Fall is coming and so are the leaves and naturally we want to know what the best leaf blower is to clear up and of course the cost!
On Electric Leaf Blower Info.com we only review Electric Leaf Blowers since many people want to avoid gas powered leaf blowers due to the noise, fumes and maintenance issues.
So we will discuss rechargeable or cordless leaf blowers as well as blowers powered by an electric cord.
Let’s get going then and dive into what to look for when shopping for the best electric leaf blower for your needs.
Features in a Good Electric Leaf Blower
First do you want a unit that only blows or do you want one that can vacuum the leaf and other litter as well?
Or – even better, do you want an all singing, all dancing blower and vacuum and mulcher? Yes, some models offer a 3 in 1 solution.
So there are 3 types of leaf blower
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A simple leaf blower like the Black and Decker NS118
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A leaf blower and leaf vacuum such as the Toro 51599
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And a leaf blower and leaf vacuum and leaf mulcher like the Worx Trivac500
How to Power Your Electric Leaf Blower
Your electric leaf blower will either be powered by a cord or by a rechargeable battery pack and there are pros and cons for each.
A cable means you have to trail that behind you as you go down your garden and this may be inconvenient at times. A battery pack makes it easier to go where you want easily with no bother of long leads. And the downside – having to recharge it regular.
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TheToro 51599 Ultra 12 amp Variable-Speed Electric Blower/Vacuum with Metal Impeller has a long cable to power it.
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The Black & Decker NS118 18-Volt Cordless Electric Broom Hard Surface Sweeper has a Rechargeable 18-volt NiCd battery
More About Batteries for Your Electric Leaf Blower
The Makita BUB182Z has a rechargeable Lithium ion battery and is part of its 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Tool Series.What this means is that all of the range of Makita LXT tools can be run from the same battery pack. So you can buy the Makita cheaper than you might expect if you have a battery pack on a drill, say. In practice many owners have 2 battery packs with 1 recharging and the other being used.
When a tool has a rechargeable battery pack it may be on sale as a bare tool only – that means no battery included.
It Blows How Fast?
The Toro 51599 blows a jet of air at 235 mph according to its specifications! This is very heavy duty and designed to shift piles of wet leaves but is it what you want?
Faster may not be better!
You may prefer to use a less drastic air jet to clear paths near flower beds and a Black & Decker NS118 which is actually called a cordless broom may be better for your needs!!
Even then Black and Decker call the NS118 a “hard surface sweeper” so they don’t think this is usable in flower beds or lawns.
How Many Leaves Does Your Trusty Leaf Blower Have to Clean Up?
I’m not expecting you to go out and count the leaves you need to clear up but you do need to think of how much yard work you have to do when making your choice.
If you have a big garden and lots of leaf litter then you are going to need to use a corded electric leaf blower like the Toro 51599 or the Worx Trivac WG500.
Most of the rechargeable leaf blowers will only last about 15 minutes or less on full power before needing a recharge. The motors work fast and furious to push an air jet so fast and that uses battery power quickly. If you mostly want to clear up some paths and patios then a cordless unit would be fine, but if you have serious amounts of leaf litter to deal with you need a corded model.
And How Much Will the Electric Leaf Blower Cost?
The good news is that prices are low compared with what you get in performance. A cautionary word here is that prices can vary a lot with the season and with special deals but here are some prices at Amazon
Customer Reviews of Electric Leaf Blowers
There are hundreds of reviews and here are a few extracts
A customer from California writes about his Toro 51599
I was originally planning to buy a GAS powered leaf blower.
However, the glowing reviews that I read on this leaf blower (here and on other sites) made me reconsider-I'm glad I did!
This unit is very light, well balanced, extremely powerful and QUIET!
Read the full review at Amazon here
A Black and Decker NS118 owner from Pittsford, NY writes
I have a medium-size suburban house sitting on about half an acre.In the past year I've used this to:
-clear the walks after mowing and/or trimming,
-keep the garage floor swept out (great especially in the fall) and
-clear off my deck in less than a minute.
Read the full review on Amazon…
A Makita BUB182z owner from Colorado writes
This blower is an excellent addition to Makita's LXT lineup of tools. Like all of the LXT tools, the blower is quite powerful, very rugged, lightweight and well thought out.
Read the review in full at Amazon…
More Reviews Here at Electric Leaf Blower Info
- Toro 51599 Ultra Electric Blower/Vacuum with Metal Impeller
- Black & Decker NS118 Cordless Electric Broom
- WORX TriVac WG500 All-in-One Electric Blower/Mulcher/Vacuum
- Black and Decker LH5000 Electric Leaf Hog Blower / Vacuum with Leaf Bag
- Earthwise CB20018 18-Volt Cordless Blower
Any comments or questions let me know and I'll help if I can
All for Now
Sandy
Filed under Electric Leaf Blower Information by on Jul 28th, 2011. 
With no cord and no pollution, the 140 MPH air speed is more than enough to make yard and patio clean-up a cinch.
It’s lightweight, too, at only 8 lb.
The 18-volt Ni-Cad rechargeable battery holds more than enough charge for a whole yard’s worth of work. It recharges from a standard 120 V connection. Helpfully the battery is interchangeable with other Earthwise tools.
Amazon are offering free shipping and a small discount on this link
Features of the Earthwise CB20018
- Earthwise CB20018 cordless blower is lightweight and easy to use
- Blowing speed is 140 miles-per-hour
- Includes 20-inch snap-on tube
- The battery is included – one 18-volt battery and charger
- Battery will work with any 18-Volt Earthwise cordless tool
- weight 7.5 pounds
- 2-year limited warranty
The Earthwise CB20018 is great for lightweight jobs like clearing a deck or pathway. Like similar products it is sometimes called an electric broom and not a heavy duty leaf blower and mulcher.
It operates quietly so is ideal for little jobs that lots of folks like to do early morning or in other quiet times withiout causing complaints.
One customer from Texas gives his feedback
“So far I have no complaints about the cordless blower. It has the power I need and is really light to use. The battery is easy to charge with the included charger and gives me enough time to complete blowing off my driveway, patio and sidewalk” RiverMan
Filed under Earthwise by on May 14th, 2011.
The Makita BUB182Z is part of the LXT range. This means that if you own any of the LXT range of tools you do not need to buy an extra battery to use this tool – just use any of the LXT rechargable batteries you have already.
The Makita BUB182Z features a Makita-built high-torque motor with a no load speed of 0-18,000 RPM and an air velocity of 179 mph.
You can select any of 3 speed settings
- Low – which has a 75 minute run time
- Medium – with a run time of 25 minutes
- High – with a 12 minute run time
-the run time depending on whether you have the full size or the compact battery
The BUB182Z is sold as tool only and you either have or need to get 2 LXT battery packs so you can have one on charge and one in the Blower.
Apart from the high torque motor the other surprising fact is the weight of only 3.9 pounds (with battery) – this is so good if you have a job that takes a lot of time. With a lightweight Makita you’ll get to the end of it without the fatigue of holding an old fashioned heavy tool.
Amazon is selling the Makita BUB182Z at 40% discount through this link
Product Features Makita BUB182Z
- Ergonomic shape and compact design at only 20 and 3/4 inches long
- Low weight tool – only 3.9 lbs. for reduced operator fatigue
- Makita-built variable 3-speed motor produces a maximum air velocity of 179 MPH
- Soft grip handle provides increased comfort on the job
- 3-year warranty on tool
This tool is really a good deal if you have or plan to get other Makita tools using the same charger and batteries. Otherwise the price of the tool plus the charger and the 2 battery packs makes it quite a hefty investment!
But it is a rugged and well designed tool and can be used as a vacuum too simply by slotting the tube onto the side. One drawback is that Makita do not include the collector bag in this purchase.
If you have any of the LXT series of tools this is worth checking out
One owner’s opinion of the Makita BUB182Z
“This blower is an excellent addition to Makita’s LXT lineup of tools. Like all of the LXT tools, the blower is quite powerful, very rugged, lightweight and well thought out.”
To read the rest of his feedback follow this link to Amazon Customer Reviews
Filed under Makita by on May 12th, 2011.
The WORX TriVac is a 3 in 1 garden tool designed to make it easy to handle common garden chores like sweeping leaves from decks and pathways and even sawdust and debris from a Workshop or garage floor.
But it is not just a leaf blower – the TriVac can also vacuum the leaves or debris into a collecting bag and – it can mulch them too.
It is this flexibility that many users prize.
The TriVac WG 500
- Blows leaves and twigs away at 210 mph
- Vacuums leaves and hedge clippings into the collection bag
- Mulches leaves and compacts them with a 10 to 1 ratio so you have much less waste to deal with
The Ergonomic design of the WG500 makes for easy balance and less fatigue. And with an easy action you can flip the TriVac between blowing and vacuuming WITHOUT any changing of tubes or using tools
Available at Amazon with a discount of 40% through this link
Features of the Worx TriVac WG500
- Ergonomically designed with soft grip handles to accommodate all heights and reach, providing maximum comfort and control
- Compact lightweight design allows for single-handed operation in both blowing and vacuuming modes. The shape and curve of the handle allows you to hold the TriVac in a position of balance which is least tiring
- WORX electric blower and vacuum can blow away debris at 210 mph then easily change to vacuuming in seconds with a simple flip of a switch and do that at a rate of 14 gallons of leaves per minute
- WORX blower and vacuum makes an efficient, environmentally friendly alternative to gasoline-powered tools – no pollution, no smell and less noise
- Angled tube for access under bushes or storm drains
An interesting nugget I unearthed in my research for this review was that there was concern about the blade being plastic.
Many owners commented that they had no problem at all and another emailed Worx and got the advice to use the blower on leaves first before using the vacuum, the idea being to separate leaves from other debris that might be sucked up into the leaf bag.
One owner of the Worx TriVac said
“This is an awesome machine ! ! I previously have owned a Craftsman and a Toro blower/mulcher. I knew it was a pain to switch the attachments to mulch versus blow. But now that I have the flip of a switch operation, I would not want to go back.”
To read the rest of the review on Amazon click on this link
Filed under Worx by on May 10th, 2011.
If you are looking for a way to keep your yard neat and tidy then this ultra-powerful electric three-in-one blower, vacuum, and mulcher from Black & Decker may be just right.
If you want power – it supplies 385 CFM, that’s cubic feet per minute, air volume for powerful, quick and easy vacuuming and mulching.
And for convenience you can change between blower and vacuum without tools.
Amazon offer the Black & Decker LH5000 Electric Leaf Hog at a 13% Discount right now on this link
Features of the LH5000 Leaf Hog
- Three-in-one blower, vacuum, and mulcher keeps your deck and yard free of debris
- Blow speed of up to 240 MPH; 385 CFM air volume
- Variable speed switch for EASY control
- Includes a tube with LeafBlaster nozzle, vacuum attachment with tube, zipper-less leaf bag, adjustable shoulder strap, and air concentrator
- Weighs 15.2 pounds (shipped); 2-year warranty
Some of the practical points about the LH5000
The fact that the leaf collector is a zipperless bag means that leaves don’t get caught in a zipper wasting time.
The blade is metal because this makes it more resistant to damage from small stones and debris.
Also the powerful motor mashes or pulverized the leaves making them easier to get rid of in far less space – reducing 16 bags of leaves to one bag of mulch. (And perhaps reducing your yard maintenance bill too.)
This can be used as a mulch on selected beds and borders or put into a composter.
One satisfied customer said
” This leaf blower is relatively quiet and light weight; above all we liked the zipperless bag so leaves don’t get caught in a zipper and waste time; also was surprised that it sort of pulverized the leaves making them easier to get rid of in far less space”
Filed under Black and Decker by on May 8th, 2011.
Cordless, quiet and lightweight the Black & Decker NS118 was designed to make keeping your yard, garage and deck clean a complete breeze.
The battery stows in the charger and is fully charged in eight hours. A welcome feature is that you can swap the battery among your other Black & Decker cordless lawn tools.
The Black & Decker NS118 is on sale at a 48% discount on Amazon via this link
Here are some of the neat features of the Black and Decker NS118
- Cordless broom with lightweight, ergonomically designed frame
- Not recommended for use in flower beds or lawns
- Weighs less than 5 pounds
- Rechargeable 18-volt NiCd battery holds its charge for extended run time
- Battery charger is wall-mounted for convenient storage
- Includes sweeper, straight tube, 18-Volt battery and battery charger
- The Black & Decker 18 Volt Cordless Broom Hard Surface Sweeper is covered by a two-year warranty.
This is a quiet and low weight tool that Black and Decker describe as an Electric Broom. It is designed to do simple jobs like keeping cement decks and garage floors neat and clear of debris and it does that job well.
Being cordless means that it can be used at a distance from the house and around water –you don’t want to dragging a long cord around a pool.
This is not a replacement for a powerful leaf blower needed in the fall – it is an electric broom and does that job very well.
One customer says of the Black and Decker NS118:
“Every morning about 8:am (the cordless blower is relatively quiet) I go out for my routine yard maintenance and in ten minutes the job is done and I then switch batteries from the charger so that the next day, it’s ready for duty.”
Filed under Black and Decker by on May 6th, 2011.
The Toro Ultra is a 3-in-1 machine: blower, vacuum and leaf shredder/mulcher.
The Toro 51599 Ultra delivers all the power and all the versatility you need to tackle every clean-up chore in your yard. It is the only electric blower vac to offer a rugged metal impeller and an infinite variable speed motor!
The Quick-Release Latch lets you convert your blower into a vacuum in seconds without tools making it easier to use for more people and without fuss.
The Toro Ultra 51599 is available at Amazon right now with a 22% discount off retail price.
Product Features of the Toro Ultra 51599
- Toro Ultra is a 3-in-1 blower, vacuum, and leaf shredder makes completing yard work fun and easy
- Rugged metal impeller and infinite variable speed motor delivers up to 235 miles-per-hour of air flow
- Comes with power unit, blower tubes, vacuum tubes, vacuum bag, and operating manual
- Exclusive cord-lock system holds power cord firmly in place
- 2 -year warranty; weighs 7-1/2 pounds
More about the Toro Ultra 51599
The main feature that strikes you is the Versatility of the Ultra. It can be used at low speeds to clear hard surfaces as well as its high speed settings. This is on top of the fact that it is a 3 in 1 blower, vacuum and mulcher.
It’s ease of use is helped by a Quick Release lever so that no tools are required to switch quickly and easily from a blower to a vacuum unit
The unit has Metal blades –magnesium serrated blades which can take wear and tear that would destroy a plastic impeller
Thankfully it is Quiet and Eco-friendly – much quieter than gas powered leaf blowers ( your neighbors will be grateful) and without smell, emissions and not needing a hefty pull on a starter cord!
Lastly the Mulch maker – the serrated blades on the metal impeller shred the leaves and produce a fine mulch, reducing 16 bags of leaves to 1 bag. You can either spread that onto selected beds and borders or incorporate it in your composting routine.
One Toro Ultra 51599 customer said
“I was originally planning to buy a GAS powered leaf blower.
However, the glowing reviews that I read on this leaf blower (here and on other sites) made me reconsider-I’m glad I did! “BlownAway, California
Extract only of the review, please read the full review at Amazon via this link
Filed under Toro by on May 4th, 2011.