Pressure washers have serious PSI that let you knock out a huge range of jobs around the house. The best pressure washer PSI range for around the house is 2000-3000 PSI.
Let’s face it: your garden hose and a sprayer just aren’t enough to clean tough stains and dirt. A pressure washer, however, is a much more effective and fast method. Whether you use a gas or electric pressure washer, cleaning your house, concrete surfaces, and even your car is a breeze.
What you may not know is that the PSI of your pressure washer can affect its performance and your results. If you choose a machine with the right PSI, it’ll make your cleaning project go quicker and it’ll turn out better.
What Does PSI Mean on a Pressure Washer?
This measurement is called pounds per square inch, or PSI. Your pressure washer’s cleaning power is measured by the amount of pressure that the machine can produce. The higher the pressure rating, the more powerful the spray. When shopping for a pressure washer, you’ll want to find one that suits your needs. Some things to consider include:
Light Duty Pressure Washers (up to 1899 PSI)
This is the perfect pressure for all those smaller jobs around the home, For example, clearing light debris from the sidewalk, washing the car, and cleaning your house’s windows. Because they’re small and light, they’re also ideal for cleaning patio furniture, grills, and other smaller items.
Really light duty pressure washers can also come as power cleaners: handheld, super easy-to-use tools that can be taken with you wherever you go. We’ve done a major review of Greenworks’ 24V Portable Power Cleaner as well as the Worx Hydroshot.
Medium Duty Pressure Washers (2000 to 3200)
Medium-duty pressure washers are the best choice for typical home and garden use. They are much sturdier and more powerful than the light-duty machine, which makes them ideal for frequent use. Pull out this kind of machine when you’re cleaning your home’s siding, fencing, decks, concrete patios, and other hard to clean surfaces.
When I think of medium duty pressure washers, I always think of a good electric pressure washer. Here are some of my favorite electric pressure washer brands:
Greenworks pressure washers – I have a full Youtube video reviewing a couple of my favorite Greenworks pressure washers
If you have a large-scale cleaning job such as a big driveway, multi-story home, or large building, you may want to employ a heavy duty power washer. This is also a great machine for stripping paint off of wood siding and trim to help prep it for new paint. That said, you’ll want to be careful around painted surfaces you don’t want to strip to avoid having to repaint.
This is the type of power washer professionals use to quickly and effectively clean large surfaces like buildings, parking lots, and other areas. It’s extremely powerful and can be incredibly difficult to operate if you’re unaccustomed to the force it produces. Gas pressure washers fall into this category more than electric by far. For most home users, this is simply too much PSI to handle. Leave this kind of heavy machinery to the pros.
I don’t often (or ever) use commercial duty pressure washers, but when I do I rent them from Home Depot. Just way cheaper that way and I don’t have to maintain them or store them.
What is a cleaning unit on a pressure washer?
A cleaning unit is a measurement that helps you understand the overall power combination by applying the PSI and the GPM together. Multiplying the two can give you the cleaning unit like the below formula:
PSI x GPM = Cleaning units
Having this calculation can help you easily calculate the overall power output of pressure washers and compare them for easy shopping.
How To Choose a Pressure Washer With the Right PSI
Before you invest in a new power washer, carefully consider what you’ll be using it for. Are the majority of your cleaning projects small-scale such as patio furniture and your car? If so, a light-duty machine may be your best option. If you’ve got bigger, tougher cleaning jobs you’ll be taking on frequently, a medium or heavy-duty pressure washer may be the best choice. You’ll also want to take into consideration your ability to operate the machine safely and effectively. It’s always best to err on the side of caution if you’re unsure of yourself.
What features to look for in a pressure washer
Honda pressure washers make it relatively easy to knock off one of the biggest must-haves on your list: a reliable and powerful engine. But there are a few other things we recommend truly making sure are available when searching for a new pressure washer.
Nozzles Matter
When choosing a pressure washer, you should pay attention to the nozzles included in the package. Two types of spray nozzles are available, adjustable spray nozzles that can be controlled and quick-connect nozzles with predefined spray patterns.
The predefined spray patterns typically come in different angles, allowing for you to quickly switch between a broad, lower pressure spray or a narrow, higher pressure stream.
Quick connect nozzles are super convenient, but they’re almost like airpods – you can lose them!
Soap tank availability
Additionally, you may want to consider a soap tank-equipped pressure washer. Some of these pressure washers have “foam cannons” where you can simply add some soap and it will mix it in with the water. Pretty cool.
I recommend a soap tank for cars and windows.
Wheels on pressure washers
Despite these seemingly minor features, they can have a big impact, especially with larger units. No sense in lugging around one of these in your yard and tripping all over the place.
Some pressure washers have a tendency to flip over and be top heavy, so make sure the base is sturdy.
If you’re on the job site, keep an eye out for never-flat tires that will protect the wheels in case there are spare nails laying around.
Hose types
There’s a big difference between how easy or difficult it is to use a pressure washer based on the kind of hose that comes with it. Stiff, rigid hoses make it extremely difficult to have any maneuverability without messing up the job or knocking over the base.
Length is also important for pressure washer hoses as you can end up in a tight spot, literally, if you don’t have enough reach.
GPM and PSI on electric pressure washers
GPM stands for gallons per minute. GPM measures how quickly water is leaving the end of the electric pressure washer. PSI stands for pounds per square inch and is a measure of pressure that is being applied out of the electric pressure washer.
If this is confusing to you, you’re not alone. In reality, if you are looking for power, you want both. They work hand-in-hand to deliver water from the machine at a high rate and effective and efficient volume.
For reference, a pressure washer can have a high PSI but a low GPM, meaning it is able to have a high pressure but generally not over a large area. Having both a high PSI and high GPM means that it’s coming out fast and it’s producing a more effective stream.
Likewise, you can also have a low PSI and higher GPM. This is a good ratio for cleaning cars because you get a lot of water at a safer pressure.
Battery-powered backpack blowers are new on the block. They are not the most popular lawn tools, but it feels like every major brand is trying to sell them right now. But are they any good?
Can they keep up with the gas blowers?
Today, we will use our years of experience using battery-powered lawn tools to break down what makes a good blower, list out our favorite backpack leaf blowers and give our final word on whether or not we recommend battery-powered backpack blowers.
Let’s get started. Here’s our ranking of best battery backpack blowers:
I’ve always been a gas leaf blower fan – and I still own two. I own the jetpack AKA Stihl BR 600 backpack blower and the an old Stihl handheld gas blower. Despite being really powerful and always getting the job done, I got sick of the maintenance schedule and the smell. After I had my first baby, the noise became unbearable as well – trying to use the blower around nap schedules.
All of that stopped when I got a battery-powered blower. My first battery-powered blower was the Ryobi 40V blower, which quickly changed my perspective. The truth is, a lot of these electric blowers are super powerful – even more so compared to handheld gas blowers. I’ll walk you through my favorites below.
Battery-powered backpack leaf blowers: Ranked
Each of these made the list – so they are good blowers. But I’m trying to take everything into account here: power, price, comfort, and usability. We should jump right into our number one blower.
Ryobi 40V HP Brushless Whisper Battery Powered Backpack Blower
The Ryobi backpack blower has a lot of great qualities – ones you don’t even find on gas powered backpack blowers. For starters, this blower comes with two 6.0 Ah batteries, which means these puppies last. Especially if you swap them out and use them on any of your other Ryobi 40V tools.
Next up, the power on this is pretty impressive. At 730 CFMs and 165 MPH of speed, this blower has almost the exact same specifications of their handheld Ryobi 40V Whisper blower. This is really powerful and is better on your back, arms, and shoulders than lugging around the handheld blower.
As part of the Whisper series of tools from Ryobi, this backpack blower comes in at 59 dB – which is actually pretty quiet considering how big of a machine it is. For comparison’ sake, this is about ½ the noise levels of a gas-powered blower. Lastly – this has really cool features like a turbo button that jacks up the power to big time levels, adjustable speed on the handle, and different nozzle tips for wet leaves, big piles, or really anything else.
Greenworks puts out some pretty sweet products, so it was no surprise to me when they put out this 80V backpack blower. It isn’t quite as powerful as the Ryobi above, but boy does it have some speed. At 180 MPH, it is better suited for stubborn grass clippings and wet leaves than the Ryobi – but can still handle big piles of leaves decently well.
What I love about Greenworks’ backpack blower is that they are super committed to quality. They make great brushless motors in almost all of their equipment and truly nerd out on the engineering side of the house. I’ve used their 80V handheld blower and it was also pretty powerful.
One recommendation I have for this blower is to buy a higher Ah battery for it. It comes with a 2.5 Ah battery, but I would buy it tool-only, then buy a separate Greenworks 80V battery that’s at least 4 Ah. You’ll get much more run time out of it.
EGO’s LB6000 backpack blower is a little bit of a mystery to me. Despite being one of my favorite lawn tool brands, they missed a real opportunity here. This blower was truly designed for a normal homeowner who wants a good blower but more importantly wants a backpack blower.
Why do I say this?
Well, it isn’t quite as powerful as some of their handheld blowers, like the 650 and 765 CFM versions we’ve tested. So, what’s the point? Basically as far as I can tell, it is a comfort thing. The tool itself is really high quality and centered around convenience. Here are a few of my favorite things:
Variable speed control trigger
Adjustable tube length
Not super loud
5 year tool warranty
This battery backpack blower from EGO was truly designed for comfort and usability. I don’t blame anyone for buying it, but just know that there are more options out there that can provide more power if you’re looking for a true beast of a blower.
All-in-all, this is a great option for many and EGO keeps putting out hits. You can grab the LB6000 from Amazon for a really good price (and it is also on sale right now).
Makita ConnectX Battery Powered Backpack Blower
Makita came out of nowhere with their new battery powered backpack leaf blower – the ConnectX. It has a really good combination of power and speed, with 160 MPH and 670 CFMs. Makita is known for making super high quality tools – like their sweet Makita weed eaters and their awesome mowers.
They’ve been masters in the battery game for a long time and this backpack blower of theirs is nothing short of a beast. Here’s how you know: the motor produces as much power as a 64 cc gas backpack blower. BIG TIME.
I also love the other cool features this has, like:
Four hours of runtime with the portable power supply (that’s insane)
60 dB of sound, about half of a gas blower
A telescoping nozzle that can be used for big piles of leaves or wet grass
Power button on control handle (meaning you can turn it on while wearing it, not cranking it while it is on the ground)
The EGO LBPX8004 is illegal in nine countries. Just kidding. But its power is unmatched. Seriously.
At 800 CFMs, it is basically the most powerful electric blower I think I have ever seen. For a backpack blower, it is going to be right on par with a gas-powered blower – or better. One other thing this blower has is really cool digital controls that let you turn on turbo, a battery life indicator, and speed control. Just about everything on this blower is adjustable as well. It is the top of the line battery powered backpack blower.
At only $700, it isn’t all that bad if you grab it at Ace Hardware (or wherever else you can find it).
Cordless blowers come in a bunch of shapes and sizes but there are three basic things you need to understand:
CFM
Cubic feet per minute. This is a measure of air output on the blower. Higher CFM = more power, but not necessarily more miles per hour. High CFM with a wide nozzle = lower MPH. High CFM with a narrow nozzle = high miles per hour. Ideally, you want both a high CFM with a narrow to medium nozzle for most residential jobs.
Usability
What is the point of having a blower if it is hard to use? Have to get one that is lightweight, easy to start, and has some functions that make your life easier.
Motor type
Brushless motors reign supreme. Cooler running motors with more torque, a longer run-time, and last many more years. Brushless is a no brainer when picking a blower.
These are three things you need to pay attention to when looking through the specifications.
Why we review lawn tools
The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site.
As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something.
Leaf blower nozzles are game changing add-ons to the tip of your blower that will boost the performance of any blower. Cleaning up the debris and leaves in your yard and garden can be a back breaking task if you do it by hand.
A leaf blower can make this tough task substantially easier. If you use the right nozzle at the right time, you’ll get the job done in record time – which means you get back inside faster and have a better looking yard. But, leaf blowers aren’t just good for the yard. You can also employ your leaf blower to help with other tasks you need to get done, like drying a car. This guide will help you decide which blower nozzle to use for each type of situation you encounter.
Types of Leaf Blower Nozzles and Their Uses
Leaf blowers are among the most useful and versatile tools a homeowner can have. They’re incredibly useful for yard work, but that’s hardly all. By simply changing the nozzle, you can accomplish a wide variety of tasks such as cleaning out your gutters and even drying your car.
Flat Blower Nozzles
During late fall the leaves from your trees pile up. Winter snow and spring rain saturate them, making them extremely difficult to move, especially with a rake or other hand tool. But, you can’t leave them or the grass under it will die. Simply attach the flat nozzle to your leaf blower and you’ll have no trouble getting them cleared up so your lawn can grow.
The flat blower nozzle attachment is basically like a little spatula for your blower. All the stuff that gets stuck and left behind from mowing, or the old wet leaves that seem to have become one with your driveway are easily flipped with a flat blower nozzle.
Big, beautiful shade trees add comfort and curb appeal to your home and yard. But, those huge piles of leaves aren’t always the easiest to deal with. Raking and moving them is physically demanding and time-consuming. Cleanup can be quick and easy with your leaf blower. Just switch to a wide nozzle and you’ll be able to relocate that massive pile of leaves in no time.
Most backpack leaf blowers have really wide nozzles that deliver a huge volume of air that just absolutely pushes piles. While you will notice a decrease in speed using a wide nozzle, you will have much more of a “shotgun” approach to cleaning up the lawn.
Narrow Blower Nozzles
Regular mowing is essential for your lawn’s health. Clearing grass clippings, leaves and other debris from the edges of your sidewalk and driveway adds that finishing touch after mowing and trimming. You’ll also want to clear away the debris from around your house, garage, or other buildings. For these tasks, grab your narrow leaf blower nozzle.
Narrow nozzles are awesome for being really precise with blowing. I use narrow nozzles on my driveway to make sure I get grass clippings and leaves off – each and every one. Narrow blower nozzles produce higher speed streams that blast away debris, but takes much longer with big piles. If the wide-mouthed nozzle is a shotgun, then this is a rifle.
Some blowers, like the Greenworks 60V blower, comes with a nice concentrator nozzle tip you can take on and off.
Pro tip:
Your narrow leaf blower nozzle can also be used to clear debris and leaves from your home’s gutters.This will ensure the water flows properly and doesn’t damage your roof or foundation. If you do use this method of cleaning your gutters take precautions to ensure you’re safe as you climb the ladder and work the blower.
Another essential task that your leaf blower can help with is drying your vehicle after it’s been washed. By attaching the stubby nozzle you can get rid of water spots that dull your car’s finish. Plus, it’s much faster and easier on you to blow the water off rather than wiping it away.
A lot of folks ask me which stubby blower nozzle works the best. The consensus is that the EGO 650 or 765 CFM blower is the best choice for car drying, with a nice stubby nozzle attachment like this one from Amazon.
Put Your Leaf Blower to Work This Spring
As you can see, your leaf blower can help you accomplish more than just moving a few leaves around. It’s actually one of the most useful tools you can own. So, next time you’re heading out to do some yard work, home maintenance, or to wash your car, grab that leaf blower and put it to work.
What to look for in a battery powered blower
Cordless blowers come in a bunch of shapes and sizes but there are three basic things you need to understand:
CFM
Cubic feet per minute. This is a measure of air output on the blower. Higher CFM = more power, but not necessarily more miles per hour. High CFM with a wide nozzle = lower MPH. High CFM with a narrow nozzle = high miles per hour. Ideally, you want both a high CFM with a narrow to medium nozzle for most residential jobs.
Usability
What is the point of having a blower if it is hard to use? Have to get one that is lightweight, easy to start, and has some functions that make your life easier.
Motor type
Brushless motors reign supreme. Cooler running motors with more torque, a longer run-time, and last many more years. Brushless is a no brainer when picking a blower.
These are three things you need to pay attention to when looking through the specifications.
Why we review lawn tools
The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site.
As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something.
CFMs and MPHs explained
CFM, or cubic feet per minute, is a measurement of the volume of air. This answers the question: how much air is moving through the leaf blower? While that seems like a weird question, it is super important for understanding the power of a blower. More on that in a second.
MPH, or miles per hour, is a measurement of speed. This answers the question: how fast does the air move through the blower?
CFM and MPH are related – generally the higher the CFM, the higher the MPH.
My experience with leaf blower nozzles
I’ve been using leaf blowers for decades. I used to toss the extra nozzles out every time I got a new blower, but have since grown wiser. Now I use my flat nozzle after cutting the grass, stubby nozzle after a nice car wash with my pressure washer, and my wide–mouthed nozzle whenever my trees decide to dump leaves.
Using these nozzles has seriously upped my leaf blowing game. You know what they say: “If you only have a hammer, everything is a nail”. Having a leaf blower nozzle turned my blower into a swiss army knife lawn tool that leaves my lawn looking way better and keeps my mood at all time highs (just ask my wife).
Corded and cordless leaf blowers are two often-overlooked blower types that are frankly…underrated. Gas powered blowers are the incumbent and most people still seem to prefer them. I prefer cordless blowers but my heart will always have a spot for corded leaf blowers.
But just like with cars, electric motor technology has evolved significantly – and it is catching up. I’m not saying it is all the way there, but some battery powered blowers and even some corded blowers are there.
Corded leaf blowers have a number of benefits. In fact, they are extremely underrated. Here are a few things to consider before being all judgmental about corded blowers:
They’re extremely light. No batteries and no gas means you can take a few pounds off. After a while of blowing off a large yard, it can make a huge difference on your shoulder and back.
No maintenance! These don’t require any of the standard maintenance required of gas powered blowers, like mixing oil, changing filters, and replacing spark plugs.
Unlimited run-time. These bad boys don’t have batteries that die or gas that runs out. As long as you pay your electric bill, you’re fine!
They are extremely inexpensive. My favorite corded blower is less than $100. You can’t get a high quality battery powered or gas blower for anywhere near that price.
Battery powered leaf blowers have huge advantages. They have all the same advantages that corded electric leaf blowers have – like no maintenance and no fumes, but also the ability to be much more portable than corded electric blowers.
I like my battery powered leaf blower because I can take it way out into my yard and get the same performance as my gas powered blower. They also tend to have more bells and whistles, like cruise control, turbo buttons, and more. Additionally, the same battery I use with my blower I can also use with a ton of other lawn tools.
Which is better: corded or cordless blowers?
It is hard to say which is better, so I’ll put it into the perspective of who should use which one. I think if you are a new homeowner or have a small yard, corded electric blowers are the way to go. They’re great for those on a budget or for those that just don’t have much space to worry about. The extension cord is all you need to get the job done without worrying about any maintenance or batteries.
If you have a medium to large yard or just love having the best of everything, battery powered blowers are way better than corded blowers. They can give you more power, more reach, and fit into your arsenal of battery powered lawn tools quite nicely.
My favorite corded blowers
So I actually have two corded electric blowers that are tied for my favorite – and they are both made by Toro.
Toro PowerJet F700 corded electric blower
The Toro PowerJet is exactly that – a jet of freaking power. At 700 CFMs, this thing HAULS big piles of leaves. Here is why it made our list of favorites:
700 CFMs mean big piles of leaves get yeet-ed
Adjustable speed knob lets you control how fast you’re blowing
Has a nice little spot to hang up the cord so you don’t pull it out when you’re blowing
My first blower, I couldn’t not put it on this list. For starters, I’ve had it for almost 10 years and it was old when I bought it. But it just won’t quit.
It isn’t the strongest blower in the world and it might not have any bells or whistles (outside of a 1-2 speed switch), but my word it may be the least expensive. When I spent ALL of my money putting down the down payment for my first house, I didn’t leave any money for other things.
Enter the PowerSweep. It was extremely inexpensive at the time and just like the Costco hot dog – it is somehow resistant to inflation. For anyone in the same situation as me, you can grab a newer version of this one at Home Depot for a really good price.
I write about the EGO 765 CFM blower all the time. I’m obsessed with it. Mainly because the first time I pressed the turbo button this blower actually pushed my arm back, causing me to fight against it. Never had a blower do that before.
At 765 CFMs and well over 200 MPH, this thing is more powerful than my gas blower. It is my favorite blower I’ve ever used and is absolutely my go-to blower. It’s a freaking cannon strapped to your arm and you won’t regret buying it – I didn’t.
The Ryobi 40V Whisper Series blower is a close second place. It’s called the Whisper series because, well, it’s quiet. Makes sense, right?
It has almost as much CFMs and MPH as the EGO blower above, but is slightly weaker. I will say if you already have a Ryobi 40V battery, this is the best blower you can buy. Because you can get the tool-only version without the batteries for a way cheaper price.
Cordless blowers come in a bunch of shapes and sizes but there are three basic things you need to understand:
CFMs and MPH on blowers
Cubic feet per minute. This is a measure of air output on the blower. Higher CFM = more power, but not necessarily more miles per hour. High CFM with a wide nozzle = lower MPH. High CFM with a narrow nozzle = high miles per hour. Ideally, you want both a high CFM with a narrow to medium nozzle for most residential jobs.
Usability
What is the point of having a blower if it is hard to use? Have to get one that is lightweight, easy to start, and has some functions that make your life easier.
Motor type
Brushless motors reign supreme. Cooler running motors with more torque, a longer run-time, and last many more years. Brushless is a no brainer when picking a blower.
These are three things you need to pay attention to when looking through the specifications.
Why we review lawn tools
The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site.
reviewing lawn tools
As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something.
Gas and battery powered leaf blowers used to not even be remotely comparable. Now…I’m not so sure. I’ve used both types for decades and have come to change my mind on which is better.
Hint, hint.
You see advancements in modern technology (Teslas, etc.) have made battery powered lawn tools really competitive. But there’s still something just flat out reliable about the power and experience you get with a gas-powered leaf blower.
Today – I am here to not necessarily settle the debate, but tell you about my experience using and testing dozens of different leaf blowers. You can check out many of these on my Youtube channel.
My experience testing gas and battery powered leaf blowers
Needless to say, they’ve been hard to give up. But one year for Christmas my mom got me this tiny handheld Kimo blower – which was battery-powered. I didn’t understand when or how I would use it, but then became addicted. It was great for quickly blowing off my walkway and porch before guests came over – without smelling like gas.
Needless to say, I’ve made the switch. And the nicest part? Never smelling like gas, never having to do maintenance, and never having to pull another cord.
Gas is notoriously more powerful
Okay – so I just mentioned that I had two battery powered leaf blowers that had equal power to most gas blowers. But here’s the simple truth: they are about the only ones with that much power.
Most battery powered leaf blowers fall in the 150 MPH range of air speed without about 300-400 CFMs. When it comes to gas blowers, especially backpack gas blowers, CFMs are the true metric to look at. CFMs are a better indicator of air volume and dictate the size of the air funnel. So while some backpack blowers have similar air speeds, they have CFMs well above 700 that push leaves like crazy.
Below is a cool chart that highlights the power differences among gas powered blowers. As you can see, backpack blowers have higher CFMs and MPH but are heavier, louder and more expensive.
Battery powered blowers actually have similar specifications. Although I’d say the median battery-powered blower is weaker than the median gas-powered blower. Battery blowers have a humongous range in CFM and MPH because they can either be really cheaply made or extremely nice.
Battery backpack blowers are much less common and in my opinion, not very advanced. In fact, I don’t really get the point of a lot of them – they look just like regular battery powered blowers and perform about the same.
When it comes to comfort and usability for battery and gas powered leaf blowers, I am a huge fan of battery-powered. There are a few things I really like about them that differentiate them from gas.
For starters, both gas and electric have variable speed triggers, cruise control, and just about every bell and whistle that is the same. But battery-powered blowers are so much easier to start and require no maintenance. For me, walking out to the shed and simply sliding in the battery to get started is way better than ensuring proper fuel mixture and cranking the cord.
On the other hand, some of these new battery leaf blowers are HEAVY. My EGO blower is about 3 lbs heavier than my Stihl blower and both have similar power profiles and are handheld. That isn’t the case with all battery powered blowers, but the new super powerful ones all have a big motor and heavy batteries.
As far as user experience goes, the last piece I will harp on is how nice it is to have a blower that doesn’t put out any fumes. I don’t mind gasoline and I’m one of those people that likes how gas smells
Battery and gas leaf blowers cost about the same
Comparing costs across different blower types is a little tough. Battery powered blowers have a lot of variation in cost because some are cheap and weak and others are super strong.
For a comparable cost evaluation, you want to find two blowers that have somewhat equal power. In the handheld blower world, I suggest the EGO 765 CFM battery powered blower. From the gas powered world, I think the Stihl BG 86 C is a great comparison. I happen to own both.
Gas powered blowers require something that battery powered blowers don’t: gas (duh). While they don’t take a ton of gas, they do require occasional refills and mixing with oil. You also have to replace filters and spark plugs.
These require a lot of maintenance.
These costs aren’t significant, but compared with battery powered blowers, can add up over time.
Leaf blower noise level comparison: Gas vs Electric
Lastly – let’s compare the noise level on both gas and electric blowers.
Gas blowers are known for being super loud and obnoxious. I always knew this but learned it the hard way when my neighbor took out her backpack blower at 6am and woke one of my toddlers up.
Handheld gas blowers put out about 70 dB of noise and backpack blowers are closer to 100 dB of noise. At 100 dB of noise, a comparable sound is a subway train. That’s loud.
Battery powered blowers are certainly quieter, measuring in at about 50-60 dB. Now I know that isn’t as loud, but it isn’t pleasant either. Some battery powered blowers have a much higher pitch noise that is equally aggravating.
I think neighbors definitely appreciate battery powered blowers more than gas, but I would still wear ear protection with both.
CFMs and MPHs explained
CFM, or cubic feet per minute, is a measurement of the volume of air. This answers the question: how much air is moving through the leaf blower? While that seems like a weird question, it is super important for understanding the power of a blower. More on that in a second.
MPH, or miles per hour, is a measurement of speed. This answers the question: how fast does the air move through the blower?
CFM and MPH are related – generally the higher the CFM, the higher the MPH.
What to look for in a blower
Cordless blowers come in a bunch of shapes and sizes but there are three basic things you need to understand:
CFM
Cubic feet per minute. This is a measure of air output on the blower. Higher CFM = more power, but not necessarily more miles per hour. High CFM with a wide nozzle = lower MPH. High CFM with a narrow nozzle = high miles per hour. Ideally, you want both a high CFM with a narrow to medium nozzle for most residential jobs.
Usability
What is the point of having a blower if it is hard to use? Have to get one that is lightweight, easy to start, and has some functions that make your life easier.
Motor type
Brushless motors reign supreme. Cooler running motors with more torque, a longer run-time, and last many more years. Brushless is a no brainer when picking a blower.
These are three things you need to pay attention to when looking through the specifications.
Why I review lawn tools
The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site.
Reviewing lawn tools with our faces.
As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something.
Common questions I get
Is gas or electric better for leaf blowers?
Gas leaf blowers tend to be better for commercial work whereas electric and battery leaf blowers are better for home use.
What are the cons of a gas powered leaf blower?
Cons of gas powered leaf blowers include high noise levels, fumes, and maintenance schedules that make them much more complicated.
How long do batteries last on an electric leaf blower?
Batteries on electric leaf blowers generally last from 30 minutes to an hour depending on what speed you are running your blower. It also depends on the Amp-hours of the batteries.
Are electric leaf blowers less powerful?
Generally, electric leaf blowers are less powerful than gas. There are exceptions where a few electric blowers can go toe-to-toe with gas.
Is an electric leaf blower worth it?
Electric leaf blowers are worth their lower price if you are a homeowner and don’t want fumes or costly maintenance for your leaf blower.
What MPH is best for a leaf blower?
The ideal MPH for a leaf blower is generally above 140 MPH for home use and above 180 MPH for commercial use.
The most powerful electric blower for your large yard is the EGO 765 CFM leaf blower. Electric leaf blowers can be great for large yards. Most folks think you can’t move big leaf piles with an electric blower, but they are simply wrong.
If you have a large yard, you can benefit from no fumes, a quieter blower, and no maintenance – then electric might just be the option. Let me break down why I switch from gas to electric then list out some of my favorite electric blowers I’ve used over the years.
Let’s get started! Here are the best electric blowers for large yards according to our thorough testing:
There are hundreds of electric leaf blowers on the market, both battery-powered and corded electric. A bunch of them absolutely suck. So we’ve decided to give you the ones we know are absolute beasts when it comes to your large yard.
EGO 765 CFM Leaf Blower
Hands down, I have not found a better electric blower for large yards than the EGO 765 CFM blower. It is an absolute cannon in your hand with extreme power and usability that surpassed my experience with a popular handheld gas blower.
At 765 CFMs, this is best-in-class in the battery-powered blower world. This kind of air volume can move massive piles of leaves across large areas – quickly. With unmatched CFMs and a tremendous combination of MPH, this blower is built for large yards.
That’s an extreme combination of speed and power. When I first used this, it was a powerful blower, then I pushed the turbo button and I had to literally (yes, literally) fight against it because of how powerful it is. It has a brushless motor, is a part of EGO’s extensive 56V battery series, and is durable as heck.
If you’re still with me after my gas blower comment, then I might finally lose you here. But yes – this is a corded electric blower – and it costs less than $100.
You don’t need all the flashy cool features and expensive batteries to put out a freakishly solid blower. This corded blower has 700 CFMs and a super wide nozzle, making light work of massive piles of leaves. This one was built for maximizing air volume, making it great for moving piles of leaves across large yards.
The only downside here is that you will be limited in a large yard by the length of the extension cord. But if you have easy electrical access and a great extension cord, this is the most budget friendly option – by a LONG SHOT.
I put Makita’s 40V Max blower on here because it is one of the best ones they have for large yards.
Here’s the simple truth about Makita: their tools are extremely high quality but also pretty expensive. When it comes to Makita tools, they have a bunch of really good power tools and have dominated the electric hand tool space for a long time.
Their 36V blower here is pretty powerful as well
So it was a no brainer when they jumped over to lawn tools. I love their 40V max blower for a few reasons:
A sweet brushless motor
A 40V battery that can span a bunch of their tools
It has more power than a lot of gas blowers
When “turbo” mode is engaged it has 565 CFMs – nice!
Their XGT battery series is supposed to be a “smart” battery that helps with overheating and delivers a better run time
A telescoping nozzle – lets you pick different lengths – pretty cool
The reason this one is lower on the list is that after I tested this one over the course of a few weeks, it started to develop a high-pitched squealing sound. For larger yards, this would result in a spectacular headache and angry neighbors. If you’re looking for power and quality – this blower has it. If you’re looking for a peaceful noise, this one does not.
All-in-all, this was a great blower and we spent a ton of time making a video review for it before the sound got all weird. You can watch the full video review here.
While they aren’t the leaders in electric tools yet, they did put out a really impressive blower that is great for large yards.
This blower has a few really great specifications:
A brushless motor
A whopping 650 CFMs
A wide mouth nozzle which delivers large volume of air at 136 MPH
One downside to this blower is that Husqvarna doesn’t have a huge 40V battery line yet, so you don’t quite get the economies of scale you would get from EGO’s 56V battery line, for example.
One thing I will give it credit for is digital controls for cruise control and a really nice grip that feels just like a power drill. It is well-balanced, futuristic and nice.
I imagine Husqvarna will have many good products to come in the future, but for right now they are still immature.
This is a great blower for those looking for a one-off blower and not a full suite of battery powered products. You can grab it on Amazon for a decent price with the battery.
What to look for in a battery powered blower
Cordless blowers come in a bunch of shapes and sizes but there are three basic things you need to understand:
CFM
Cubic feet per minute. This is a measure of air output on the blower. Higher CFM = more power, but not necessarily more miles per hour. High CFM with a wide nozzle = lower MPH. High CFM with a narrow nozzle = high miles per hour. Ideally, you want both a high CFM with a narrow to medium nozzle for most residential jobs.
Usability
What is the point of having a blower if it is hard to use? Have to get one that is lightweight, easy to start, and has some functions that make your life easier.
Motor type
Brushless motors reign supreme. Cooler running motors with more torque, a longer run-time, and last many more years. Brushless is a no brainer when picking a blower.
These are three things you need to pay attention to when looking through the specifications.
Why we review lawn tools
The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site.
reviewing lawn tools – with my face
As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something.
Why I switched from gas to electric blowers
I’ve always been a gas leaf blower fan – and I still own two. I own the Stihl BR 600 backpack blower and the Stihl BG 86 C handheld gas blower. Despite being really powerful and always getting the job done, I got sick of the maintenance schedule and the smell. After I had my first baby, the noise became unbearable as well – trying to use the blower around nap schedules.
All of that stopped when I got a battery-powered blower. My first battery-powered blower was the Ryobi 40V blower, which quickly changed my perspective. The truth is, a lot of these electric blowers are super powerful – even more so compared to handheld gas blowers. I’ll walk you through my favorites below.
How I tested these electric blowers
I’ve tested these electric blowers using personal experience with all of them. I’ve written extensive reviews of each of them and put them through the ringer.
That’s a zip tied trigger!
For starters, I tested out their run times compared to the advertised run time. I did this by zip-tying down the trigger and seeing how long it goes for before dying. I also did some side-by-side comparisons to a handheld gas blower. I also compare the noise levels then the other bells and whistles, like turbo buttons.
In the same way electric cars are becoming powerful and popular, so are electric lawn tools. Long gone are the days of corded leaf blowers and mowers that can barely move a leaf off the ground.
The new mowers are in town.
The new generation of battery-powered lawn tools by brands like EGO, Greenworks, Ryobi, and Makita are powerful machines. The top brands can often rival gas-powered tools in just about every way, but without the maintenance, noise, or smell. You can also save a ton of money by purchasing the tool-only version of lawn tools.
As a former lawn tool collector with a garage full of gas-powered tools, I can tell you that I have made some bad purchases in the electric lawn tool space. That is why we created this resource guide. You can also check out everything you would want over on our Amazon Storefront, where we’ve consolidated all of the best tools into one place.
Let’s start with the big kahuna. You don’t have yard work or lawn care without a lawn mower. The absolute number one essential lawn tool is the mower. Let’s review exactly what you should look for in a mower, then I’ll make a couple of recommendations that can help you make the perfect purchase.
When looking to purchase an electric lawn mower, you need to make sure you understand what things matter. You will get hit with a lot of technical specifications and marketing tactics. Totally forget them and focus on the things that impact you. Below are my recommendations:
Go with a high quality brand with a trusted reputation
Quality is going to be super important here. If you are new to the electric lawn mower space, there are definitely some names you will recognize making electric lawn tools, but there are a few others that are top-of-the-line and electric-only.
Avoid anything from a weird brand on Amazon that takes 9 years to ship. It is probably being 3D printed in a Laotian bathroom. Go for brands that have consistent quality and focus on the details, not just flashy colors.
Some brands with a stellar reputation include Greenworks, EGO, and Makita.
Metal where it matters.
Most electric mowers are plastic-y. Probably to reduce the weight of the mower so that the battery can get you further, but it feels cheap. Make sure to get metal where it matters – namely the deck. The deck is the part that covers the blades. Don’t get plastic here – a rock can rip through it.
A ten dollar word used here, but really just make sure to buy a mower with a battery that is compatible with trimmers, blowers, etc.. Ryobi has this, so does Dewalt, and so do some of the Greenworks products. This will save you garage clutter and plug space.
The last thing anyone wants is seven or eight different plugs on the wall trying to charge batteries. A single line of batteries goes a long way here.
Self-propelled or not.
While I personally don’t use the self-propelled function, a lot of people love it. If you are older, have steep banks or hills, or otherwise just want to move more quickly, self-propelled mowers can be a huge help.
They can also significantly drain the battery of your mower, so be prepared to stop to charge the mower at some point.
Motor Type
While electric motors have historically relied on wound coils of wire to create a magnetic field to utilize the energy in a battery to rotate the “rotor” which has positively and negatively charged ends that spin – creating torque. The coils act like a brush against the internal components of the motor that will wear out over time – the new kid on the block, brushless motors, are different.
Brushless motors have removed the friction and replaced with magnetic force fields – thus removing the wear and tear on the coils.
This adjustment significantly improves motor performance and durability. Less friction makes for easier spinning of motor components. Faster spinning means higher performance – usually. Higher performance makes us happy.
Top Battery-Powered Lawn Mower Recommendations
We have tried, reviewed, and ranked close to 100 battery-powered mowers. A few really stick out to us.
Greenworks 80V Pro Brushless Cordless Lawn Mower 21”
This mower from Greenworks is a masterpiece. Everything we recommend in a mower can be found in this one. A steel deck. A brushless motor. A battery line you can stick with for all of your Greenworks tools. A great brand. This one is top-of-the-line. It can be found on Amazon for a pretty good sale or at your local Costco.
EGO Power+ 56V 21-inch Cordless Electric Select Cut XP Lawn Mower
A close runner-up, this thing has a killer self-propelled function, a long-lasting battery, a pretty sweet design, and a brushless motor. The only downside here is the plastic deck. Otherwise, this is a great mower and part of a great battery series. It can also be found on Amazon and on sale right now or at Lowe’s.
Again, let’s break down what you need to know when picking out a battery-powered weed eater. Then I’ll give some recommendations based on our research and trials.
What to look for in a cordless string trimmer
Cordless weed eaters come in all shapes and sizes. They aren’t highly complicated pieces of equipment, but they do have a few nuances. Here is how I see it:
Feel and usability
Obviously this is subjective, but feel is everything to me. I have had weed eaters in the past where the handle is off to the side, making me torque my shoulders and back. Bad. You are going to be using this often and for a long time, so make sure it is comfortable.
I recommend using trimmers with a molded grip that comes in the shape of a D. This way you can grab the handle at multiple angles for whenever you want to do some edging with it.
Motor type
Brushless motors are king here. They are longer lasting and more durable. Brushless motors also produce more torque and less heat.
This is the same benefit found across all battery-powered lawn tools.
Batteries
Not only do you want a lighter weight battery, but you also want to try to get a battery with your trimmer that also works with a blower.
I always, always, always prefer straight shafts. They are so much easier to use and control. Curved shafts are better for smaller areas that require “mowing” with a string trimmer, whereas straight shafts are better for precision and clean lines.
Longer straight shaft trimmers are also easier to balance and handle as they distribute weight better.
Top Battery-Powered Weed Eater Recommendations
I’ve used dozens of battery-powered weed eaters and review and rank them extensively. Here are some of my favorites.
Makita XRU15PT1 36V Brushless String Trimmer
Okay, this one is an absolute beast and can blow the socks off any commercial gas trimmer. It has a massive cutting swath of 15 inches, a brushless motor, and comes with 4 batteries. Makita does a great job with their products, whether they be hand power tools or their full suite of different weed eaters.
This one is much more affordable. It weighs about six pounds, is super easy to use, has a telescoping arm, and can be plopped on its side for proper edging. Worx makes some really cool products, just like this flexible and simple weed eater called the GT revolution.
Leaf blowers have some of the largest variety in power, with most folks still thinking gas is the most powerful. You would be surprised to see how far some of these blowers have come. Let’s check it out.
What to look for in an electric blower
Cordless blowers come in a bunch of shapes and sizes. There are smaller, lightweight handheld blowers, massive backpack blowers, and everything in between. Regardless of the type of blower, there are three basic things you need to understand before making a purchase.
CFM
Cubic feet per minute. This is a measure of air output on the blower. Higher CFM means more air output, but not necessarily more miles per hour. You may see a lot of blowers that have really high CFMs, but don’t always blow air at the highest miles per hour. This is due to the fact that some blowers have wide nozzles. They can push air out with great force, but since the area of the nozzle is large, the miles per hour isn’t as proportionally high.
High CFM blowers with low MPH are great for moving big piles of leaves across the yard.
Blowers with high MPH might not have as high of CFMs, but have narrower nozzles. These are great for precision blowing or for things like wet grass or wet leaves.
I prefer to have a high MPH blower so that I can get those wet leaves off of my back deck. Most commercial landscapers use backpack blowers with high CFMs so that they can remove leaves from parking lots and other surfaces.
Usability and “Feel”
Leaf blowers come in all shapes, sizes and weights. If you have a large yard, you will want to really pay attention to the weight distribution and handling of a blower, otherwise you may end up at a chiropractor.
For large yards, I generally recommend a backpack blower. It is the most comfortable blower for heavy use because it is wearable and powerful.
For medium and small yards, there are some great lightweight handheld blowers that have just as much power as a backpack blower – see our recommendations.
Another feature you will want to watch out for is cruise control settings and variable speed control. You can quickly tire out your hands if you are holding onto the blower and also trying to keep the trigger on a very specific setting.
Motor Type
Brushless motors reign supreme. Cooler running motors with more torque, a longer run-time, and last many more years. Brushless is a no brainer when picking a blower, especially since these tend to start and stop so much during use. Keep this thing ticking for many years with a brushless motor.
This blower is more powerful than most, if not all, handheld gas blowers. It has 765 CFMs and can blow air at up to 200 MPH. Holy cow.
It also has a variable speed trigger, cruise control, a few different nozzle tips you can attach, and a brushless motor. Basically, it has it all. It even comes with a five year warranty. If you already own EGO batteries, at the time of this writing you can get the tool-only version for just over $200. Not bad. It is also available at Lowe’s.
Me with my EGO blower.
Ryobi 40V Brushless Whisper Blower
A close competitor to the EGO blower, I recommend the Ryobi for anyone with an existing Ryobi battery. This thing is just slightly less powerful than the EGO blower but is MUCH quieter. The 40V series by Ryobi is pretty sweet as well, with a ton of different tools that can use the same exact battery. That’s a big money, space, and time saver.
At the time of this writing you can grab this blower from Home Depot with batteries and charger for a really good price.
Corded electric lawn dethatchers
Lawn dethatchers and aerators are harder to find in folks’ garages, but mostly because folks neglect this process in their lawn. Dethatchers and aerators are great for the overall health of the grass – those two tools are probably the best kept secret in lawncare – and they happen to be the most satisfying tools on the planet.
The Value of a Dethatcher
Dethatchers are a lesser-known lawn tool but that’s because most folks don’t care enough about their yard to use one. If you are reading this post, you are in the elite subgroup of yard enthusiasts who give a darn and are about to be the envy of all of your neighbors.
Dethatchers work by pulling up dead grass that is stuck to your lawn’s soil.
“Wait a second, that stuff is bad?”
Well, maybe not BAD, but it limits the amount of nutrients your soil can take in. We go out and pull weeds in the garden bed because they can overtake our flowers and bushes. The same goes for our grass. The thatch is not going to take over your yard and is dead, but it is still taking up valuable real estate that could help grow more grass.
Weeds and grass when they see your lawn.
When to dethatch your lawn
Dethatching your lawn should take place just prior to aerating and overseeding – so generally in the fall. For those of us that live in the South, this is sometime around mid to early October. If it’s too hot, the seed will dry up and not thrive. If it’s too cold, well, it is too late.
You can also dethatch at the end of a brutal winter to allow your soil to open up and breathe again before it warms up. So many lawns continue to limp into the spring because they are mushy and have a ton of moist thatch just clogging up the yard. Get rid of that.
Electric Dethatchers 101
Okay, let us make our way into the meat of this post. Old-school dethatchers are fine-toothed rakes that require you to physically make your way across the yard and pull up all the dead grass like a caveman. I do not recommend this to anybody that enjoys having a back.
On the flip side, there is a reason that motorized dethatchers are not gas-powered. Dethatchers, even motorized ones, require a slower movement across the yard. And honestly, that is a good thing. There’s no way to go through the process quickly. If you had a gas-powered dethatcher, you would basically till your entire yard and you might as well plant something else if you do that.
Electric dethatchers are perfect because they are super light, easy to use, and simply hover across your yard, pulling up all the dead thatch. We did a full comparison post of the two best dethatchers on the market.
Top Corded Electric Dethatcher Recommendations
The most satisfying tools on the planet, here are our recommendations for electric dethatchers based on personal use and testing.
Greenworks 10A Electric Dethatch
The Greenworks Dethatcher is a super affordable, easy-to-operate, and powerful lawn tool that can help your yard breath again. We’ve mentioned Greenworks a few times now, but they are a trusted brand that provides amazing products. At the time of this writing, you can grab their dethatcher for about $125 on Amazon.
I got this a few months ago to give a whirl after my lawn looked dead as dead can be. Needless to say, my jaw was on the floor.
Sun Joe AJ798E 12A Electric dethatcher
The Sun Joe is also a great option if you have any brand preference for them. The machines themselves are about neck and neck in all features, with the Sun Joe being slightly smaller and more expensive. I used this one in my YouTube video I made about dethatching my lawn. It was great – not super sturdy, but did the job over my half acre of land.
When it comes to clearing snow from your property, there are two main types of machines to choose from: the snow thrower and the snow blower. Both have their pros and cons, so how do you decide which is the right machine for you?
Snow blowers vs snow throwers
Many people ask what the difference is between a snow blower and a snow thrower. Let me tell you right now, both are far superior to a snow shovel. While snow blowers and snow throwers build significantly less character for young men, they are much easier to use and more effective for clearing out large amounts of snow.
In short, snow throwers launch snow 10-15 feet away and are generally more narrow. Snow blowers launch snow 25-30 feet away and are wider. Snow blowers are heavier duty and can also handle many, many inches of snow. At the end of the day, it will be much more fun to launch the snow into the neighbor’s yard instead of just the edge of your own yard.
1-stage vs 2-stage snow blowers
Snow throwers tend to be the name for one-stage blowers. One-stage means that the action of launching the snow happens in one step: it gets scooped up and shot through a tube in one motion. Two-stage blowers are more powerful. Blowers with two stages have one action that scoops up the snow and another that launches it. This allows for a much stronger “launching” capacity, sending snow to the moon.
Top Battery-Powered Snow Blower Recommendations
While I don’t use snow blowers often, when I do they are a TON of fun.
Greenworks Pro 80V 20-inch Brushless Snow Blower
This Greenworks snow blower thing is a dang beast. It’s 20 inches wide which means you get inside and out of the snow way quicker than with narrower snow blowers. If you’ve read anything from this article, you know that I’m obsessed with brushless motors, which this one has. Greenworks has a great reputation and the 80V battery here can be used with a ton of other great Greenworks tools.
EGO Power+ SNT2110 21-inch Blower
For a little bit more, you can get a little bit more. A nearly identical snow blower, but with an additional inch, this is a great option if you already have other EGO products and have the battery.
A solid chainsaw is one of the most important tools a homeowner can have. Buying the right one is absolutely essential to your kids or neighbors thinking you’re a cool man or woman. Chainsaws come in a variety of different shapes, sizes, types and models. Most are either gas or electric powered. Depending on your application of course, most people can get away with a 14” bar and chain. Unless you’re cutting up massive trees you probably don’t need anything bigger than that.
In addition to that, most people nowadays can probably get away with an electric model vs a more powerful, smoother cutting gas powered model. But it’s all personal preference. However, honestly I tend to always go with the bigger more powerful engines because I think they’ll last longer. So far that’s proven to be true, but I could just be wasting money.
Must-have chainsaw features
Just make sure your chainsaw at least has a kickback reduction feature. This prevents you from losing one of your precious fingers! You only have 10 of them ya know! This also prevents you from cutting your head in half. Kickback reductions can be in the form of the chain or bar itself. Basically these just prevent you from cutting too aggressively which prevents your saw from bouncing back on you. Or a chain brake which causes the chain to stop when it hits something hard or moves too abruptly
Other features that are nice to have are more comfort-centric. These include tool-less tensioners, mufflers, anti-vibration, automatic chain oilers, etc.
Top Battery-Powered Chainsaw Recommendations
Battery powered chainsaws are one of those tools we just didn’t expect to match up to our gas powered chainsaws. When we tested these – we were proven wrong.
Greenworks G-MAX 40V 16-inch chainsaw
The Greenworks G-MAX chainsaw can cut through 15 inches of wood, with the equivalent power of a 35cc gas chainsaw. Also featuring a brushless motor, anti-vibration, and no gas or fumes, this thing is pretty dang sweet and looks really cool as well.
A great option for the average homeowner that needs to break up fallen branches. It’s 16 inches, has a brushless motor, and is a great deal. Not the most powerful in the world, but pretty sweet especially if you already have the battery – which most people do.
Here’s what I look for when picking out a new electric pressure washer.
Nozzles Matter
When choosing a pressure washer, you should pay attention to the nozzles included in the package. Two types of spray nozzles are available usually, adjustable spray nozzles that can be controlled and quick-connect nozzles with predefined spray patterns.
The predefined spray patterns typically come in different angles, allowing for you to quickly switch between a broad, lower pressure spray or a narrow, higher pressure stream.
Soap tank
Additionally, you may want to consider a soap tank – equipped pressure washer. Some of these pressure washers have “foam cannons” where you can simply add some soap and it will mix it in with the water. Pretty cool.
I recommend a soap tank for cars and windows.
Wheels on pressure washers
Despite these seemingly minor features, they can have a big impact, especially with larger units. No sense in lugging around one of these in your yard and tripping all over the place.
The trusty Sun Joe SPX3000.
Hose types
There’s a big difference between how easy or difficult it is to use a pressure washer based on the kind of hose that comes with it. Stiff, rigid hoses make it extremely difficult to have any maneuverability without messing up the job or knocking over the base.
Portability
Even if this has the drawback of making the unit less powerful, a portable, smaller pressure washer will be a better choice if you have to move around or carry the unit with you. Most of us do this, especially if you are doing the exterior of your house.
Totally depends on the job you are trying to do.
Pressure washers: Gas vs. Electric
Gas pressure washers have been around forever and probably aren’t going anywhere – but electric pressure washers are on the up and up like all the other lawn tools.
Electricity and water! What can go wrong?
The maintenance and cost of gas pressure washers are greater, including things like air filter changes, spark plugs, and more. Gas pressures are also insanely loud. However, electric washers simply have a power source and a button and are far quieter.
I like buttons.
Top Electric Pressure Washer Recommendations
Just like some of the others, we’ve tested a TON of electric pressure washers. Here are some of our favorites.
Sun Joe SPX3500 Pressure Washer
The SPX3500 is a souped-up version of the most popular pressure washer on the planet, the Sun Joe SPX3000. It basically fixed all the negative feedback on the SPX3000 and even looks cooler. It’s got a brushless motor, brass fittings, and is easy to store and transport. It even has a tad more power. It is the best Sun Joe pressure washer on the market.
Greenworks PRO 3000 PSI TruBrushless Electric Pressure Washer
This thing is legit. All of its stats have been verified by the Pressure Washer Manufacturers of America, meaning the nerds who designed this really put some love behind it. Believe it or not, that’s rare.
I love how this Greenworks pressure washer boasts the PWMA certification and also distinguishes the Brushless motor as TruBrushless, throwing shade on competitors who exaggerate numbers or don’t actually use brushless motors through and through. This one is higher quality, but also slightly more expensive, right now this one is for sale on Amazon.
Final Wrap-up
Folks, thanks for reading our guide. The tools here are not exhaustive – this is not a static list, in fact the pros over at Greenworks, EGO, and all the other manufacturers are constantly coming out with new products that exceed expectations and advance the electric armory.
Check out our YouTube channel to see us using and testing all these tools – sometimes head-to-head!
Why we review lawn tools
The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site.
Here’s how I spend my time now.
As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something.
The best battery powered leaf blower is the EGO 765 CFM blower. Cordless and battery powered leaf blowers are all the rage right now. They are quieter, just as powerful, and easier to maintain than gas-powered blowers – there I said it!
Yeah…pretty sweet.
But there are a LOT out there. I see some awesome trusted brands but I also see some that look like they were 3-D printed in a Laotian bathroom. And that isn’t good.
So I’ve put a ton of these blowers to the test (which I will explain more later). Either way, the ones on this list are absolute winners that I have personally used and tested. You can see a lot of the reviews of each of these on my Youtube channel.
Here is my list of top battery powered leaf blowers:
EGO 765 CFM Battery Powered Blower
Ryobi 40V Whisper Series Blower
Enhulk 58V 930 CFM Battery Powered Blower
Greenworks 80V Blower
EGO 650 CFM Battery Powered Blower
Dewalt 20V Max Leaf Blower
Kobalt 80V Battery Powered Leaf Blower
Powerful Battery Powered Leaf Blowers (Ranked in 2024)
Ranking these battery powered leaf blowers was pretty easy, although it took about 18 months of getting access to all of them. But after I did, it was a fun process. There’s a clear runaway winner, but after that the playing field is pretty even. Let’s get started.
EGO 765 CFM LB7654 Leaf Blower
The EGO 765 CFM battery powered blower is hands down the best. It is the most powerful handheld battery powered blower on the market and much more powerful than many gas-powered blowers. That statement is what gets me hate mail.
But it is true. I got a lot of comments about that on our Youtube review of this blower, but we compared it side by side to my first blower – a Stihl BG86C. It is an absolute unit. At 765 CFMs, it has serious blowing power. It also has a decent sized nozzle that allows it to still push air at super high speeds – up to 200 MPH.
I compared them!
That’s an extreme combination of speed and power. When I first used this, it was a powerful blower, then I pushed the turbo button and I had to literally (yes, literally) fight against it because of how powerful it is. It has a brushless motor, is a part of EGO’s extensive 56V battery series, and is durable as heck.
I put the Ryobi Brushless Whisper series blower as number two on the list because it is almost as good as the EGO blower, but not quite as nice. One thing it has going for it is that it is quieter, which is why it is called the Whisper series. But it isn’t super quiet, it just makes a different noise – you can see a video where we compare it to the EGO blower here.
But all things considered, this is still a great blower. The best part is that Ryobi has a TON of 40V products. If you already own the batteries, you can buy it tool-only and save a ton of money. If you have a Ryobi 40V battery already then I recommend this one over the EGO.
This one is pretty sweet, too.
The power output on this one is still great for a battery powered blower. 730 CFM and 190 MPH put it just under EGO’s blower and it has all the same bells and whistles: a turbo button, cruise control, and a brushless motor.
Ryobi did a great job with this one and they sell it almost exclusively at Home Depot. Using that link, you can use it with or without batteries to see the cost difference.
ENHULK 58V 930 CFM Electric Leaf Blower
I know this brand is one you haven’t heard of but the Enhulk 930 CFM blower should immediately catch your eye. For starters, this battery powered blower boasts 930 CFMs (its right there in the name). That is an insane amount of air volume.
When I first stared using this blower I was absolutely shocked at how powerful it was. I immediately called up Tyler (the guy in all the pictures) to have him buy it and try it out himself. We were both stunned. Not only does this blower have extreme power but also it has a really cool digital interface for things like cruise control and turbo, a bunch of different nozzles, and a big ole’ battery.
While this is definitely the most powerful blower on the list, I had to move it to number three because the battery can’t really be used with a ton of other tools. Either way, the Enhulk 58V is still worth the money – you can grab it on Amazon for a really low price compared to the others.
Greenworks 80V 730 CFM Leaf Blower
We love Greenworks products and enjoyed this blower as well. It is just as strong as the Ryobi blower, but comes with a much less popular 80V line. Don’t get me wrong, Greenworks has some great 80V products, like their 80V mower, but isn’t quite as built out or popular as Ryobi.
Not bad!
That being said, we got our hands on this one as well and were impressed. It is a great option, especially if you already have a Greenworks 80V battery. But at 730 CFMs, this one is still strong. It of course has a brushless motor as do almost all of Greenworks’ products.
After a few uses we noticed that it started making a higher-pitched noise. It still works totally fine, but is kind of annoying. Otherwise, this blower has been darn near perfect and has some awesome bells and whistles. As a plus, I think it is one of the coolest looking battery powered blowers on the market – all black and really sleek looking.
I’m sad that the EGO 650 CFM blower is so far down this list because it is still a wonderful option for most people. While it doesn’t have the absurd power that the 765 CFM version has, most people don’t need that much power.
Honestly, this one is almost identical to our number one rated blower but just comes short in the power department. It has the same brushless motor, battery series, cruise control, turbo button, and looks almost identical.
The main power difference in my experience is that this will be much closer to a standard electric blower. A very high quality blower, but nothing differentiating the power. When I used it, it was just fine, but didn’t lift the stuck wet leaves and grass that the 765 version can lift.
But really – it is a carbon copy of the number one blower but without the insanity. If you are looking for a really high quality blower that doesn’t knock you backwards, then this is a great option.
Dewalt! What can I say? They are one of the OGs in the battery-powered tool game but somehow got boxed out of the battery-powered lawn tool game.
Don’t underestimate them. They don’t have the market share that Ryobi and EGO do, but they put out some products that absolutely slap – like their nice Dewalt mower and some great weed eaters.. All that to say, they’ve translated their ability to make insane power tools into insane blowers.
The tip is a nice add-on
The Dewalt 20V Max leaf blower is a part of their MAX series of 20V lawn tools, which lets you use this battery across dozens of other tools and even into the garage with some power tools. While Dewalt’s battery powered leaf blower only puts out 450 CFMs and 125 MPH, it comes with a really cool nozzle tip that allows you to supercharge your speed.
One other thing I really loved about this blower is the handle. Dewalt is consistent with having handles for all of their lawn tools that are super ergonomic and similar to their hand tools. They have a molded rubber grip, are very light, and extremely comfortable to use.
Last, but not least, is the Kobalt 80V battery powered leaf blower. This one was an enigma to us. For starters, the battery would absolutely not die. We put this one to the test and it had the LONGEST battery run time – it was hilarious. We zip-tied the trigger down and the battery lasted for 3 hours. Yes – 3 hours.
This one was pretty great, too!
Anyways, this battery powered blower from Kobalt has 630 CFMs and 140 MPH of speed coming through the end of the nozzle. That is some serious power. One thing I don’t love about Kobalt is that they are dang hard to find. They used to be exclusively at Lowe’s and seem to be disappearing from their shelves.
All-in-all, we were impressed with this blower’s run time but it had slightly above average power and average usability. It is a great option, particularly if you already own some other Kobalt 80V products. I don’t think this is the one I would start with if I had other options.
Cordless blowers come in a bunch of shapes and sizes but there are three basic things you need to understand:
CFM
Cubic feet per minute. This is a measure of air output on the blower. Higher CFM = more power, but not necessarily more miles per hour. High CFM with a wide nozzle = lower MPH. High CFM with a narrow nozzle = high miles per hour. Ideally, you want both a high CFM with a narrow to medium nozzle for most residential jobs.
Usability
What is the point of having a blower if it is hard to use? Have to get one that is lightweight, easy to start, and has some functions that make your life easier.
Motor type
Brushless motors reign supreme. Cooler running motors with more torque, a longer run-time, and last many more years. Brushless is a no brainer when picking a blower.
These are three things you need to pay attention to when looking through the specifications.
Why we review lawn tools
The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site.
We love this stuff.
As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something.
How I tested these blowers
I’ve tested these blowers using personal experience with all of them. I’ve written extensive reviews of each of them and put them through the ringer.
Testing gas vs battery powered blowers.
For starters, I tested out their run times compared to the advertised run time. I did this by zip-tying down the trigger and seeing how long it goes for before dying. I also did some side-by-side comparisons to a handheld gas blower and even a corded electric blower. I also compare the noise levels then the other bells and whistles, like turbo buttons.
Leaf blower vacuum combos are low-key lawn tools that absolutely rule. In fact, I didn’t even know what they were until I saw my elderly neighbor walking around with what sounded like a blender.
I test a lot of these out.
It was a leaf blower with a big bag attached to the back of it. Before I jumped to conclusions, I asked him what the heck it was.
A leaf blower that doubled as a leaf vacuum. How did I not think of this sooner and become the world’s first trillionaire?
Anyways, I decided to get my hands on a couple and find out the best one. Here’s the list I came up with for the best leaf blower vacuum combos:
Ever since I saw, then subsequently borrowed, my neighbor’s blower vacuum combo I’ve been hooked. I grabbed one and then convinced my father-in-law and brother to buy one. They went different routes and got ones that I hadn’t yet used.
One of my favorite blowers.
I’ve used dozens of blowers and reviewed and compared a bunch on my Youtube channel. There you can see me strap two to a spinny chair and see which one wins…
Ranking leaf vacuum and blower combos
I’ve given you my definitive ranking at the beginning of this article, but let me break down exactly why I chose each one. I pick certain characteristics that I like and ones that you need to absolutely keep an eye out for. Let’s get started with number one.
Makita makes some amazing leaf blowers – we reviewed a ton of Makita’s blowers. I like Makita’s brushless leaf blower vacuum combo for a few reasons. For starters, it is the only cordless leaf blower vacuum combo on this list.
Having a cordless leaf blower vacuum combo is a huge reason why I put this one at the top of our list. Makita knocks it out of the park with every single one of their lawn tools, which is why we have spent so much time with their lawn mowers and weed eaters.
Here are my favorite things about the Makita leaf blower vacuum combo:
Brushless motor – these are longer lasting, more durable, and provide more torque
Makita’s 18V batteries that can be used with probably 1000’s of other tools, lawn or power tools
473 CFMs, which means this thing moves serious air and has a wide nozzle to push big piles of leaves
A mulching function that not only sucks up the leaves, but finely mulches them into shreds. This has a 10-1 ratio which means it can fit mulch clippings in one bag that would normally take 10 bags unmulched. Wow.
This is the priciest combo on the list, but it provides a ton of value that the others don’t. In my opinion, it is well worth the cost because of how much time it will save you. Plus, you can buy the tool-only version if you already own Makita 18V batteries.
If you’ve never used a Worx product, you’d be surprised at how nifty they are. They have a ton of cool lawn products, like this stand-up leaf mulcher and this 8-in-1 wheelbarrow. Worx is notorious for innovative products that are inexpensive.
Needless to say, they absolutely crushed innovation + inexpensive in their Tri-Vac leaf blower vacuum combo. This one is corded unlike the Makita one above, which means you have to keep it plugged into the wall with a long extension cord. This has pros and cons – it never runs out of power but limits where you can go and can tangle you with the leaf collection bag.
I love how easy it is to flip this one from blower to vacuum.
This Worx leaf blower vacuum combo is actually pretty dang sick now that I look at the specifications. My brother loves it, but I had never seen exactly why. It has a few things that set it apart from the Makita.
600 CFMs of power – which means this blower absolutely PUSHES leaves. This is great for moving big piles of dry leaves across a large area.
A super handy dial that changes it from blower to vacuum. No removing the tube and putting it on a different part, just twist the knob.
A 16:1 leaf mulching ratio which means it turns your leaves into dang dust.
The bag on this pops on and off really easily.
Whoever at Worx designed this has seriously tried out a ton of these before and was like “I’m going to go make the best”. It is almost perfect. If it was cordless, I’d be in love. Either way, this is a great option and an absolutely ridiculous price.
Craftsman also has a pretty sweet contender in the leaf blower vacuum combo space. If you’ve never bought a Craftsman product before, I would be surprised. Craftsman makes EVERYTHING. You can walk around your garage and I guarantee you will find something from Craftsman. They aren’t a premium brand or anything, but they’ve got every type of tool and gadget under the sun PLUS accessories.
The Craftsman 3-in-1 leaf blower, vacuum, and mulcher is another corded option that actually puts out some decent power. It is a bit lower than the Worx product above, but it does still get you to 450 CFMs, which is decent.
At 260 MPH on the blower, you’re looking at extreme speeds. Surprisingly high speeds. Actually unbelievable speeds. I don’t know for sure, but that number doesn’t look right. That is a higher MPH than most, if not all, gas blowers and backpack blowers.
I am sure it is still powerful, but not quite THAT powerful.
One thing I love about this blower, vacuum, and mulcher combo is the backpack leaf collector. For many of the others, the bag hangs below the blower and sags, causes it to be heavy, or gets in the way. The Craftsman has a nice backpack strap that lets you simply carry it around without tripping.
The backpack collection feature is clutch.
This one is just under $100 on Amazon – for the price and usability it is a DARN good option.
What to look for in an electric blower
Cordless blowers come in a bunch of shapes and sizes but there are three basic things you need to understand:
CFM vs MPH on a blower
Cubic feet per minute. This is a measure of air output on the blower. Higher CFM = more power, but not necessarily more miles per hour. High CFM with a wide nozzle = lower MPH. High CFM with a narrow nozzle = high miles per hour. Ideally, you want both a high CFM with a narrow to medium nozzle for most residential jobs.
Usability
What is the point of having a blower if it is hard to use? Have to get one that is lightweight, easy to start, and has some functions that make your life easier.
Motor type
Brushless motors reign supreme. Cooler running motors with more torque, a longer run-time, and last many more years. Brushless is a no brainer when picking a blower.
These are three things you need to pay attention to when looking through the specifications.
Why we review lawn tools
The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site.
We love this stuff!
As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something.
Weed eaters and brush cutters are similar tools with different purposes. Both tools offer unique advantages and are often confused with each other.
The first time I used a brush cutter, my mind was blown. But the thing is – I don’t use this tool that often. Weed eaters have a ton of advantages and are much more versatile, but can’t do what brushcutters do.
Let me explain the difference between these bad boys.
How I tested out these tools
I’ve been using weed eaters for nearly two decades. I’ve extensively tested gas, battery, and corded weed eaters and written at length about each.
I also have a Youtube channel where I go into much more detail about specific lawn tools I’ve tested. When I am putting a weed eater or brush cutter to the test, I am always looking for a combination of power, usability, run time, and price.
This weed eater kinda sucks though.
I had a lot of fun testing these lawn tools and got carried away with my brush cutter attachment.
Weed eater vs brush cutter: Difference Explained
Weed eaters AKA string trimmers use a weed eater string to cut through tall grass and light brush. Brush cutters are blades fixed to the edge of a weed eater that can cut through thick brush and even small trees and branches.
Brush cutters basically look like circular saws on a stick. Kinda crazy – but also really cool. Weed eaters are extremely versatile and can be used for edging or trimming. Brushcutters are also versatile, but are really used just for thick brush and small trees.
When to use a weed eater
Weed eaters are great tools for cleaning up areas that you can’t reach with your lawn mower. After you’ve done a quick mow of your lawn, there will be some places that you miss – around your gutters, next to your garden beds, close to a fence or deck.
Weed eaters are perfect for cutting down all these missed portions of grass. They can also be used to cut through light brush. For example, I’ve got some growth on the backside of my lawn that has to be cut back every now and then. It is a relatively thin brush, so doesn’t need a brush cutter.
Weed eaters can also be used as light edgers as well. When you turn them on their side, you can use a nice, strong weed eater string to dig a small trench around your yard. I use my weed eater as an edger in between times that I actually use my edger.
My weed eater string is the GOAT.
All-in-all, weed eaters are super versatile tools that can act as miniature mowers or edgers and everything in between. But they can’t do everything.
When to use a brush cutter
Brush cutters are great tools for cutting through thick brush that can’t be reached with a weed eater. Above I mentioned using my weed eater to cut through some light brush at the back of my lawn. If you go a little past that, you run into a thicker area of kudzu and small trees.
The brush cutter is a perfect tool for those. When the kudzu starts to get out of hand and wrap its tentacles around my fence, I hop over with the brush cutter and send it back about 5 years.
Basically me.
Brush cutters can also knock down little trees. Like I mentioned earlier, these things are like circular saws on a stick. Sounds dangerous? Well it probably is if you don’t keep an eye out for kickback.
Best brush cutter attachments
Brush cutter attachments can either be a full on attachment to your weed eater, or can simply be a blade to replace the head on your weed eater. Here are a few I looked at when I was on the market.
Ryobi Expand-It Brush Cutter Attachments
As an owner of the Ryobi Expand-It series, this one was a super easy option. I believe these are universal attachments, so it was almost a no-brainer. Ryobi’s brush cutter attachment is perfect for thick brush but won’t be great for chopping down little trees.
The three-sided blades on this one give it superior cutting power for thick brush, absolutely abusing brush with ridiculous power. It pops right onto the power head of the Ryobi and can be used instantly. This is a huge advantage as compared to the individual blades because they’re so much easier to take on and off.
Pops right on.
Another thing I like about the three-blade system is that it doesn’t dull as quickly as the individual blades that have saw-like features. The main difference is that it isn’t being used on trees which dull it much more quickly than brush does.
The Forester brush cutter blade is a sweet tack on for your weed eater that is a straight up beast. This thing is extremely saw-like and will definitely tackle small trees and make light work of brush.
One thing to consider is that if you dig this into the dirt at all, you will dull the blades – just like a chainsaw. You’ve got to be careful when cutting brush close to the ground, so I recommend sticking with small trees and playing it safe with brush.
It’s a beast.
The Forester brush cutter blade can be found at Amazon for a great price and should fit just about every weed eater.
What to look for in a weed eater
Weed eaters AKA string trimmers come in all shapes and sizes. They aren’t highly complicated pieces of equipment, but they do have a few nuances. Here is how I see it:
Feel
Obviously this is subjective, but feel is everything to me. I have had weed eaters in the past where the handle is off to the side, making me torque my shoulders and back. If you can, get as many adjustable pieces as possible to make this customizable. It doesn’t seem like you use a weed eater for a long time, but the work is precision work that requires a steady hand and focus.
Motor type: Brushless vs brushed
Brushless motors are a non-negotiable when it comes to battery powered weed eaters. Without a doubt, they are the best option to ensure you have maximum torque, more durability, and a longer life. These things are top notch performance and will be the only option when others start to catch on.
Curved vs Straight shaft
I always, always, always prefer straight shafts. They are so much easier to use and control and are much longer than curved shafts. Curved shafts are good for clearing out a small piece of land unable to be mowed. But if you want to actually do some good trimming and edging, a straight shaft is much better. Curved shafts are difficult to maneuver and to create a straight line for edging.
Why we review lawn tools
The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site.
As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something.
