The 11 Best Handheld Leaf Blowers in 2023 + Buying Guide & FAQ

It’s that time of the year again and who doesn’t love blowing… away autumn leaves that are taking up great spaces in our beautiful yards?

While leaves are beautiful out on the trees they’re not so appealing once they hit the ground. To be honest, they become a bit of a nuisance. Enter – a good leaf blower. Not just any – a handheld one.

You might be wondering as to what is the best handheld leaf blower for you. Worry not because we have done the research, there’s something for everyone. If raking is not your thing, then keep scrolling.

Top 11 Best Handheld Leaf Blowers 2023

Toro 51619 Ultra Electric Blower

Walmart.com

On a tight budget? Toro got your wallet covered. This high-quality electric blower has a blowing capability up to 250 mph without blowing so hard on your budget. Weighing only 8.5 pounds, this lightweight corded-electric leaf blower can clear debris, sticks, and large, heavy leaves.

It has a ready-to-go kit that comes with a base unit, vacuum tube, zip bag, power insert concentrator nozzle, and cord storage hook. It also offers variable speed control for both blow and vac modes.

Pros

Cons

Greenworks Cordless Leaf Blower Vacuum

If you are looking for an emission-free leaf blower, then this cordless leaf blower might be the answer. Greenworks Cordless Leaf Blower / Vacuum is battery powered and is capable of up to 185 mph. With a variable speed power, its brushless motor can provide longer running times with torque just like a gasoline-powered leaf blower.

Although quite expensive, it can do most jobs in your yard. This leaf blower is one of the most powerful and the best battery powered leaf blowers on the market.

Pros

Cons

Remington RM2BV Gas Leaf Blower

This 2-in-1 blower vacuum is great for both blowing and vacuuming debris. With its high-velocity engine, this gasoline-powered blower does more in less time. Along with its affordable price, it comes with efficiency and comfort.

Its cruise control allows you to choose the force of the airstream most especially when cleaning sensitive parts of the yard. No need to worry about emptying the tank without you knowing. It comes with a translucent fuel tank that keeps you updated with your fuel. With its QuickStart technology, you can start the job right away and finish it in no time.

Pros

Cons

Husqvarna 125BVx Handheld Blower Vacuum

Want to start smart? This blower/vacuum’s engine and starter are designed so that you can start quickly with minimal effort. It is a great investment too for it has high air volume and velocity up to 170 mph; with an airflow of 425 CFM.

This gasoline-powered leaf blower is ergonomically designed to be less fatiguing. With an auto return stop switch, resetting to the on position for staring is easier. With a mulching capacity ratio of 16:1, it can increase bag capacity so that more leaves can be cleared out and mulched. Indeed, one of the best gas handheld leaf blowers out there.

Pros

Cons

WORX WG520 Turbine 600 Leaf Blower

If power is on the top of your list, then you might consider this corded-electric leaf blower. WORX tools are guaranteed to be engineered with cutting edge technology, so this blower is a great bang for your buck.

It is named 600, giving justice to the 600 Cubic Feet per minute of high-capacity air volume that shoots out from its wide-mouth nozzle.

Pros

Cons

DEWALT 20V MAX XR Blower

There is a conversation to be had about which type of handheld leaf blowers is superior. Some people argue that gasoline-powered leaf blowers are more powerful than electric ones. But when you see a handheld blower like DEWALT XR Blower it makes you argue against gas leaf blowers.

The reason why DEWALT XR Blower is so good is because of the power it generates. The blower can output 400 CFM of air at 90 MPH. Such volume at a respectable speed is enough to blow your yard clean.

Pros

Cons

Black+Decker 20V Max Lithium Sweeper

Cordless handheld leaf blowers make a lot of sense. And Black+Decker Max Lithium Sweeper proves that. It pushes a good amount of air volume at great airspeed.

Talking about the airspeed, it is 130 MPH which is much more than the Dewalt Max Xr. This makes the Black+Decker Max Lithium Sweeper suitable for cleaning spaces with little but more, dense foliage.

The feature set of the Black+Decker offering becomes even better once you consider that it is only 3.7lbs. Being lightweight is a crucial feature for any handheld blower. So, it is nice to see Black+Decker Max Lithium Sweeper nailing this part.

Pros

Cons

Craftsman B215 Handheld Gas Leaf Blower

Electric handheld leaf blowers are awesome, but they are not for the power-hungry. Craftsman Handheld Leaf Blower, on the other hand, is all about power.

The blower pushed about 430 CFM of air volume at 200 mph. This kind of volume and speed are enough to blow away even the most sticky leaves.

Pros

Cons

WORX WG509 TRIVAC Electric Blower

The WORX WG509 is a jack of all trades. It blows. It vacuums. It mulches. In short, there is nothing it can’t do.

One of the signature traits of the WORX WG509 is its ability to crank up the airspeed from a measly 80 mph to a breathtaking 210 mph. This radical change in speed allows the WORX WG509 to not only work in a big yard but also tight corners.

Pros

Cons

PowerSmart PS76101A Leaf Blower

Powerful gas leaf blowers have their place in the market. But they are heavy and awkward to carry around. So, if you want something that is not a burden to carry around, check out PowerSmart PS76101A.

The PowerSmart PS76101A is an electric blower that only weighs 7lbs. Not only this, it produces an above-average 117CFM at 117 mph. These are respectable numbers especially when you consider that most electric blowers can even do 100 mph.

Pros

Cons

EGO Power+ LB5804 Leaf Blower

I know some people want the power of gas leaf blowers in an electric package. The EGO Power+ LB5804 is for them.

At 580 CFM, the EGO Power+ LB5804 lies squarely in the gas leaf blower territory. It pushed this much air without being as loud and heavier. It is a win-win situation.

Pros

Cons

Buying Factors for a Good Handheld Leaf Blower

A lot of brands have been skyrocketing the leaf blowing industry and each of these brands is claiming to have some of the best leaf blowers across the country. This creates confusion for consumers as to which leaf blower we should buy. However, knowing a thing or two about the product we are about to invest our money into is always better than looking into brands alone. This is to avoid impulsive buying and crying over spent bucks. Let me give you a rundown.

Power Source

There are plenty of options to choose from and each choice of power supply options comes with their own advantages and disadvantages.

If you are on a tight budget, corded-electric models are perfect for you. They are the cheapest and the lightest models out there. But your range and maneuverability are limited. These models need to be connected to an extension cable for power.

A battery-powered leaf blower/vacuum gives you the freedom and is the quietest of the power options. But be careful with choosing a strong leaf blower/vacuum because it uses a lot of power and charging them from time to time might be time-consuming. And they are actually a little expensive.

The most powerful option of the three models is gasoline-powered. If you are an eco-warrior, this is not for you for this gives off fuel emissions. You might want to skip this option if you don’t want to run yourself into a Karen. Gasoline-powered machines are nearly always the loudest. They also require maintenance, with more compartments that can fail.

Yard size

You now have the basic knowledge of the three models. The next thing to consider is the size of your yard. Corded-electric and Battery-powered leaf blowers are a perfect fit for small to medium-sized yards. Gasoline-powered models are more suitable with larger yards.

MPH/CFM

While you are reading your user manual, you might come across these two homies over here. These two features are always present in every leaf blower specification. Should you ignore these? NO, because they are important and you should be aware of these.

MPH is the maximum miles per hour wind speeds the leaf blower is capable of producing and CFM is the cubic feet per minute of airflow that is ejected from the nozzle.

MPH is important for you to need a strong wind to back up the volume. But it isn’t really the most important factor. The air that is produced will be the determining factor on how much material you can clear in one pass. For example, 800 CFM means that 800 cubic feet of air will be produced by the blower per minute.

The higher these figures go, the louder and the more expensive the machine will be. I suggest that you find an agreeable balance between the two features.

Noise level

Well, noise is indeed a problem. There are models of various power options that have been either banned in some parts of the US or restricted their use.

Pay particular attention to the noise level – measured in decibels (dB) – of your leaf blower. Experts advise the users to wear highly-rated ear protectors, even if it’s for a short time. It’s always great to have better hearing and at the same time, a cleaner lawn. Your purchased blower might have checked all the boxes but if it gives an impression of a spacecraft that is about to take off when used, think again.

Considering the decibel level is what I suggest you should do before purchasing; especially if you are living in a residential neighborhood. Again, we have to avoid ourselves with the neighborhood’s Karens or to wake somebody else’s baby.

Nozzle

A variety of nozzle shapes and sizes are available in the market. It is an additional feature that helps get the job done in no time. In most of the 3-in-1 combo machines, nozzles are a part of their kits.

Flatter nozzles focus the airflow in a particular direction and it gives you more control. Wider and rounded nozzles are more preferable for garden vacuums and for cleaning gutter debris.

Additional Features

Companies have their own share of freebies and additional features that come along with the product. But not all of these features actually do well to the product and to you as consumers. Make sure you do your own share of researching and investigating more about the product.

Before making the purchase, I recommend reading other customers’ reviews, the overall rating, and the items sold (I mean, if a product is bought frequently, there is a reason why). These things will help you steer towards one product rather than another.

Also, I suggest that you look at customer review videos on YouTube about the product that you are interested in. This will give you an even clearer view of the product. And once all of these suggestions are followed, you can now make an informed decision as to what the best handheld leaf blower means for you and your yard’s needs.

Always remember, crying over spent cash because of a bad decision is useless. So be a wise shopper.

FAQs

Aside from researching online, reading answers from FAQs can also help. Here are some:

Why should I buy a leaf blower?

Prior to this age, our grandparents used to rake all of those leaves which can be really tiring, time-consuming, and can sometimes be body-aching. We don’t want that. (by the way, we’ve taken the time to look at the pros and cons of rakes vs leaf blowers – if you’re on the fence about investing in a leaf blower or sticking to the ol’ trusty rake).

Now that everything is fast-paced, we always have to go with what will make our to-do list even more productive and easier with close to minimal effort.

Leaf blowers are handy companions especially for those who are situated in the countryside. The even better news is, it is not only for the season wherein terracotta-colored leaves are shed off from trees, but it can also be used all year round to blow hedge trimmings off our well-polished lawns, clear your gutters, winter’s light snow (but getting a good snow blower for your driveway would probably be a better option), summer’s sandy decks as well as dusty walkways and porches.

Trust me, it’s a great investment.

Are electric leaf blowers more powerful than gas-powered ones?

Electric leaf blowers are often claimed to be the gas-equivalent once the cost is considered. However, gas wins in the power department. Though both leaf blower models have a fair share of ups and downs, I encourage you to buy battery-powered leaf blower models.

If you are not yet convinced, take a look at our comparison of electric vs gas leaf blower.

Should I get myself a leaf blower or a vacuum?

In the technological age we are in, why not both?

2-in-1 machines are everywhere. But nothing beats a separate good leaf vacuum. It always performs better than a 2-in-1. Leaf vacuums are very useful as well. If you are dying to clean up your yard, leaf vacuums can mulch down debris into bits and smaller pieces.

If you really want your machine to last, I suggest that you choose a machine that is dedicated only to its sole purpose. But if you are someone who is fond of hitting two birds with one stone, then the multipurpose one is for you. However, before going the 2-in-1 route, take a look at this stand-off of leaf blowers vs vacuums.

Do leaf blowers work on wet leaves?

Yes. Gas-powered machines shine the most in this aspect. These heavy-duty leaf blowers can manage to blow wet leaves.

Should I get a backpack leaf blower instead of a handheld one?

A backpack leaf blower is handy, efficient, and can accomplish the job in no time. Could be quite costly but investing your money in it is not even a mistake.

Backpack leaf blowers are some of the high performing leaf blowers. They also might be heavier than a handheld blower but that’s the trade-off for more power. Also, choose a backpack leaf blower that is ergonomically designed.

For more on the good and the bad of each type, read our article on backpack vs handheld leaf blowers.

How will I know that I am getting a great deal from the product?

Some may say the more expensive, the more efficient. It might be true, but not all the time. There are leaf blowers that are wallet-friendly and at the same time, work-efficient.

Take the WORX WG520 Turbine 600 Leaf Blower for example. It’s quite affordable and it’s efficient. You see, it’s not always the price that matters. It’s how efficient and helpful the leaf blower is. Again, research before purchasing.

Summary

Cleaning your area with quite a lot of leaves around is tough work. Gone are the days of raking for your life. You need a companion like a leaf blower, whatever kind of leaf blower you choose to use.

I would personally suggest – if a handheld-carry type of leaf blower is your aim – the WORX WG520 Turbine 600 leaf blower. All I need is a few more extension wires and voila, we’ll get the vacuuming started in no time.

What about you? Which is your preferred leaf blower? Let me know.