Cleaning your yard by sweeping or raking is quite exhausting sometimes. Instead of those traditional way, you can use a leaf blower which is not only convenient but also time and effort- saving.
Leaf blowers use force of air to propel unwanted particles from driveways, sidewalk, lawn, year, etc. They are really effective in landscaping, from small to large area. According to your needs, you can choose among electric or gas- powered models. They come in different styles: handheld, back-pack or wheeled.
To me, the most important factor when buying a new leaf blower is its power. If you think the same, congratulations, this article is for you! I’ll recommend you the 4 most powerful leaf blowers for home use that won’t break the bank! Sounds great, huh? Let’s begin!
Electric leaf blowers
Driven by electric motors, electric blowers are lighter, quieter yet less powerful than their gas-powered counterparts. They are environment-friendly, easy to start and require less maintenance.
There are corded and cordless versions.
Corded
Corded leaf blowers are suitable for small areas where there aren’t many obstacles. It’s not a good idea for a garden with a lot of trees. They are range restrictive as you are tethered to an electric outlet. You can buy extension cord with the maximum length of 150ft. These leaf blowers are best for hard surface and places near the house like patios, driveways and decks.
Cordless
For more mobility, you can turn to cordless leaf blowers. They can be used in various terrains: from yards, gardens, driveways, decks to gutters or roofs. They are ideal for yards or lawns from small to medium. Similar to corded versions, they work best on solid surface. They are limited on runtime and need charging before operation. If you wish to work in a larger area, consider buying spare batteries for longer operation.
Gas-powered leaf blowers
Gas powered leaf blowers are heavier, louder but more powerful than electric ones. They are not restricted by range or runtime so they are suited for large areas. There are handheld, backpack and walk behind models.
Handheld
A handheld gas-powered leaf blower offers mobility like a cordless one but it’s more powerful. It can deal with large gardens of up to an acre provided that you can handle the weight. It’s also a good choice when you have a lot of leaves or debris.
Back-pack
Back-pack leaf blowers bring not only mobility but also comfort. Although they are usually heavier than handheld models, the weight is distributed among arms, back and hip so it’s more comfortable to operate.
Walk behind
Walk behind models bring the ultimate power among other types of leaf blower. However, they are less maneuverable than back pack or handheld ones. They require a lot of maintenance and storage space.
Toro 51621 UltraPlus – Most Powerful Corded Electric Leaf Blower
Pros:
- Easy to handle.
- Variable speed control.
- Different nozzles for different types of leaves and tasks.
Cons:
- No extension cords included.
- Cord holder is not very good, easy to unplug.
- The leaf collection bag doesn’t last long.
| Maximum speed | 250 mph |
| Speed control | Variable |
| Air volume (blow mode) | 350 CFM |
| Air volume (vac mode) | 410 CFM |
| Impeller | Metal |
| Vac capability | Yes |
| Leaf reduction
(% of debris reduced to <1/2″) |
97% (varies with material types and conditions) |
| Included Attachments | Power insert, concentrator, oscillating nozzle, shred ring. |
| Weight | 8.9 lbs |
| Dimension | 9 x 45 x 14 in |
Toro 51621 weights 8.9lbs, which is not really light but thanks to the distribution of weight, most you can handle it comfortably without strain. It’s a 3 in 1 machine that blows, vacuums and mulches. It’s powerful with the maximum air speed of 250 mph and can move up to 350 CFM in blow mode and 410 CFM in vacuum mode.
There are three nozzles for specialized needs. In addition to the main tube, you can attach a power insert, a concentrator or an oscillating nozzle for specific tasks.
- The power insert narrows the end of the blowing tube, which generates stronger air force. You can use it to move wet leaves, heavy debris or pile them up into heaps.
- The concentrator is narrower than the power insert so it creates stronger flow of air. It can clean corners or crevices well.
- The oscillating nozzle is a noticeable feature of this leaf blower. Instead of direct and centered air stream the air goes from left to right which results in a wider blowing path. In conjunction with the high speed air flow, it cleans your area effectively and quickly.
This machine is even more versatile with variable speed control. You can turn up the speed to move stubborn debris or turn down the speed to build up the pile without blowing it over. The Shredz- All shred ring and the metal impeller shred leaves and debris into fine mulch. Toro claim that it can reduce up to 97% leaves into pieces of less than ½ inch. The mental impeller can shred twigs and even acorns or pine cones but in the long term, the impeller can be damaged. You should pick up big stones or metal debris before vacuum to protect the impeller.
The leaf collection bag has bottom zip, making it easy to dump the mulch. In spite of the good design, the bag is not durable, both the stitching and the material. While in vacuum mode, it releases a lot of dust. You may want face and eyes protection as there is a constant stream of air and dust from where the bag is attached.
The cord is only a couple of feet long so you need to buy an extension cord. You will need a heavy duty core and do not use an extension core of more than 150ft long. The cord holder doesn’t work very well. You need to be careful not to unplug it.
For some people, it can be too powerful to handle because it causes slight vibration at highest speed.
Greenworks PRO GBL80300/ GBL80320 – Most Powerful Cordless Electric Leaf Blower
Pros:
- Interchangeable battery.
- Battery can be charged up fast.
- Variable speed control with simple button.
- Quiet: only 60dB.
Cons:
- Unbalanced due to the heavy battery.
- No strap included causes strain after long use.
- Short battery longevity.
| Maximum speed | 125 MPH |
| Speed control | Variable |
| Air volume | 500 CFM |
| Vac capability | No |
| Battery included | No |
| Weight | 5.7 lbs (without battery)
8.9lbs (with 2Ah battery) |
| Charge time (with 2Ah battery) | 30 min |
| Dimension | 6.6 x 41.4 x 9.5 in |
Greenworks PRO 80V is a powerful but quiet electric blower. It’s equipped with a brushless motor that is equivalent to a 32cc gasoline engine. The maximum air flow level is 500 CFM and maximum air speed level is 125 MPH. It’s powerful enough to handle most of yard and garden work. You can use it inside the house as well, for example cleaning cobwebs off furniture.
The brushless motor delivers greater efficiency of power transfer so it’s lighter than a brushed one. The lack of brush in the motor increases durability as well as power and performance. It produces low noise, only 60dB, quieter than most corded counterparts. You don’t have to worry about wearing ear protection or driving your neighbors crazy.
There are 3 settings: Low, medium and high. With variable speed control, it comes in handy for different needs. At low speed, it can blow dry leaves of high piles, at high speed, it can blow away wet and heavy leaves, acorns, walnuts or stones.
One downside is the battery life. It drains so quickly at high setting, just in 20 minutes. Good news is the battery just needs 30 minutes to fully charge. It weighs 8.2lbs with battery but the battery is put close to the rear which makes it unbalanced and tire your arms quickly.
Husqvarna 952711925 – Most Powerful Gas Powered Handheld Leaf Blower
Pros:
- Slim and compact.
- Reduces stress on wrist and arm.
- Easy to start.
Cons:
- Not suitable for left-handed people.
- Must be careful in the use of fuel.
| Maximum speed | 170 MPH |
| Speed control | Variable |
| Air volume | 470 CFM |
| Vac capability | No |
| Cruise control | Yes |
| Adjustable tube length | Yes |
| Weight | 9.4lbs |
| Dimension | 16 x 38 x 8 in |
If you’re looking for a gas-powered leaf blower but not a heavy and bulky one, Husqvarna 125B is for you. It’s compact and slimmer than most gas-powered leaf blowers. It weighs 9.4lbs which can be handle comfortably even for women or senior people as long as you don’t prolong use. The blower tube is engineered to be in line with the handle to reduce stress on wrist and arm as well as rotational force on the wrist. In spite of the light weight and ergonomic design, your arms and wrist still suffer after one hour of use. To avoid this inconvenience, I highly recommend a shoulder strap.
The fan located on the right is a big advantage for right-handed people. They no longer have to worry about getting their clothes sucked into the fan. With the air volume up to 470 CFM and maximum air speed up to 170 CFM, this leaf blower is powerful enough to blow off almost all types of debris, from wet leaves to tree twigs or gravels. It’s most suitable for medium gardens.
The noise level is 94dB, so you need to protect your ears with hearing protection.
There are two nozzles included: a circular and a high velocity for different needs and tasks. Along with options on blowing tubes, variable speed control allows user to adjust air speed and power up to their needs. It has a cruise control that maintains a constant speed, this feature is helpful if you have a large area.
To avoid any unwanted problems, never use Ethanol gas for this blower. Ethanol damages the 2 stroke engine by separating the oil from the gas, causing rust, carbon buildup and premature ignition as well as harming plastic parts and hoses.
Husqvarna 150BT – Most Powerful Gas Powered Backpack Blower
Pros:
- X Torq engine reduces emissions and increase fuel efficiency.
- Ergonomic build, comfortable to handle.
- Easy to start.
Cons:
- A little hard to assemble.
| Cylinder displacement | 50.2 cc |
| Air speed | 250 MPH |
| Air flow | 494 CFM |
| Variable speed control | Yes |
| Cruise control | Yes |
| Weight | 22.5lbs |
| Dimension | 20 x 50 x 15 in |
Husqvarna 150BT is among top homeowner’s grade and entry level of commercial grade. It weighs 22.5lbs, which is light among backpack leaf blowers. Thanks to its ergonomic design with load-reducing shoulder, belt and chest strap, the force is applied evenly. LowVib dampeners between the engine and chassis lessen vibration to prevent your arms and back from tiring. Most users feel balanced and comfortable using it for long periods of time.
The X Torq engine patented by Husqvarna is claimed to reduce the amount of fumes up to 60% and increase energy efficiency up to 20%. The powerful 50.2 cc engine together with efficient fan design bring high air speed and air stream. The maximum air velocity with blower nozzle is 215MPH, with concentrator nozzle is 251MPH. The maximum air flow using blower nozzle is 431CFM and 191CFM using concentrator nozzle. During operation, variable speed throttle and cruise control make your work much easier. There are a blower nozzle and a concentrator nozzle included, if you want higher pressure, you can purchase a flat nozzle as an accessory.
This leaf blower produces noise level of 94dB. Always wear hearing protection that has adequate noise reduction.
Hursqvarna 150 BT is CARB compliant, which means it’s in compliance with California stringent regulations on the levels of harmful emission from internal combustion engine.
Southland SWB163150E – Most Powerful Walk Behind Leaf Blower
Pros:
- Balanced and solid design.
- No need to assemble.
- Adjustable chute and vane.
- Able to redirect the air flow toward the front of the unit.
- Easy to operate.
Cons:
- No throttle control.
| Cylinder displacement | 163 |
| Air speed | 150 MPH |
| Air flow | 1200 CFM |
| Variable speed control | No |
| Adjustable chute and vane | Yes |
| Weight | 95lbs |
| Dimension | 27.2 x 21.8 x 20.2 inches |
Southland SWB163150E Leaf Blower is a powerful walk-behind leaf blower which is suitable for commercial use or large properties. This unit features a 4 cycle, 163cc OHV engine that is capable of utilizing 6.5-Foot/Pound of torque, generating an air volume of 1200 CFM with maximum speed of 150 MPH. It’s 3-4 times more powerful than a backpack leaf blower. It can meet any demanding tasks. The fuel tank can hold up to 0.875 gallons of gasoline. You can operate it for long periods of time without refilling.
The well- designed steel fan is balanced, which reduces vibrations. It’s connected to a tapered crankshaft to increase strength and durability. The flow angle is adjustable for better control of air flow. There are 3 positions: level, 15 degrees up and 15 degrees down. If you want to change the air stream direction to the front, use the front flow attachment.
This walk behind leaf blower has 12inch rear wheels and swivel front wheel for maximum maneuverability over rough terrains. The swivel wheel can steer 360degree, which is similar to a wheel barrow’s. The steel padded foam handle is durable and provides comfort over prolonged use.
