Choosing the Right Leaf Blower for Your Yard

If leaves have taken over your yard and raking isn't for you, it may be time to blow them away. At Consumer Reports' testing headquarters, we go through as many as 2,500 pounds of leaves to find the best leaf blowers for your needs. Our testers time how long it takes each model to move piles of leaves from one section of our test yard to the other. This guide will help you choose the blower that's right for your job.

We have three different types of blowers: handheld, backpack, and wheeled. The number of leaves you need to move and how quickly you want to do it will determine which blower is right for you. For smaller yards with densely packed leaves, a larger yard with scattered leaves may be harder to clear. Consumer Reports says that it could be uncomfortable to hold certain blowers if the job takes longer than an hour to complete.

Handheld blowers are lightweight and easy to maneuver, making them ideal for tackling most jobs. They can usually handle smaller yards and can be powered by gasoline, corded electric, or battery. When it comes to sweeping away leaves and loosening dirt and debris, gas-powered blowers are the way to go. The models that earn excellent ratings move our test leaf piles fast and efficiently. Gasoline blowers are noisy, with some models being as loud as a chainsaw. The frequency of the noise is also an issue, with many people finding the high-pitched screeching sound to be especially irritating.

Gasoline engines do require maintenance, and their engines make them a bit heavier, weighing about 10 pounds. If you have a bigger job and will be holding the blower for a while, consider a gas-powered backpack blower instead. Most backpack blowers are heavier than handhelds, but the weight rests on your back and shoulders, making them more comfortable to hold. Gasoline backpack blowers can also go anywhere you go, but they cost more - $200 and up for recommended models.

If gasoline blowers are noisy, gas-powered backpack blowers sound even noisier, as the engines will be positioned closer to your ears. Backpack models don't vacuum or shred leaves, so you'll need a place to blow them. If you want to go pro, consider a wheeled gas-powered blower for ultimate power. These move lots of leaves fast, but speed doesn't come cheap, with prices starting at around $300 and going up to $800.

Wheeled units usually weigh 100 pounds or more, making maneuvering difficult, especially uphill. You'll also need extra space to store these, about six square feet. As with other gasoline blowers, they are noisy. When shopping for handheld blowers, pay special attention to the nozzle. Flatter nozzles tend to be better for sweeping leaves, while rounded ones loosen dirt and debris a bit better.

Blowers with adjustable speeds allow you to reduce power near delicate areas, such as flowers or trees. If you have a handheld blower that's not adjustable, it may be time to consider a gas-powered backpack blower instead. Most backpack blowers are heavier than handhelds, but the weight rests on your back and shoulders, making them more comfortable to hold.

When choosing a leaf blower, safety should always be the top priority. Wear safety goggles and ear protection, even with quieter electric models. Keep people and pets far away from the area you're clearing, and avoid running them very early or late in the day. Now that you've got the basics, visit Consumer Reports' website to subscribe and find our specific leaf blower ratings based on our in-depth expert testing.

Consumer Reports is a not-for-profit organization that pays for all of the items we test. We're committed to providing you with accurate and unbiased information to help you make informed decisions about your purchases. Thanks for your support.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enIf leaves have taken over youryard and raking isn't for you,maybe it's timeto blow them away.At Consumer Reports'testing headquarters,we go through as many as2,500 pounds of leavesto find the best leaf blowers.Our testers time howlong it takes each modelto move piles of leaves fromone section of our test yardto the other.This guide will help youchoose the blower that'sright for your job.Subscribers to ourwebsite can accessour specific recommendationsand exclusive product ratings.Not only do blowerssweep away leaves,they can also clean dirtand debris around your yard.Some can vacuum andmulch leaves too.Our tests measure how easy theblowers are to use and handleand how much noise they make.This video is interactive,so click any chapterto skip around.There are three differenttypes of blowers--handheld, backpack, and wheeled.How many leaves you need to moveand how quickly you want to doit will determine whichblower is right for you.Think about volume, too.Because a smaller yardwith densely packed leavesmay be harder to clear thana larger one with scatteredleaves.Consumer Reportssays it could beuncomfortable to hold certainblowers if the job takes longerthan an hour to complete.Handhelds can usuallytackle most jobsbecause they're lightweightand easy to maneuver.Handheld blowers arepowered one of three ways--gasoline, cordedelectric, or battery.Nothing beats agasoline blower whenit comes to sweeping awayleaves and loosening updirt and debris.The models that earnexcellent ratingsmove our test leaf pilesfast and efficiently.Gasoline blowers are noisy.In our tests, we measurenoise in decibels at ear leveland from 50 feet away to seehow your yard cleanup soundsto your neighbor.Some gasoline blowers canbe as loud as a chainsaw.But it's not justthe noise level,it's the frequency--that annoying,high-pitchedscreeching sound thatmakes these tools especiallyirritating to our ears.And gasoline enginesdo require maintenance.Their engines also makethem a bit heavier,weighing about 10 pounds.Something to consider if you'vegot a bigger job and you'llbe holding theblower for a while.Some blowers offer attachmentsfor vacuuming and mulching.But most gasoline unitsdon't come with them,and the few that we testedthat do took too long to vacuumor didn't mulch well.If you do opt for agasoline handheld,those with two-stroke enginesrequire mixing oil and fuel.Our experts recommendyou buy a pre-mixed fuelthat's available in cans atmost home improvement stores.If the farthest distanceof your cleanup jobis within about 100feet of a power outlet,Consumer Reports says consideran electric handheld model.They're the leastexpensive and they're alsolightweight, emissions-free,and easy to start.Plus there's no gasolineengine to maintain.Consumer Reports' testsfind some can sweep awayleaves and debris almost aswell as top-performing gasolinemodels.They may still be noisy,but from 50 feet away,most are quieter thantheir gasoline cousins.And unlike manygasoline handhelds,many electric blowers comewith a vacuum attachment,allowing you to mulch leaves.But if you've got a largeyard, the electric cordlimits how faryou can go, and itcan be annoying tomaneuver around treesand other obstacles.If you still want theconvenience of a handheldwithout the gasolinemaintenance,a battery-powered handheldblower is a good option.They're not quite aspowerful as gasolineor top-scoringelectric handhelds,because battery runtime is limited.However, the ones thatperform well in our ratingscan handle most jobs aroundthe yard, deck, and driveway.Plus, they're cord-free, soyou can roam wherever you need.But they can be heavy.The battery adds weight.Some weigh more thangasoline engines.Plus you'll need to recharge thebattery after about 30 minutes.When shopping forhandheld blowers,pay special attentionto the nozzle.Flatter nozzles tend to bebetter for sweeping leaves,while rounded ones loosen updirt and debris a bit better.Blowers withadjustable speeds allowyou to reduce powernear delicate areas,such as your garden.Look for a bottom-mountedair intake.Side intakes canpull at your clothes.On gasoline models, a primerbulb makes for easier starting,and a clear fuel tankgives you a visualof how much fuel you have.Try them out before you buy.The best models in our ratingsstay balanced in your handonce they're turned on and offera second grip for more control.And for safety, aneasy-to-access shutoff switchis a good idea, too.If you're clearing youryard for an hour or morewith a handheldblower, it might betime to consider agasoline backpack blower.Most backpack blowers areheavier than handhelds.However, the weight restson your back and shoulders,instead of your arm.Like gasoline andbattery-powered handhelds,backpacks will go anywhereyou go, but they cost more--$200 and up forrecommended models.And if gasolineblowers are noisy,these sound evennoisier, as theyhave engines that will bepositioned closer to your ears.Backpack models don'tvacuum or shred leaves,so you'll need aplace to blow them.If you want to go pro, considera wheeled gasoline blowerfor ultimate power.They move lots of leaves fast.But speed doesn't come cheap.Wheeled units startat about $300,but you can easilyspend as much as $800.These do not vacuum or shred.Also, they usually weigh100 pounds or more,making maneuveringdifficult, especially uphill.You'll also needextra space to storethese, about six square feet.And as with other gasolineblowers, they're noisy.Look for wheeled units withan adjustable air deflectorthat gives you slightly morecontrol over which directionyou want the leaves to blow.No matter whichblower you pick, werecommend you wear safetygoggles and ear protection.Even quieter electric modelscan be noisy at ear level.Keep people and pets far awayfrom the area you're clearingand avoid running them veryearly or late in the day.Now that you've got the basics,visit ConsumerReports.orgto subscribe and find ourspecific leaf blower ratingsbased on our in-depthexpert testing.We're a not-for-profit and payfor all of the items we test.Thanks for your support.\n"