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The seasons have changed, and the leaves have taken over your yard and deck. Time to get out the leaf blower. Unfortunately, gassing up the leaf blower and getting it to crank is always the biggest hassle! Enter battery powered leaf blowers. If you’ve ever had to deal with the hassle of large, heavy gas-powered blowers or those with endless extension cords, you understand the value of a cordless leaf blower. Being able to simply grab the blower and get to work, without all the setup, is infinitely more enjoyable than working with some of the more maintenance heavy tools.
Leaf blowers come in a variety of types and sizes to allow users to accomplish a variety of jobs. Gas powered, corded electric, backpack, cordless, and walk-behind blowers make up the range of common blowers. Each different type is normally differentiated by various characteristics such as power, ease-of-use, power source, and maneuverability. Cordless leaf blowers are easily the most convenient of all leaf blowers to use. While they may not have as much power as the other types overall, their ease-of-use more than makes up for it, if you are using it for the right job. Most cordless leaf blowers are not intended for commercial cleaning or for moving large debris. But, if you need to sweep the deck, clear leaves from the driveway, or clean out the garage, they have huge advantages to the other models. Read below to find the best battery powered leaf blowers and learn what to look out for before purchasing a new blower for your home.
Makita XBU02PT | Kimo Sweeper/Blower | Greenworks BL80L2510 | WORX WG545.1 | |
Honors | Best in Class | Best Value | ||
The Good | Interchangeable batteries with other Makita products. Strong warranty, comfortable grip, and numerous features. Power comparable to corded or gas blowers. Drastically outperforms battery voltage. | Small, compact, and very portable. Surprising blowing power considering the size. Included vacuum and fast-charging battery. Numerous convenience features. | Very strong power that can compete with gas blowers. Comfortable grip, fast recharge time, and variable speeds work well. Turbo mode is a life saver for tough jobs. | Small, lightweight, and flexible for a variety of jobs. Multiple attachments add to the versatility. Customer service is top-notch, and it operates very quietly. |
The Bad | Awkward air intake placement. Expensive and somewhat heavy. | Vacuum bag design can get in the way, depending on the situation. Only useful as a sweeper or blower for hard surfaces. | Not intended for commercial jobs. Turbo mode can quickly drain the battery. Consistently using turbo mode may make getting a second battery worthwhile. | Short battery life and relatively weak blowing power. Doesn’t work well on grass. |
Overall | Excellent blower that outperforms others in its class. Versatile, substantial power, and hassle-free. Very few drawbacks. | Very good sweeper that completely takes the hassle out of small jobs. Will not have the power for bigger jobs but works well for its intended purpose. | A very good blower that has exceptional CFM/MPH for a cordless leaf blower. One of the strongest cordless models available. Only very minor issues with this blower. | Almost exclusively used for small jobs. Versatile and can be useful in a variety of situations, but the lack of power limits its usefulness. |
Our Rating | 8.9 | 8.2 | 8.4 | 7.4 |
Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price |
Makita is a well-known producer of a variety of tools to fit almost any homeowners needs. The Makita XBU02PT 18V cordless leaf blower is another of their offerings that greatly outperforms similar models in their category. The blower proves to be an exceedingly versatile blower that offers enough power to tackle big jobs while also maintaining all the benefits of a battery-powered leaf blower. The Makita leaf blower uses two 18V lithium-ion batteries at 5.0 Ah, to power a very strong 473 CFM air flow with wind speeds reaching up to 120 MPH. The air flow puts this small wonder very close to the same levels as what would be expected from a gas or corded blower. The brushless motor allows for more efficient running when compared to a traditional motor. The dual-battery setup and efficient operation allows for a sturdy 30-45 min runtime that will allow you to do most jobs around the home and some larger commercial jobs.
The features of the Makita XBU02PT offers several features to ensure you are getting the most out of your blower. A variable six-speed selection control when combined with the responsive triggers allows for fine-grain control of wind speeds. This allows for easily modulating your wind speed for those delicate areas such as gardens or flower beds. Additionally, unlike some other models, the Makita line of products offer battery compatibility throughout their tools. Eliminating an endless line of batteries for every tool in the shed is a godsend if you have ever been in this situation. Easily switch batteries from your blower, drill, or tree trimmer as long as the voltage matches up. A 3-year limited warranty and strong customer service provide customers peace of mind and support for any issues that may come along.
The Makita XBU02PT cordless leaf blower gives users a top-notch leaf blower that will last a very long time. There are very few problems with this tool outside of a few minor hiccups. The air intake is placed on the back of the blower, which can lead to loose clothing being sucked into the intake. While it isn’t dangerous, it is annoying. It would be better to have the intake beneath the blower and out of the way. As with all premium products, the cost is higher than other models without the Makita branding. The quality of materials used in construction, progressive technology, and durability of the tool make it well worth the cost. Finally, unlike some of the lightweight sweepers, it weighs similar to a gas-powered model. Weighing in at 9 lbs. (2 batteries), it may be a bit too heavy for those of slight builds to maneuver as easily as the smaller (and less powerful) models. Overall, this is the cream of the crop for leaf blowers. While you may pay a bit more for the durability and performance, it is well worth the price.
Battery powered leaf blowers come in all shapes and sizes, depending on their intended purpose. The Kimo 20V cordless leaf blower falls into the “sweeper/blower” category, but with the power to tackle more strenuous jobs than most sweepers. The size of this little marvel is astounding, as it is approximately the size of a handheld vacuum to allow for maximum maneuverability and ease of use. Lightweight at a mere 4.4 lbs, Kimo has created the perfect tool for those “around the house” jobs to keep the home looking clean and tidy. A 20-volt battery powers the blower for around 30 minutes at high speed settings and allows for fast charge times of about 60 minutes.
In addition to being small and nimble, the Kimo leaf blower offers surprising versatility and convenience. Functioning as a dual blower/vacuum, the Kimo attempts to fill several household needs. The small size of the blower allows for easily handling of the vacuum to easily maneuver it into small areas and odd angles. While it doesn’t function as well as a ShopVac or Dyson, it can be useful at picking up debris in your car, pet hair, or getting those places that give your home vacuum problems (i.e. corners, under cabinets). The leaf blower is approximately the size of a handheld vacuum, which makes it simple to store it in an easy-to-reach area. No more going to the woodshed to get your blower!
The Kimo cordless leaf blower works well as something you can quickly grab to clean up a small area that doesn’t require the power of a full-sized blower. While it can easily function as a leaf blower on most surfaces, blowing mountains of leaves across the lawn may be out of reach. A quick job of blowing sawdust out of the workshop or moving some leaves off of the driveway? The Kimo is the perfect companion to quickly and easily take care of those messes. Furthermore, due to its small size and maneuverability, anyone can easily use it for a variety of tasks or chores. If you are looking to get something that doesn’t cost a fortune, but can still be helpful, the Kimo 20V battery powered leaf blower is a good choice for many.
One of the bigger issues often faced when searching for a cordless leaf blower is getting one with enough power to fit almost any situation. The Greenworks BL80L2510 has power for days and is easily capable of competing with gas or corded blowers. Featuring a whopping 580 CFM and an air velocity of 145 MPH at max speeds, you can be sure it will be able to accomplish all but the most strenuous of tasks. One of the only things holding this leaf blower back from being able to truly compete with commercial blowers is the fact that the battery only lasts around 20 mins at the highest levels. This can be extended by using the variable speeds setting to control your air speeds, but it still won’t be able to measure up to the longevity of commercial blowers for those bigger jobs (think office building) that require extended use. But what about for around the home jobs? The Greenworks blower is a wonder and can do anything you want. If your job requires more time, the fast charge battery only takes about 40 mins so you can quickly replace the battery. Furthermore, using a second battery can come in very handy for these situations so you don’t have to stop hardly at all.
Numerous other features are available that make this blower an excellent option. The variable speeds work well and allow you to fine-tune your wind speeds so you can more easily work in delicate environments (flower beds) when necessary, or really pump out the power for those tough jobs. Additionally, the comfortable grip helps to avoid fatigue and makes maneuvering the blower very easy without some of the awkwardness experienced in other models. A strong 4-year warranty on the blower and 2-year battery warranty give peace of mind. Customer service gets high marks for their fast response and willingness to fix any issue or help as needed.
The Greenworks 80V cordless leaf blower is an excellent choice for a variety of reasons. If you need true power, but want a battery powered blower, look no further! There are only a few drawbacks, primarily a short battery life at max speeds. This can be easily remedied with an extra battery, but most jobs around the home for these kinds of blowers rarely exceed 20 minutes. If you have a very large yard, it may be worth it to look into gas blowers to see if they would fit your situation a little better. Overall, the Greenworks BL80L2510 Jet Blower is one of the best cordless blowers we have reviewed. While it may not be able to compete with the Makita (above) in quality and durability, it will save you some money and put out even more power than the Makita.
Sometimes we just want something that allows us to do some small jobs without spending a ton of money. Enter the WORX WG545.1 20V cordless leaf blower. This is a budget model blower that is intended for small jobs that would normally be done with a broom (but who wants to sweep?). In situations such as this, the WORX blower works very well at saving a lot of time for users when compared to manual sweeping. While it does output 80 CFM, it isn’t really strong enough to blow leaves across grass and has problems with simply blowing wet leaves. It is much more useful in sweeping dry leaves off the driveway/sidewalk, removing sawdust from a workshop, or gently blowing leaves out of your garden. This blower is a perfect example of how CFM is a more important metric than MPH. The low CFM of this blower greatly hampers a 120 MPH air velocity that the blower outputs.
There are several features that add to the convenience and usability of the WORX WF545.1 such as interchangeable batteries (between other WORX tools), maneuverability, and low noise. Similar to the Makita (above), WORX uses their Power Share platform to allow switching of batteries between tools as long as they are the same voltage (20V). This comes in handy and avoids situations where you may have rows of different batteries and chargers you regularly use for various tools. Reducing the clutter is hard to underestimate. Furthermore, the maneuverability, convenience, and low noise levels make this tools exemplary to perform those small jobs without disrupting the entire neighborhood. It can easily be stored in convenient locations that can be quickly accessed without going to the toolshed.
The WORX leaf blower is not intended to be a strong blower that you can use to clean up a 5-acre yard or take to commercial sites. It works well at cleaning around the home, garage, workshop, or blowing a few leaves off the driveway. The limited power afforded by this cordless blower severely hampers its usefulness in situations that call for more power. What it lacks in performance, it makes up for by offering an affordable option for those who don’t need the “best of the best”, versatile operation with numerous attachments, and great convenience. If you have any problems with the blower, rest assured WORX custom service is well-trained and is very helpful in their response. There are better leaf blowers available but expect to spend a bit (or a lot) more. The WORX WG545.1 20V Blower/Sweeper helps to save you money, but it may be better to spend a little more and get the most bang for your buck in the long term.