The Best Cordless Leaf Blowers

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A cordless blower is the battery tool most people buy first after a mower. It is also the one where the box numbers matter most, because every brand prints CFM and MPH in big letters, and those two numbers measure different things.

I run a metal and composites workshop, so tools and blades are familiar ground, and I use EGO battery tools on my own lawn. I have not tested every blower below. The picks are based on the published specs and owner reviews, plus independent force measurements from Pro Tool Reviews where they exist. All CFM and MPH figures are the maker’s own published maximums.

The picks

CFM vs MPH: what the numbers mean

CFM (cubic feet per minute) is how much air leaves the tube. More CFM moves a wider pile of leaves at once.

MPH is how fast that air moves at the nozzle. More MPH lifts stuck, wet leaves and pushes debris out of cracks.

You need both. A blower with high MPH and low CFM acts like a narrow jet: good for cracks, slow on a big lawn. High CFM with low MPH moves a lot of air gently, which is fine on dry leaves and weak on wet mats.

Two more things to know before you compare boxes:

• Most headline numbers are turbo numbers. EGO, for example, lists 765 CFM in turbo mode, but its speed dial runs from 260 to 580 CFM. Turbo drains the battery fastest.
• MPH depends on the nozzle. EGO says the 200 MPH figure is with the tapered nozzle. Swap to the wide spread nozzle and speed drops.

Pro Tool Reviews measures blowing force in newtons, which combines both. Where I quote a force number below, it comes from their testing.

1. EGO 765 CFM Blower (LB7650): best overall

EGO lists up to 765 CFM in turbo mode and 200 MPH with the tapered nozzle, with a brushless motor, a turbo button, a variable-speed dial with cruise control and IPX4 weather resistance, per EGO’s product page. It comes with both a tapered and a spread nozzle.

In Pro Tool Reviews’ EGO blower roundup, it measured 25.3 newtons, the highest handheld force in their test, at a bare weight of 4.69 lb. They got about 13 minutes on turbo and 22 minutes on high with a 5.0Ah battery.

Why it’s the pick:

• The most force of any handheld here, at about the same weight as the smaller EGOs.
• Works with every EGO 56V battery, including the ones from an EGO mower.
• 5-year tool warranty and 3-year battery warranty, per EGO.
• Two nozzles in the box.

What to watch: turbo runtime is short, so a 5.0Ah battery is the realistic minimum. It costs more than many homeowners need. I go deeper in my EGO leaf blower review.

2. EGO LB6150 (615 CFM): best value

The LB6150 is EGO’s mid-range handheld. It is listed at 200 to 480 CFM on the dial and 615 CFM with the turbo button, up to 170 MPH, and 4.8 lb for the tool alone, per the EGO parts store listing. EGO quotes up to 75 minutes on a 2.5Ah battery.

Pro Tool Reviews measured 18.5 newtons and got about 10 minutes on boost, 15 on high and 100 on low with a 2.5Ah battery.

Why it’s a good choice:

• Enough air for clippings, patios and dry leaves on a typical suburban lot.
• Light and simple, with a lock-on speed dial.
• Same battery as the rest of the EGO line.

What to watch: only the round tapered nozzle comes in the box, so flat and spread nozzles are extra. One owner on the listing said the battery didn’t reach the claimed 75 minutes, which matches the shorter high-speed times in testing. No shoulder strap.

3. Ryobi 40V HP Brushless 650 CFM Whisper Series (RY404014K): best for Ryobi owners

Ryobi lists 650 CFM and 160 MPH, a brushless motor, variable speed with cruise control and noise-dampening foam, per Ryobi’s product page. Ryobi says it is about 85% quieter than gas and gives more than 45 minutes on low with a 4Ah battery.

Why it’s a good choice:

• Strong published numbers at a mid-range price.
• The Whisper Series design targets noise, which matters in tight neighborhoods.
• Ryobi 40V has a wide range of mowers and trimmers to share the battery.

What to watch: Ryobi doesn’t publish a weight or a dB figure on the page. Several older 40V Whisper blowers (like the 600 CFM RY404013BTL) are now listed as discontinued, so check the model number on the box.

4. Greenworks Pro 80V 730 CFM (BL80L02): most air for the money

Greenworks lists 730 CFM and 170 MPH, a brushless motor, a turbo button and cruise control, per Greenworks’ product page. The tool comes with a 4-year warranty and uses the same battery as Greenworks’ 80V tools.

Pro Tool Reviews covered the kit version (BLB489) and lists it at about 9 lb, with Greenworks quoting 77 dB and around 60 minutes of runtime.

Why it’s a good choice:

• Near-top CFM at a lower price than the EGO flagship.
• The 80V platform covers mowers, including riding and zero-turn models.

What to watch: it’s heavy for a handheld, at about 8.8 to 9 lb listed, and the reviewer flagged noise as a trade-off.

5. DeWalt 60V MAX Handheld Axial Blower (DCBL772B): best for DeWalt FlexVolt owners

DeWalt lists up to 600 CFM and 125 MPH, a brushless motor and a variable-speed trigger with a speed lock, per DeWalt’s product page. It runs on 60V MAX FlexVolt batteries and carries a 3-year limited warranty.

In Pro Tool Reviews’ test, it measured 17.0 newtons, weighed 9 lb with a 3.0Ah battery, and peaked at 91 dB at the operator’s ear. They got up to 84 minutes on low with a 9.0Ah battery.

Why it’s a good choice:

• Solid force and a well-balanced, angled handle.
• Makes sense if your garage already has FlexVolt batteries.

What to watch: it’s loud and fairly heavy, and the long runtime figure needs the big 9.0Ah battery on low.

6. Milwaukee M18 FUEL Blower (3017-20): best if you own M18 tools

Milwaukee lists 500 CFM, 120 MPH, 12.2 N of force and 54 dB(A) (measured to ANSI B175.2), at 5.1 lb without the battery, per Milwaukee’s press release and product page.

Why it’s a good choice:

• One of the quietest published numbers here.
• Runs on the same M18 batteries as your drills and impact drivers.
• Optional gutter and angled flare attachments.

What to watch: it’s the least powerful blower in this list on paper. Great for driveways, garages and decks, slower on a fall lawn full of leaves. Milwaukee says it isn’t designed for a shoulder strap.

7. Toro 60V MAX 605 CFM (51822): best for Toro mower owners

Toro lists 605 CFM and 157 MPH on turbo boost, a brushless motor and cruise control, and sells the kit with a 60V 4.0Ah battery and charger, per Toro’s product page. Toro quotes up to 140 minutes; Pro Tool Reviews breaks that down as 140 minutes on low, 40 on high and 11 on turbo.

Why it’s a good choice:

• Battery and charger included in the price.
• Auxiliary front handle for two-handed use.
• 3-year limited warranty on tool and battery.

What to watch: Toro lists 13 lb, which reads like a weight with the battery, and it’s heavier than the EGOs either way. Toro’s page says it isn’t sold online and points buyers to dealers and Lowe’s.

8. Stihl BGA 60 (AK System): best dealer-serviced pick

The BGA 60 is Stihl’s compact handheld on the AK homeowner battery system. Ace Hardware’s listing gives 459 CFM, 154 MPH, 5 lb and 56 dB, with 16 minutes of runtime. Stihl’s blower buying guide puts it in the small yards and patios group and lists a set with an AK 30 S battery and charger.

Why it’s a good choice:

• Light and quiet for walks, patios and clippings.
• Sold and serviced through Stihl dealers.
• Shares batteries with Stihl AK trimmers, hedge trimmers and mowers.

What to watch: the lowest CFM here and short runtime. For medium and large yards, Stihl itself points buyers to bigger models.

How to choose

Yard size and leaf load

• Patios, driveways, clippings: 450 to 550 CFM is enough. The Milwaukee or Stihl will do.
• Typical suburban lot with a few trees: 600 to 650 CFM. The EGO LB6150, Ryobi or Toro.
• Lots of mature trees, wet fall leaves: 700+ CFM and 170+ MPH. The EGO LB7650 or Greenworks 80V.

If you have an acre of oaks, a handheld battery blower is the wrong tool for the big fall cleanup. Look at a backpack model or plan to mulch leaves with the mower. My fall lawn care checklist covers when to clear leaves and when to mulch them.

Battery platform comes first

The battery is the expensive part. If you already have a battery mower or trimmer, stay with that brand unless its blower is a poor fit. My guide to battery yard tool systems compares the platforms.

Weight

Most handhelds here are about 5 lb bare. Add the battery and you’re holding 8 to 10 lb out at arm’s length. If you have a big yard, pick the lightest tool that has enough air.

Noise

Published dB numbers are hard to compare. Milwaukee measures to ANSI B175.2, Pro Tool Reviews measured DeWalt at the operator’s ear, and some makers only say “quieter than gas.” Use them as a rough guide only. If your town has noise rules or gas blower bans, any battery blower here is a big step down from gas.

Runtime

The headline runtime is almost always on low. On turbo, expect 10 to 15 minutes from a mid-size battery. Buy a bigger battery or a second one before you buy a bigger blower.

Tips for a faster cleanup

• Work with the wind, and blow leaves onto a tarp instead of into one giant pile.
• Use turbo only for stuck spots. Cruise at medium speed and runtime roughly doubles or triples.
• Blow when leaves are dry. Wet leaves need far more MPH.
• Hold the nozzle low and sweep side to side.
• Clear clippings off walks after each mow. See how to mow a lawn the right way.

My pick

The EGO LB7650 has the most force of any handheld here and stays light. If you don’t need that much air, the EGO LB6150 does most suburban jobs for less. If your garage is already red, yellow or orange, the Milwaukee 3017-20, DeWalt DCBL772B or Stihl BGA 60 saves you from buying into a second battery system.