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For most yards the best leaf blower is a battery handheld, and the one we would buy is the Husqvarna Leaf Blaster 350iB: TechGearLab and Popular Mechanics' main roundup both name it their best overall, and on TechGearLab's bench its kit (7.5Ah battery) ran more than twice as long per charge as the EGO LB6151 kit (2.5Ah) on the same setting; at full power, expect about 15 minutes (TechGearLab, Popular Mechanics). For a lighter battery handheld, the EGO LB6151. For a big lot full of trees, a backpack: the gas Husqvarna 360BT or the battery EGO LB6003. For gas in one hand, the Husqvarna 125B; for a yard within reach of an outlet, the corded WORX WG520; for acres of open ground, a walk behind (pick 7).
Pick the type first; the model is the easy part. Each pick below links to our deep guide for that type, with more models sorted by job.
Jump to: Which type is right for you | The picks | Also considered (Stihl, Echo, Ryobi, EGO, Toro, Milwaukee, DeWalt) | Most powerful | Gas rules | How loud
Best leaf blowers at a glance
| Pick | Airflow | Air speed | Weight | Power source | Best for | Our verdict | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Husqvarna Leaf Blaster 350iBBest overall leaf blower | 800 CFM | 200 mph | 10 lb with battery | Battery, 7.5Ah kit | One battery blower for most yards | Our pick for most yards: the longest run per charge from a battery handheld on a normal or high setting in three of four tests, though it is heavier and louder than the EGO LB6151. | Check price on Amazon |
| 2. EGO POWER+ LB6151Best lightweight battery leaf blower | Up to 615 CFM | 170 mph | 7.8 lb with battery (TechGearLab) | EGO 56V battery, 2.5Ah kit | A lighter battery blower, or EGO 56V owners | The lighter battery handheld, 7.8 pounds with its battery against 10.2 for the 350iB on TechGearLab's scale, though its small 2.5Ah kit battery gives up runtime. | Check price on Amazon |
| 3. Husqvarna 125BBest gas handheld leaf blower | 470 CFM (425 at the nozzle) | 130 mph (listing says 170) | 9.4 lb | 28 cc, 1.1 hp two-stroke gas | A lot with many trees, in a town that allows gas | The top pick in our gas guide, for a lot with many trees where a battery would run out, though it gives up power per pound and is loud. | Check price on Amazon |
| 4. Husqvarna 360BTBest gas backpack leaf blower | 890 CFM (631 at the nozzle) | 232 mph | 23.2 lb | 65.6 cc, 3.81 hp gas | Gas backpack for big, leafy yards | Popular Mechanics' best backpack, with 30 newtons of blowing force for big, leafy lots, at 23.2 pounds on your back and 95 dB(A) at the operator's ear. | Check price on Amazon |
| 5. EGO POWER+ LB6003Best battery backpack leaf blower | Up to 600 CFM | 145 mph | Not in its listing | EGO 56V battery, 7.5Ah kit | A big yard, backpack comfort without gas | Backpack comfort without gas on EGO's 56V platform, with a 7.5Ah battery and charger in the kit and a listed 64 dB, though at 600 CFM it moves less air than the gas backpacks here. | Check price on Amazon |
| 6. WORX WG520 Turbine 600Best corded leaf blower | 600 CFM | 110 mph | 6.4 lb | Corded, 12 amp | Corded, where an outlet is always within 100 feet | Reviewed's best overall of the 14 handhelds it tested: 6.4 pounds, no battery charging and no gas, as long as an extension cord reaches the work. | Check price on Amazon |
| 7. Yardmax YF1565 Walk BehindWalk behind for open ground | Up to 1,200 CFM | 150 mph | Not in its feature list | 209cc OHV gas | Walk behind, for acres of open ground | The walk behind for a massive, fairly flat yard, up to 1,200 CFM and 150 mph with seven airflow angles and a front or side chute, though no tester we found reviews it and its listing is unclear on the engine type. | Not linked: below our pick rule on October 19, 2026 |
Which type of leaf blower is right for you?
Short version: where an outlet is always within 100 feet of the work, corded (Consumer Reports). Light to moderate leaf fall on up to about half an acre, a battery handheld (Popular Mechanics), with a second battery if the job runs long. Heavier leaf fall or a bigger lot than that, a backpack (Family Handyman would not bother with one under a quarter acre unless you get a lot of leaves; Consumer Reports suggests backpacks for larger properties with more trees). A massive, fairly flat lot backing onto woods, a walk behind (Consumer Reports). Unsure: start with a battery handheld.
Consumer Reports sorts blowers into handheld (the most popular), backpack and wheeled. The table gives the catch each type carries.
| Type | Suits | The practical limit | Noise and local rules | Our pick and deep guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery handheld | Light to moderate leaf fall on yards up to about half an acre (Popular Mechanics) | Run time: around 8 to 30 minutes a charge (Consumer Reports); a second charged battery can double it | Much quieter than gas, especially for neighbors, but they may still be noisy for the user (Consumer Reports); not covered by gas-only bans such as Washington, D.C.'s | Picks 1 and 2; best cordless leaf blower |
| Corded handheld | Work always within 100 feet of an outlet (Consumer Reports) | The cord, a hassle around trees and obstacles; they typically weigh 9 pounds or less (Consumer Reports) | No fuel and zero exhaust emissions (Consumer Reports); still loud up close (Reviewed measured pick 6 at up to 82 decibels) | Pick 6 |
| Gas handheld | Lots of trees on a small lot, for the longer run time (Consumer Reports) | Pull-cord starts, periodic tune-ups, and fuel mixed with oil on two-stroke engines; most weigh about 10 pounds (Consumer Reports) | Usually still quite loud; wear hearing protection (Consumer Reports). Gas blowers are banned in some towns | Pick 3; best gas leaf blower |
| Gas backpack | Larger properties with more trees, including hilly yards (Consumer Reports); Family Handyman's tester would not buy one unless the yard is over a quarter acre or gets a lot of leaves | Most weigh 20 pounds or more, on your back and shoulders (Consumer Reports) | Noisier than electrics (Consumer Reports); pick 4 lists 95 dB(A) at the operator's ear (Husqvarna) | Pick 4; best backpack leaf blower |
| Battery backpack | Big yards without gas: quiet, easy starting, no gasoline or oil (Consumer Reports) | Backpack batteries last about 20 to 50 minutes a charge (Consumer Reports) | Quieter and cleaner than gas backpacks (Consumer Reports) | Pick 5; best backpack leaf blower |
| Walk behind (wheeled) | A massive, fairly flat yard surrounded by woods (Consumer Reports) | 80 pounds or more, hard to push uphill, about 8 square feet of storage; cannot vacuum or shred (Consumer Reports) | Usually noisy (Consumer Reports); gas, so gas rules apply | Pick 7; best walk behind leaf blower |
The best leaf blower of each type
1. Husqvarna Leaf Blaster 350iB: best overall leaf blower
Best overall leaf blower
Best for: One battery blower for most yards
Husqvarna Leaf Blaster 350iB
- Airflow: 800 CFM
- Air speed: 200 mph
- Weight: 10 lb with battery
Our pick for most yards: the longest run per charge from a battery handheld on a normal or high setting in three of four tests, though it is heavier and louder than the EGO LB6151.
Who it is for: anyone who wants the longest run per charge from a battery handheld on a normal or high setting, where three of four tests put it first. Husqvarna rates it at 800 CFM, 200 mph and 23.5 newtons of blowing force, and this kit comes with its BLi30 battery and charger. The listing adds cruise control, a boost mode and a built-in scraper for wet, stuck leaves.
Why it leads: runtime on the same bench. TechGearLab ran it beside the EGO LB6151 (pick 2) and got 37.4 minutes against 16.0 on the highest standard setting, and 14.3 against 11.0 on turbo; the kits differ in battery, 7.5Ah for the Husqvarna against 2.5Ah for the EGO, which TechGearLab points to itself. Pro Tool Reviews got 38 minutes 4 seconds in High, the longest of the nine it tested, though at just 9.5 newtons against a maximum of 20.9, and Popular Mechanics' main roundup got 36 minutes in normal mode. Popular Mechanics' newer battery roundup found less: close to 15 minutes at max power and up to 30 minutes at lower settings, and there the Echo DPB-2500 outlasted it at full power (see Also considered). TechGearLab measured 1,105 CFM at 5 inches from the nozzle in turbo.
Our cordless guide leads with the EGO LB6151 (pick 2), which is lighter. We put the 350iB first for the runtime above and because two testers rank it first. Two others rank a Ryobi 40V HP Whisper first, but on Pro Tool Reviews' bench the Ryobi 800 CFM had the shortest runtime of the nine and the 350iB the longest (see who ranks what first, below).
Where it loses: weight and noise. Husqvarna lists 10 pounds with the battery; TechGearLab and Popular Mechanics both call it heavy, though Pro Tool Reviews found its sub-10-pound working weight less fatiguing, and it ships without a shoulder strap (Popular Mechanics). Husqvarna lists 79.4 dB(A) at the operator's ear, but Pro Tool Reviews measured 97 dB(a) at the ear, the loudest of its nine, TechGearLab measured 88 dBA, and Popular Mechanics found it noisier than advertised. In turbo the nose can dive (TechGearLab), and Popular Mechanics found its two nozzle tips hard to swap and easy to misplace.
More battery blowers by job, including picks for Greenworks 80V owners, small yards and wet leaves: our best cordless leaf blower guide.
2. EGO POWER+ LB6151: best lightweight battery leaf blower
Best lightweight battery leaf blower
Best for: A lighter battery blower, or EGO 56V owners
EGO POWER+ LB6151
- Airflow: Up to 615 CFM
- Air speed: 170 mph
- Weight: 7.8 lb with battery (TechGearLab)
The lighter battery handheld, 7.8 pounds with its battery against 10.2 for the 350iB on TechGearLab's scale, though its small 2.5Ah kit battery gives up runtime.
Who it is for: anyone who wants a lighter battery blower than pick 1, or who already owns EGO's 56V batteries. It is the top pick in our cordless guide. EGO rates it at up to 615 CFM and 170 mph in turbo, with a dial from 200 to 480 CFM; the 2.5Ah battery charges in 50 minutes and works in all EGO power tools. EGO gives a 5-year tool warranty and a 3-year battery warranty.
TechGearLab ranked it second of the eight it tested, and weighed it at 7.8 pounds with the battery, against 10.2 for pick 1 on the same scale.
Where it loses: runtime. The listing says up to 75 minutes; TechGearLab measured 16.0 minutes on the highest standard setting and 11.0 on turbo, and EGO itself says run time varies greatly with speed. The fix is battery: TechGearLab notes the kit's 2.5Ah pack is small and that larger compatible EGO batteries go up to 12Ah, and Consumer Reports notes a second charged battery can double the run time of a battery blower. TechGearLab also found the tip dives in turbo and measured 85 dBA at the operator; EGO's own page lists 63 dB and the Amazon listing 71 dB, neither saying where it was measured.
For a patio, deck or small yard, our cordless guide carries the WORX WG547. More battery blowers by job: our best cordless leaf blower guide.
3. Husqvarna 125B: best gas handheld leaf blower
Best gas handheld leaf blower
Best for: A lot with many trees, in a town that allows gas
Husqvarna 125B
- Airflow: 470 CFM (425 at the nozzle)
- Air speed: 130 mph (listing says 170)
- Weight: 9.4 lb
The top pick in our gas guide, for a lot with many trees where a battery would run out, though it gives up power per pound and is loud.
Who it is for: a lot with many trees where a battery would run out, in a town that allows gas. It is the top pick in our gas guide: a 28 cc, 1.1 hp two-stroke that Husqvarna rates at 12.5 newtons, 425 cfm at the nozzle and 130 mph with the round nozzle, at 9.4 pounds with an 18.5 fl oz tank. The listing adds an air purge for easier starts, cruise control and a stop switch that resets itself to on.
Popular Mechanics named the blower-vacuum version, the 125BVx, its best gas blower for the volume of air it moves and a handle in line with the tube that eases wrist strain.
Where it loses: power per pound. Consumer Reports finds gas handhelds are not as powerful as most battery models in its tests, and Pro Tool Reviews says the best handheld gas blowers top out around 15 newtons. Popular Mechanics found the 125BVx's top air speed low, and Husqvarna's own spec table gives 130 mph where the Amazon listing says 170 MPH. It is loud, 94 dB(A) at the operator's ear (Husqvarna), and as a 2-cycle engine it runs on fuel mixed with oil (Consumer Reports). For more force, see the Echo PB-2620 under Also considered.
More gas blowers by job, including a blower-vacuum kit and a 4-cycle backpack: our best gas leaf blower guide.
4. Husqvarna 360BT: best gas backpack leaf blower
Best gas backpack leaf blower
Best for: Gas backpack for big, leafy yards
Husqvarna 360BT
- Airflow: 890 CFM (631 at the nozzle)
- Air speed: 232 mph
- Weight: 23.2 lb
Popular Mechanics' best backpack, with 30 newtons of blowing force for big, leafy lots, at 23.2 pounds on your back and 95 dB(A) at the operator's ear.
Who it is for: a larger property with more trees (Consumer Reports), where a handheld wears out your arm; Family Handyman would not bother with a backpack under a quarter acre unless you get a lot of leaves. Popular Mechanics names it its best backpack, a blower for people who get paid to clear leaves or have major leaf duty each fall, and Pro Tool Reviews calls it a fantastic choice for a property owner with a lot of space to clear. Its listing gives a 2-cycle engine of 65.6 cc and 3.81 hp, and Husqvarna rates it at 30 newtons, 890 CFM and 232 mph, with a 74.4 fl oz tank, and describes it as its more commercial-style backpack, for larger properties and heavier debris. The listing adds a ventilated harness on wide shoulder straps that spreads the load, an offset handle you can adjust, an air purge for easier starts, LowVib damping and cruise control, and Popular Mechanics found it one of the more comfortable backpacks it has worn.
Its airflow depends on where you measure: Husqvarna's marketing says 890 CFM, and its own spec table says 631 cfm at the round nozzle.
Where it loses: weight and noise. It is 23.2 pounds on your back (Husqvarna), and Husqvarna lists 95 dB(A) at the operator's ear; Popular Mechanics calls it loud, says not to run it first thing in the morning, and says to always wear hearing protection. It is a big-job machine, so on a lot under about half an acre a battery handheld is the lighter, quieter tool. As a 2-cycle engine it runs on fuel mixed with oil, 50:1 per Husqvarna.
More backpack blowers, gas and battery: our best backpack leaf blower guide.
5. EGO POWER+ LB6003: best battery backpack leaf blower
Best battery backpack leaf blower
Best for: A big yard, backpack comfort without gas
EGO POWER+ LB6003
- Airflow: Up to 600 CFM
- Air speed: 145 mph
- Weight: Not in its listing
Backpack comfort without gas on EGO's 56V platform, with a 7.5Ah battery and charger in the kit and a listed 64 dB, though at 600 CFM it moves less air than the gas backpacks here.
Who it is for: a big yard where you want backpack comfort without gas, or anyone already on EGO's 56V batteries, the platform pick 2 runs on. It is in our backpack guide too. EGO rates it at up to 600 CFM and 145 mph in turbo, with a power dial on the handgrip that runs from 260 to 600 and a blower tube you can set to your length. The kit includes a 56V 7.5Ah battery and a charger, and the listing gives a 5-year tool warranty and a 3-year battery warranty.
Consumer Reports says battery backpacks are typically more powerful than battery handhelds and run longer, about 20 to 50 minutes a charge, and are quieter and cleaner than gas backpacks.
Where it loses: force. At up to 600 CFM and 145 mph it moves less air, more slowly, than pick 1 or any gas backpack in our power table, and no tester we read has published a test of this model. EGO lists up to 180 minutes on the included battery without naming the setting, and Consumer Reports puts battery backpacks at about 20 to 50 minutes a charge. Its listing gives no weight, and its 64 dB rating does not say where it was measured.
More backpack blowers, gas and battery: our best backpack leaf blower guide.
6. WORX WG520 Turbine 600: best corded leaf blower
Best corded leaf blower
Best for: Corded, where an outlet is always within 100 feet
WORX WG520 Turbine 600
- Airflow: 600 CFM
- Air speed: 110 mph
- Weight: 6.4 lb
Reviewed's best overall of the 14 handhelds it tested: 6.4 pounds, no battery charging and no gas, as long as an extension cord reaches the work.
Who it is for: a yard where the work is always within 100 feet of an outlet, Consumer Reports' rule of thumb for going corded. Reviewed tested 14 handheld blowers, corded and battery, and named this one best overall; it found nothing else matched it at clearing leaves from a distance, wet and matted ones on pavement included. WORX rates it at 600 CFM and 110 mph on high (320 CFM and 60 mph on low) from a 12 amp motor, at 6.4 pounds, with a 3-year warranty. Corded means no battery charging and no gas (listing). Business Insider names it as the alternative to the Toro PowerJet F700 (see Also considered).
Where it loses: the cord. WORX's attached cord is 11 1/2 inches long, so you need an extension cord rated for outdoor use (WORX), and Consumer Reports calls a cord a hassle around trees and other obstacles. Reviewed found it loud for a corded pick, up to 82 decibels on high, and says to wear ear protection, and Business Insider notes lower air volume and a little more noise than the F700.
We have no separate corded guide; our best cordless leaf blower guide carries the WG520 as its corded pick.
7. Yardmax YF1565 Walk Behind: walk behind for open ground
Walk behind for open ground
Best for: Walk behind, for acres of open ground
Yardmax YF1565 Walk Behind
- Airflow: Up to 1,200 CFM
- Air speed: 150 mph
- Weight: Not in its feature list
The walk behind for a massive, fairly flat yard, up to 1,200 CFM and 150 mph with seven airflow angles and a front or side chute, though no tester we found reviews it and its listing is unclear on the engine type.
Not linked: below our pick rule on October 19, 2026
We do not link pick 7 for now: when we checked on October 19, 2026, its Amazon listing had fewer ratings and a lower star average than our pick rule asks for, and no other walk behind we found on Amazon met the rule that day. Until one does, the backpacks at picks 4 and 5 are the next size down.
Who it is for: the yard Consumer Reports describes for a wheeled blower, massive, fairly flat and surrounded by woods, where you push the leaves off the lawn instead of carrying a blower. It is also in our walk-behind guide. The listing gives a 209cc OHV engine, up to 1,200 CFM and 150 mph, a throttle that varies air volume and speed, a side handle with seven airflow angles (level, three up, three down), a removable chute that sends the air out the front or the side, 12-inch rear wheels and a swiveling 8-inch front wheel on ball bearings. Of the machines in that guide, it aims its air the most ways.
Where it loses: no tester we found reviews it, and its engine type is unclear: the Amazon feature list gives a 209cc OHV engine and then engine type 2-stroke, while Lowe's lists the YF1565 as 4-cycle, so confirm with Yardmax before you fuel it. Its Amazon feature list gives no impeller material and no weight. Consumer Reports says wheeled blowers weigh 80 pounds or more, are hard to push uphill, need about 8 square feet of storage, are usually noisy, and cannot vacuum or shred.
More walk-behind blowers and what to check before you buy one: our best walk behind leaf blower guide.
How we chose these
We compared each pick's Amazon listing and, where one exists, the maker's spec page against what independent testers measured: Pro Tool Reviews (blowing force on a force meter, in newtons), Popular Mechanics, TechGearLab, CNET, Reviewed, Business Insider, Family Handyman and Bob Vila, plus Pro Tool Reviews' cordless head-to-head and Popular Mechanics' battery roundup. Consumer Reports' free pages supply the type and noise advice; its model ratings are for members, so no pick here rests on them.
Our rules: a linked pick has to show in stock on Amazon and sold new, with at least 4.2 stars from 100 or more ratings, when we check; we checked every pick on October 19, 2026. For handhelds, each type's pick is the one our deep guide for that type leads with, so the two pages agree, unless the testers clearly favored another model. That happened once, for battery handhelds (pick 1). For backpacks, pick 4 is Popular Mechanics' best backpack, and pick 5 is the battery backpack we found that met the rule. For walk behinds, none we found met the rule on October 19, 2026, so pick 7 stays on the page without a link. Where a tester ran a sibling model instead of the one we link, the pick says so; picks 5 and 7 have no tester.
Testers do not agree on a single number one. Here is who ranks what first:
| Tester (what it covered) | Its number one | On this page |
|---|---|---|
| TechGearLab (8 battery handhelds, side by side) | Husqvarna 350iB | Pick 1 |
| Popular Mechanics, main roundup (all types) | Husqvarna 350iB | Pick 1; its best backpack is pick 4 |
| Popular Mechanics, battery roundup (September 2026) | Ryobi 40V HP Whisper (handheld) | Also considered |
| Pro Tool Reviews, cordless head-to-head (9 handhelds) | Ryobi 40V HP Whisper 800 CFM | Also considered; the 350iB placed fourth |
| Pro Tool Reviews, all types (by category) | No overall number one; best cordless handheld EGO LB7654, best gas backpack Echo PB-9010T | Also considered |
| Reviewed (14 corded and battery handhelds) | WORX WG520 | Pick 6 |
| CNET (electric only) | Greenworks 80V 770 CFM | Also considered |
| Bob Vila (cordless, 2024) | Toro 60V Max 900 CFM | Also considered |
| Business Insider | Toro 51621 UltraPlus (corded blower-vacuum) | Not on this page (a blower-vacuum; see our leaf vacuum and mulcher roundup); its best backpack is the Husqvarna 150BT |
| Family Handyman (backpacks) | Stihl BR 600 | Also considered (Stihl dealers); it names the Husqvarna 150BT most powerful |
Also considered: blowers that missed the list and why
EGO POWER+ LB7654 (765 CFM). The battery handheld the most testers name: Pro Tool Reviews' best cordless handheld, which it measured at 25.3 newtons on a 5.0Ah battery and 26.1 on a 10.0Ah, and Reviewed's best cordless, with the longest runtime of the battery blowers Reviewed tested, 30 minutes. It missed because the two testers that ran it beside the 350iB, Popular Mechanics and TechGearLab, put the Husqvarna first, and TechGearLab also ranked it below the LB6151. Reviewed calls it heavy and loud, Popular Mechanics found its runtime short, and Pro Tool Reviews suggests another blower if you are left-handed. If raw force matters most, it is the strongest battery handheld Pro Tool Reviews has measured (26.1 newtons); CNET gave its strongest blowing force award to the Greenworks 80V 770 CFM below, and TechGearLab says pick 1 was the only model to score nearly perfectly in its power metric.
Greenworks 80V 770 CFM. CNET's best overall electric blower: in its projectile cannon it averaged 461.5 inches on normal and 485.75 on turbo, and CNET says no blower it has tested did as well. It missed on noise: CNET measured 95.3 dB in normal mode, the loudest of its picks, while the listing claims 74 dB without saying where. CNET also weighed it at 17.4 pounds with the battery; the listing gives 6 pounds without saying whether that counts the battery.
Toro 60V Max 900 CFM. Bob Vila's best overall and third in Pro Tool Reviews' cordless head-to-head, where it had the highest airflow of the group yet measured 22.0 newtons, less than the 800 CFM Ryobi's 24.8. It missed on weight: both testers found it the heaviest handheld they tried (11.7 pounds with a 4.0Ah battery at Pro Tool Reviews).
Ryobi 40V HP Whisper Series 800 CFM (tool only). Pro Tool Reviews' best cordless blower overall, the strongest (24.8 newtons) and quietest (79 dB(a) at 36 inches) in its group; Popular Mechanics' September 2026 battery roundup names a Ryobi 40V HP Whisper Series blower its best overall handheld and its main roundup its quietest, and TechGearLab ranks the 730 CFM version third. It missed on runtime: Pro Tool Reviews measured the shortest runtime of its group from this blower and the longest from pick 1. Its Amazon listing is the bare tool, with no battery or charger; Ryobi is Home Depot's house brand (Consumer Reports).
Echo PB-2620. Pro Tool Reviews' best handheld gas blower, with no significant drawbacks listed. Echo rates it at 15.8 newtons, 456 CFM and 172 mph at the nozzle, 9.8 pounds dry and 70 dB(A) by the ANSI B175.2 method. That is more force than pick 3 at nearly the same weight. If force matters most, take the Echo. We lead with the 125B because it is the top pick in our gas guide, so the two pages agree, and Popular Mechanics tested its blower-vacuum version; one tester names each.
Echo PB-9010T. The most powerful blower any tester in our sources measured: Pro Tool Reviews got 52.0 newtons against Echo's 48 N rating. It is a 79.9 cc professional backpack at 26.7 pounds dry (Echo), and Pro Tool Reviews suggests something else if you do not need that much power.
Echo DPB-2500 (56V, with 5.0Ah battery) and Echo DPB-5800T battery backpack. In Popular Mechanics' September 2026 battery roundup the DPB-2500 ran 23 minutes 26 seconds at full consistent speed, more than 25 percent longer than the next best handheld it tested, at 9.5 pounds with the battery. Its best battery backpack is the DPB-5800T, a pro-level machine that ran 24 minutes at max power on two 5.0Ah batteries, with room for a third. The catches, per Popular Mechanics: the DPB-2500 has lower airspeed and volume than other handhelds, and the DPB-5800T's tube extension is hard to assemble. One tester names each. Two testers rank pick 1 first, and pick 5 is the battery backpack we found that met our ratings rule on October 19, 2026.
Toro PowerJet F700. Pro Tool Reviews' best corded blower (725 CFM, 140 mph, 6.6 pounds) and Business Insider's pick for patios, driveways and light yard work, which notes the extension cord is sold separately. On paper it moves more air than pick 6 (725 against 600 CFM) at about the same weight. We lead with the WG520 because Reviewed ran it against 13 other handhelds, corded and battery, and named it best overall, and it is the corded pick in our cordless guide, so the two pages agree.
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2724 (450 CFM, battery sold separately). TechGearLab ranked this blower sixth of eight and measured 81 dBa at the operator, second quietest in its decibel test, though it says the Milwaukee felt among the loudest to the ear; CNET found a 2724 model one of the more disappointing it tested. It suits someone who already owns M18 batteries. CNET's quietest pick, the M18 FUEL 3017-20, is a different model that we do not link.
Stihl. Pro Tool Reviews ranks the Stihl BGA 250 second in its cordless head-to-head and names the BR 800 C-E Magnum its best gas backpack; Family Handyman's best backpack is the BR 600. You may see Stihl blowers listed on Amazon; we do not link them because Stihl says genuine Stihl products are sold only through authorized local Stihl dealers, so buy from one.
DeWalt, Makita and Craftsman. Pro Tool Reviews measured the DeWalt 60V DCBL772 at 17.0 newtons and 91 decibels at the operator's ear, below the 20.9 to 26.1 it measured from the four battery handhelds in our power table. The Makita 40V GBU01 scored 71 of 100 in Pro Tool Reviews' cordless test, with lower blowing force than most of the group. The Makita link is a bare tool, with no battery or charger. Family Handyman names the Craftsman BP510 gas backpack its best for large yards; for a gas backpack we lead with pick 4, Popular Mechanics' best backpack.
Which leaf blower is the most powerful? 15 blowers compared
Most powerful, measured: the Echo PB-9010T gas backpack, at 52.0 newtons on Pro Tool Reviews' meter; among battery handhelds, the EGO LB7654 at 26.1 newtons on a 10.0Ah battery (pick 1 measured 20.9). Pro Tool Reviews' backpack guide now names the Husqvarna 590BTS, rated at 56 newtons, as the most powerful backpack available, ahead of the PB-9010T. Listed CFM alone misleads, as the table shows.
CFM or mph? Both. Popular Mechanics puts it simply: air speed (mph) moves heavier debris like wet leaves, rocks or mulch, and air volume (CFM) plows a pile across the yard, and for a broad, leaf-covered yard it suggests at least 400 CFM. Consumer Reports' tests find the numbers do not always track how well a blower moves leaves, because design matters, and Pro Tool Reviews calls measured newtons the most important number for comparing overall blowing force. So the table puts measured force beside each maker's rating. CFM per pound is our arithmetic: the headline CFM divided by the weight in the same row, so check each weight's basis.
| Blower | Headline CFM / mph | Force, newtons: maker rating / Pro Tool Reviews measured | Weight used (basis, source) | CFM per pound (computed) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Husqvarna 350iB (battery handheld) | 800 / 200 | 23.5 / 20.9 | 10 lb with battery (Husqvarna) | 80.0 |
| 2. EGO LB6151 (battery handheld) | 615 / 170 | not stated / not tested | 7.8 lb with battery (TechGearLab, weighed) | 78.8 |
| 3. Husqvarna 125B (gas handheld) | 470 / 130 | 12.5 / not tested | 9.4 lb (Husqvarna) | 50.0 |
| 4. Husqvarna 360BT (gas backpack) | 890 / 232 | 30 / not tested | 23.2 lb (Husqvarna) | 38.4 |
| 5. EGO LB6003 (battery backpack) | 600 / 145 | not stated / not tested | not in its listing | n/a |
| 6. WORX WG520 (corded) | 600 / 110 | not stated / not tested | 6.4 lb (WORX) | 93.8 |
| 7. Yardmax YF1565 (walk behind) | 1,200 / 150 | not stated / not tested | not in its feature list | n/a |
| EGO LB7654 (battery handheld) | 765 / 200 | not stated / 25.3 (5.0Ah), 26.1 (10.0Ah) | 10.1 lb with battery (Popular Mechanics); 12.2 lb (TechGearLab) | 75.7 (62.7 at 12.2 lb) |
| Greenworks 80V 770 CFM (battery handheld) | 770 / 180 | not stated / not tested | 17.4 lb with battery (CNET); the listing gives 6 lb, basis not stated | 44.3 |
| Toro 60V 900 CFM (battery handheld) | 900 / 165 | not stated / 22.0 | 11.7 lb with 4.0Ah battery (Pro Tool Reviews) | 76.9 |
| Ryobi 40V Whisper 800 CFM (battery handheld) | 800 / 180 | not stated / 24.8 | 10.6 lb with 8.0Ah battery (Pro Tool Reviews) | 75.5 |
| Echo PB-2620 (gas handheld) | 456 / 172 | 15.8 / not tested | 9.8 lb dry (Echo) | 46.5 |
| Echo PB-9010T (gas backpack) | 1,110 / 220 | 48 / 52.0 | 26.7 lb dry (Echo) | 41.6 |
| Husqvarna 150BT (gas backpack) | 765 / 270 | 22 / not tested | 21.95 lb (Husqvarna) | 34.9 |
| Toro PowerJet F700 (corded) | 725 / 140 | not stated / not tested | 6.6 lb (Pro Tool Reviews) | 109.8 |
What the table says:
- CFM alone misleads: in the same Pro Tool Reviews test, the Toro rated at 900 CFM measured 22.0 newtons and the Ryobi rated at 800 CFM measured 24.8. Husqvarna prints two numbers for the same 360BT: 890 CFM in its marketing and 631 cfm at the nozzle in its spec table.
- Per pound: corded blowers move the most air for the weight in your hand (93.8 and 109.8 CFM per pound here). Most battery handhelds land between 75 and 80 on the weights used here (the LB7654 falls to 62.7 on TechGearLab's heavier weighing, and the Greenworks sits at 44.3 on CNET's 17.4 pounds); gas handhelds 46.5 to 50.0; gas backpacks 34.9 to 41.6, but that weight rides on your back. The battery backpack and the walk behind have no figure, since neither Amazon feature list gives a weight.
Gas or electric leaf blower?
For a handheld, electric has caught up and passed gas. Consumer Reports finds the best battery handhelds consistently outperform their gas counterparts, including on power, and says gas handhelds are not as powerful as most battery models in its tests. Pro Tool Reviews puts the ceiling for handheld gas at about 15 newtons; four battery handhelds in the table above measured 20.9 to 26.1.
Gas still wins two things. Run time: a gas blower runs as long as you keep the tank full, where Consumer Reports puts battery handhelds at around 8 to 30 minutes a charge. And top-end power in a backpack: Popular Mechanics says gas backpacks are still the most powerful leaf blowers you can buy, which the Echo PB-9010T's 52.0 newtons bears out. Against that, gas needs more maintenance (Consumer Reports), fuel mixed with oil on two-stroke engines, a pull cord, and it is louder. Consumer Reports also finds electric blowers more reliable in its member surveys.
So: battery for most yards, and gas only for a big, heavily wooded property, a job that outlasts your batteries, or a backpack's top-end force, where your town allows it.
Can you still buy and use a gas leaf blower?
In short: from the 2024 model year most new small gas engines in California must meet zero-emission standards, so what is in stores changes over time; the state rule does not stop you using a gas blower you own, but some California communities ban leaf blowers outright. Elsewhere, check your town's rules before you buy, Consumer Reports advises: some communities limit blower hours, and others ban gas blowers altogether. A few rules worth knowing, from the agencies and reports themselves (this is not legal advice):
- California: the California Air Resources Board's small off-road engine rules set emission standards of zero for most new engines from model year 2024 through 2027, and for all engines from model year 2028. CARB's own slides say the rules do not prohibit the sale of CARB-certified equipment, that certified engines may be bought as long as they are available, and that products in stores will change over time; its incentive guidelines say the regulation does not require owners to buy or use zero-emission equipment.
- Washington, D.C.: the Leaf Blower Regulation Amendment Act, in effect since January 1, 2022, prohibits the sale or use of gasoline-powered leaf blowers in the District, and the ban on use applies to everyone, residents included.
- Burlington, Vermont: from Memorial Day to Labor Day, only electric or battery blowers that run at 65 decibels or less may be used in the city, and in the fall gas is allowed but also only under 65 decibels (WCAX, 2022).
If you live somewhere like this, the battery picks (1, 2 and 5) and the corded pick (6) are the ones to consider. Under a 65 decibel cap like Burlington's, check the rating first: none of our picks has a figure at or under 65 that says where it was measured (EGO's 63 dB for pick 2 does not, nor do the 65 dB or lower noise levels on some of our picks' Amazon listings), testers measured pick 1 well above it at the operator's ear, and Reviewed measured pick 6 at up to 82 decibels.
How loud is a leaf blower?
Noise numbers are hard to compare because makers and testers measure in different places. Pro Tool Reviews explains that the ANSI standard measures from 50 feet, for bystanders, while it measures at the operator's ear; Husqvarna publishes a figure at the operator's ear; Echo publishes its figure to ANSI B175.2; Popular Mechanics measures at 50 or 75 feet. Compare like with like: at the operator's ear, Husqvarna lists pick 1 at 79.4 dB(A), but Pro Tool Reviews measured 97; Husqvarna lists pick 4 at 95.
Consumer Reports tests at the ear and at 50 feet, says the best models stay below 65 decibels and the worst exceed 85, and warns that at 85 decibels you need ear protection to avoid hearing damage even from very brief use. It recommends hearing protection with a leaf blower, especially models that score midlevel or lower in its ear-level tests. For the quietest blower, look at measured figures, and treat maker and ANSI numbers as ratings: Pro Tool Reviews measured the Ryobi 40V Whisper 730 CFM at 72 dBA in High at the operator's ear (76 at full blast), and its ANSI rating at 50 feet is 57 dBA; CNET measured Milwaukee's M18 FUEL 3017-20 at 82.2 dB, the quietest of its picks. Of our two battery handhelds, TechGearLab measured the LB6151 slightly quieter at the operator than the 350iB (85 vs 88 dBA).
After the blowing: where the leaves go
A blower only moves leaves. Our how to mulch leaves guide covers shredding them for the beds, the machines that vacuum and shred are in our leaf vacuum and mulcher roundup, and for a lawn you would rather sweep than blow, see our lawn sweeper and leaf rake guides.
A word from the people who wrote this
About the shop behind this guide: we are Spear Head Spade, a family business in New Jersey, and we sell double-patented digging spades. A spade is not a leaf tool, and nothing on this list is ours. Where our tools come in is after the cleanup: shredded leaves go on the beds, and in spring they get dug under. If that is your next job, our spade finder matches a spade to your height and your soil.
Frequently asked questions
What is the number one rated leaf blower?
No single blower tops every test; the table in How we chose lists each tester's number one. TechGearLab and Popular Mechanics' main roundup name the Husqvarna Leaf Blaster 350iB, while Pro Tool Reviews' cordless head-to-head and Popular Mechanics' battery roundup put a Ryobi 40V HP Whisper first. We lead with the 350iB because two testers rank it first, its 7.5Ah kit ran more than twice as long per charge as the EGO LB6151's 2.5Ah kit on TechGearLab's bench, and Pro Tool Reviews, which ranks the Ryobi first, measured the shortest runtime of its nine from the Ryobi and the longest from the 350iB.
What is the best leaf blower for the money?
We do not rank on price, because prices move through leaf season. For a battery blower, TechGearLab ranked the EGO LB6151 second of the eight it tested, and on its scale it weighed 7.8 pounds with its battery against 10.2 for the Husqvarna 350iB. If an outlet is always within 100 feet of the work, the corded WORX WG520, Reviewed's best overall, needs no battery charging or gas and weighs 6.4 pounds (WORX).
What is Consumer Reports' best leaf blower?
Consumer Reports keeps its model-by-model ratings for members. Its free 2026 roundup says models from brands such as Echo, Greenworks and Stihl rise to the top in its tests, and its free buying guide works by type and yard size, as our type table does.
Which brand of leaf blower is best?
It depends on the type. In the tests we read, Husqvarna, EGO and Ryobi lead the battery handhelds (Popular Mechanics, TechGearLab, Pro Tool Reviews), and for gas backpacks Pro Tool Reviews finds Echo and Stihl by far the top two brands on professional crews' trailers in Central Florida; Stihl sells only through its dealers. Consumer Reports notes a battery works across tools of the same brand and voltage, so the platform you already own is a good tiebreaker.
What is the best leaf blower for wet leaves?
Look at air speed. Popular Mechanics says higher mph moves heavier debris like wet leaves, and CNET's lab engineer says a higher mph rating is more effective on wet leaves. Consumer Reports adds that a rounded nozzle tip loosens leaves embedded in the lawn. Among our picks, Reviewed found the corded WORX WG520 cleared wet, matted leaves off pavement from a distance, and the Husqvarna 360BT carries the highest air speed rating, 232 mph.
Disclosure: Our commissions do not change what we recommend or what you pay. We do not print prices or stock levels because both move, so every "Check price" link shows today's.
