Written by Terry Smith
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UK’s Best cordless garden leaf blowers that are heavy duty: Bosch and Makita tested
This article was last updated on December 13th, 2022 at 1:49 am
After testing the heavy duty cordless leaf blowers (and budget). I’ve come to the conclusion that they are now absolutely superb if you want to push piles of leaves or evergreen leave like foliage around (even set and stuck down leaves), but definitely have their limits. For example. If you want a leaf vacuum then don’t expect standard corded or petrol leaf vacuum performance. And likewise, don’t expect corded electric leaf blower prices, or anywhere near the raw power of a petrol leaf blower. But, as a means to blow leaves into a pile cordless leaf blowers are light weight and pack plenty of punch. They’ll even most wet and stuck down leaves as you can see from my testing later in the article. It’s worth having a look at my what you need to know about cordless leaf blower section too. I worked out a lot from testing these cordless leaf blowers that I wouldn’t have otherwise known.
However, if you’re just looking to push a few piles of leaves about then a cordless leaf blower is absolutely spot on as you can see from my test of the Makita DUB186Z 18V Li-ion LXT Blower which once again proved to me Makita are well up there outside of power tools and excellent value too. Out the box, I was up and running in literally 30 seconds. Hard to believe the way tools come these days so here’s a quick rundown video:
I tested theses cordless leaf blowers based on weight to power, value, heavy duty build, and of course, how long batteries will last. And talking of batteries:
Some of you might not want to invest in heavy battery tech, and if that’s the case, an all in one solution with batteries included that performed great is the Einhell GE-CL 18 Li E Power X-Change 18V cordless leaf blower and one of the reasons it’s getting a shout out as a quality solution is because I absolutely loved the heavier duty Einhell GP-LB model has a leaf blower gutter cleaner set that fits on it.
Before we get deep into the review, let’s have a look at what made it to my review.
Best cordless leaf blowers picked after testing:
Makita DUB186Z 18V Li-ion LXT Blower – Easily replaced the previous top pick after testing – [personally tested and proven]
Einhell GE-CL 18 Li E Power X-Change 18V cordless leaf blower – best value for money because their overall tool range is super, but definitely worth taking a look at the LawnMaster 24V Cordless Leaf Blower with Battery too
Bosch ALB 36 LI Always reliable Bosch is a decent alternative if you don’t like the Makita [personally tested and proven]
Makita DUB184Z 18V Li-ion LXT Brushless Blower – heavy duty pick or the EGO Power+ leaf blower – Not a bad budget tool for heavy duty use as an alternative.
Worth a mention:
Worx Leafjet – Decent value alternative if you don’t like the Einhell
Greenworks Axial cordless leaf blower
Ryobi ONE+ leaf blower – Easy pick if you already have these batteries, performs well
Terratek cordless leaf blower – cheapest cordless leaf blower (note I didn’t say best value!)
What you need to know about cordless garden leaf blowers
Before we get into the reviews let’s take a look at what you need to know about cordless leaf blowers that may sway you in picking the best leaf blower for you. After testing multiple cordless leaf blowers I soon realised some features for example are cool (like easy to assemble tubing), but others, like variable power switches are pretty much useless because you always want full power!
Can cordless leaf blowers be heavy duty?
This is the most important question that needs answering because it is also the most complex. Let’s start with a simple yes. The reason is they can perform very powerfully however the problem is value for money. A heavy duty petrol leaf blower like the Makita BHX2501 24.5 cc 4-Stroke Petrol Handheld Leaf Blower tested and used will blow away and cost considerably less money. So when you are looking for raw power, I would personally say from testing there are better options. This is just my opinion. Though I would add to that I have literally used 3 dozen leaf blowers over the last twenty years 🙂
Can cordless leaf blowers clear gutters?
I have to tell you I was both shocked and pleased to say absolutely yes and even the budget range Einhell have got a quality solution for this. if you read my work frequently you’ll know I no longer need these as I use gutter guards everywhere in my house now, but if you haven’t yet got around to that, then cordless leaf blowers will work.
However, what I noticed was if the gutter has been left so long it’s literally full of beautiful soil, it won’t budge an inch. You’ll still have to clean your gutters the old fashion way (in my case I use a petrol pressure washer) 😀
Power – is cordless enough or do I need a petrol leaf blower?
Power is an interesting question. Since I used the Makita petrol leaf blower as example above it seems fair to compare their petrol and cordless versions together. The petrol produces an equivalent of 810 Watts!! Now the makita cordless is 18V and I use a 5 amp battery so has a max power rating of 90 Watts. I happen to know it’s more like 50 Watts from actually checking the rating personally at max power! (Sad I know) 😀
Amazingly this doesn’t make the petrol ten times more powerful though. The electric corded version is far more efficient and blows at a staggering 220mph which is actually more than the petrol leaf blowers! (albeit a considerably smaller tube). But the point is for smaller jobs a cordless leaf blower isn’t that much behind a petrol. (Larger jobs the petrol is a no brainer.)
Weight
Cordless leaf blowers are lightweight by nature, but some more so than others – my top pick from testing is the Makita and it literally weighs less than a bag of sugar but remember a battery adds considerable weight, especially if a heavy duty 5 or 6 amp lithium battery. By contrast petrols are about 4.5kg (4 times heavier when battery factored).
If I was picking a cordless leaf blower on weight alone I would not look at the weight of the blower itself. But instead look to but down the battery size. For example I’d pick a 2 amp battery instead of 6 amp. This is the best weight saving rather than compromise on machine.
Variable speed
The idea of variable speed is to avoid pushing pebbles about or damaging flowers in around around bedding areas. I have to tell you there was not one single point in all the trials that I really thought it was worth turning down the power. This has to be the most useless of all features on a cordless leaf blower. However, feel free to email in and let me know if you come up with some use – I’ll gladly change my stance!
Noise
Yes, most cordless tools come with the benefit of being extremely quiet compared to petrol. And whilst cordless leaf blowers are definitely quieter, the noise is really annoying still and I definitely opt for ear covers because I really really dislike the sound they make. It’s almost like a whining noise, not too dissimilar to that of the misses when I haven’t loaded the dishwasher at the agreed hour 😀 All jokes aside. Have a listen to the video in the intro!
Is the battery included – value for money?
I will always point out if my recommended tool needs a battery and charger separately. They are almost always the larger expense unless it’s a seriously heavy duty leaf blower. The reason being, that the lithium ion batteries that power these kinds of tools are not exactly what you’d call cheap and it’d rare to find a good one with charger for under a hundred pounds though the Einhell impresses me.
However there are some benefits once you get started with batteries – most brands that have special ranges of products that allow the owners to use the same battery for all – Makita for example have over 200 tools that fit the batteries you’ll buy in this review for example!
So with that covered let’s get going on these reviews:
So here is my review of the best cordless garden leaf blowers
1. Makita DUB186Z 18V Li-ion LXT Blower
Before we get going on the Makita DUB186Z 18V Li-ion LXT Blower and why I’ve picked it top after testing. Here’s a quick video that shows what it can do, how annoying the noise is (like all cordless leaf blowers), and surprisingly how easy it is to get going. you can skip this if you watched the video in the intro though 🙂 The assembly was literally less than a minute from opening the box to up and running. Just the tube to attach that swivels and locks on:
Here’s a look at the quick setup and performance in both wet and dry conditions for leaves and evergreen foliage:
The biggest negative for me is the thing sounds like an annoying hair dryer that won’t stop whining. Despite it being 20 decibels lower than it’s petrol competitors, I still wear ear protection just because I intensely dislike the noise it makes. The other thing I don’t like is the variable power switch. At no point ever did I feel like turning the power down on testing. It’s just not got enough power to worry about that. However, let’s say you happened to be trying to blow some light debris out of a flower bed then I can see a use case there, but very minimal.
The huge positives are on a dry day with leaves and foliage you’re going to be out there half an hour max getting the garden clear. This works particularly well on artificial grass and as I tested I didn’t get a video of that sorry – but even with quite stuck in leaves it came up fairly well. Getting leaves out of a normal lawn isn’t bad but if it’s wet it won’t pull them all up.
You won’t mind the battery performance at all. I get easily twenty minutes out of a full 5 amp battery. I noticed toward the end of running the battery warming up so it is working hard.
I’m 5 foot 10 and as you can see in the video it’s a very comfortable height and without reaching too much or leaning I get the nozzle where I want it. I can hold this for twenty minutes and feel no adverse effects – no aching, or pains. It’s very light weight and of all the competition and it’s direct competitors in this listing I can safely say it was right up there as the best for ease of use and weight, if not the best. I am using the Makita 5 amp battery. and combined with body it’s 1.4kg – really really lightweight and amazing how it packs such a punch.
Given it’s my top pick it really is a short review, but the truth is these things are basically large hair dryers without a heating element. This Makita is reliable, well built, I’ve been using this one daily for the last 6 months and is as good as new. I can comfortably recommend this knowing you’ll be pleased.
2. Einhell GE-CL 18 Li E Power X-Change 18V Cordless Leaf Blower
If you already have Einhell batteries or like this range, it won’t surprise you that the Einhell GE-CL 18 Li E Power X-Change is just like all the other decent budget tools they make. Great value, works well, reliable, but not the best.
However as we covered, cordless leaf blowers aren’t the most powerful and perfect solution anyway. To give you an idea of what you can expect here’s a quick video of it in use:
As you can see, it performs probably just as well as the Makita in practical terms, with maybe just a bit less power. There isn’t a lot in it but I feel Makita has the edge when these direct competitors are put together.
Not that it matters much, but the charge time is about 80 minutes and you get about half hour runtime, so very similar to the other decent blowers in this review. This really doesn’t matter at all. Anyone using this thing for more than half hour at a time should be investing in a petrol version or perhaps a corded electric tool that is more heavy duty. For light work it is more than acceptable.
One thing that absolutely confuses the heck out of me is the claim it is 900 Watt rated. Doing the maths this literally does not stack up. Firstly it’s 18v and a 4 amp battery. I see 72 Watts here at 1 hour – unless science doesn’t work. So, from my testing the battery lasted beyond ten minutes. So being lithium power draw is linear: 60/10 * 72 Watts = I see a max of 430 Watts. Einhell, please feel free to reach out and correct me.
Either way, it’s a decent tool and worthy of my budget pick, the only option I’d pick instead of this is the Lawnmaster which is a bit cheaper, but a relative unknown and Einhell has a huge tool range therefore more choice beyond your leaf blower
3. Makita DUB184Z 18V Li-ion LXT Brushless Blower
Super power, but not as powerful as petrol, and given it costs more when batteries factored, it’s a hard product to recommend. That said if you do have the batteries and you don’t want the hassled of petrol, you literally can get most of the performance:
This is a very difficult tool to buy in my opinion. If you need heavy duty I implore you to take a look at the petrol range instead. Unless you really hate petrol smell / noise / and safety then it’s difficult to stack these up against each other. And because of the extreme power when you think about cordless blowers, (90dB), you definitely want ear cover as this is annoying on steroids compared to my top pick 😀
The only place I feel it beats petrol hands down is in weight when compared to petrol. It struggles for the other major disciplines, but if you don’t mind the value and slightly less performance read on:
If your mind is made up on cleaner batteries, as you can see from the quick demo above you’ll have no trouble at all moving dry debris from your drive and I can confirm it’s just as efficient on grass that isn’t wet too.
Like the top pick it isn’t perfect when the leaves are wet and sticky, but it is far more effective than the smaller leaf blowers in this review, hence making my heavy duty pick. The only blower I’d pick other than this is the EGO but, I still prefer this model.
Again I hate the variable blower power function. If I wanted a weaker blower I’d get the smaller unit that is lighter and more comfy in the hand. This thing needs to be turned up full to be max effective. and talking of comfortable. You definitely want the should strap vs the smaller models as this is nothing like them in terms of ease of carry and use – it is far more robust and awkward.
Amazingly,
4. LawnMaster 24V Cordless Leaf Blower with Battery
Am I excited by the LawnMaster cordless blower? Not really. It is another brand that has rocked up and I want to give it a bit more time before I can really recommend it. With that said, it’s quickly become a top seller online, if it proves to stay that way I’ll buy one next Autumn and test it against the Makita.
If you’re prepared to take a flyer now you are probably getting a bargain with that said. Price wise it’s actually cheaper than the Einhell and definitely has more power.
With 15 mins runtime and a 2amp battery rated 24v. You’ve got yourself a max rated 100 Watt blower, which (if the ratings can be relied on) is probably more powerful than the top pick but when you look at performance they are not far apart.
With a 3 hour charge time and 15 min runtime you want to work quickly – unlike the Einhell this is inconvenient to stop and start. If this has a weakness it is definitely charge time, but if you’re in no rush it really is hard to ignore the price tag. And if you are willing to buy a battery from their website directly, this one might actually be the bargain you’re looking for.
Overall, it’s a quality unit – it would have to be to make it high up on my listings but has yet to face the test of time. Gut feeling is this is a bargain but worth doing further research yourself.
5. EGO Power+ 580 CFM Variable-Speed 56-Volt Lithium-ion Cordless Leaf Blower
Specification: Power Source: Battery 5.0 Ah 56 Volt, Air Velocity: 168 mph, Air Volume: 580 CFM, Running time: 75 mins (Battery 5.0 Ah ARC Lithium™)
When I first reviewed and got a go at using The EGO Power+550 CFM is definitely one of the best cordless leaf blowers about two years ago it was the top pick until I got hold of the Makita DUB184Z 18V which blows this away in my opinion- no pun intended. 😀 All jokes aside they both perform well.
Offering the user excellent control over the power output, and a top-class performance, there is a lot to like about this product. It is vastly more powerful than the mid range top pick though, and definitely more powerful than the Einhell. So don’t rule it out!
EGO Power have armed their leaf blower with a brushless electric motor in the hopes that it will reduce vibration, increase durability, and less drain on the 56-volt battery. I can’t really comment on the longevity of the motor as I’ve only spent a short time with the tool, but generally, brushless motors do outlast ones with brushes.
Vibration is indeed much lower than most petrol leaf blowers, and around the same as lower powered electric model, which is more than tolerable. Noise levels are about what you’d expect from a cordless leaf blower and are, again, nothing really bothersome.
With this machine being able to produce airflow speeds of up to 168mph (270kph), you should expect quite a lot of battery drain, and if used on full power, and with the turbo button pressed, you will see that. However, dial the power down a little, and stay off the turbo, and you’ll see that the brushless motor does do what its supposed to and give you a decent running time off a full charge – when you compare it to other models that are in the heavier duty range, it’s a decent bit of kit.
The variable speed controls come in very handy for certain jobs, but I have to say the very lowest settings are pretty much useless for damp leaves as there isn’t enough power. One press of the turbo button though, and you will see what this machine can do. Leaves, twigs, pebbles, and more, are easily handled by the EGO Power+ leaf blower, and I would say with confidence that it is one of the most powerful cordless leaf blowers out there.
It’s fair to say that this tool impressed me, but it has its own share of drawbacks, just like any other product. Obviously, the first one is the battery life, and also the price of spare EGO Power+ batteries. If you’re going to be clearing a long drive, you’ll need more than one battery, and they don’t come that cheap. On the plus side, if you have other EGO Power+ products, you can use the battery from that tool too.
The cordless leaf blower can feel a little heavy with a large battery in it too, and there isn’t any shoulder strap included in the box. I didn’t find it overly cumbersome, but I did have a bit of aching in my wrist after 2 full batteries worth of use, and I’m relatively fit and strong.
Putting this mighty little machine together was child’s play, and just required me to click and twist a couple of pieces together. This way of connecting the chute does have its flaws, and you have to be careful not to knock it against your leg too much or it can twist and loosen and even fall off. Thankfully, it only takes seconds to reattach it, but I’d like to see an improvement on this in the future.
If you already have an EGO Power+ product, then I would say this is a must buy leaf blower. It is really powerful, well-built, and has some great features. However, I can see some people being put off by the price. For me, I think it’s worth the price tag but when you factor in a spare battery, it does get pricey. So, I wouldn’t recommend this for big jobs, unless you don’t mind paying.
6. WORX WG543E 18V (20V MAX) LEAFJET Cordless Garden Leaf Blower
Specification: Power Source: Battery 20V Li-ion, Max. air volume Speed I: 518 m3/h, Max. air volume Speed II: 696 m3/h, Max. air velocity Speed I: 153 km/h, Max. air velocity Speed II: 209 km/h,
Worx latest cordless leaf blower, the Leafjet, is definitely the most futuristic looking model out there. I’m not kidding, this tool looks more like something you’d see the Storm Troopers in Star Wars carrying into battle than a machine to blow leaves around but there’s no way I am buying this over the EGO or the Makita heavy duty models – sorry WORX but it’s definitely a good blower and if you have the batteries then it’s a no brainer. Easy pick.
Looks aside, this is a quality product that has some very nice design features and is sure to please anyone who buys it. In fact, part of the reason the tool looks the way it does is because of the way the leafjet operates.
By extending the chute or retracting it, you can swap between having a wider dispersion of air coming out of the end, or have a more concentrated jet, and when I say jet, I mean it, this thing is very powerful.
Actually, the power of the Worx leafjet surprised me considering just how lightweight the tool is. I’ve used this Brands other leaf blower vacuum tool, the WG505E, and that was not what I would call heavy, but the Leafjet is light as a feather in comparison.
Not only is it lightweight, but also extremely well balanced, and I can’t see anyone having any problems holding this in one hand for as long as they like. There are a lot of attachments available to use with this leaf blower, such as a long reach gutter cleaner, and these will add to the weight, but when used without them, it only weighs around 1.7kg.
Durability is ensured through the solid and hard-wearing plastics used for the casing, and inside you have a brushless electric motor that will keep the leaf blower ticking for years to come.
As well as the two different blowing modes, there is also a switch on the handle that you can press with your thumb to choose between two different speeds. I would have liked to have seen a bit more of a selection in this department to be honest, but when combined with the extending and retracting of the chute, it was fairly easy to get things how I wanted them.
The Leafjet comes with a 4Ah lithium-ion battery and charger, and battery life is around what you’d expect for a powerful cordless leaf blower. In our tests we clocked it at around 15 minutes continuous use when used on full power, and 20+ minutes when used on the lower speed setting.
This is a great new addition to the cordless leaf blower market, and is good choice for people with smaller gardens and driveways. It can be used for bigger jobs, but you’ll either have to wait for the battery to recharge, or fork out for a spare.
7. Bosch ALB 36 LI Cordless Leaf Blower with 36 V 2.0 Ah Lithium-Ion Battery
Specification: Power Source: Battery 2 Ah 36 V, Airflow speed: 170 – 250 km/h, Running time: up to 25 mins
The Bosch Alb 36 LI cordless leaf blower is a part of their ‘Power for All’ range of products that can all be powered by the same kind of battery, much like a lot of other brands these days such as Makita or Greenworks. That’s because everyone has probably copied the good old Bosch. This comes with batteries and is definitely the direct competitor of my budget pick Einhell, and the Lawn master is in this range of power too. Despite being 36V I don’t think it offers much more power than the top pick heavy duty models in my opinion though is an easy buy if you are already invested in Bosch cordless range.
This has both advantages and also some disadvantages. On the downside, it tends to make the batteries quite expensive, even more than the actual tools themselves in many cases.
The upside to this idea is that you can buy a quality garden power tool without the battery or charger for much cheaper (about half price with this particular model) if you already own a product from that same range and use the battery you already have.
If you decide to pay the full price and goo with the whole package, you’ll get a 36V 2ah lithium ion battery that’ll take about 70-90 minutes to charge and give you around 20-30 minutes of continuous use before it runs out.
Like a lot of new Bosch products, this one includes their Syneon chip. This chip’s job is to control the interactions between the motor, gearbox, and the battery to make it the most power efficient tool it can be.
The Brand have done tip top job with the noise and vibration levels on this cordless leaf blower, and I’d even say that although you should always wear protective gear, you could probably get away without the ear muffs if you’re only have a quick 15 minute tidy up.
Weighing 1.9kg, this model is unlikely to give you any problems moving it around, even when carried in one hand, and what weight there is, is well balanced.
The variable speed function gives you a decent level of control over the power output. With air velocity ranging from 170 to 250 kmph, all changeable on the go with just a small hand movement, you can always find the right setting for the job at hand.
We tried this cordless leaf blower out on both dry and wet leaves, on pavement, and on grass, and it worked great in all circumstances, shifting various garden debris without ever struggling, even with larger twigs.
As you would expect from Bosch, the body, tube, and just about everything else feels well-made. The plastic is high quality and robust, and the motor feels smooth and powerful. Even the way the blow tube clicks into the main unit gives you a sense of things being engineered to a good standard.
Lightweight, easy to set up and use, and plenty of power. The Bosch ALB 36LI cordless blower is a fine product that I think justifies it’s two hundred pounds price tag. And if you are in the market for a chainsaw, hedge trimmer, etc. you could get a good deal on one from the same line and save few quid.
8. Greenworks 40V Leaf Dust Blower Cordless
Specification: Power Source: Battery 4.0 Ah 40V, Air volume: 340 CFM, Air speed (Max): 185 MPH
When you fist see the super-low price tag on this Greenworks 40V cordless leaf blower, you might be tempted to hit the buy button straight away, but there is something to consider before you do.
At this price, the tool doesn’t come with the battery or charger and so they will have to be purchased separately and this raises the cost quite significantly.
However, if you already own a Greenworks cordless lawn mower, cordless pressure washer, cordless brush cutter, or any of their many other tools that uses the same kind of battery, you can simply use the battery from those instead, saving you a lot of money and making this cordless leaf blower a very enticing prospect.
With a fully charged Greenworks G40B2 2ah lithium ion Battery, this little beast can produce air speeds of up to 110 mph/1777kph and an air volume output of 680m2/hr. That’s some serious performance for a leaf blower that only weighs in at 1.5 kilograms before the battery is plugged in.
Working at this power will eat up that battery life though, but you’ll still get a solid 30 minutes of continuous use out of it before you’ll need to recharge, or you can use a 4ah battery for longer sessions.
Greenworks have done their usual, good work with the build quality on this cordless leaf blower, ensuring that the weight is kept down to a minimum but without sacrificing durability or robustness. It’s a fine line to tread but Greenworks seem to have a knack for it and produce great products again and again. They aren’t the cheapest garden power tools, but you do get what you pay for.
One of the biggest complaints I hear about high powered leaf blowers is the noise they make. With this Greenworks model, I was really surprised at how much quieter it was than a lot of other blowers that I’ve tried over the years. You still need to wear ear protectors, but it is noticeably less than a petrol leaf blower.
There are 6 speed settings to choose from that are selected with a roll of your thumb over the dial located on the rubberised handle, and the built in axial fan on this model gives you a good level of airflow and velocity throughout.
This is a very user friendly cordless leaf blower, with minimal controls, and an easy to attach / detach blowing tube. This makes it both easy to set up, and makes storage a whole lot easier.
The handle and overall design is both ergonomic and eye catching, and if you can excuse the lime green and black colour scheme, I think you’d have to say that this is a nice looking piece of kit.
If you buy this with the battery and charger, it’ll cost around 150 pounds and while that is quite reasonable for a cordless leaf blower of this quality, you can make this much better value for money if you already own a Greenworks gardening tool, or you intend to buy one.
5. Ryobi OBL1820S ONE+ Cordless Blower
Specification: Power Source: Battery 18 V, Airflow speed: 245 km/h, Running time: 15-22 mins
Ryobi’s dedication to producing high quality tools has seen them become a household name in recent years, and they are showing no signs of slipping with their excellent cordless leaf blower.
If you are not familiar with Ryobi and their ONE+ range, no need to worry, as basically all it means is that you can use the same battery from one product to power another. This is nothing new, and Makita and other companies have been doing it for decades, but it will save you money if you want to own another Ryobi ONE+ tool such as a strimmer.
First off, let me say that this is another powerful cordless leaf blower, capable of producing airflow at speeds up to 245kmh. This airflow, combined with the narrow chute, gives you a really focused blast of air that can help you to shift damp leaves, twigs, and all kinds of garden mess with ease.
All that power does come at a cost though, and you will find that you are running out of battery after just 10 minutes continuous runtime if you use the smallest 2.5Ah size. If you don’t already own a Ryboi ONE+ product, then I would recommend taking advantage of the tool, battery, and charger bundle, which contains a 4Ah battery. Alternatively, you could buy cheap 3rd party 5Ah batteries and use those instead.
15 minutes runtime might not sound a lot, but actually, for most people, it would be long enough to get most jobs done, and if powered by a 4Ah battery, you should have no issues at all. We tested a 4Ah to see how it would take to charge from completely flat, and it was fully loaded and ready to go in about 2 hours, which isn’t bad at all.
The Ryobi cordless leaf blower is a well put together bit of kit, and everything feels nice and solid, with no loose parts, unwanted rattles, or anything like that. The motor never feels laboured either, leading me to believe that the quality is not only skin deep. I have owned Ryobi tools before and I’ve never been disappointed with their durability, and I see no reason why this product would be any different.
As we all know, quality costs money, and Ryobi tools aren’t the cheapest things on the market. Having said that they aren’t overly expensive either, and I would rather pay a little extra for a bit of peace of mind than be left holding a budget product that has given up after a few months. There are various options available too, such as just buying the tool, as well as bundles with batteries and chargers as already mentioned.
Apart from the battery running out fairly quickly, the only other problem I see with the Ryobi cordless leaf blower is that there are no variable speed controls, and so it is always on full power. This means you have to be careful with it when working near fragile plants, and take a few steps back to lower the chance of accidental damage.
So, I have to say that this is one of the better cordless leaf blowers that I’ve spent time with. Yes, it works through the battery life pretty quick, but that is going to be the case with the vast majority of powerful leaf blowers, and in my opinion it’s better than having a tool that doesn’t have enough grunt to shift leaves.
9. Terratek Cordless Leaf Blower 20V Battery and Charger
Specification: Power Source: Battery 20 V, Air Speed: 120mp/h/193km/h, Running time: 30 – 40 minutes,
Most cordless leaf blowers aren’t that cheap, and even if you see one for under a hundred quid, you will often find, upon closer inspection, that the unit doesn’t come with a battery or charger. After buying both of these things separately, you soon realise that you’re spending between 150-200 pounds anyway.
Not everyone wants to spend that much on a gardening tool, especially people who won’t be using it that much. So, if you’re looking for a good, low-budget leaf blower, complete with battery and charger, this Terratek product is sure to interest you.
For such a low price, I admit being surprised when I looked at the spec sheet and saw that this cordless leaf blower has been fitted with a brushless motor. I was also happy to find out that the Terratek didn’t run too loudly either, which is a common problem with low-cost leaf blowers.
At only 2kg in weight, you won’t need to use a shoulder strap, or worry about getting strained wrists r shoulders, and although the overall balance of the tool isn’t as good as the Worx Leafjet, it doesn’t feel awkward to use, even in tighter areas.
The build quality is ok, but it does feel more like a children’s toy than an actual gardening power tool when you first get it in your hands. Turn the machine on though, and you realise you were mistaken to think so. However, I don’t know how well it would stand up to being dropped a couple of times.
The 20V battery that comes with the leaf blower will take about an hour or so to fully charge in the supplied charger, and then that will give you roughly a quarter of an hour of use, so about average for this kind of product.
Unfortunately, there aren’t any variable speed or power controls on the Terratek cordless leaf blower, and to be honest, it is not all that powerful either, but what do you expect for a product that costs a third of the price of most of the products on this page.
This tool will move dry leaves off hard surfaces, and would be good for tidying up dust in the workshop, and light duties like that, but don’t buy it and expect it to be able to blow tons of wet leaves and twigs across your garden.
This product is easy to assemble and easy to use, it is lightweight, and not too noisy. No, it is not the most powerful leaf blower out there, but it is far from useless, and has a price tag that is very enticing, even if it just to buy as a backup leaf blower for specific jobs.
Cordless garden leaf blowers are a real asset these days, they make getting around the garden super easy as well as being pretty powerful. We have taken a look at the best cordless garden leaf blowers and thrown in a couple of corded versions just so that you can see how much cheaper they are when compared. A cordless leaf blower should be well built and have a battery that lasts long enough to get round a normal sized garden. They need enough power to suck up leaves that are stuck to the ground and generally make the job of a hand leaf collector redundant!
I hope you enjoyed our review of the best cordless garden leaf blowers. We have many more leaf blowers if you didn’t find anything you like here. If you think we missed any of the best cordless garden leaf blowers then please feel free to drop us a note and we will look at it for you.
Best cordless leaf blowers FAQ
Are there any cordless leaf blowers that will last as long as a petrol leaf blower?
Not as far as I know, and I would be very surprised to hear that there is one available. Deciding whether or not to go with a cordless leaf blower usually comes down to not wanting to deal with the noise and smells that come with petrol tools, and also for the reduction in weight. There is also the fact that they are better for the environment and easer to use, unfortunately, a shorter running time is just part of the deal.
When it comes to blowing leaves, especially wet leaves, you need to have a pretty powerful cordless leaf blower. Have a good look at the specifications of the models you are interested in to see the air speed/velocity and also the air volume output. You want your leaf blower to be able to produce at least 170kmph and if you have really stubborn leaves, a blower with power to blast out 220kmph or more is better.
Can I use any lithium-ion battery in any cordless leaf blower?
Some brands design their batteries and products so that they can only be sued together, but there are third party battery makers who design their products to fit into certain well-known brands’ products. Usually, these batteries aren’t as good quality as the official brand-named ones, but they are generally much cheaper. You can always do a search on Google to see what batteries can be sued with which products before you buy.
Are cordless leaf blowers as powerful as corded electric and petrol machines?
The best cordless leaf blowers can be said to be as powerful as their corded counterparts, but they can’t really compare in power to petrol leaf blowers. This is normal for power tools though, and it doesn’t matter if you are talking about leaf blowers, leaf vacuums, lawnmowers, or hedge trimmers; petrol will always be the most powerful. However, there are plenty of not-so-enticing things that come along with petrol machines, as we have already mentioned.
How can I extend my cordless leaf blower’s running time?
The only real way to extend the running time of a cordless leaf blower, is to have a second battery charged and ready to go. Turning down the power of the leaf blower, if that’s an option, can prolong battery life, but often that makes the tool not suited for most jobs due to a lack of airflow speed. So, your best option is to shell out for a spare battery and remember to keep it charged.
Well, that’s all for today guys, but I think we have offered up a good selection of information for you here today that should help you make the right buying choice. See you next time.
Conclusion
The best cordless garden leaf blowers perfectly bridge the gap between electric leaf blowers and also give you all the versatility and manoeuvrability that you get with petrol leaf blowers, but without any of the faffing around mixing fuel, the extra noise and vibration, nor the fumes. They are also much lighter and so reduce the risk of any strains or aches from working with them for long tidying sessions.
Prices for these handy gardening tools are getting lower and lower all the time too, and it is now quite possible to get a budget model for well under a hundred pounds, with some priced as low as fifty quid!
As they say in game of Thrones ‘winter is coming’ but before that we have Autumn to deal with and the leafy apocalypse that comes with it. Make sure you’re armed with the right tools to see you through it by reading our in-depth product reviews, and be sure that you’re making the right decision when it comes to finding the best cordless leaf blowers in the UK.
Possible problems with cordless leaf blowers
I’ve said many times that the greatest attribute of cordless gardening tools is also their weakest link. I am, of course, talking about the fact that they are powered by batteries, and while that gives you freedom of movement, it limits how long you can use the tools.
Cordless leaf blowers are no different. In fact, because they are producing so much power, the batteries can drain very quickly and then you’ll have to wait for them to recharge, which usually takes about an hour, but it varies from product to product.
Don’t worry if that doesn’t sound great, as there are ways to increase the time you can use these tools. Unfortunately, they all involve spending more money. The main options available are buying spare batteries, or buying larger batteries. Li-ion batteries come in different sizes and usually, the ones that are supplied, if they are supplied at all, are on the smaller side. So, it is a good idea to buy a 5ah size battery and use that for your cordless leaf blower instead.
If you’ve never used a leaf blower before, you might be surprised by how much noise they can make. Cordless versions are generally the least loud, but they are hardly what you would call quiet, and you will still have to invest in a pair of ear defenders if you don’t want a headache.
As well as the noise, there is some vibration to deal with too, but again, cordless machines tend to produce far less vibration than their petrol fuelled cousins. The level of vibration will not be the same across all brands and products, so if that is something that concerns you, make sure you check out the products’ specs before buying.
Although cordless leaf blowers are designed to be lightweight, they can still feel a little heavy after using them for a while, especially if you have a larger batter installed. For most people, it won’t be anything that bothers them too much, but if you are elderly, injured, disabled, etc. using a shoulder strap would be a good idea.
As you can see, there are a few minor flaws with cordless leaf blowers, but nothing that can’t be fixed or overcome easily, and the pros of using these tools far outweigh the cons.
What is a cordless leaf blower?
Leaf blowers are power tools used by gardeners to move fallen leaves and other garden debris into neat piles so as to make tidying up faster and easier. They are quite simple machines, and basically consist of a motor, a fan, and a long chute to channel the airflow in the right direction.
The three types of leaf blower to choose from are petrol powered, corded electric, and cordless, and there are also leaf blower/vacuum combo tools that we have pages dedicated too. Today though, we will be focusing on cordless blowers.
Cordless leaf blowers get their name from the fact that they don’t need to be plugged into your mains electricity supply, and therefore, have no power cord. So, how do they get their power? Just like every other cordless tool these days: from lithium-ion batteries.
Having no power cord makes these tools much more agile, manoeuvrable, and some would say safer, as there is no chance of tripping over any power cable. They also give you more range if you compare them to corded electric leaf blowers, and there’s no need to use a cable reel to work at the bottom of a large garden.
10 years ago, I wouldn’t have recommended any of the cordless leaf blowers available, as the price were higher back then, and the products weren’t as good as they are today. These days, you are spoilt for choice when it comes to powerful, cordless leaf blowers, and many can produce airspeeds over 200mph.
As everyone knows, there is no such thing as a perfect product or tool and of course, cordless leaf blowers have their own quirks that you’ll have to get used to. In the following section will take a look at some of the things that can be problematic with cordless leaf blowers.
Example of using a cordless leaf blower
Although everyone’s first thoughts when it comes to cordless leaf blower usage is for clearing leaves from the ground, once you own one, you start finding all sorts of jobs that you can take care of with these tools.
I would say that I spend almost as much time up on my tripod ladder, clearing my shed and garage gutters, as I do the decking when Autumn rolls around. Cordless leaf blowers are great for this purpose as there is no cable to get tangled up or snagged on anything.
Winter inevitably follows Autumn, and snow is always a possibility. More often than not, we actually only get a small amount of snow falling, but enough to put a thin layer on the car or garden path. Leaf blowers can be used to quickly shift this layer and you won’t have to freeze your fingers off with a plastic scraper.
I’ve even used my leaf blower in spring, when there were no leaves around to gather. What did I use it for? Well, as silly as it may sound for some, I used it to ‘blow dry’ my decking after giving it a fresh coat of stain, just to speed up the process, and it worked great.
Other uses for leaf blowers I have heard from friends and customers include blowing grass clippings instead of raking them, moving pebbles off the paving and back where they belong, and even scaring off a local cat that was using that person’s garden as a toilet on a daily basis. They said it was more the combination of noise and the wind blast than wind alone, but still very effective.
So, I think I’ve made it clear that leaf blowers don’t just have to be for leaves, and are actually really handy tools to have around. What’s more, they aren’t as expensive as you would think, especially lesser-known brands, although I would usually recommend going with a trusted name, just to be on the safe side.
