Ryobi Cordless Blower: Tool Review & Comparison

Ryobi is a reputed company that offers advanced systems of cordless leaf blowers with innovative features so as to let the customers enjoy complete versatility. The Japanese Cooperation offers a wide range of tools, chargers, and batteries that are easy to use and boast of useful features. Overall, Ryobi has 7 different battery blowers on offer. In chapter 1, we will introduce the four 40V blowers to you. Afterwards we will present the three remaining 18V devices in chapter 2. The article continues with an overview of the most important tool features and characteristics in chapter 3. The fourth chapter contains a short summary of the history of Ryobi.

I. Ryobi 40V Leaf Blowers

Ryobi currently lists four different 40V devices on its website, among them three handheld blowers and one backpack blower. In addition, some older models are still offered for sale on different platforms. This article provides an overview of all available Ryobi jet fan blowers of the 40V category. We start this chapter with a detailed review of the Ryobi 40V blower 500 CFM (model: RY40460). Thereby, we examine the tool considering the following four criteria: (1) performance, (2) ergonomics, (3) technology, (4) delivery scope and price. Afterwards we present three more handheld blowers (Ryobi cordless blower RY40480, RY40470 and the older RY40402) as well as the Ryobi Backpack Blower 40V RY40440.

Ryobi 40V Blower 500 CFM (RY40460) – Review

With a highly developed design powered by a 40 volt lithium-ion battery, the Ryobi jet fan blower RY40460 performs any clearing job with ease. Its outstanding feature is for sure the provision of gasoline-like power, while still having all the advantages of a battery-operated solution.

The Ryobi 40V leaf blower comes with an air volume of 500 cubic feet per meter (cfm) and an air speed of approximately 110 miles per hour (mph). Therefore, it is ideally suited for wet and tramped leaves as well as other surfaces which are difficult to process.

All in all, Ryobis’ device is one of the strongest 40V cordless blowers we have found so far. However, it’s not only about power. The blower has other positive characteristics in many ways. For example, a pretty attractive price and a 5 year limited warranty (more information on manufacturers homepage).

1. Performance: 9/10

The Ryobi cordless blower is a truly powerful tool which brings it to a maximum air velocity of around 110 mph and air volume of 500 cfm. The blower features a variable speed trigger. If you need a little air, just pull the trigger a bit. If you need the full blast, pull the trigger all the way. By adapting this functionality intelligently, that means always using just as much power as necessary, you can significantly increase the total battery runtime. Logically, the lithium-ion battery takes less energy at lower speed levels.

In addition to the variable speed trigger, the Ryobi cordless leaf blower also features a turbo button, which is helpful when processing tramped debris, which can’t be blown away regularly.

2. Ergonomics: 8/10

Including a battery pack, the Ryobi 40V blower 500 CFM weighs more than 10 pounds. Thus, the solution locates around the midfield compared to other battery leaf blowers. Not easy and not heavy. However the blower has a pretty good weight distribution and is therefore easy and comfortably to handle.

The Ryobi jet fan blower has an ergonomic design. The battery is located at the end of the device, which gives you an excellent balance. A newly designed soft-grip handle, that lies comfortably in the hand, makes leaf blowing even more convenient. As you can see from the product image, the soft-grip of the device is completely pulled.

The sound pressure level of the Ryobi cordless blower is 68 decibels (db) when operating the device at full power. However, the level decreases when reducing air speed via the variable trigger. Nevertheless, the Ryobi jet fan blower is louder than other 40V leaf blowers, for example the Oregon BL300, the WORX WG 584 or the Greenworks 40V blower 130 CFM

3. Battery- & charging technology: 9/10

Battery technology:

The Ryobi 40V blower 500 CFM can be run with five different 40V lithium-ion batteries with capacities between 2.0- and 7.5 ampere hours (Ah). The two largest Ryobi 40V battery packs have an energy storage capacity of 240 respectively 300 watt hours (Wh). Generally speaking, the more Wh a battery has the higher is its maximum runtime. Nevertheless, total runtime does not only depend on the size of the battery pack, but also on how users work with the blower.

All batteries feature a LED charge level indicator, that allows to comfortably read the charging status while working with the Ryobi 40V leaf blower. And that’s not the only positive aspect about the battery’s exterior design, as the lithium pack also has a rubber lining in order to prevent the battery from any damage.

Charging technology:

Ryobi has a 40V lithium-ion charger to refill the battery with energy. The charging time for the compact pack (2.0 Ah) is about 30 minutes. A full charge of the higher capacity packs (3.0 Ah – 7.5 Ah) takes up to max. 75 minutes.

You can also either use the Ryobi 40V Lithium-Ion 2-In-1 USB/Battery Charger or the 18V ONE+/40V Dual Platform Charger to re-charge the Ryobi 40V battery packs introduced above. The platform charger allows parallel charging of a Ryobi 40V and 18V battery by using only a single device.

Compatibility with other 40V devices from Ryobi:

The Japanese tool manufacturer has a huge versatility of 40V battery-powered devices besides the Ryobi cordless blower. All of them work with the Ryobi 40V battery platform presented above. In contrast to many other manufacturers, Ryobi does not only offer „standard“ tools such as regular cordless hedge or lawn trimmers, but also rather rare devices, e.g. a battery-powered snow blower.

4. Scope of delivery & price: 9/10

The Ryobi 40V blower 500 CFM as well as its accessories can be found in the middle segment in terms of price. On Amazon, you can either buy the complete kit, consisting of the tool, a battery pack and a charger, or you can select the components individually. Prices in the internet usually vary from day to day. Hence it’s definitely worth a look at what is most beneficial at the date of purchase.

Other Ryobi 40V Leaf Blowers

Ryobi Cordless Blower 40V (RY40402)

The Ryobi jet fan blower RY40402 is an older model which is not even listed on Ryobi’s website anymore, but still offered on various e-commerce platforms, such as Amazon. As you can see from the product image, the grip of the blower is only pulled to around 60%. This design feature allows the user a greater flexibility.

The blower has an air velocity of 155 mph and an air volume of 300 cfm. If you need an even stronger performance, you can take the tube off the device. The disassembly of the nozzle supports the bundling of air jet, which increases the generated air pressure.

If you run the Ryobi cordless leaf blower constantly at full speed, you will achieve runtimes of approx. 20 minutes with the 2.0 Ah battery and around 40 minutes with the 5.0 Ah pack. Run times of the larger batteries are correspondingly longer.

The device weighs 8.9 lbs without the battery. The noise level of the blower is at 73 db(a); the Ryobi cordless blower RY40402 is significantly louder than all other and newer Ryobi devices which we introduced in this report.

Ryobi Cordless Blower 40V (RY40480 and RY40470)

As with the Ryobi cordless blower RY40402, the grip of the two newer models RY40480 and RY40470 is not pulled completely, but only to around 60%. However, huge differences between the tools exist in context of power, weight as well as noise level.

The Ryobi RY40470 and RY40480 have an air speed of 125- respectively 110 mph, which is less than the maximum air speed of the previously presented Ryobi jet fan blower RY40402. However, the air volume of the newer models is much higher. The two tools bring it to an maximum air volume of 550- respectively 525 cfm. Additionally, the Ryobi RY40470 as well RY40480 have a lower noise level than the RY40402. For example, the maximum noise level of the Ryobi 40V leaf blower RY40470 is only at 59 db(a).

On the other hand, the Ryobi RY40470 and RY40480 are also a bit heavier than the previously presented models. The Ryobi cordless blower RY40470 weighs 9.7 lbs and the RY40480 weighs 9.4 lbs.

Ryobi Backpack Blower 40V (RY40440)

In contrast to the handheld blowers introduced in the previous chapters, the Ryobi RY40440 is a backpack blower. Both the tool engine as well as the lithium-ion battery are located in the backpack, as the product image shows. Backpack leaf blowers are traditionally used by semi-professional users as well as in the commercial- or public sector (landscaping, industrial cleaning, street cleaning, etc.).

The Ryobi backpack blower 40V is by far the most powerful among all 40V blowers from Ryobi. The maximum air speed is an impressive 145 mph and the maximum air volume is at 625 cfm. Like the other 40V blowers presented above, the Ryobi backpack blower also has a variable speed trigger and a turbo button. With the 7.5 Ah battery, it can be used for about half an hour at a time.

An outstanding feature of the Ryobi 40V leaf blower is its very low noise level of only 59 db(a) max. However, we have to rate the heavy weight of the Ryobi backpack blower as a disadvantage. The total weight (incl. battery pack) is up to 21.2 lbs. This makes the solution more than twice as heavy as the handheld blowers presented above, e.g. the Ryobi 40V Blower 500 CFM.

II. Ryobi 18V Leaf Blowers

RYOBI 18 Volt ONE+ System is immensely popular among customers as it delivers a lot more when compared to other products on the market. The three 18V leaf blowers, which we will present in this chapter, are part of this system. We begin by discussing the Ryobi jet fan blower 18V 280 CFM in detail, before we provide a short overview of the Ryobi 18V 200 CFM sweeper and Ryobi 18V 410 CFM brushless jet fan blower.

Ryobi Jet Fan Blower 18V 280 CFM – Review

Let us find out what makes the Ryobi 18V 280 CFM jet fan blower so popular. Generally, the Ryobi 18V leaf blower works well in small areas, especially when you need to reach those tight spots. The 18V solution is easy to set up and run and ideal for home use. Get rid of debris, old mulch, and leaves with this powerful model that features a jet fan design that offers an impressive speed of 100 mph to create an airflow capacity of 280 cfm. You can enjoy greater control because of the variable speed trigger.

The Ryobi cordless blower weighs only 4.5 lbs (including the lithium-ion battery) and is therefore easy to use. Additionally, the hanging hook allows simple storage. The tool runs with a 18V One+ lithium-ion battery pack. The batteries are available with different capacities (from 1.5 to 6 ah). Runtimes vary depending on the battery size you chose. Due to its low noise level of only 65 decibel, you also won’t annoy any neighbors.

1. Performance

As already stated in the introduction of this chapter, the 18 V battery blower from Ryobi has a maximum air speed of 100 mph and an airflow capacity of 280 cfm. The new model offers twice the power and 50 % more run-time compared to the previous version. In addition, the fan blower has other performance features that make it worth checking out. For example, its jet fan technology offers improved airflow to support efficiency. Furthermore you can have complete control on the tool as it has a variable speed trigger.

2. Ergonomics

The 18V blower from Ryobi is a lightweight tool that weighs just 3.5 lbs. Including a 18V battery pack the weight of the solution goes up to 4.5 lbs. Due to its low weight as well as its good balance, the Ryobi cordless blower is pretty easy to handle. Furthermore, its ergonomically shaped trigger can fit most hands and is easy to control. It is very comfortable to hold the device because of the soft-grip handle. As stated earlier, the 18V blower has a low noise design (65 decibels only). It is even slightly quieter than the 18V leaf blowers from Black and Decker (LSW 321) and Makita (BUB 182).

3. Battery- & charging technology

Battery technology:

Usually, the product includes a 18 volt high capacity lithium battery as well as a charger. The 18V batteries are available in six different sizes. The smallest battery pack has a capacity of 1.5 ah whereas the largest pack has a capacity of 6 ah. The other packs have a capacity of 2-, 3-, 4- respectively 5 ah. The compact lithium-ion batteries carry much more power than traditional Ni-Cd batteries. As the battery comes packed with a protective casing, it is also safeguarded against any damage. Lithium-ion batteries from Ryobi are typically covered under a three-year limited warranty.

Charging technology:

All six 18V lithium-ion battery packs presented above can either be charged with pure 18V charging systems or a 18V/40V dual charge platform. It takes a bit more than one hour to recharge the 6 ah battery pack when using a Ryobi 18V fast charger. The smallest 1.5 ah pack can be charged in less than 30 minutes.

Compatibility with other 18V devices from Ryobi:

Ryobi’s One+ system comprises a range of 18 volt power tools that can be powered from the 18V batteries and charger systems presented above. Thus, when you buy your 18V jet fan blower, battery, and charger, you can add other 18V compatible tools as you need them, such as trimmers, drills, radios, paint sprayers, and more.

4. Scope of delivery & price

The Ryobi 18V blower as well as the batteries and chargers presented above are reasonably priced and easy to order online, for example on Amazon. Usually, the blower is offered in a set together with at least one battery and a charger. As explained before, you can set up the leaf blower within minutes and start using it right away.

Other Ryobi 18V Blowers

Customers are also delighted with the performance of the following models from Ryobi and recommend them highly.

Ryobi 18V Sweeper 200 CFM: The 18V 200 CFM sweeper is another popular device for blowing off those leaves and debris in the outdoor areas. It works effectively at 200 cfm and 90 mph.

Ryobi 18V Brushless Jet Fan Blower: This tool is the quietest 18V handheld blower from Ryobi. The blower has an air speed of 110 mph and an air volume of 410 cfm.

III. Ryobi Cordless Blower Data

Technical Data (40V)	Ryobi RY40460	Ryobi RY40470	Ryobi RY40480	Ryobi RY40402	Ryobi RY40440
Performance
Max. air speed	110 mph	125 mph	110 mph	155 mph	145 mph
Max. air volume	500 cfm	550 cfm	525 cfm	300 cfm	625 cfm
Variable speed trigger	+	+	+	+	+
Performance boost	+	+	+	+	+
Ergonomics
Weight (tool only)	8.7 lbs	9.7 lbs	9.4 lbs	8.9 lbs	21.2 lbs
Max. noise level	68 db(a)	59 db(a)	n/a	73 db(a)	59 db(a)
Soft-grip	+	+	+	+
Max. battery run-times¹
	n/a	n/a	n/a	2.0 ah: up to 20 min 5.0 ah: up to 40 min	7.5 ah: up to 30 min

Technical Data (18V)	Ryobi 280 CFM	Ryobi 200 CFM	Ryobi 410 CFM
Performance
Max. air speed	100 mph	90 mph	110 mph
Max. air volume	280 cfm	200 cfm	410 cfm
Variable speed trigger	+	+	+
Performance boost	-	-	+
Ergonomics
Weight (tool only)	3.5 lbs	n/a	n/a
Max. noise level	65 db(a)	n/a	n/a
Soft-grip	+	+	+
Max. battery run-times¹
	n/a	n/a	n/a

Battery- and & Charging Technology	Ryobi 40V	Ryobi 18V
Battery Technology
Voltage	40 Volt	18 Volt
Battery range	Li-Ion 2.0 Li-Ion 4.0 Li-Ion 5.0 Li-Ion 6.0 Li-Ion 7.5	Li-Ion 1.5 Li-Ion 2.0 Li-Ion 3.0 Li-Ion 4.0 Li-Ion 5.0 Li-Ion 6.0
Electricity use	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	1.5 ah: 27 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
Charging Technology²
Charging times (Fast Charger)	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	1.5 ah: n/a 2.0 ah: 24 min 3.0 ah: 36 min 4.0 ah: 48 min 5.0 ah: 60 min 6.0 ah: 72 min

IV. Ryobi – Company history

In 1943, Ryobi was founded in Japan (Japanese name: Ryobi Seisakusho Co., Ltd.). Today, Ryobi Limited is a worldwide manufacturer of die castings, builders’ hardware, printing equipment, as well as power tools. It owns companies in Asia, the United States and Europe.
With regards to power tools, Ryobi is one of the world’s largest producers specializing in the development of pro-featured tools at affordable prices. Thus, millions of homeowners, hobbyists, outdoor fans, woodworkers and craftsmen all over the world today use Ryobi tools.