Best Leaf Blowers of 2022

Paul Hope
·7 min read

We tested more than 60 models on over a thousand pounds of leaves to find the top performers for any yard of any size

CR test engineer Thomas Johnson assesses how well a leaf blower loosens embedded leaves.

By Paul Hope

Leaf blowers are a helpful year-round tool, great for clearing grass clippings off your driveway and even blowing away snow from your deck. But leaf blowers clearly see the most use each fall. Consumer Reports tests new models annually, and we’ll update our leaf blower ratings throughout the season to feature the newest models.

Leaf blowers fall under one of three categories: Most are handheld. Some are mounted to a wearable backpack. And a few are wheeled. Handheld or backpack leaf blowers are powered by gas or electricity (both corded and battery-operated, in the case of handhelds). Wheeled blowers are fueled by gas. We test and make recommendations in every category. "We found great options in every configuration," says Misha Kollontai, who oversees leaf-blower testing for Consumer Reports.

Our leaf blower buying guide is a great place to zero in on the configuration that makes the most sense for you. CR members can also turn to our comprehensive leaf blower ratings, and sort through more than 60 models, including major brands, such as Black+Decker, DeWalt, Echo, Ego, Greenworks, Husqvarna, Kobalt, Makita, Milwaukee, Ryobi, Stihl, Toro, Troy-Bilt, and Worx. Below, we highlight a top pick from each of the six configurations.

How We Pick the Best Leaf Blowers

The experts at Consumer Reports look for leaf blowers that are quick, thorough, and quiet. The best leaf blowers should also be easy to handle and use, and prove reliable season after season. Here’s more on what our picks have in common:

  • They’re fast at moving leaves. The best blowers in our tests clear a large swath of grass in under a minute.

  • They’re good at loosening embedded leaves from the lawn. Even with a leaf blower that’s quick to move most leaves, you’ll notice a few stragglers. We look for machines that don’t require you to break out a rake to clean up.

  • They’re easy to handle. We consider weight, the placement of the controls, and ease of starting, to find models that start and run effortlessly. We also favor models that are light and easy enough to use, so you won’t end up with sore arms.

  • They’re not too loud. We test sound both at the ear of the operator and from 50 feet, to simulate how loud each blower might be for you and your neighbors. The best models keep volume below 65 decibels, while the worst exceed 85 decibels. At 85 decibels, you’ll need ear protection to avoid hearing damage even from very brief use. At lower decibel levels, hearing protection is often still a good idea, especially if you’re using a leaf blower for a long stretch of time.

  • They’re reliable. We survey thousands of CR members each year to provide brand-level reliability and owner satisfaction scores to zero in on leaf blowers that will continue to work well long after their first autumn.

How Consumer Reports Tests Leaf Blowers

CR’s test engineers rope off a standardized swath of grass, and dump bags of leaves inside the boundary, ensuring we use the same quantity of leaves for each test. When testing backpack blowers and wheeled blowers, we use a larger area, because both of those tools are built for larger yards and professional landscaping crews.

We time how long each blower takes to clear the pile, and whether the tool moves every last leaf—some leaf blowers struggle by the time we get to the bottom of the pile, where leaves can become embedded in the grass. Only certain technicians, who use similar technique with each model, perform this test.

We also note how hard it is to maneuver each leaf blower, how heavy it feels, and how intuitive the controls are to use.

Some years we go through 2,500 pounds of leaves in the process. And because we can’t rely on that quantity to fall on our Yonkers, N.Y., campus each autumn, we often start collecting and storing fallen foliage a year in advance.

Handheld Blowers

Handheld leaf blowers are best for smaller properties without a ton of leafy trees. To pick the best handheld models, we tend to favor lighter models over heavier ones (if all other factors are equal) because weight has a noticeable effect on ease of use and maneuverability.

Best Electric Handheld Leaf Blower

Toro 51624

CR’s take: This Toro 51624 is a lean and mean blower that’s ideal for smaller properties with access to an outdoor electrical outlet. It excels at sweeping and loosening embedded leaves, earning a rating of Excellent in each of those tests. If you’re looking for a model that can also vacuum, check out the also stellar Toro UltraPlus 51621.

Best Battery Handheld Leaf Blower

Makita GBU01M1

CR’s take: The Makita GBU01M1 is a stellar leaf blower with near-perfect scores in our tests. It has Excellent ratings in sweeping and loosening leaves, handling and ease of use, and noise at 50 feet. The unit also comes with a longer-than-average 3-year warranty. Plus, Makita handheld leaf blowers earn top scores on our owner satisfaction and predicted reliability surveys of CR members.

Best Gasoline Handheld Leaf Blower

Stihl BG 86 C-E

CR’s take: The Stihl BG 86 C-E is the best gas handheld blower we’ve tested. It’s powerful, earning a rating of Excellent for sweeping, and it loosens embedded leaves pretty well, too. It’s also a smart bet if the battery-operated model above won’t cut it for your yard, and you need a tool that will run indefinitely when replenished with gas.

Backpack Leaf Blowers

Backpack leaf blowers are helpful for larger properties with more trees, including those with hilly yards. Beyond the main criteria we test for (sweeping, loosening, handling, noise), we also take special note of how easy and comfortable these models are to strap on, and how easy they are to maneuver, once they’re mounted to your back.

Best Gasoline Backpack Leaf Blower

Husqvarna 350BT

CR’s take: The Husqvarna 350BT is a powerful blower that’s ideal for tackling large, hilly yards. It earns a rating of Excellent for sweeping and loosening embedded leaves, and it’s easy to start and adjust. In our member surveys, Husqvarna gasoline backpack leaf blowers rate Very Good for predicted reliability. However, it’s quite loud, landing a score of Good at 50 feet but only a Fair at the ear.

Best Battery Backpack Leaf Blower

Ego LB6002

CR’s take: If you have a larger yard without too many trees, the Ego LB6002 hits the sweet spot. It’s easy to carry, powerful, and fairly quiet, earning a rating of Excellent for noise at 50 feet and a Good for nose at the ear. The large battery can provide 30 to 60 minutes of continuous use and is compatible with other power tools from Ego.

Wheeled Leaf Blowers

Designed for folks with enormous, mostly level yards, wheeled blowers are exclusively powered by gasoline. Here, testers favor those that not only clear lawns well, but those that do so while also being easy to turn and maneuver.

Best Wheeled Leaf Blower

Little Wonder C5

CR’s take: The Little Wonder C5 is a powerful wheeled blower that blasts leaves with relative ease, helping it earn ratings of Excellent for both sweeping and loosening embedded leaves. The lone drawback is price, so if you’re looking for a much more modestly priced option, check out the Champion 200947, which scores almost as well.



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