The best leaf blowers for keeping your garden tidy, from the quietest to the most powerful

How we test leaf blowers

To review the performance of the market-leading leaf blowers, our experts measure out 250g piles of fallen leaves and lay them out on various surfaces, including real grass, astro turf and pavement. We then carry out the following assessments.

Leaf blowing: We assess how many dry leaves can be blown off each surface in a five-minute window. We carry out the same tests with wet leaves.

Debris removal: We lay down a specially formulated mixture of dirt and dust and assess each leaf blower’s ability to dislodge the debris.

Air strength: We measure the air strength of each model using an anemometer. For cordless models, we measure from 30cm and 100cm away and for corded, we record from 120cm and 150cm away.

Noise level: We also measure the sound level on the highest and lowest settings.

Battery and usage: For cordless models, we note the charging and run-time, while for corded models, we record energy consumption over 30 minutes.

Ease of use, design and instructions: We assess extra features, particularly if the model is also a leaf blower vacuum, as well as ease of use, judging things like speed settings, cruise control, and how comfortable they are to hold for extended periods. We then assess the instructions for detail and clarity.

Finally, we combine everything together into one overall score out of 100. These are the models that blew us away.

Score: 93/100

With the highest air output of all the cordless leaf blowers we tested, it's no surprise that this Worx model topped our list. It blasted leaves at up to 50mph, moving both wet and dry leaves across concrete, astro turf and grass with ease.

The lightweight design was comfortable to hold and saved our experts from hand cramps when running the blower from fully charged to empty.

They managed 17 minutes of tidying before the battery ran out (five minutes less than the claimed battery life) but it had the quickest recharge time of all the cordless models we tried, at just one hour. So, you’ll be back battling the leaves in no time at all.

Key specifications

Score: 90/100

If you're looking for a reliable corded model, this Bosch leaf blower vacuum is an excellent pick. Clear instructions helped our tester put everything together with no fuss and it felt well-constructed and durable once built. We added the included shoulder strap for extra comfort and got to work quickly by simply turning the rotary dial on top.

Dry leaves moved easily over every surface thanks to the 28mph output, but a few stubborn wet leaves clung to grass and astro turf. The vacuum feature worked well though, picking up all the leaves in our pile, trouble-free.

You won’t have to worry about the battery running out, but the 10-metre cord may prove restrictive in larger gardens.

Key specifications

Score: 89/100

This cordless model excelled at loosening both fine and heavier debris and impressed our tester with its air strength of 40mph. We didn’t notice a large difference in its effectiveness when blowing from 30cm and 100cm away either, showing it maintained good power even from further away.

Clearing dry leaves took four minutes, which isn’t the fastest compared to the other models we’ve tried, but the battery lasted almost 13 minutes, so you’ll still have plenty of time to tidy up other areas. Moving wet leaves was a little trickier, though; our tester struggled to sweep them all away. This won't be an issue if you save your leaf blowing for crisp, autumn weekends.

Key specifications

Score: 89/100

Combining a leaf blower, leaf vacuum and mulcher in one for less than £50, this Vonhaus model is a fantastic value pick, if you don’t mind trailing a cord behind you. It excelled at loosening debris, dislodging over 100% of dirt from our test AstroTurf (even unearthing some old deposits!), and it cleared dry leaves effectively from various surfaces. It needed a few more passes to tackle wet leaves, but the concentrated air jet helped shift stubborn patches.

It's a great leaf vacuum, too, and we found the mulching function particularly effective – a great feature for reducing bulk and making the leaves compost quickly. The shoulder strap, handle and front wheel make it comfortable to use, although its bulky 119-centimetre design can feel cumbersome to manoeuvre. It also only has one airflow speed and no cruise control, but switching between the blower and vacuum modes is straightforward. Overall, an excellent budget buy.

Key specifications

Score: 85/100

This affordable cordless leaf blower is a handy tool for garden maintenance. Its air strength reached an impressive 66.7mph on the turbo setting and it scored full marks in our performance tests. It shifted both light and heavy debris effortlessly, as well as wet and dry leaves.

It is on the noisier side, and ideally, we’d have liked the battery to last longer than 11 minutes, especially as it takes three hours for a full recharge. That said, you should still be able to tackle most of your garden before the battery runs out.

With its lightweight design, cruise control feature and durable build, this is a smart choice for the everyday gardener.

Key specifications

Score: 83/100

When Shark announced its new “all-in-one cordless air blasting system”, we didn’t know what to think or expect. But it’s essentially a 190mph leaf blower that can also be used indoors – yes, you read that correctly – so we couldn’t wait to get our hands on it.

It’s the lightest leaf blower we’ve tried so far at 660g, which makes it particularly easy to use and manoeuvre. The controls are straightforward and the three attachments make it an incredibly versatile tool. We found the broom add-on excellent for sweeping the decking and patio, while the precision nozzle can be used for finer details and tighter indoor spaces, such as blasting dirt from behind radiators, cleaning your laptop keyboard, and removing dirt from window tracks.

There’s a good range of air strengths between the different settings and the blower effectively shifted dry debris across all surfaces in testing. In fact, the turbo mode was too powerful in some instances, tending to blow the leaves upwards rather than in one direction. Our main issue with the air blaster is its battery, which only lasted eight minutes and 15 seconds on turbo, before needing almost three hours for a full recharge.

Overall, though, its versatility is hard to ignore, earning its place in our gadget collection. We love the range of colourways too – who new gardening tools could look so lovely?

Key specifications

Score: 83/100

Our testers pressed one button, and this corded leaf blower delivered impressive sweeping results. Wet and dry leaves vanished from all surfaces and even fine debris was loosened. The same wasn’t quite as true for the vacuum though, which struggled to suck up all the leaves from our testing area – it still provides a decent helping hand though.

That aside, testers were won over by how easy the blower was to use – the controls are clear and well-positioned, there’s a soft grip handle and shoulder strap attachment, and the narrow-ended chute reached in and out of tight spaces, fuss-free. A great buy.

Key specifications

Score: 83/100

Similar to the Flymo leaf blower above, this Black + Decker model was really enjoyable to use. The controls are easy to reach, and you only need to push one button to start up the motor. From there, you can pop it in cruise control mode and hold the extra handle at the top for better precision.

The leaf blower maintained good air strength over different distances and had no trouble moving debris and dry leaves. Our experts were pleased with the vacuum function too, but it still left a few leaves behind, so you may need to do a quick follow-up rake for any stragglers.

Key specifications

Score: 82/100

Designed with a thin, narrow end, this leaf blower is perfect for reaching tight spaces and moving around obstacles.

It wasn’t the most powerful – we recorded a maximum output of 16mph – so our tester had to stand closer to the leaves than with some others. While it delivered good results when faced with a mess of dry leaves, it was a different story with wet leaves; there were still small patches left behind even after five minutes of blowing, so you may want to wait for them to dry out first.

The battery lasted between 12 and 13 minutes, making it better suited to small gardens, but it charged quickly in just over an hour. All in all, it’s a great value buy.

Key specifications

Score: 76/100

If you have a large garden but are set on a cordless leaf blower, this model is for you. The Karcher design boasted a 22-minute running time, which was the longest we recorded and means you can tackle bigger jobs with ease. However, it also had the longest charging time, taking over five hours, so make sure you fully charge it before heading out into the garden.

Our experts noted it loosened finer debris well but struggled with heavier mud and leaves on grass and astro turf – not a massive surprise considering it had one of the lowest air strengths during testing. It performed much better on concrete though, leaving only a few wet leaves behind, so it’s a good pick for paved gardens and ensuring any paths are less slippery.

Please note, this is the bare tool only and requires an 18V/2.5Ah battery and charger, bought separately.

Key specifications

Why trust the Good Housekeeping Institute?

The Good Housekeeping Institute has been testing products for over 100 years and our team of experts uses all that expertise, along with all their industry experience, to separate the best products from the middling ones.

Masudah Khatun, our household product tester, designed strict protocols to help us measure fairly against its claims, before passing the results onto our homes writer, Megan Geall.

Megan has written hundreds of home and garden reviews including our best electric lawnmower and best hedge trimmer guides and is used to turning complex data and feedback into easy-to-read roundups.

As a plant lover, she spends lots of time scouring the market and attending gardening exhibitions to find the very best gadgets on the market and ensure our list is always up to date.

What to consider when buying a leaf blower

If you’re buying a leaf blower, you’ll need to keep in mind the size of your garden and how you’ll be using it. We’ve outlined everything you need to consider below.

Petrol/electric: Petrol leaf blowers tend to be powerful and are a good option for larger gardens, as you don’t have to worry about a cable or the battery running out. However, they’re typically heavier and noisier than electric models, and you’ll need to factor in the cost and storage of fuel. They also produce exhaust emissions, so we always prefer to recommend electric models, hence why all the products in this roundup are electric.

Corded/cordless: If you’re going for an electric leaf blower, corded models are typically more reliable as you don’t have to worry about the battery running out in the middle of the job. However, you may be restricted by the length of the cable, so check that against the size of your garden. Cordless leaf blowers work via a rechargeable battery but have a limited runtime of around 12 to 22 minutes based on our testing.

Vacuum/mulching functions: Some leaf blowers can also vacuum up leaves, saving you from having to rake them into a pile first. If you have lots to clear, look for a model with a mulching function, too – this shreds the leaves into smaller pieces, so they take up less space in the collection bag and can be added to your compost heap.

Noise level: There’s no escaping it, leaf blowers are one of the noisiest garden tools out there, so we've measured the sound level of every model on test. The ones in this list range from 82.9dB (about the noise of heavy traffic) to 95.9dB (similar to a drill or underground train) at maximum speed. If you're using a leaf blower for extended periods, consider using ear protection.

Variable speed controls: Some leaf blowers offer adjustable power levels, which give you better control over the blowing speed. It’s not an essential, but it does make tidying your garden easier.

Cruise control: Having a cruise control feature is particularly helpful if you have a large garden. It keeps the leaf blower switched on without you needing to hold down a power button – a welcome addition that will stop you getting hand cramp!

Air strength: Many of these leaf blowers claim to blast leaves at over 100mph; however, this air speed is often measured from next to the nozzle where it's at its strongest. In our tests, our experts measured the strength of cordless models at a distance of both 30cm and 100cm from the pile of leaves they were tackling, and corded ones from 120cm and 150cm to get a more accurate idea of how they would perform in everyday situations. You’ll find the measurements in the key specs for each product.

What's the difference between a leaf blower and leaf blower vacuum?

As mentioned above, corded and cordless leaf blowers aren’t the only option you can choose. There’s another type of leaf blower on the market: one that vacuums the leaves up too!

Leaf blower vacuums allow you to tidy up as you go so you don’t have to spend time shovelling leaves into a bag or compost bin once you’ve blown them all into a pile. Some models also have a mulching function that finely chops the leaves so you can fit more into the attached collection bag (and therefore don’t need to empty it as often).

What's the quietest leaf blower?

The quietest leaf blower we’ve tested is the Shark BlastBoss, which registered at 86.1dB on its highest setting (similar to the noise made by a blender) and 79.2dB on its lowest setting (just louder than a hair dryer).

Leaf blowers are one of the loudest garden tools because their high-speed motors push large volumes of air very quickly, often over 150mph.

That said, modern electric models are much quieter than petrol engines, which is why we’ve focused more on testing these in recent years.