If you’re like us, then a leaf blower is an essential tool to have around once the leaves start falling. But your blower doesn’t need to be a loud gas guzzler to get the job done anymore.
Corded electric leaf blowers have taken some significant steps forward in the last decade. They’re just as powerful and occasionally more powerful than gas blowers without any of the associated hassles.
That’s why in this article, we looked at some of the most popular leaf blowers on our quest to find you the best corded electric leaf blower.
Corded blowers reviewed in this article:
Top pick: Toro 51621 UltraPlus Leaf Blower Vacuum
Runner Up: WORX WG520 Turbine 600 Corded Electric Leaf Blower
Greenworks 9 Amp Jet Electric Leaf Blower, BA09B00
Handheld Electric Leafblower Reviews
Toro is one of the leading companies for electric blowers, and this is their top of the line corded model. The UltraPlus leaf blower vacuum by Toro is one of the best electric leaf blowers around.
What really sets this blower apart from the others on this list is its ability to transform into a highspeed vacuum and leaf shredder. Being equally capable of gathering and disposing of leaves gives this 3-in-1 machine some serious versatility.
As a leaf blower, the UltraPlus can output up to 350 CFM of air volume at a max speed of 250 MPH. An included power insert lets you bring even more of that power to bear by concentrating the airflow into a powerful stream. A variable speed knob makes adjusting airspeed easy in blowing and vacuuming modes. That added control makes it easier to get the exact right amount of power for the task at hand.
Key Features:
- This 3-in-1 tool is a Powerful Blower, High-Speed Vacuum, and Leaf Shredder
- The oversized handle and oscillating nozzle attachment reduce strain on the wrist.
- An impressive 250 MPH airspeed and 350 CFM airflow.
- Mulches leaf piles to reduce them by as much as 97%, so they need much fewer bags.
- This Toro electric blower comes with a 2-year warranty period.
- A powerful 12-amp electric motor.
- High max airspeed.
- Ergonomic design and features.
- 3-in-1 tool
- Mulching leaves takes fewer bags
- Variable speed setting knob
- The included shoulder strap for the vacuum bag runs large.
- Heavier than other blowers.
Lightweight and surprisingly affordable, the WORX Turbine 600 corded electric leaf blower is an incredibly powerful blower.
The heart of the Worx WG520 is its powerful turbine fan that lets this blower expel up to 600 cubic feet of air per minute. That means a powerful, wide stream of air helps in clearing out larger areas with minimal passes. So heavy-duty clearing of large areas or leaf piles takes less time.
The WG520 has a variable speed with two settings. A lower 60 MPH setting is useful for clearing leaves from tight corners or pavement and won’t disturb plants or mulch in the garden. Kicking the blower into high at 110 MPH unleashes the blower’s real power, clearing large areas fast. While using the blower with one hand on low is easy, doing so for just a few minutes on high is enough to leave your arm tired.
Key Features:
- A powerful turbine fan expels 600 CFM clearing large areas in less time.
- Weighing about 6.4 pounds, this is a lightweight blower with an ergonomic design that is simple to use.
- A detachable hyper stream air nozzle concentrates airpower into a powerful stream for more challenging jobs.
- Covered by a 3-year warranty period.
- Incredible power at an affordable price
- Powerful turbine fan design
- Variable speed setting
- Extension cord retainer
- Hyper stream air nozzle
- Puts pressure on your wrist and shoulder when set to high
- Only 2-speed settings
- Louder than other electric blowers
The next blower on our list is another phenomenal tool from Greenworks. The Green Works 9 AMP corded leaf blower has a maximum air volume of 530 cubic feet per minute at a max speed of 130 MPH. That gives it clearing capability just short of what the Worx WG520 has, but this blower boasts some other useful features.
Unlike the WG520, which has two set speed settings, this Greenworks Blower has a true variable speed trigger, meaning you have full control over the blower’s airspeed based on how hard you pull the trigger. Along with this, it features a cruise control lever that you can switch on to lock the speed, so you don’t have to worry about maintaining the same pressure on the trigger.
It also handles much better than the WG520 when operating at high speeds. This is likely a result of its lighter weight and efficient vibration reduction, which prevents the force of the blower from causing as much fatigue. Overall, it’s an excellent blower that combines lightweight and ease of use with impressive performance.
Key Features:
- Variable speed trigger and cruise control give the user total control over airspeed.
- Lightweight design and vibration reduction make this blower easy to use and reduce user fatigue.
- Powerful enough to clear large piles of leaves or other debris, reducing hours of raking to minutes of work.
- Covered by a three-year warranty
- Low vibration
- Easy assembly
- Lightweight
- Variable speed trigger
- Cruise control
- Very loud for an electric blower
If what you’re looking for has less to do with raw power and more to do with convenience, than the Black+Decker LB700 might be the best electric blower for your needs.
Lightweight and inexpensive, this blower is easy to handle and simple to use. At only 4.4 lbs. and sporting an oversized handle, it can be comfortably used with only one hand or both for extended periods. It’s compact size also makes it easy to store and highly portable.
With a high airspeed of 180 MPH but a limited air volume of 180 CFM, it works well for blowing leaves or sawdust off the driveway or patio. On the lawn, it works well for gathering leaves into a pile but isn’t well suited for moving large piles of wet leaves. The nozzle’s narrow design also provides some quality precision for clearing out corners or other tight places.
Key Features:
- At only 4.4 pounds, this blower is super lightweight and easy to use.
- The compact size of this blower makes it easy to store and portable.
- Covered by a 2-year warranty.
- Lightweight and portable
- Easy to handle and use
- Compact and easy to store
- Very inexpensive
- High MPH
- Cord lock to prevent unplugging
- Only has one operating speed
- Low CFM
- Slightly noisy during use
The Toro PowerJet F700 is an insanely powerful blower; it’s even more powerful than most gas blowers that we’ve reviewed. Its 725 CFM airstream gets under heavy piles of damp leaves and moves them with ease. This is the perfect corded leaf blower for heavy-duty yard cleanups.
The Powerjet is easy to operate and designed with one-handed use in mind. It has a large curved handle that gives the user lots of flexibility to position and angle the blower. A variable speed dial provides control over the power of the airstream. When turned to high, the blower is more challenging to control, requiring using the secondary pommel grip on the handle.
One major flaw with this otherwise excellent blower is that it doesn’t come packaged with a nozzle to provide a more focused airstream. This makes this blower much less useful for precise clearing tasks like clearing leaves against a wall or corner. This exclusion is why we decided to rank the Powerjet F700 below the Worx WG520.
Key Features:
- An incredible 725 CFM of air volume and 140 MPH max airspeed makes dealing with large piles of heavy, wet leaves easy.
- It’s easy to use with a well-placed ergonomic handle and variable speed control.
- Covered by a 2-year warranty.
- Unbelievably powerful
- Easy to use and handle
- Lightweight
- Variable speed dial
- The rear air intake is powerful enough to grab clothing, making operating the blower in front of yourself awkward.
- No additional nozzle was included to focus airpower for precise clearing.
Ultimate Buyer's Guide
Comparing the Different Types of Leaf Blowers
The Types of Leaf Blowers
Choosing between a gas and electric leaf blower is one of the first choices you’ll have to make when buying a leaf blower. Gas blowers are heavier than electric blowers and require more maintenance. In most cases, this includes mixing gas and 2-stroke oil as well. The benefit they provide is increased mobility from not attached to a cord or restricted by battery life.
Electric blowers come in two different varieties, corded and cordless. Corded blowers are the more powerful of the two. They can compete with gas blowers in clearing power while being much more lightweight and often much cheaper. They also have the advantage of being the option that can work without the need to stop for more gas or recharging.
The only real downside to using a corded blower is that they are limited by the extension cord’s length. So, while they’re great for some homeowners, they won’t work out for larger properties.
Cordless leaf blowers offer the freedom of gas blowers with many perks of a corded electric blower. They are still incredibly low maintenance and more environmentally friendly than gas blowers. However, the cost of a battery raises the price of these leaf blowers considerably.
They are limited by their battery life, making quick chargers or extra batteries a must for large property owners. Cordless blowers are also generally the least powerful option, making them best suited for light-duty cleaning. For larger yard cleanups, a gas or corded electric leaf blower is best suited for the job.
How Much Do They Cost?
One of the most significant advantages that a corded leaf blower offers over gas or cordless options is their price. You can get them at a much lower cost and get much higher performance for the price you pay.
If you don’t already own a long extension cord, then the cost of purchasing one may reduce the savings you can get by choosing a corded blower. Similarly, suppose you already own a battery from another tool that works with a cordless blower. In that case, it dramatically drops the tools’ price.
In the end, either electric option will be cheaper than a gas-powered blower in the long run. This is because they do not require gas, oil, or the same maintenance amount that those gas blowers need.
What Leaf Blowers Weight the Least?
The weight of a leaf blower is a question we’ve seen asked a lot on product pages. Usually, by elderly shoppers who want to make sure they can use the tool without difficulty. This also becomes a more considerable concern for homeowners with larger properties because it means longer spent carrying this equipment around.
With handheld leaf blowers, it’s easy to understand how as weight adds up, you can expect arm fatigue to become a more significant issue. Corded electric leaf blowers are the lightest leaf blowers making them the easiest to use. The Black+Decker LB700 was the most lightweight blower reviewed in this article weighing only 4.4 lbs.
In some cases, the power of a leaf blower can also be an issue thanks to the blower’s force. This can be mitigated with the right balance and handle design but is still an issue to be aware of. It’s an issue we saw with the Worx WG520; although light at only 6.4 lbs, the force of it was enough to cause arm fatigue when used at full power.
If you own a large property and a corded blower just doesn’t have the range you need, you might want to look beyond handheld leaf blowers for a solution. Backpack leaf blowers distribute their weight, making them easier to carry for an extended period. We’d highly recommend looking for a backpack blower if you find yourself experiencing fatigue using a handheld leaf blower. Check out our guide, complete with reviews of the top backpack leaf blowers, to learn more.
Features to Check When Choosing a Leaf Blower
These are some of the features to check when choosing the best corded electric leaf blower for you.
AirSpeed and Volume
Airspeed is a measurement of how fast an airstream a blower can create. Max airspeed is most often given in miles per hour (MPH). Air volume is a measurement of how much air a leaf blower expels; it’s shown as CFM, which stands for cubic feet per minute.
These two factors are what determine how powerful a leaf blower is. Generally, the air volume is the more important number to pay attention to because a high CFM will allow a blower to move more leaves or other debris at once. A high MPH can make up for a lower CFM by focusing the blower’s power on a more precise area.
Variable Speed Controls
Some leaf blowers only operate at a single speed, but others have multiple set speeds or variable speed controls. Having more control over your blower’s speed lets you adjust the output to best fit the job. Low speeds are best for clearing flat surfaces or delicate areas like gardens where you don’t want to uproot small plants or blow away mulch. Operating at a lower speed also uses less energy, conserving electricity or gas.
Higher speeds provide more clearing power making it faster to clear the yard. It can also give the extra rush of force needed to move a hefty pile of compacted wet or damp leaves. The ability to switch your speed to match the task at hand gives you a lot more flexibility for yard cleanups.
Compactness and Storage
Storage space and ease of transport is something that can be a big concern for some homeowners. Many leaf blowers are designed for vertical storage, allowing them to be hung from a wall hook to save space.
Looking for a blower with a compact design can help reduce storage concerns too. It’s important to remember that more compact doesn’t mean a blower has to be less powerful. The jet turbine design of high CFM blowers is slim enough to take up less space than many traditional blowers thanks to their length focused designs. Meanwhile, these blowers are also some of the most powerful.
Noise Level
Leaf blowers are notorious as some of the loudest yard tools. Using one at the wrong time of day is one sure way to make yourself unpopular with the neighbors. Electric blowers are much quieter than gas blowers, though. They usually sound more like a loud hairdryer.
If you’re worried about your blower’s noise level, pay attention to decibel ratings when choosing your blower. Operating a blower at a lower speed should be quieter, which is another benefit of having multiple speed settings.
Additional Features
Along with the already mentioned features, here are some others worth considering.
- An Auxiliary Handle: An extra allows the option for a two-handed operation. This can increase control over the blower and reduce arm strain.
- Nozzles: The shape of a nozzle is what controls the airstream from the blower. Larger nozzles are useful for clearing large areas, while narrower nozzles can focus the airstream’s power. Having multiple included nozzles gives you more flexibility with your blower.
- Vacuuming and Mulching: A leaf mulcher can save you many bags by reducing the size of the leaves they’re fed. Using a 3-in-1 tool like the Toro UltraPlus simplifies the yard cleanup process even more by gathering, bagging, and reducing the number of bags you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Electric Leaf Blowers Quieter?
Yes, electric leaf blowers are quieter than gas leaf blowers. How much so is different depending on the blower, but they sound like very loud hair dryers in general.
Does the Brand of a Leaf Blower Matter?
When choosing a cordless blower, the brand can be important because the blower may be part of a broader product line—most major brands design lineups of cordless tools that use the same interchangeable battery. Sticking to one brand can save you money by using more tools without buying another expensive battery.
For other types of leaf blowers, the brand is much less critical. A trustworthy brand is useful as a sign of quality, both for the quality of the tool and how easily they honor their warranty. Still, researching the blower model’s reliability is a better way to get the best quality for your money.
What kind of leaf blower weighs the least?
Corded electric leaf blowers are the lightest kind of handheld leaf blowers. That’s because, unlike other types of blowers, they do not have to carry their power source.
What does CFM mean on a leaf blower?
CFM stands for cubic feet per minute. It measures how much air the leaf blower puts out in a minute. It’s a good measure of how large an area a blower can clear at a time. A higher CFM means a leaf blower should be able to clear a larger space in less time.
What’s more important, mph or cfm?
CFM provides a better measurement of raw power than MPH does. A low MPH blower with a high CFM rating will still be very powerful. When it comes to moving more leaves faster, CFM is the more important measurement.
Are electric leaf blowers any good?
Modern electric leaf blowers are incredibly powerful. Corded electric leaf blowers are more powerful than gas blowers but restricted to the length of a cord. Cordless leaf blowers offer more freedom but are not as powerful as corded or gas leaf blowers.
Are electric leaf blowers more powerful than gas?
Yes, the most powerful handheld electric blowers have higher CFM and MPH ranges than handheld gas leaf blowers. That may be surprising, but modern handheld electric blowers are incredibly powerful. However, they still are not as powerful as a backpack or walk-behind leaf blowers
