Best Handheld Leaf Blowers of 2022

A handheld leaf blower isn’t just the tool of choice for clearing foliage each fall. It’s also your best bet to sweep away grass clippings and fallen blossoms in the spring or clear sand from a beach house deck in summer.

For most of us, a handheld leaf blower is the only tool we’ll need, as opposed to a larger backpack or wheeled blower. Handheld leaf blowers come in three varieties of power source: corded, cordless, and gas-powered. Which type is the best for you really depends on the size of your yard. Here’s a crib sheet.

• Corded: Best for small yards or patios, like those in a row house or town house, because they require an (outdoor-rated) extension cord, limiting your reach to about 100 feet.

• Battery-powered: Best for yards where a corded model won’t cut it. The battery allows you to range as far as you’d like—up to the point when it runs out of juice and you have to stop to either recharge it or swap in a backup battery. One huge advantage to battery blowers: They’re far better for the Earth than gas options.

• Gas-powered: Best for large lots or yards with lots of trees, you can blow leaves as long as you keep adding fuel, though the internal combustion engine will require regular maintenance.