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Autumn is when a leaf blower earns its keep. A few weeks of leaf fall and every garden, car park and school path needs clearing, and the landscapers who are quickest through it are the ones who get most jobs done in a day.
Cordless blowers have closed most of the gap on petrol. They start first time, they are far quieter, which matters when you are working in residential streets early in the morning, and there is no fuel to carry in the van. This guide covers five worth buying, from about £66 to about £160 for the bare tool.
Quick Verdict
For most landscapers on DeWalt XR, the DCMBL562N is the best all-round trade blower here: strong airflow, a good reputation and a price that is fair for the performance. Makita users should look at the DUB187Z, which is brushless and a well-known name in cordless garden work.
Milwaukee M18 users have a proper trade blower in the M18FBLG3, and the Ryobi RY18BLCXA-0 is the budget-friendly brushless option. If you are on Einhell Power X-Change, the 18V blower at around £66 is excellent value for lighter work.
The Best Cordless Leaf Blowers for UK Landscapers
Best Overall: DEWALT DCMBL562N-XJ
DeWalt’s 18V XR brushless blower is rated at 12.7 cubic metres of air a minute with air speeds up to 200 km/h, according to the listing. That is serious output for a handheld cordless machine and enough to shift wet leaves off a lawn or gravel out of a drive.
It is a body-only tool at around £114, so you supply the batteries. Run it on a 5.0Ah pack or larger if you want a decent length of working time, and carry a spare. The axial design is built for moving large volumes of leaves quickly rather than for fine detail work.
- HIGH-PERFORMANCE DEBRIS CLEARANCE: Deliver fast and effective site clean-up with up to 12.7m³/min air volume and air speeds of up to 200 km/h, helping you clear heavy and stubborn debris with ease.
- EFFICIENT BRUSHLESS MOTOR TECHNOLOGY: The 18V XR brushless motor provides enhanced efficiency and long-term durability, giving professionals reliable performance in demanding working environments.
- PRECISE CONTROL FOR ALL-DAY PRODUCTIVITY: The variable speed paddle trigger, speed lock-on function and rubber overmoulded grip offer greater control, improved comfort and reduced fatigue during prolonged use.
- ENHANCED PERFORMANCE ON TOUGH DEBRIS: The Aerospike concentrator attachment increases air speed for more focused blowing power and also functions as a scraper to help dislodge stubborn material.
- ROBUST DESIGN FOR JOBSITE DURABILITY: Built with a durable housing and robust stand, the blower is designed to withstand regular site use and reduce wear when placed on the ground.
Best for Makita Users: Makita DUB187Z
The DUB187Z is Makita’s 18V LXT brushless blower, sold as a bare tool at about £142 on Amazon UK. The brushless motor gives better runtime than older Makita blowers, and it takes the same batteries as the rest of your LXT kit, which makes it very convenient for gardeners already invested in the platform.
Amazon lists it as a blower and vacuum, with a nozzle for each job. If you only want a straight blower, check that the version you are buying has the attachment you need, because Makita sells several blower variants under similar model numbers.
- Colour: Black/Petrol
- Rubberised handle for greater comfort at work
- Rubberized handle for comfort at work
Best for Milwaukee Users: Milwaukee M18FBLG3-0
Milwaukee’s M18 FUEL blower is aimed squarely at trade users who want power and a proper brushless motor on the red 18V platform. At about £160 for the bare unit it is the most expensive on this list, and it is aimed at people who already run M18 batteries across drills, saws and lights.
The rating on Amazon UK is 4.4 stars, a respectable score but a touch below the DeWalt. The reason to buy it is platform convenience rather than outright specification, which is how most professionals choose between these tools.
- Milwaukee M18FBLG3-0 18V Cordless Blower Bare Unit
- The Milwaukee M18 FBLG3-0 FUEL 18V Cordless Leaf Blower is a powerful and efficient tool designed for clearing debris.
- It delivers up to 14.2 m³/min of air volume at 193 km/h, with a consistent blowing force of 12.2 N throughout the battery discharge.
- Up to 14.2 m³/min of air volume at 193 km/h to clear debris
- Consistent blowing force of 12.2 N throughout the entire battery discharge
Best Budget Brushless: RYOBI RY18BLCXA-0
Ryobi’s brushless compact blower for the ONE+ system comes in just under £100 as a bare tool. It is light, easy to carry and good for tidying paths, patios and borders at the end of a job, and it takes the same batteries as the rest of the ONE+ range.
It is not as powerful as the DeWalt or Makita, so it would struggle on large areas of wet leaf, but for part-time landscaping, domestic work or as a second blower in the van it is good value.
- RYOBI's lightest & most compact leaf blower today
- The 18V ONE+compact leaf blower delivers impressive power that can be easily controlled with its variable speed trigger and lock on speed setting
- Completely customizable length to accommodate various uses, enhanced by the inclusion of two different nozzles with rubberized tips.
- Wide Use For Various Applications
Best Value: Einhell Power X-Change 18V Blower
Einhell’s 18V PXC blower is rated at around 200 km/h, according to the listing, and costs about £66 without a battery. It rates 4.6 stars on Amazon UK, which is hard to beat at the price.
Treat it as a light-duty tool. It is excellent for a gardener who needs a decent blower without spending trade money, or for keeping in reserve, but it is not built for all-day commercial use.
- Power X-Change - The cordless leaf blower GP-LB 18/200 Li E-Solo is part of the Einhell Power X-Change family, where batteries, chargers and system devices can be flexibly combined.
- Brushless motor - The low-maintenance and powerful brushless motor ensures maximum performance with longer runtime compared to conventional brush motors.
- High performance - The integrated turbo switch and the axial impeller technology ensure high power (max. 670 m³/h) and optimum performance.
- Power control - With the help of the speed control and the practical LED display, the blowing power and the air speed can be adjusted up to max. 200 km/h.
- Ergonomic - The 2.2 kg lightweight cordless leaf blower is always comfortable to hold thanks to the balance handle with softgrip.
At a Glance – Cordless Leaf Blowers Compared
| Model | Platform | Motor | Best for | Approx. price (bare tool) |
| DEWALT DCMBL562N-XJ | DeWalt 18V XR | Brushless | Best all-rounder | £114 |
| Makita DUB187Z | Makita 18V LXT | Brushless | Makita users | £142 |
| Milwaukee M18FBLG3-0 | Milwaukee M18 | Brushless | M18 trade users | £160 |
| RYOBI RY18BLCXA-0 | Ryobi 18V ONE+ | Brushless | Budget, light work | £99 |
| Einhell PXC 18V blower | Power X-Change 18V | See listing | Best value | £66 |
Buyer’s Guide – What Actually Matters
Airflow Versus Air Speed
Manufacturers quote two numbers: air speed in km/h and air volume in cubic metres per hour or minute. Speed is what lifts stuck leaves and debris off the ground, but volume is what moves large piles quickly. For clearing big areas, volume matters most. For stubborn wet leaves or gravel, you need both.
Battery Platform and Runtime
A blower uses a lot of battery, and it does so quickly at full power. Buy into a platform you already use and make sure you have enough capacity: a 5.0Ah pack or larger is sensible for a working blower, and a second battery on the charger means no waiting. Remember that running at full trigger uses far more energy than at half power, so use the variable speed to match the job.
Weight, Balance and Noise
A blower feels heavier the longer you hold it, so weight with a battery fitted matters. Cordless blowers are quieter than petrol, but they are still loud, so wear ear defenders. Many councils and housing associations also restrict noisy equipment at certain times, so check before you start early on a residential job.
Nozzles and Attachments
Some blowers come with a flat nozzle for concentrated blast on stuck debris, and some have vacuum and mulching functions. Think about whether you actually need those. A straight blower is simpler and lighter, and a lot of landscapers prefer a dedicated tool for each job rather than a combination machine.
Backpack Blowers
If you spend hours every day on leaf clearing, such as on estates or large commercial sites, a backpack blower puts the weight on your back rather than your arms. They are a different class of tool, typically with a separate battery pack, and worth looking at if handheld models are not enough.
Looking After Your Blower
Keep the air intake clear of leaves and grass, because a blocked intake makes the motor run hot and shortens its life. Wipe the tool down after wet work, store batteries somewhere dry and frost-free over winter, and never leave them on charge for days at a time. A few minutes of care at the end of each day keeps a trade blower working for years, and it helps resale value if you upgrade later.
FAQs
Can a cordless blower replace a petrol one?
For most landscaping jobs, yes. Brushless 18V machines clear leaves, grass clippings and light debris easily. A petrol blower still has the edge for the heaviest work, such as large estates and very wet, matted leaves, but those jobs are less common.
How long will a battery run a leaf blower?
At full power, expect somewhere from 10 to 20 minutes on a typical 5.0Ah battery, and considerably longer at lower speeds. Using the speed control sensibly is the best way to stretch runtime, and a second battery on charge is the best way to avoid waiting.
Is it worth buying a blower that is compatible with my battery from a third-party brand?
There are many unbranded blowers on Amazon claiming compatibility with Makita, DeWalt or Milwaukee batteries. They are cheap, but quality, warranty and safety standards vary, and we haven’t tested them. For trade use, a tool from the battery manufacturer is the safer buy.
Can I use a leaf blower to clear snow?
A powerful blower will move light, dry, powdery snow, but it is not a good replacement for a shovel on wet or heavy snow, and it will drain the battery very quickly in cold weather. Keep your batteries warm and charged if you use them in winter.
Do I need ear protection with a cordless blower?
Yes. Cordless blowers are quieter than petrol but still loud at full power, and you will be using one for long periods. Wear ear defenders, and eye protection too, because blowers throw grit and small stones.
The Verdict
The DeWalt DCMBL562N is the best trade blower on this list for anyone on the yellow platform, and the Makita DUB187Z and Milwaukee M18FBLG3 are the equivalents if you are on the blue or red teams. For lighter use or a second tool in the van, the Ryobi brushless and the Einhell PXC are good value. Match the blower to the batteries you already own and you will spend less and clear more leaves.
Prices correct at time of writing and vary between Amazon UK, Screwfix and Toolstation.
