leaf blowers. In conclusion to the intensive research, we accumulated all relevant hardware information and collated everything in a databank in order to commence a detailed analysis. On the basis of our findings, we determined the best cordless leaf blowers in its respective voltage segment.

Phase 2:

We then reviewed the pre-determined leaf blowers in accordance with our established review categories Performance, Ergonomics, Battery- and Charging Technology as well as Scope of Delivery and Price. Each of these four review categories comprises different criteria, which were all in turn inspected. The following chart presents an overview:

Review categoryReview criteria
PerformanceMax. air speed
Max. air volume
Additional features
ErgonomicsWeight
Handling
Noise level
Battery & Charging TechnologyDiversity of supply
Battery runtimes
Battery charging times
Compatibility with other appliances
Scope of Delivery & PriceScope of delivery
Price

Phase 3:

In the third phase of our cordless leaf blower review 2022, we carried out the final tool assessment. In each review category (e.g. Performance), the devices receive a score between 0 and 10. Based on the individual results in each review category, we determined an overall rating for each device. Depending on this overall rating, the tools were ranked and the best leaf blowers of the year 2022 were selected.

4. Cordless Leaf Blower Review Results

Below you will find our detailed cordless leaf blower review reports for the year 2022. To start, we provide a short overview of the best cordless leaf blowers in the respective voltage segment. Subsequently, a comprehensive description of our review results follows.

4.1. Best Leaf Blowers in the 36-42V Segment

All in all, we collected data for 36- and 40V leaf blowers of the following tool manufacturers and/or brands during our research work: Oregon, WORX, Ryobi, Black and Decker, Makita, Greenworks, Kobalt, Husqvarna, Litheli, Powersmith, Powerworks, Aleko, Aglzwy, Lynxx. After processing and analyzing the data, we nominated the following three 40V devices as the best cordless leaf blowers in the 36-42V segment.

4.1.1. Award Winners 2022

Oregon Cordless Leaf Blower BL300

1st place (9.5 / 10 points)

With an impressive overall rating of 9.0 out of 10.0 points, the brushless Oregon BL 300 was selected as the best cordless leaf blower in the 36-42V segment. The handheld device is powerful and is equipped with an adjustable speed trigger as well as a turbo button. The turbine reaches a max. air speed of more than 130 mph and a max. air volume of more than 500 cfm in turbo mode. In contrast to most other high performance 40 volt blowers, the Oregon device is also quite lightweight, weighting in at only 9 lbs incl. a 4.0 ampere hours (ah) battery. The warranty of the Oregon tools and chargers is registered for three years (two if used commercially) and two years for all battery packs.

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WORX Cordless Blower 2x20V WG 584

2nd place (9.0 / 10 points)

Second place in the 36-42V segment goes to the brushless WORX 40V Blower WG 584. The 2x20V cordless leaf blower generates a maximum air volume of 470 cfm and air velocity goes up to 95 mph. The tool features three speeds as well as a turbo boost to perform any given job. In addition the device has an ergonomic design, fits well in the hand and is relatively lightweight compared to other 40V leaf blowers. The complete solution (incl. two 2 ah battery packs) only weighs 7.3 lbs. The warranty of the WORX 40V blower as well as the batteries is registered for three years. The chargers have a one year warranty.

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Ryobi Jet Fan Blower 40V

3rd place (8.8 / 10 points)

The third best cordless leaf blower is the brushless Ryobi 40V Jet Fan Blower. Its maximum air volume is 300 cfm. The velocity of the air goes up to 155 mph. And if that’s not enough, you can disassemble the blowpipe from the main device in order to achieve an even more powerful boost. All in all, the Ryobi 40 volt leaf blower is also pretty comfortable to handle. Even though, with its individual weight of almost 9 pounds, the tool is one of the heavier 40 volt devices which we investigated during our reviews. The warranty of the Ryobi Jet Fan Blower and chargers is registered for a whooping five years and three years for battery packs.

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4.1.2. Detailed Review

We will now go into detail with respect to our four review categories (e.g. performance) and corresponding review criteria (e.g. air speed). As a result, you will be shown how our overall ratings come about. In addition, you will learn more about the specific strengths and weaknesses of the best cordless leaf blowers in the 36-42V segment.

Review Category #1 – Performance

cordless-leaf-blower-review-oregon10 out of 10 possible points, the Oregon BL300 was selected as the best cordless leaf blower in the review category “Performance”. The 40V device from Ryobi received 9 points and the WORX blower WG 584 received 8 points.

Air speed and volume:

In the context of air speed, the Ryobi 40V blower clearly reached the first place with its air velocity of 155 miles per hour (mph). The 40V solution from Oregon also works very satisfactorily with an max. air flow speed of about 130 mph. At 95 mph, WORX‘ battery powered leaf blower had the lowest max. air velocity.
When it comes to air volume, the Oregon device achieved the best result with more than 500 cubicfeet per minute (cfm). The WORX leaf blower also has good results with up to 470 cfm. The tool from Ryobi has a significantly reduced air volume at 300 cfm.

Additional features:

All three cordless leaf blowers have adjustable speed triggers, which allow the user to adapt the turbine power according to individual cleaning needs. We can also confirm that all three have brushless motors. Brushed variants are made of carbon and brushless units use magnets to generate power. Thus, brushless motors are better adapted, generate no friction, produce less heating and can provide better performance.
In addition to the adjustable speed trigger, the leaf blowers from Oregon as well as WORX also possess a powerful turbo button in case additional performance is needed. With the 40V blower from Ryobi, users can reach a performance boost by disassembling the nozzle.

Review Category #2 – Ergonomics

cordless-blower-review-oregon-40v In the review category „Ergonomics“, the battery powered leaf blower from WORX achieved 10 points. The 40V device from Oregon was chosen a second best leaf blower with 9 out of 10 possible points. The Ryobi blower took the third place with respect to ergonomics.

Weight:

With an individual weight of only 5.5 lbs, the WORX WG 584 is the “lightweight” among the three reviewed cordless leaf blowers. Incl. the 2.0 ah battery, the solution only weights around 7.3 lbs. The Oregon blower weighs 6.2 lbs and the tool from Ryobi even 8.85 lbs. The total weight of the solutions from Oregon and Ryobi can go up to 9 lbs (Oregon) respectively more than 10 lbs (Ryobi).

Handling:

With respect to tool handling, the three reviewed leaf blowers convinced us more or less equally. At a first glance, all of them have an ergonomic design. Furthermore, the cordless leaf blowers have a balanced weight distribution, which allows for easy guidance and comfortable handling, also for longer periods of time. Additionally, all three reviewed 40 volt devices have a pretty convenient soft-grip, which further supports pleasant tool handling.

Noise level:

In terms of noise pollution, WORX offers the best cordless leaf blower in our opinion. With a sound pressure level of only 62 decibels (db(a)), the 40V device is so quiet in fact, it even beats some blowers from our 20 volt review. The noise level of the Oregon device is pretty similar (65 db(a)). The Ryobi leaf blower is much louder and the noise level is around 73 db(a).

Review Category #3 – Battery & Charging Technology

cordless-leaf-blower-review-worx In the third review category, we were impressed by Oregon’s innovative batteries and chargers. Hence we rewarded them with 10 points. WORX and Ryobi both received 9 points for their technology solutions.

Diversity of supply:

The Japanese company Ryobi has the largest range of lithium-ion batteries amongst the reviewed 40V tool manufacturers. In total, there are five different batteries with capacities between 2.0 – and 7.5 ah available for Ryobi. Oregon and WORX each have three different battery packs on offer. The capacities are 2.4-, 4.0- and 6.0 ah (for Oregon as well as WORX).

Battery run times:

As mentioned before, the larger lithium-ion batteries of the three manufacturers have capacities between 4.0 ah, 6.0 ah as well as 7.5 ah (Ryobi only). The resulting amount of energy allows a seamless usage of the 40V cordless leaf blowers at full capacity over a period of approximately 30 to 50 minutes. With smaller batteries, the runtimes are correspondingly lower. However, the average usage time can always be extended by adjusting the power of the 40 volt leaf blowers intelligently. This means, only use the power button if you really need it.

Battery charging times:

In our opinion, Oregon and Ryobi offer the best 40V charging solutions. In the case of Oregon, it just takes 30 minutes to charge the 2.4 ah battery; the charge of the 4.0- and 6.0 ah batteries also only lasts 60- respectively 90 minutes. Charging the batteries from Ryobi takes between 30 minutes for the smallest pack and 75 minutes for the largest pack. It takes between 60 and 120 minutes to charge the WORX batteries.

Compatibility with other appliances:

The introduced 40V battery- and charging technologies are not only compatible with cordless blowers, but also with other 40V tools of the respective manufacturers. If you want to use multiple devices of one manufacturer, it is important that the company has a good choice of 40V tools for easy interchanging. This is the case for Oregon as well as for WORX and Ryobi. However, the latter have a particularly large and varied range of battery powered garden tools.

Review Category #4 – Scope of Delivery & Price

In the final review category „Scope of Delivery & Price“, we have uniformly awarded the second best value of 9 points to all three 40V cordless blowers.

Scope of delivery:

The cordless leaf blowers from Oregon and WORX are available as packaged solutions on Amazon, which means battery packs and charger are included with the main tool. The different components can also be ordered separately. For example, if you already own batteries and only want to buy the battery powered leaf blower. In the case of Ryobi, all components need to be supplied individually. At least, we did not find a combined offer while conducting this review.

Price:

In terms of price, the three 40V cordless leaf blowers are approximately the same. However, since all of them are pretty powerful applications of high-quality, they are not cheap either. Prices start at around $100 for the leaf blower only. They might go up to $400 for the complete package, including a battery pack with the highest capacity and a charger. Nevertheless, in our opinion all three solutions have a good price / performance ratio as a whole.

Summary of Results

We have summarized the review results for the three best cordless leaf blowers in the 36-42V segment in the following table:

RatingOregon 40V Max Blower BL300WORX 2x20 Cordless Blower WG 584Ryobi 40V Jet Fan Blower
Performance10/108/109/10
Ergonomics9/1010/108/10
Battery & charging technology10/109/109/10
Scope of delivery & price9/109/109/10
Total9.5/109.0/108.8/10
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4.1.3. Other cordless leaf blowers in the 36-42V segment

In our review report, we have already presented three 40V leaf blowers from Oregon (BL300), Worx (WG 584) and Ryobi (RY40460). Oregon and Worx have no additional 40V devices in their range. However, Ryobi also has other blowers. The range includes a total of five 40V devices. In addition to the model RY40460, Ryobi offers its customers three more handheld leaf blowers, the Ryobi RY40402, RY40480 as well as RY40470 (all based on 40 volt). Furthermore, Ryobi has a 40V backpack blower which runs under the model name RY40440. You can find detailed information on all of the blowers just mentioned in the corresponding review report.

Of course, there are also 36- and 40V battery blowers on the market, including devices from well-known companies such as Black and Decker, Makita, Greenworks, Kobalt as well as Husqvarna. However, Black and Decker only has one 40V blower (model name: LSW36) in its rows. Makita and Husqvarna each offer two devices. The 36V blowers from Makita were named XBU01Z, XBU02Z and XBU04Z. The two cordless blowers from Husqvarna are called 320iB and 436LiB. Kobalt has three different 40V blowers (100 MPH 40V MAX, 110 MPH 40V MAX, 125 MPH 40V MAX ) and Greenworks has even more different blowers in its 40V range. The cordless blowers from Greenworks primarily differ in terms of air volume which ranges from 130 cfm until 450 cfm.

4.2. Best Leaf Blowers in the 18-20V Segment

Overall, we collected and analyzed data of the following 18V- and 20V battery blower brands: Dewalt, Black and Decker, Makita, Ryobi, WORX, Milwaukee, KIMO, Aiper, AchiForce, Paxcess, MaxLander, Meterk, Popoman, Huyosen, Waspt, Workpro, SereneLife, Twing, Reyleo, JSD, Scotts, PowerSmart and Vertak. Based on our analysis results, the following three tools were elected as the best leaf blowers in the 18-20V segment in 2022.

4.2.1. Award Winners 2022

Dewalt Cordless Blower DCE100B

1st place (9.3 / 10 points)

First place goes in the 18-20V segment goes to the Dewalt Cordless Blower DCE100B. Its maximum air volume is a remarkable 135 cfm, making it one of the most powerful blowers in this segment. On the other hand, the velocity of the air flow also goes up to 100 mph. The weight of the complete set is only 3.5 lbs, making it one of the lightest devices we examined. In addition, the cordless leaf blower does have an ergonomic design and the easy adjustable speed trigger and performance boost are accessible even with single-handed grip on the tool. The Dewalt tool comes with a 3 year limited warranty (if the product is registered), the batteries only with 1 year.

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Black and Decker Cordless Blower LSW 321

2nd place (9.0 / 10 points)

The Black and Decker LSW 321 20V Max was selected as the second best cordless leaf blower in the 18-20V segment with an overall rating of 9.0 out of 10.0 points. The battery leaf blower has sufficient power and is equipped with a powerful performance boost button. It reaches a max. air flow speed of 130 mph and a max. air volume of 100 cfm. In comparison to other 20 volt devices, the Black and Decker blower is very lightweight, weighting in at only 3.7 lbs. excluding the battery. Furthermore, the soft-grip of this cordless blower, makes the device easy to handle for a prolonged period of time. The Black and Decker LSW 321 also impresses with a max. noise level of only 66 db(a). The warranty of the Black and Decker tools and chargers is registered for two years.

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Makita Cordless Blower DUB 182

3rd place (8.8 / 10 points)

The third best cordless leaf blower is the brushless Makita DUB 182 18V LXT. The turbine of the 18V blower generates an air volume of 91 cfm and air flow velocity goes up to an impressive 179 mph. The speed level is adjustable via a variable speed trigger. The device weighs in at 3.9 lbs. making it only slightly heavier than the leading competitor from Black and Decker. Furthermore, it has a clean, ergonomic design and soft-grip. The Makita leaf blower really distinguished itself from other tools by its battery range. Any Makita 18V lithium-ion battery fits, ranging from 2.0 ah to the huge 6.0 ah. The max. noise level of 83 db(a) is in an adequate range. The Makita tool has a 3 year limited warranty.

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4.2.2. Detailed Review

In the review report below, we will go into detail regarding our four review categories (e.g. performance) and corresponding review criteria (e.g. air speed). Consequently, we will take you through our rating system in a step-by-step fashion. Furthermore, you will discover more about the specific characteristics of the best cordless leaf blowers in the 18-20V segment.

Review Category #1 – Performance

cordless-leaf-blower-review-dewaltIn the review category „Performance“, the 18V blower from Makita was chosen as best leaf blower with a comfortable 9 out of 10 points. The devices from Black and Decker and Dewalt both received 8 points.

Air speed and volume:

In the context of air volume, the blowers from Dewalt and Black and Decker achieved the best result with 100 cfm each. The cordless blower from Makita also shows a decent value for its 20V category at 91 cfm. When it comes to air flow speed, the Makita 18V leaf blower reached the first place with its air velocity of 179 mph. The 20V solution from Dewalt also works very satisfactorily with an max. speed of about 135 mph. At 130 mph, the Black and Decker blower had the lowest max. air velocity.

Additional features:

From the three selected leaf blowers, the Dewalt and the Makita have adjustable speed triggers, which allow easy adaption of the blowing power according to individual needs. The Black and Decker blower possesses a powerboost setting. This is activated by an easy push-and-hold mechanism, ensuring that no unnecessary energy is wasted.
We could also confirm that the Makita and the Dewalt battery leaf blowers have brushless motors. As already explained in this review article, brushless motors generally provide better performance. In addition, the generaten o friction and produce less heating than traditional motors. The Makita 18V leaf blower doesn’t have any performance-enhancing features (besides the brushless motor).

Review Category #2 – Ergonomics

cordless-blower-review-black-deckerWith an overwhelming 10 out of 10 possible points, the Black and Decker as well as the Dewalt device were selected as the best cordless leaf blowers in the review category “Ergonomics”. We awarded 9 points to the blower from Makita.

Weight:

With an individual weight of only 2.5 lbs, the Dewalt DCE 100 B is the “lightweight” among the three reviewed devices. This is followed by the Black and Decker coming in at 3.7 lbs and the Makita DUB 182 with 3.9 lbs.

Handling:

At first glance, all cordless leaf blowers were designed with clean ergonomics in mind. Furthermore, all three devices possess a balanced weight distribution, which ensures comfortable and easy operation. Additionally, all three leaf blowers of the 18-20V category have a soft-grip to support prolonged handling.

Noise level:

With a sound pressure level of max. 66 db(a), the Black and Decker LSW 321 is the best cordless leaf blower in terms of noise. The noise level of the Makita device is comparably rather high (83 db(a)). We couldn’t find any reliable information regarding the noise level of the Dewalt cordless blower DCE100B.

Review Category #3 – Battery & Charging Technology

cordless-blower-review-makita-18vWe were impressed by Makitas as well as Dewalts large battery range and fast charger technology and rewarded both of them with 10 points. Black and Decker received 9 points for its battery & charging solutions.

Diversity of supply:

Dewalt and Makita offer the largest range of lithium-ion batteries amongst the reviewed device manufacturers. There are eight different 20V batteries with capacities between 1.5- and 12.0 ah available for Dewalt tools. Makita has five different 18V battery packs on offer with capacities between 2.0- and 6.0 ah. Black and Decker offers four different 20V batteries, with capacities of 1.5- and 4.0 ah.

Battery run times:

The 20V blower from Dewalt operates for around 18 minutes with a 3.0 ah battery pack and approximately 25 minutes with a 5.0 ah battery. When using the larger lithium-ion batteries (i.e. 8.0 ah, 9.0 ah or 12.0 ah) run times are consequently longer. The two largest lithium-ion batteries of Makita have capacities of 5.0- and 6.0 ah. The resulting amount of energy (90- respectively 108 watt hours (wh)) allows a seamless usage over a period of over an hour. With smaller batteries (e.g. 2.0 ah), runtimes are correspondingly lower. The max. runtime of the Black and Decker LSW 321 is approx. 45 minutes when applying the 4 ah battery. Across the board, all cordless leaf blowers can prolong their operating time by adjusting the power wisely (i.e. only use the power button for short periods of time).

Battery charging times:

From our point of view, Makita offers the best charging solution in the 18-20V segment. The 2.0 ah batteries are fully charged in just 25 minutes, and the 6.0 ah batteries in only 55 minutes. The 20V charger from Dewalt also delivers good values. For example, it only takes around 80 minutes to fully recharge the 8.0 ah battery. Charging times for the Black and Decker batteries are up to more than two hours for the largest pack.

Compatibility with other appliances:

The presented 18V and 20V battery- and charging technologies are not only compatible with cordless blowers, but also with other 18-/20V devices produced by Black and Decker, Makita and Dewalt, such as hedge clippers or lawn trimmers. If various devices of one manufacturer should be used, it is very important that the corresponding manufacturer has a good choice of tools. Here, Makita can boast with over 220 battery powered tools and products.

Review Category #4 – Scope of Delivery & Price

In the review category „Scope of Delivery & Price“, we have awarded Dewalt and Black and Decker with a score of 9 out of 10, followed by Makita with 7 out of 10.

Scope of delivery:

The 20V cordless blowers from Dewalt, Black and Decker and Makita are all available as packaged solutions on Amazon, including battery packs and charger. However, the different components can also be bought separately. Thus, should you already own batteries and only want to buy the battery leaf blower, you can save money that way.

Price:

In terms of price, the three 20V solutions are approximately the same with Makita leaning towards the costlier end. Prices start at around $100 for just the 20V leaf blower. They might go up to around $300 for the complete package, including a battery pack with the highest capacity and a charger.

Summary of Results

The following table illustrates the final result of our 18- and 20V cordless leaf blower reviews of the year 2022.

RatingDewalt DCE100BBlack and Decker LSW 321Makita DUB 182
Performance8/108/109/10
Ergonomics10/1010/109/10
Battery & charging technology10/109/1010/10
Scope of delivery & price9/109/107/10
Total9.3/109.0/108.8/10
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4.2.3. Other cordless leaf blowers in the 18-20V segment

In addition to the 18-/ 20V blowers analyzed above, the three tool manufacturers Black and Decker, Dewalt as well as Makita all have additional 20V- respectively 18V devices in their range. In addition to the DCE100B, Dewalt has the 20V blower „DCBL720B“ on offer. Black and Decker as well as Makita each even developed two more 20V blowers. The further Makita 18V blowers run under the names „DUB 183“ and „XBU 03“. The two additional 20V models from Black and Decker are referred to as „LSW 221“ and „BCBL700D1“. You can find dedicated information about all mentioned blowers in the corresponding review articles.

Furthermore, as already mentioned in the introduction to chapter 4.2, we were able to identify a huge number of providers of 18 or 20 volt leaf blowers during the course of our research work. In addition to the tool manufacturers Dewalt, Black and Decker and Makita, which we already intensively analyzed in this article, also Ryobi, Worx and Milwaukee have 18- or 20V leaf blowers in their range. Ryobi has three different 18V tools on offer: a 200 CFM Sweeper, a 280 CFM Jet Fan Blower and a 410 CFM Brushless Blower. Like Ryobi, WORX also features three different devices (20V): The model names are WG 547.9, WG 545.9 and WX094L. The same applies to Milwaukee and CRAFTSMAN. Both US-based tool manufacturers also offer three battery blowers to its customers.

5. Cordless Leaf Blower Guidebook

5.1. Cordless Leaf Blower Benefits

cordless-blower-benefits But why to choose a battery powered leaf blower and not a gas- or corded electric device? We have analyzed many leaf blowers during our annual reviews and have come to an overwhelming conclusion. In the following paragraphs we list the major advantages of cordless leaf blowers over gasoline- and electric leaf blowers.

No cable

In contrast to corded electric blowers, battery powered leaf blowers don’t require a cable and therefore no electrical outlet. This is a huge advantage: On the one hand, it is ensured that all areas of the yard are cleaned with the leaf blower. On the other hand, there is no risk to stumble over the cable when working with the power tool.

Easy

With a conventional gasoline unit, all liquid has to be carried around. With a battery leaf blower, only the lightweight lithium-ion battery is carried. During our cordless leaf blower reviews 2022, we noticed, that there are many lithium-ion batteries available which weigh far less than a pound.

Quiet

Moreover, a battery powered leaf blower is much more quiet than a gasoline blower. A reduced noise level will protect both, your own ears as well as the ears of your family and neighbors. We conducted a survey in scope of our cordless leaf blower reviews and all responses regarding noise pollution came back positive.

Environmentally friendly

Unlike traditional gasoline tools, cordless blowers cause (virtually) no CO2 emissions or other environmental impact and. Here is an example calculation: If you consume 4 liters of fuel with a gas blower, then the CO2 balance is about 15.5 pounds. If you consume 1 kilowatt hour (which is around the equivalent) with a battery leaf blower the CO2 balance is still close to 0. Detailed information about this topic is, for example, provided on the website of the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), which is one of the best energy information sources worldwide.

Good price/ performance ratio

At first glance, cordless leaf blower prices, especially the prices for the best cordless leaf blowers in the market, seem a bit high. However, at second glance, they are not anymore. On the one hand, you will save fuel costs compared to a gasoline blower. This is particularly striking when you tilt your fuel costs over the entire year. On the other hand, you can save money if you already own a battery powered device and batteries. Since you aren’t using two tools in parallel, you can use the same battery for both devices. Thus, you save the acquisition cost.

5.2. Purchase Criteria for Cordless Leaf Blowers

buy-cordless-leaf-blower Having weighed the advantages and disadvantages of cordless leaf blowers in the first step, and determining to acquire a battery operated device, we will move onto the next part of our review: Identifying the best leaf blower for you. While the range of cordless leaf blowers is not yet as large as that of battery powered lawn mowers, hedge- or grass trimmers, one should still be diligent when choosing powerful equipment. Essentially, as you have learned further up in this article, the different devices can vary significantly.

Crucial differences in the cordless leaf blowers exist with respect to performance, its ergonomic features, battery run tines, charging times and last but not least the price range as well as the scope of delivery. To make the selection process as easy and convenient as possible for you, we have identified and accumulated the most important criteria for buying a new cordless leaf blower and generated a comprehensive, well structured checklist. This final version of the checklist is presented in the following four sub-chapters.

Performance-Based Criteria

Air speed- and volume: When it comes to performance, it’s primarily about the air speed and volume of the cordless leaf blower. The air speed is measured in mph, air volume is measured in cfm. A higher performance range is advantageous when large amounts of leaves, or large yards and lawns need to be managed. A higher performance is also helpful when dealing with damp leaves and grass in your backyard. In context of air speed and volume, it’s always important to think about the intended use of the cordless leaf blower. For example, are you clearing hard-packed leaves and debris? Then you probably need a high-power battery leaf blower, with at least 40 volts. Or do you want to use the cordless leaf blower only occasionally, for example to blow some leaves from the lawn and yard? Then a 20V application should be enough to satisfy your needs.

Additional features: Most cordless blowers will have adjustable speed triggers and different speed settings to regulate the performance to the task at hand. Power boost buttons are beneficial for economic use of the battery charge, by only using the high performance setting for seconds at a time.

Application-Based Criteria

Weight: As with most other battery powered garden tools, the weight of the device is a key feature in the decision making process. Especially, if you want to clean larger yards and hence need to use the cordless blower for longer periods of time. You should also be careful that the blower is not too heavy for easy handling and to prevent problems with your arms or shoulders. Generally, 20V devices are lighter than 40V tools, 40V devices are lighter than 60V tools, and so on.

Handling: Depending on the weight, as mentioned in the category above, the ergonomic design can make or break a cordless garden solution. Leaf blowers with adequate power need to be designed with a good weight distribution in mind. Easy one-handed operation should be possible with the help of a shoulder strap. Additionally, a soft grip can make prolonged operation much more comfortable.

Noise level: Besides the weight and ergonomic design of a device, one should also consider the noise range of the cordless leaf blower. More precisely, the maximum sound pressure level (SPL) is the crucial factor here. The issue of noise pollution and noise control should command a certain amount of attention.

Technology-Based Criteria

Battery & charging technology: Yet another crucial factor in deciding on a cordless leaf blower to purchase, is the available battery and charging technology. Here the focal point is twofold. Firstly, the capacity of the provided and available batteries, and thus the maximum run time, has to be considered. Secondly, you should check the provided charging time before making a purchase. The time it takes for an empty battery to fully charge can vary greatly from one brand to another.

Compatibility of batteries and chargers: Providing you prefer to have a one-fits-all solution, it is of great importance that the battery and charging technology by the manufacturer of your choice is up to standard in quality and innovation. Having one or two batteries that not only power your cordless leaf blower, but your lawn trimmer and line trimmers too is cost and space effective.

Price-Range Criteria

For many DYI and amateur gardeners, one of the most important criteria points is often the price range of the new cordless leaf blower. The gross price is composed of the acquisition cost for the cordless blower in addition to the cost of a lithium-ion battery and a charging station. Many manufacturers provide set-solutions, which means that the individual price for the parts is often not very clear.

5.3. Cordless Leaf Blower Point of Sale

On the one hand, you can purchase a cordless blower at your local hardware store, garden centers and specialty retailer. On the other hand, a plethora of devices is available online, via Internet platforms. The offers on the internet are commonly more varied. Especially Amazon has a huge amount of offers, including all of the products reviewed in this article.

5.4. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

General Questions

Which is the best cordless leaf blower?

36-42V Segment:
1st Place: Oregon Cordless Leaf Blower BL 300
2nd Place: WORX Cordless Blower 2x20V WG 584
3rd Place: Ryobi 40V Blower 500 CFM

18-20V Segment:
1st Place: Dewalt Cordless Blower DCE 100B
2nd Place: Black and Decker 20V Blower LSW 321
3rd Place: Makita Cordless Blower DUB 182

What’s the difference between a cordless leaf blower and a leaf vacuum?

The way a cordless leaf vacuum works is pretty similar to that of a normal vacuum cleaner. The leaves are soaked up, eventually chopped, and then fall into the tools collection bag. After the bag is full, it needs to be emptied manually. In contrast, the functionality of a leaf blower is more similar to that of a rake. Even though the cordless blower is motorized, the leaves are directed to a central location, from which they have to be removed manually afterwards.

What’s the best weather for leaf blowing?

Three facts should be considered with respect to weather conditions: First of all, there should be no wind, in order to ensure you have full control of the device. Additionally, the weather should be dry. If it rained before, leaves would be wet as well as heavy and couldn’t be blown away easily. However, it shouldn’t be too try, because a lot of dirt and dust would be whirled up while using the cordless leaf blower.

Tool Performance & Ergonomics

What’s the difference between air speed and air volume?

The air speed (also blowing speed) of a leaf blower indicates how fast or slow the expelled air moves. It is usually measured in miles per hour. In contrast, the air volume of a blower describes the expansion of the air on the floor. It is usually specified in cubic feet per hour.

What air speed should my cordless blower have?

The required air speed depends on the intended use of the cordless blower. A device with high air speed is useful if you want to clean larger areas and/ or remove stubborn leaves. For everyday use cases, for example blowing leaves away from the terrace, a device with a lower air speed is usually sufficient.

What air volume should my cordless blower have?

If you want to process larger areas, you need to ensure that the leaf blower has a correspondingly high air volume. Otherwise the work process can become very tedious.

How heavy is a cordless leaf blower?

The 20V blowers, which we discussed in this report, weigh between 2.5 and 4 pounds. The standalone weight of the larger 40V leaf blowers is between 5.5 and 9 pounds. To gather the total weight, the battery packs needs to be added on top (between 1 and 4 pounds depending on battery).

How loud is a cordless leaf blower?

The noise level of the cordless leaf blowers, reviewed by us, varies considerably. Quieter leaf blowers have a sound pressure level of 60-70 decibels. The sound pressure level can rise to 80 decibels and more with louder devices.

Battery Technology

What technology are the batteries based on?

Batteries from common device manufacturers are all based on lithium-ion technology. Compared to the previously used nickel-cadmium batteries, they have a higher energy density, lower self-discharge, no memory effect and deep discharge protection.

How long can the blower be operated with one battery charge?

The possible max. operating time of cordless leaf blowers primarily depends on the model of the blower, the battery technology as well as the battery capacity. In general, operating times of 40-50 minutes are possible when choosing the right blower and using one of the larger battery packs.

How long does it take to recharge the batteries?

The charging time of lithium-ion batteries primarily depends on the battery capacity. With quick chargers, even the largest 20- and 40V batteries are usually ready for use in less than an hour.

Selection and Procurement

What’s included in the delivery scope when buying a cordless leaf blower?

Cordless leaf blowers can usually be purchased individually or as a complete set. In addition to the device, the set also includes at least one battery and one charger. Some providers include a shoulder strap as well.

What’s the difference between a battery blower and a gasoline blower?

Battery powered leaf blowers are environmentally friendly as well as quiet, whereas gasoline leaf blowers emit harmful emissions. In addition, they are loud. However, the classic gasoline engines are usually more powerful.

What’s the difference between a battery blower and an electric blower?

Battery leaf blowers get their energy from a lithium-ion battery pack. On the other hand, electric leaf blowers use the power grid to supply energy. Electric leaf blowers are generally considered less user-friendly because of the cable.

6. Technical Data

Last but not least, the table below illustrates the most important technical device data, which we collected in context of our cordless leaf blower review 2022 and used as input for our analysis and evaluation.

36-42V SegmentOregon 40V Max Blower BL300WORX 2x20V Cordless Blower WG 584Ryobi 40V Jet Fan Blower
Performance
Max. air speed132 mph95 mph155 mph
Max. air volume507 cfm470 cfm300 cfm
Variable speed trigger+++
Performance boost+++
Ergonomics
Weight (tool only)6.2 lbs5.5 lbs8.9 lbs
Max. noise level65 db(a)62 db(a)73 db(a)
Soft-grip+++
Battery & charging technology
Battery rangeLi-Ion 1.3 ah
Li-Ion 2.6 ah
Li-Ion 4.0 ah
Li-Ion 6.0 ah
Li-Ion 2.0 ah
Li-Ion 4.0 ah
Li-Ion 6.0 ah
Li-Ion 2.0 ah
Li-Ion 4.0 ah
Li-Ion 5.0 ah
Li-Ion 6.0 ah
Li-Ion 7.5 ah
Voltage40 Volt2x20 Volt40 Volt
Electricity use1.3 ah: 50 wh
2.6 ah: 104 wh
4.0 ah: 160 wh
6.0 ah: 240 wh
2.0 ah: 80 wh
4.0 ah: 160 wh
6.0 ah: 240 wh
2.0 ah: 80 wh
4.0 ah: 160 wh
5.0 ah: 200 wh
6.0 ah: 240 wh
7.5 ah: 300 wh
Max. battery run times*1.3 ah: n/a
2.6 ah: 28 min
4.0 ah: 54 min
6.0 ah: 90 min
2.0 ah: 16 min
4.0 ah: 30 min
6.0 ah: n/a
2.0 ah: up to 20 min
4.0 ah: n/a
5.0 ah: up to 40 min
6.0 ah: n/a
7.5 ah: n/a
Charging times (standard charger)*1.3 ah: n/a
2.6 ah: 120 min
4.0 ah: 240 min
6.0 ah: n/a
2.0 ah: 180 min
4.0 ah: 300 min
6.0 ah: n/a
n/a
Charging times (fast charger)*1.3 ah: n/a
2.6 ah: 30 min
4.0 ah: 60 min
6.0 ah: 90 min
2.0 ah: 60 min
4.0 ah: 120 min
6.0 ah: n/a
2.0 ah: 30 min
4.0 ah: 40 min
5.0 ah: 50 min
6.0 ah: 60 min
7.5 ah: 75 min

Table 1: Best cordless leaf blowers in the 36-42V segment – technical data
* Battery run- and charging times were partially calculated.
18-20V SegmentDewalt Cordless Blower DCE100BBlack and Decker Cordless Blower LSW 321Makita Cordless Blower BUB 182 LXT
Performance
Max. air speed135 mph130 mph179 mph
Max. air volume100 cfm100 cfm91 cfm
Variable speed trigger+-+
Performance boost++-
Ergonomics
Weight (tool only)2.5 lbs3.7 lbs3.9 lbs
Max. noise leveln/a66 db(a)83 db(a)
Soft-grip+++
Battery & charging technology
Battery rangeLi-Ion 2.0 ah
Li-Ion 3.0 ah
Li-Ion 4.0 ah
Li-Ion 5.0 ah
Li-Ion 6.0 ah
Li-Ion 8.0 ah
Li-Ion 9.0 ah
Li-Ion 12.0 ah
Li-Ion 1.5 ah
Li-Ion 2.0 ah
Li-Ion 3.0 ah
Li-Ion 4.0 ah
Li-Ion 2.0 ah
Li-Ion 3.0 ah
Li-Ion 4.0 ah
Li-Ion 5.0 ah
Li-Ion 6.0 ah
Voltage20 Volt20 Volt18 Volt
Electricity useLi-Ion 2.0: 40 wh
Li-Ion 3.0: 60 wh
Li-Ion 4.0: 80 wh
Li-Ion 5.0: 100 wh
Li-Ion 6.0: 120 wh
Li-Ion 8.0: 160 wh
Li-Ion 9.0: 180 wh
Li-Ion 12.0: 240 wh
1.5 ah: 30 wh
2.0 ah: 40 wh
3.0 ah: 60 wh
4.0 ah: 80 wh
2.0 ah: 36 wh
3.0 ah: 54 wh
4.0 ah: 72 wh
5.0 ah: 90 wh
6.0 ah: 108 wh
Max. battery run times*2.0 ah: n/a
3.0 ah: 18 minutes
4.0 ah: n/a
5.0 ah: 25 minutes
6.0 ah: n/a
8.0 ah: n/a
9.0 ah: n/a
12.0 ah: n/a
1.5 ah: n/a
2.0 ah: up to 25 min
3.0 ah: n/a
4.0 ah: up to 45 min
2.0 ah: n/a
3.0 ah: 12-75 min
4.0 ah: n/a
5.0 ah: n/a
6.0 ah: n/a
Charging times (standard charger)*n/aup to 10 hoursn/a
Charging times (fast charger)*Li-Ion 2.0: n/a
Li-Ion 3.0: n/a
Li-Ion 4.0: 40 min
Li-Ion 5.0: 50 min
Li-Ion 6.0: 60 min
Li-Ion 8.0: 80 min
Li-Ion 9.0: n/a
Li-Ion 12.0: n/a
1.5 ah: n/a
2.0 ah: around 60 min
3.0 ah: n/a
4.0 ah: around 120 min
2.0 ah: 25 min
3.0 ah: 30 min
4.0 ah: 40 min
5.0 ah: 45 min
6.0 ah: 55 min
Table 2: Best cordless leaf blowers in the 18-20V segment – technical data
* Battery run- and charging times were partially calculated.