Best leaf blowers 2024: our top picks for corded, cordless and affordable models

We round up the top-scoring leaf blowers and vacuums and our expert buying guide helps you to choose the best for your needs
Manca VirantResearcher & writer
Person using a leaf blower

The end of the winter is a good time to check over your leaf blower to keep it in good shape and prolong its lifespan. Is the bag soggy? Does the battery need charging? 

Is it beyond help? Don't get stuck with a leaf blower or leaf vacuum that struggles to pick up heavy leaves, or takes too long to change between modes.

We've rounded up our top leaf blowers and vacuums - so you can find the right one for you.


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Best leaf blowers and vacs

Here's our pick of the top leaf blowers, including cordless, electric corded, plus the cheapest leaf blower to ace our tests.

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Best cordless leaf blower

    • best buy
    • Leaf blower volume
    • Lawn blow
    • Convenience
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Best corded electric leaf blower

    • Leaf blower volume
    • Lawn blow
    • Convenience
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Best cheap leaf blower

    • best buy
    • great value
    • Leaf blower volume
    • Lawn blow
    • Convenience
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Table updated: March 2024.

How to buy the best leaf blower or vacuum

The best leaf blowers can clear heavy debris without any hassle, while the worst struggle to pick up damp leaves and are a nightmare to use.

Use our expert advice to help you decide whether you need a blower or a vac, and whether a petrol or cordless model is best for you. Then check our leaf blower reviews to ensure you don't end up buying a dud. 

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Video: how to buy the best leaf blower

Should I buy a leaf blower or leaf blower vacuum?

The main difference between leaf blowers and leaf blower vacuums is that the latter can also suck the leaves up into a collection bag. However, there are pros and cons to both versions. We've listed these below.

It's also worth thinking about whether it might be quicker and easier to gather leaves with a rake or broom instead. It's good exercise, better for the environment and quieter for your neighbours. Leaves on lawns are quick and easy to collect and shred with a lawn mower.

Leaf blowers 

Pros of leaf blowers

  • Typically quicker and easier to use.
  • Don't get blocked and damaged by sucking up stones and debris. 

Cons of leaf blowers

  • Can't pick up leaves.

Leaf vacuums 

Pros of leaf vacuums

  • You don't need to spend time picking up leaves manually.

Cons of leaf vacuums

  • Some can't suck up damp or large amounts of leaves. 
  • Some can be tricky to switch from blow to vacuum mode. 

See our guide to common problems with leaf blower vacs

Types of leaf blowers and leaf blower vacuums

Cordless leaf blowers and vacuums

Cordless leaf blowers are typically more expensive, as you're paying for the advantage of not having a power cord. 

Perfect for clearing complicated gardens with lots of nooks and crannies, cordless models also tend to be simple to use and easy to store. 

The smaller models are great for clearing small patios where you need to blow leaves out from around pots. They're also ideal for borders, as they won't destroy your plants with strong blasts of air, and are excellent at clearing dust from sheds.

However, they aren't super powerful, so if you've got a lot of heavy, damp leaves to clear, they won't be up to the job.

Pros of cordless leaf blowers and vacuums

  • Simple to use.
  • Easy to store.
  • Suited to smaller gardens and great for clearing complicated layouts. 

Cons of cordless leaf blowers and vacuums

  • Some lack the power to clear lots of heavy or damp leaves. 

See our cordless leaf blower reviews

Corded electric leaf blowers and vacuums 

Corded electric models that you plug into the mains are generally the cheapest option. They're ideal for use in smaller gardens, but a bit of a pain if you need to use your blower remotely or around large obstacles such as trees or ponds.  

The budget models tend to have parallel blow and vac tubes, and you can change between them with a flick of a switch. This is is very convenient, not least because it means you can clear some blockages by changing from vac to blow mode. 

However, in our tests we've found that they lose power when you switch from blowing to vacuuming. They are also less easy to use in blow mode, as the dual tubes make them a bit bulky and heavy. 

More expensive options need to be reconfigured to change between blow and vacuum modes. This can be quite complicated and time-consuming, but it means you won't lose power between modes.

Pros of corded electric leaf blowers and vacuums 

  • Budget options.
  • Some can switch between blow and vac mode. 

Cons of corded electric leaf blowers and vacuums 

  • Dual tubes can make them bulky and heavy. 
  • Needs to be able to reach a plug socket. 

See our corded leaf blower reviews

Petrol leaf blowers and vacuums

Using a leaf blower

Petrol leaf blowers are the most powerful – and the most heavy and noisy – machines, making them perfect for gardeners with a large outdoor space. 

Just like cordless models, petrol leaf blowers are also great for working remotely or getting around larger obstacles such as trees, ponds or garden furniture, because they don't have a cord. All you need is a can of petrol and you can work for hours. 

You can choose between handheld and backpack models. Although handheld is normally the cheaper option, backpack versions put much less strain on your arms and are easier to handle. 

If you pick a petrol model, you'll need to remember to have it serviced regularly to keep it running smoothly.

Also note that due to recent market shifts, we're seeing fewer launches of petrol-powered gardening tools, as manufacturers appear to be focusing their attention on cordless tools. These offer a better alternative for the environment and our health, as they’re quieter and produce zero emissions, while still being flexible and powerful enough to rival petrol tools. 

Pros of petrol leaf blowers and vacuums

  • Powerful - great for larger gardens. 
  • Great if you need to work remotely. 
  • Backpack models available. 

Cons of petrol leaf blowers and vacuums

  • Needs to be serviced regularly. 
  • Heavy and noisy. 

Which sort of petrol should I use?

It is generally recommended that unleaded fuel used for leaf blowers does not have a higher ethanol content than 10 % - this is because ethanol attracts water which can cause corrosion if fuel is left in the tank for long periods.

E10 fuel is fine to use, but super unleaded with an ethanol content of 5 % is better and what we would recommend.

It's good practice to empty the fuel tank as much as possible – and completely if not in use over winter. Petrol is better stored in a bespoke container rather than in the machine.

See our petrol leaf blower reviews.

How much do I need to pay for a good leaf blower?

  • Corded electric leaf blowers are the cheapest leaf blowers. You can buy a good one for not much more than £50. 
  • Cordless leaf blowers are more expensive because of the convenience. The cheapest Best Buy model costs more than £100, but the battery life isn't mind-blowing. For better battery life and more features, you can expect to pay more than £130. 
  • Petrol leaf blowers are more powerful machines, so you can expect to pay anywhere between £100 and £500, depending on the features, brand and type.

Save money on the leaf blower battery

Manufacturers often have one or two standard batteries and chargers that are compatible with a wide range of tools. Before you buy, check to see if any of your existing tools has a battery and charger that can be used with the one you're planning to buy, as this could save you a considerable amount of money.

Alternatively, you may see it as a good chance to buy a second battery for your tools. Batteries are sometimes cheaper when bought with a tool, and it’s often useful to have a second one charged and ready to go when you’re carrying out jobs that will take some time to finish.

Price doesn’t guarantee quality, so check our leaf blower reviews to find the best for your budget.

Leaf blower features to look for

Using a good leaf blower or vacuum will make dealing with autumn leaves a breeze, but a bad model will struggle to clear them at all. The following features can make all the difference.

  • Narrow nozzle for blowing - look for a machine that has a narrow nozzle to direct the blast, and the ability to control the speed of the air jet.
  • Easy access to the mulching blades - check you can get to the mulching blades to clear blockages easily and safely.
  • Metal mulching blades - look for a machine that has metal, rather than plastic, mulching blades, as these are less likely to chip or break if you inadvertently suck up a stone.
  • Waterproof collection bag - we've found that collection bags that aren't waterproof often leak and leave you with a wet leg.
  • Comfortable handles and shoulder straps - look for a soft-grip handle and a padded shoulder strap.
  • Storage space - leaf blowers will need to be stored undercover for most of the year. If you have limited storage, look for one with a telescopic nozzle or one that you can take apart easily.

Repairing your leaf blower

Blockages are the most common fault on leaf vacs. Always turn off the power supply before attempting to unblock your machine to reduce the risk of injury.

Before disposing of a leaf blower that's not working, check with the manufacturer if they offer spare parts. More-expensive machines, such as petrol models, check with a local garden-machinery specialist if they can fix your machine.

Video: top tips for using your leaf blower

How to use your leaf blower or leaf blower vacuum

  • Blow leaves in a sweeping motion - this will help to clear large areas. Blow the leaves together to form big piles, then either use a lawn mower to collect them or switch to vacuum mode to suck them up. 
  • Clear leaves from gravel or flower borders - blow them on to a hard surface where you can collect them easily or on to you grass and use the lawn mower to pick them up.  
  • Use the nozzle - don't just rely just on the jet of air to free up leaves – most blowers are designed for you to use the end of the nozzle to give stubborn stuck-down leaves a little scrape. 
  • Don't just use them for leaves - blowers are great for clearing snow from your path and sweeping your drive. You can even blast dust and dirt from your car boot.

Ways to use autumn leaves

  1. Make leaf mould.
  2. Use shredded leaves as mulch. 
  3. Add them to your compost bin

Why Which? leaf blower reviews are better

When testing leaf blowers and leaf blower vacuums, we measure how well each one clears leaves from hard surfaces, such as patios and gravel driveways, as well as from borders and lawns. 

We time how long it takes to clear the leaves, how well it collects the leaves in vacuum mode, how easy it is to use, and noise levels.

Read how we test leaf blowers for more information.