Best leaf blowers – the best models to tidy up your garden

Put down that rake because one of the best leaf blowers will round up all those pesky leaves leaving your garden tidy without the faff.

Some of the best lawn mowers can help collect and mulch down leaves, but they aren't that handy if said leaves aren't just on your lawn, but also everywhere you look.

The leaf blower to the rake is like the vacuum cleaner is to the broom – it’s time to upgrade. Talking of vacuums, some of these machines suck leaves up, too.

Many of these leaf blowers can shred leaves too, making your life even easier. But more on that later. For now, you need to decide if you want to spend a bit to get a gadget that can make moving leaves easier than a rake.

The result will be a clean and tidy garden and path area. If you have a lot of leaves during the autumnal months a leaf blower or vacuum is well worth the investment for blasting those suckers right off your lawn.

Best leaf blowers and leaf vacuums

Best leaf blowers - tried and tested by the IH team

Best overall leaf blower

Stihl has been making leaf blowers since the early days. As a result, it has highly refined the process and adapted it to offer battery-powered units. The BGA 56 leaf blower is lightweight at 2kg but offers plenty of power with a maximum 750 m3/h power output – to rival even petrol and mains units. Thanks to Stihl design and experience you also get a well-balanced and weighted unit which means the gyroscopic effect is kept to a minimum.

You can hold this one-handed and there won’t be side-to-side blowing of your hand as the power is delivered directly forward. Since the blower tube is also length-adjustable you have a comfortable height for long periods of use without bending over. Battery life varies but ranges from 10 to 30 minutes depending on which battery you opt for. You can see what life is left at a touch. A comfy grip, low noise level and hanging hook all add to the perfection of this ultimate leaf blower. Shame the price reflects how good it is.

Best budget leaf blower

If you’re already a Ryobi ONE+ battery owner this is a great way to get a leaf blower without paying more for a new battery thanks to that swap-out function. The leaf blower itself isn’t quite as powerful as the competition, with an output of 156 m3/h. As a result, this is more for dry leaves being moved off hard surfaces like decking or a path.

This blower will move leaves off a lawn but any wet leaves are going to fight against it. You’ll find yourself focusing on sections that are more work. The long nozzle and flattened end do help to focus that power more effectively though.

Best cordless leaf blower

Featuring an AirAmplifier and Worx's patented LeafJet technology, this is Worx's most powerful and lightweight blower yet. Weighing only 1.7kg with the battery you wouldn't think it would be up to tackling the muckiest of jobs, but Worx attests to its petrol-like power, moving air up to 209 km/h speed and blasting even wet leaves and baked-in mud. You can also clean gutters with its range of attachments on offer.

Its brushless motor means it delivers more power and a longer run time. The battery lasts around 20 minutes, so you can whip around your outdoor areas with minutes to spare and reviewers found that it doesn't take long to recharge again. It's also slim and compact, which makes it the perfect choice if storage space is limited.

Plus, if you are keen on investing in any other Worx power tools, the PowerShare battery with this leaf blower will work with others within the range.

Best petrol leaf blower

Just when you thought there could be no way to get more powerful, Stihl offers its backpack blowers. While these can be seriously expensive units, we’ve opted for the most affordable. The BR200 leaf blower still offers more power than most other blowers out there. The catch is you need to wear the weighty motor part of the system on your back. This looks cumbersome but is really comfortable.

Since all the fuel and motor parts are sat on your back it feels relatively light and means the nozzle in your hand isn’t vibrating and can be moved comfortably without any weight on your wrist.

Best leaf blower with vacuum

If you're after a leaf blower and vacuum combi, the UniversalGardenTidy gets our vote. With a ProSilence feature, it reduces the sound and noise by up to 75%, producing a level of only 99 dB.

Its quick-release, moisture-repellent collection bag features 'dirt deflectors' which makes emptying leaves and cleaning easy. Reviewers like how you can easily switch between modes and speeds and find it does a good job of sucking and blowing. A real bonus is it will also shred the leaves, making it easier to throw in the compost bin or on a composter.

However, it is one of the heavier models on our list, weighing 4.7kg, which some may find cumbersome to use in long stints.

Best ergonomic leaf blower

For power, the Bosch ALB 36 LI is very similar to the Ryobi unit, which means you will struggle with wet leaves. However, the included battery does keep going for a decent 25 minutes on a charge so it can handle larger areas. That Bosch design is apparent from the start with quiet running and very low vibration feedback.

While these make it comfortable it’s the balanced weight that’s a real winner, making all 25 minutes of that battery life use very smooth going. The nozzle is fluted enough to make the power more useful. It's also long enough to make sure even taller users won’t need to worry about bending over to use this.

How we test leaf blowers

At Ideal Home, we believe that to give our verdict on the best leaf blowers and to rank them, we need to have tested them ourselves. That's why you'll find star ratings on the leaf blowers in this list, which we've decided on after extensively testing them in our own space. Every leaf blower in this list has been reviewed by a member of our team, so you know that you can trust us to give you a detailed look at each model.

As well as paying close attention to how they performed on the job, we also make sure to evaluate practical features like how lightweight each leaf blower is, the standout features of each and which ones are good value for money. Where we can, we've also sought to keep hold of these leaf blowers for long-term testing, so that we can feedback on just how they deliver after years of use. Below you can find out more about exactly who has tested the leaf blowers in this round-up.

Luke Edwards

As a veteran tech journalist of over two decades, Luke knows what makes a gadget tick but is also well aware of what you want to read about when doing your research.

He has worked in this world for over 20 years and loves testing, reviewing and working with brands on new gadgets. Not only does this mean he's got plenty of experience reviewing tech, but he is in a good position to see how trends have appeared and caught on or been left by the wayside.

As such he consults for many tech companies helping them create new gadgets. All that adds up to words which you can expect to give you clear guidance on what's worth investing in, to upgrade your home and your life for now and in the future.

How to choose a leaf blower

When considering buying a leaf blower it's important to think about the job in hand and how best to get it done. The first and most obvious point to ponder is the amount of leaves you need to clear away. If you have a large garden or path area then going for a battery-powered leaf blower might not make sense compared to a mains or petrol-powered model.

With the latter, you can get the job done in one without stopping. On the flip side, you might have an awkward area where an extension cord is no good, or you might not be a fan of running noisy and smelly fuel-powered machinery. These are the different types of leaf blower to consider:

Battery powered blowers

These generally offer a rechargeable battery that can keep running for under half an hour at a time. They offer a little less power than the other options here but are lighter and more manoeuvrable.

Mains powered blowers

Mains-powered leaf blowers will require an extension cord, generally. However, that means no fuel or charging worries and plenty of eco-friendly power. Petrol-powered blowers: these might be smelly and noisy but for pure power and freedom to move about these are the best options.

FAQs

Why do I need a leaf blower?

The obvious answer to this question? You need a leaf blower to clear away leaves. But your clear up job might also involve rubbish and larger twigs. So you need to consider if a leaf blower is best for the task in hand. Consider that if you’re going for a blower you may still need to collect the leaves to dispose of them. You might opt for a vacuum model that also sucks up those leaves for easy disposal.

Do I need a leaf blower or a garden vacuum too?

While a leaf blower is powerful and can generally take care of leaves both wet and dry, a vacuum isn’t as pervasive. For dry leaves, in smaller quantities, a vacuum can be a useful way to avoid the bagging up stage of leaf clearance. If the vac has a shredder built in this can be even better as you’re left with a nice fine mix that uses the bag space efficiently for minimal changes – plus it’s a great consistency for compost.

However, for wet leaves or anything larger like rubbish or twigs, these vacuums do struggle. They also often require changing of parts and can be a fiddly experience anyway – it's often easier to just bag up the leaf pile you’ve blown together.

How much noise does a leaf blower make?

Noise is another factor to take into account. If you don’t want to cause a fuss with the neighbours you might want to avoid the loud petrol powered blowers and opt for something a bit more people friendly. Another plus for those with sensitive ears too.

Are leaf blowers uncomfortably heavy?

Vibration and weight are also factors for those wanting comfort. The corded blowers are generally lightest and offer very little vibration. The battery units can be a little heavier again. The fuel powered blowers can weigh a lot and cause a lot of vibration which may numb the hands and wrists after use. This is generally a factor only for those with larger gardens that are going to take longer than half an hour to clear.

How much should I pay for a leaf blower?

Price is a big factor but generally the more you spend the more power and ease of use you get. So if you want it all - lightweight, quiet, powerful, easy to use, long life and comfortable - you’ll need to pay more. If you can sacrifice some of those factors you can save money on your new blower.