Neighbors and loud vacuum blowers aren't a great combination. A vacuum blower is great for clearing leaves from your yard but they can be really loud.
With this in mind, we decided to review 5 of the quietest vacuum blowers that are available for purchase. We also put together a buyers guide that can help you choose the right vacuum blower that will keep you and your lawn happy.
Quietest Leaf Vacuum Blower Reviews
OUR TOP PICK
This 3-in-1 electric leaf blower vacuum is quiet, powerful and easy to use. Variable speed controls allow you to have better control over the leaf blower whether you’re using the blower or the vacuum.
The motor blows at speeds of 250mph and 350 CFM as well as 410CFM in vacuum mode. Being electric means it's one of the quietest leaf vacuum models we've reviewed.
What we like about this quiet vacuum leaf blower is that it has a mulching feature which will ensure that any leaves that are vacuumed will be cut up into smaller pieces, making it easy to throw away or put on your compost heap.
It comes with a number of accessories, like a vacuum tube, bottom-zip bag, cord storage hook, shred-all shred ring and time-saving oscillating tube but doesn’t come with an extension cord.
The shred-all-shred ring works hand in hand with the metal impeller and reduces up to 97% of mulched debris to under ½ inches. The different components like the main blower tube, power insert and concentrator all help to make blowing and vacuuming debris easy.
Whether you’re sucking up wet, dry or heavy leaves or you need to get into corners, these components will help you to do just that.
Overall, the Toro 51621 vacuum leaf blower has good drying power, maneuverability and suction power, making it worth consideration.
Pros
- Quiet leaf blower vacuum
- Powerful
- Relatively lightweight
- Different components make suction and blowing easy
- Comes with a number of useful accessories
Cons
- Vacuuming too quickly can clog up the vacuum blower
EDITORS CHOICE
Right off the bat we can say that this leaf blower / vacuum’s sound level is tolerable and at low speeds it can be incredibly quiet. This automatically makes it one of the best and quietest vacuum blowers on the market.
The Kimo cordless vacuum leaf blower is, well, cordless and this means you can easily transport it around as you please and don’t have to worry about a cable.
Being cordless though, the vacuum blower needs to be recharged. The great thing about this cordless vacuum blower is that it only takes an hour to fully recharge.
We like the fact that the KIMO cordless vacuum blower is lightweight. It weighs 1.76lb so it’s easy to carry around as well as use for long periods of time.
Besides being lightweight it’s also really easy to assemble. When you need to use the vacuum blower, all you have to do is insert the battery and the tubes. If you know where to put everything then assembling the vacuum blower can take only 3 seconds.
How powerful is it though? The turbofans and copper motor can provide up to 20000 Turbofans & all-copper motors provide up to 20000 r/min. It also gives you up to 150 CFM of power and can run continuously at full power for 20 minutes.
This runtime may not be quite enough for a big yard though. It is a great whisper quiet leaf blower with vacuum.
Pros
- One of the quietest vacuum blower models
- Cordless
- Fast recharge
- Lightweight
- Easily assembled
Cons
- Might not be suitable for big yards
BEST VALUE
Yhe WORX WG509 vacuum blower switches from suck to blow with the flip of a switch. It's easy to use and is one of the quietest vacuum blower models we've reviewed.
The metal mulches leaves down to an 18:1 mulch ratio. So basically, 18 bags worth of leaves ends up being just 1. This allows you to do more and use the vacuum blower for a longer time, not having to worry about emptying the bag after vacuuming a small portion of your yard.
Weighing 8.6lbs. the vacuum blower is not too heavy for most people and it’s actually designed to be held with just one hand.
It can be a little tiring to hold the vacuum blower with one handle and we would have preferred having two handles. So whether the weight of the vacuum blower is good for you will depend on your personal strength.
The vacuum blower reaches a speed of 210 mph when blowing and 350 cfm. It’s recommended to use the higher speed for open lawn and dial down the speed when you’re cleaning up the pavement or tight corners.
What about noise? Is this vacuum blower quiet? The WORK WG509 operates quietly without skimping on power. So, it’s perfect for a garden in a neighborhood.
Pros
- Quiet
- Powerful suction and blowing
- Incorporates a great mulcher
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- A little heavier than we'd like
RUNNER UP
The BLACK DECKER vacuum blower is capable of cleaning hard surfaces, such as patios, walkways, garages, decks, driveways. It’s a 40V quiet vacuum blower designed to take care of big jobs that are normally a hassle.
In vacuum mode, the blower can weigh up to 6.9lb which could prove to be heavy after using it for a while. But the good news is that if it’s 6.9lb in vacuum mode then it’s even lighter when you use the blower mode. In blower mode, it weighs only 5.4lb.
The power command controls allow you to adjust the speed settings whenever necessary. In addition to the speed settings, the vacuum blower has been designed with a blow tube that has a built-in-scraper which breaks up any debris that could get stuck in the tube.
Is it the quietest vacuum blower on the market? It's pretty close. It's certainly much quieter than your average vacuum blower. When in use, the vacuum blower reaches between 65db.
Considering how loud vacuum blowers can be, the BLACK DECKER 40V vacuum blower might just be one of the quietest vacuum blowers we’ve reviewed today.
Since the vacuum blower is cordless, it runs on batteries. Fortunately, it only takes an hour to fully recharge.
Pros
- Cordless
- Takes only an hour to recharge
- Quiet
- Designed to handle difficult jobs
- Lightweight
Cons
- Could be pricey for some
RUNNER UP
The Echo ES-250 35.4cc vacuum blower can rightfully own the title for the, “quietest gas powered vacuum blower”. It makes up to 70dB of noise. Ever heard a vacuum blower operate at 70dB? It’s not too noisy and to be more specific, it’s the equivalent to the noise you’d hear in a busy office environment.
Being able to both blow away and suck up debris, the Echo ES-25- 35.4cc vacuum blower is really handy to have around when you need to get rid of leaves.
One issue that some have found is that it’s difficult to switch between the vacuum and blower mode. It requires a tool to disengage the tube from the body which makes things a bit complicated.
What we liked about this vacuum blower is that unlike some models that struggle with suctioning wet leaves, this particular blower is able to easily vacuum up both wet and dry leaves. It’s definitely a powerful and less finicky model.
Pros
As quiet as an office environment
Can handle both wet and dry leaves
Powerful
Vacuum includes mulching
Cons
Can be difficult to switch between the vacuum and blower mode
Quietest Vacuum Blower Buying Guide
If you're looking to buy a really quiet vacuum blower then look out for these key features:
Noise - How loud is a vacuum blower?
There's no straight answer because not every vacuum blower is the same. Because of this, you have to choose your vacuum blower wisely and ask yourself quite a few questions.
You could ask yourself, "What do I want to use the vacuum blower for?", "How powerful do I need the vacuum cleaner to be?" and "Is there anyone who lives near me who would be affected by the noise?". The answer to these questions will help you to choose a quiet vacuum blower that will work best for you.
For example, a powerful vacuum blower can be used for bigger jobs but it will probably make a lot of noise. Can your neighbors hear you using it? More than likely.
This is only a problem though if you have neighbors around you who will be able to hear the noise and if you are concerned about damaging your ears.
It would definitely be a good idea to consider your own hearing when you're looking to buy a vacuum blower.
On average, a leaf blower that includes a vacuum can make up to 115dB of noise. This is quite loud and can do a lot of damage to your hearing, especially if you're the one operating it.
If you're standing at a distance from the vacuum blower, the noise it makes will range from 60-80dB which is better but still not good for your hearing.
The amount of noise a vacuum blower makes matters, so you will want to look for a fairly quiet vacuum blower that makes the least amount of noise.
What Size Vacuum Blower Should I Buy?
One thing people don't always think about when they purchase a vacuum blower is that it could be very uncomfortable to hold. If you don't need to use it for big jobs then it won't really be a problem but the weight of the vacuum blower can affect how long you're able to hold it for.
Cleaning up our yards can be a bit of a pain so you don't want to make things worse by buying a vacuum blower that's too heavy.
Something you should also think about is the handle of the vacuum blower. Most good quality vacuum blowers will have an ergonomic handgrip that makes it easier to hold and will help you to get your jobs done.
Vacuum Blower Power Output
There's a lot of vacuum blowers on the market and each of them has different power levels. There are two measurements you want to look out for, CFM (cubic-feet-per-minute) and MPH (miles-per-hour). These values will give you a good idea of how powerful the vacuum blower is.
Generally, backpack vacuum leaf blowers are more powerful than the handheld ones. They accomplish a lot more and can handle different kinds of debris, besides leaves.
They can operate at a maximum of 700cfm and are capable of pushing air at a speed of 199mph in comparison to a handheld vacuum blower that reaches a maximum of 400cfm and 99mph.
While the backpack vacuum leaf blower might be sounding like a pretty good choice, there is something you should know about these guys. Because they're so powerful they eat up a lot of fuel and make quite a bit of noise.
Cordless Vacuum Blower Battery Life
Why does it matter? If you have a big space to cover, you want your vacuum blower to be able to stay on long enough to cover that area.
If you use your vacuum blower more than once in a day for long periods of time then you also want the battery to recharge quickly. An electric vacuum blower is well-known for being able to recharge quickly.
Vibration
Something that might not have come to mind when you thought of buying a leaf blower is how powerfully it might vibrate. Using a vacuum blower that vibrates intensely can actually cause injuries and increase fatigue.
So, look for a vacuum blower that doesn’t vibrate uncontrollably, but rather has a low vibration level.
Gas, electric or battery powered?
So, why is the kind of power the vacuum blower is operated by important? For one thing, it actually can determine how noisy a vacuum blower will be. Gas-powered leaf blowers are generally louder than electric or battery powered blowers.
Electric vacuum blowers are corded so this really limits your movements when you’re using the machine. It could also be more dangerous since there’s a greater possibility of tripping on cables.
Battery and gas-powered vacuum blowers don’t need to be plugged in and this makes it easier to use.
You also want to consider the price. Corded electric vacuum blowers can cost anywhere from $30 to $110 whereas gas-powered vacuum blowers can cost anywhere from $90 to $220.
Battery vacuum blowers are the most expensive kinds of blowers and can cost up to $300. There are some good quality vacuum blowers that are affordable though, like the WORX WG509 12 Amp TRIVAC 3-in-1 Electric Leaf Blower with All Metal Mulching System.
At the end of the day, what you view as being really expensive or cheap will depend on your budget.
Quiet Vacuum Blower FAQ
What is the quietest vacuum blower for leaves on the market?
The Black+Decker 40V Max Blower / Vacuum is the quietest vacuum blower on the market. It's only rated for light cleanup use though.
Can you use a shop vac as a blower?
The short answer to this question is, yes. Shop vacuums can be used in place of a vacuum blower.
But, there are a couple of things you’ll need to do in order to convert your shop vacuum into a blower. We’ve provided you with the steps you need to take below:
- First you need to unlatch the latches on the sides of the vacuum
- Remove or lift the top of the vacuum from the tank
- Take out the filter as well as the dirtbag
- Put the lid back onto the tank and relatch the lid
- Now you need to detach the suction hose from the vacuum port
- Put the hose into the blower/exhaust port
- Make sure the hose is secure by twisting the end of it
- Switch the vacuum on and let the air blow out of the hose
If you're after a low noise option then make sure you're using the quietest shop vac.
Are lawn vacuum blowers worth it?
It depends on the kind of debris you find on your lawn. If you've used your quiet lawn mower and there are just a few bits of grass left over that it didn't manage to pick up then don't bother buying one. If you only find leaves on your lawn and not twigs and bigger debris then a lawn vacuum will work well for you.
The problem is that most lawn vacuums are only good at removing dry leaves from your garden or yard and are not capable of successfully removing other kinds of debris because they’re not designed to.
One thing that also could affect your view on whether it’s worth it or not, is that you can’t rush the lawn vacuum when it’s shredding leaves.
A lot of us have limited amounts of time and even if we don’t, cleaning up leaves from our garden is probably one of the last things we feel like doing. When you use a lawn vacuum, you have to push it around slowly and it could take a while depending on how big your yard is.
Basically, a lawn vacuum is worth it if you have a small section of lawn that doesn’t get a lot of debris other than leaves.
Also, if you’re someone that likes to be outside and doesn’t mind pushing around a lawn vacuum for a while then it will also be worth it for you.
The bottom line is that it does work and it can successfully remove leaves from your lawn as long as that’s all it’s sucking up.
How do I change a leaf blower to a vacuum blower?
As you probably already know, leaf blowers are designed to blow away debris like leaves, twigs or grass clippings amongst other things.
The best kind of leaf blowers are designed with both a vacuum and blower attachment. While a vacuum blower is wonderful to have, it can make life a little bit complicated because switching between the two different functions isn’t always easy.
Some vacuum blower models allow you to simply switch between the different modes with the click of a button. Others, though, require you to work a bit harder. Here’s how to change a vacuum blower to a leaf blower when there’s no switch:
- The first and most important thing you want to do is switch off the leaf blower. If you have an electric vacuum blower then you should unplug it.
- There should be a tab that holds the vacuum bag in position. Push that tab in and pull the bag out. Be careful to hold the bag upright. If you don’t, you might spill debris on the ground.
- Now you want to remove the vacuum tube attachment which will have come with your leaf blower. You can probably twist the tube counterclockwise which will cause the tube to be released. Otherwise, you should be able to press a tab that will allow you to remove the vacuum attachment if you pull on it.
- Now you need to cover the hole where the vacuum tube was. Depending on what model you have, there will either be a door that clips into place over the hole or a screw in the door that you can use to keep the cover in place.
- Put the blower tube over the outlet where you found the vacuum bag. There are different ways to do this depending on which vacuum blower model you have. Checking the manual is always a good idea if you’re not sure how to do it.
If you start up your vacuum blower and it won’t blow at all then it’s possible that the vacuum cover has not been closed properly.
Some models have a safety feature that prevents you from using the blower function when you haven’t closed the vacuum door.
Conclusion
Whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly vacuum blower that’s powerful enough to take care of big jobs or you just want a simple vacuum blower to clear away leaves from your lawn, we’ve written about it in this article.
Although all of the vacuum blowers we’ve reviewed make a low amount of noise, there’s much more to them than their quiet operation. They each have different features that make them unique and capable of clearing different levels of debris.
When you are considering buying one of the quietest vacuum blowers, take a look at the buyers guide. It’s there that we’ve included everything you need to know before making a purchase.