DeWalt DCBL720P1 9

Best Cordless Blower for the Money

Raking up leaves can be a daunting and time-consuming task, and one that requires a considerable amount of effort. If you’d like to speed things up, and have a perfect garden, a leaf blower is the tool you need to improve your curb appeal. Leaf blowers have evolved greatly from those heavy-duty gas-powered models, and today are much lighter, and more convenient to use.

Cordless leaf blowers just as the name would suggest, are powered by rechargeable batteries, and allow you to finish the job without being tied down by pesky wires. Buying the best blower for your money however can be a bit overwhelming, given the myriad options available. But we’ve checked out several options, and bring you the lowdown on the 5 best cordless blowers for the money.

*I hope you’ll love the products I recommend! Just so you know, Plumb and Lined may collect a share of sales or other compensation from some of the links on this page. 

My Top Pick

DEWALT DCBL720P1

Best Overall

My Rating
5/5

BEST AIR COMPRESSOR for HOME USE - COMPARISON TABLE

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Product

My Rating

Buy

#1. Best Overall Pick

DEWALT DCBL720P1

My Rating
5/5

DeWalt is undoubtedly one of the biggest names in the power tool space, and the DCBL720P1 cordless blower is yet another hit addition to the company’s massive portfolio of products. For starters, it can be ordered in a choice of two variants – with a 20-volt battery and charger, as well as without, where each is powered by a brushless motor for unmatched efficiency and service life.

Furthermore, the DCBL720P1 cordless blower showcases an innovative axle fan design, which provides optimal air output and runtime. In terms of performance, the DCBL720P takes home the gold with its superior airspeed of 90 MPH and 400 CFM. Additionally, it is equipped with a variable trigger and speed lock, which collectively provide you with complete control of the tool.

The DEWALT DCBL720P1 cordless blower is fairly lightweight at just 7.1 lbs, and features an ergonomic design, making it a joy to use even across longer periods. It is powered by a 20V MAX 5.0Ah lithium-ion battery, and runs without waking up the neighbors at 61 dB. The DCBL720P1 cordless blower comes with everything you need to get started right out of the box including a rechargeable battery and charger. Click here to take a closer look in my review of the BCBL720P1.

Pros

  • Axle fan, ergonomic design
  • Available in two variants
  • Weighs just 7.1 lbs
  • 90 MPH and 400 CFM
  • 20V MAX 5.0Ah lithium-ion battery
  • 3-year manufacturer warranty

Cons

  • Diameter of tip could be smaller to increase air velocity

#2. 2nd Best Overall

MILWAUKEE 2724-21

My Rating
4.5/5

At the #2 position we’ve got the Milwaukee 2724-21 – a blower that features an inline axial or jet fan design, which provides less loss between the intake and output. Further, it is 4 lbs lighter than its rivals, and can clear from up to an impressive 15 ft away. But that’s not all, the 2724-21 cordless blower can reach full throttle in just under a 1 second, thanks to its robust POWERSTATE brushless motor.

It comes with a variable speed trigger, adjustable high and low speed settings, where the former is ideal for demanding applications, and latter optimized for clearing debris without moving mulch. The onsite lock-on button of the 2724-21 cordless blower allows users to lock the tool onto full throttle, making it easy to operate and prevent fatigue.

It features REDLINK PLUS intelligence, which is engineered to provide overload protection, and optimized performance via complete system protection. Adding to this, this cordless blower by Milwaukee is powered by a class leading M18 REDLITHIUM HIGH OUTPUT XC8.0 battery, which provides 450 CFM and 120 MPH output, excellent runtime, power and longevity. Click here to see my review of the 2724-21.

Pros

  • 4 lbs lighter than competition
  • Variable speed trigger and adjustable speed settings
  • Achieves full throttle in less than 1 second
  • Overload protection
  • Jet fan design
  • 450 CFM and 120 MPH output

Cons

  • May be too powerful for some users

#3. Best Power

MAKITA XBU02Z

My Rating
4.5/5

The Makita XBU02Z cordless blower is available in a choice of four variants, and packs a mean punch under its hood, owing to its BL brushless motor, which delivers up to a whopping 473 CFM, and an air velocity of 120 MPH. Adding to this, it features a 6-stage volume selection dial complete with a variable speed control trigger, and a sound pressure rating of 60.2 dB(A).

The Makita XBU02Z cordless blower offers efficient power management, overload protection for effective communication between battery and tool, over-discharge protection, which prevents it from over working for enhanced battery life, and overheat protection, which monitors the temperature of the battery and prevents damage.

The XBU02Z cordless blower by Makita is an ideal choice for cleanup applications, and is powered by two 18V LXT batteries, which collectively provide increased power and runtime. Speaking of which, when full charged, the XBU02Z cordless blower can be used for roughly 28 minutes on #3 dial setting, which is 50 percent longer than other tools in its segment.

It features Makita’s Extreme Protection Technology (XPT), which is basically a protective seal set within it that is designed to improve its functionality in harsh conditions and provides better dust and water resistance. The XBU02Z cordless blower by Makita comes with two fast charging lithium-ion batteries, dual port rapid charger and the blower.

Pros

  • 473 CFM and 120 MPH
  • 6-stage volume selection dial
  • Variable trigger
  • Roughly 28 minutes runtime
  • Comes with 2 lithium ion batteries

Cons

  • A little heavy at 16.9 lbs

#4. Best Compact

MAKITA DUB182Z

My Rating
4/5

If you’re looking for a lightweight cordless blower, one that weighs less than 4 lbs and doesn’t compromise on quality, you really can’t go wrong with the Makita DUB182Z cordless blower. It features variable speed of 0 18,000 RPM for optimal speed control, and excellent 91 CFM air volume.

When fully charged, the 18V LXT lithium-ion battery offers 75 minutes runtime on low speed, 25 minutes on medium speed and 12 minutes on high speed. It boasts a compact and ergonomic design, and measures 20-3/4″ in length. Further, the handle of the Makita DUB182Z cordless blower is appointed with a rubber grip for increased user comfort.

The DUB182Z cordless air blower features Star Protection controls, which includes overload protection for great communication between tool and battery, overload protection for better battery life, and overheat protection to prevent battery damage.

Pros

  • 0 18,000 RPM and 91 CFM
  • 18V LXT lithium-ion battery
  • 75 minutes max runtime
  • Measures 20-3/4″ in length
  • 3-speed motor
  • Weighs just 3.9 lbs

Cons

  • Battery and charger sold separately

#5. Best Budget

Black+Decker LSW221

My Rating
3/5

The BLACK+DECKER LSW221 Lithium Sweeper blower slots in at the #5 position on this list of best cordless blowers for the money for several good reasons, starting with its 130 MPH air speed. At this rate, it is able to easily clear debris from a wide range of hard surfaces including decks, driveways and garages.

It tips the scales at just 3.7 lbs, making it easy to hold and use, and boasts a low noise design. Adding to this, the Lithium Sweeper blower by BLACK+DECKER is powered by a LBXR20 20V MAX lithium-ion battery, which offers a remarkable service life of 18 months.

The BLACK+DECKER LSW221 Lithium Sweeper comes with the blower, lithium-ion battery, charger, blow tube, and is backed by a limited 2-year warranty against any manufacturer defects. The battery and charger are interchangeable with the BLACK+DECKER 20V product line, making it easy to use them with other compatible BLACK+DECKER tools.

Pros

  • Powered by 20V MAX lithium-ion battery
  • 130 MPH air speed
  • Weighs 3.7 lbs
  • 2-year manufacturer warranty
  • Interchangeable battery and charger

Cons

  • Air speed could be improved

BEST CORDLESS BLOWER FOR THE MONEY - SPECS COMPARISON TABLE

DEWALT

DCBL720P1
BEST OVERALL
  • 20 volt
  • brushless motor
  • 400 cfm
  • 90 mph
  • 7.1 lbs
  • 61 db

Milwaukee

2724-21
2nd BEST OVERALL
  • 18 volt
  • brushless motor
  • 450 cfm
  • 120 mph
  • 4.9 lbs
  • not listed

MAKITA

XBU02Z
BEST PORTABLE
  • 36 volt
  • brushless motor
  • 473 cfm
  • 120 mph
  • 8.4 lbs
  • 96 db

MAKITA

DUB182Z
BEST COMPACT
  • 18 volt
  • brushed motor
  • 91 cfm
  • 179 mph
  • 3.9 lbs
  • not listed

B+D

LSW221
BEST CORDLESS
  • 20 volt
  • brushed motor
  • 100 cfm
  • 130 mph
  • 3.7 lbs
  • not listed
Milwaukee M18 2724 6

BEST CORDLESS BLOWER BUYER'S GUIDE

When on the shopping trail for the best leaf blower, you will be spoilt for choice, given the many options available. But here are a few key aspects to consider to ease your buying decision.

Weight

The weight is measured in lbs, and the lighter the better. One thing worth noting is that cordless leaf blowers do tend to weigh more than corded blowers owing to the additional weight of the onsite battery.

Noise

The noise level measured in dB and the best cordless blowers generally operate between 57 and 60 dB, which makes them much quieter to use compared to other tools including vacuum cleaners and gas powered blowers.

Brushless motor

The motor is a major component of a cordless blower, and is designed to use the power generated by the battery to drive the work of the blower. Compared to traditional blowers that stream battery power via carbon brushes, brushless motors use magnets, resulting in consistent power output, less friction, heat and longer runtimes.

Battery

Most if not all of the best cordless blowers are powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. This range of batteries offers voltages between 18v and 120v depending on the model, and provide myriad benefits compared to Ni-Cad batteries including consistent power, ability to recharge more times through their service life, and are up to 50 percent lighter.

Ergonomic design

Blowers that feature an ergonomic design are much more comfortable to use, and some models even come with a hand grip to reduce fatigue when using the blower across longer periods.

Final Thoughts

Buying a cordless leaf blower is a great choice, given that you can blow dirt, debris and leaves away without being restrained by a wire. When shopping for the best cordless blower for the money, the options mentioned on this list are worth checking out. They come with a rich set of features including rechargeable batteries and brushless motors, hence will last you several years to come with proper maintenance.

DeWalt DCBL720P1 3

Steve Wright

Steve Wright is a general contractor who over the last 30 plus years has built hundreds of new homes, ranging from first time affordable homes to multi-million dollar custom homes and everything in between.