DeWalt Leaf Blower Review 2026: 60V MAX FLEXVOLT and 20V Models Tested

The DeWalt FLEXVOLT Platform

Before talking about the blower itself, the FLEXVOLT platform is the real reason DeWalt leaf blowers make sense. DeWalt launched FLEXVOLT in 2016 as a multi-voltage battery system that automatically senses the tool it's plugged into and delivers the required voltage: 20V for a standard 20V MAX drill or impact driver, 60V for the blower and other outdoor-power-equipment-class tools, and 120V when two FLEXVOLT batteries are paired in series for 120V MAX high-draw corded-replacement tools (table saws, worm drive saws, miter saws).

Practically, this means a contractor or serious DIYer with an existing DeWalt 20V battery inventory buys a FLEXVOLT battery or two and gains access to the entire 60V outdoor power equipment lineup — blower, chainsaw, string trimmer, hedge trimmer, mower, snow blower — without starting a new battery platform. The ROI on buying a 60V tool is much higher when the batteries are already in the truck. For anyone not already in the DeWalt ecosystem, FLEXVOLT batteries cost $199-299 each (12Ah retails around $279), which is a meaningful premium over Ryobi 40V or EGO 56V.

This platform logic dominates the DeWalt leaf blower buying decision. If you own DeWalt batteries, skip the rest of this review and just buy the DCBL772. If you don't, read on — the DeWalt may still be the right pick, but it's not the automatic default.

DCBL772: The Flagship 60V Handheld

The DCBL772 is DeWalt's flagship handheld leaf blower. It delivers 125 MPH air speed and 600 CFM volume, a brushless outrunner motor for efficiency and motor longevity, a variable-speed trigger with a dial for speed lockout and a dedicated turbo boost button for peak power. The bare tool weighs 5.9 lbs; with a 12Ah FLEXVOLT battery installed, 9.1 lbs — right in the zone where a shoulder strap is nice to have for extended use but not mandatory.

Air performance in the field matches the spec sheet. On a standard fall yard cleanup, the DCBL772 moves oak leaves, maple leaves, and light pine needles at cruise speed with room to spare. For wet leaves matted to a concrete driveway after an October rain, you'll want to kick it into turbo boost for short bursts — the peak setting unlocks noticeably higher airflow but drains the battery about 4x faster than cruise.

The build feels DeWalt-tier: glass-filled nylon housing, rubber overmolding on the grip, and tight panel fit with no rattles under full throttle. The nozzle attaches via a twist-lock collar that stays tight — unlike some cheaper blowers where nozzle creep slowly loosens the attachment during use. Replacement nozzles and the optional flat scraper attachment are widely available.

DCBL590: The 60V Backpack Option

For larger properties or commercial work, DeWalt offers the DCBL590 backpack blower running on the same 60V FLEXVOLT platform. Specs: ~175 MPH peak, ~600 CFM sustained, brushless motor, padded shoulder harness, dual-battery port (run two FLEXVOLT batteries simultaneously for extended runtime, swap hot). Weight with two 12Ah batteries runs around 22 lbs — heavier than a Stihl BR 600 gas backpack (16 lbs) but lighter than a Stihl BR 800 (24 lbs).

The DCBL590 is the right pick for landscapers moving between multiple jobsites, HOAs covering acres of common area, and large residential lots (half acre or more). Runtime with two 12Ah FLEXVOLT batteries on cruise setting runs 2.5-3 hours — enough to get through a full day of residential work without swapping. For full commercial use, having 4-6 batteries on a rotating charge schedule is standard. Tool-only price runs about $549; kits with batteries and charger come in at $899-1,099.

DCBL720: The 20V MAX Entry Point

The DCBL720 is DeWalt's 20V MAX handheld blower — their entry-level cordless blower running on the standard 20V battery platform rather than FLEXVOLT. Specs: 90 MPH, 400 CFM, brushless motor, variable-speed trigger with speed lock. Tool-only price around $179; kit with battery and charger $229-279.

The DCBL720 makes sense if you already own DeWalt 20V batteries and need a light-duty blower for sidewalks, small patios, or occasional leaf cleanup around a condo or small yard. It does not match gas handheld performance and won't handle wet leaves or serious fall cleanup effectively. Think of it as a glorified dust blower with useful enough leaf performance for a 1/8-acre suburban lot. For anything bigger, step up to the DCBL772 FLEXVOLT.

DeWalt vs Milwaukee M18 Fuel

The inevitable tradesman comparison. Milwaukee M18 Fuel and DeWalt 60V FLEXVOLT are the two premium cordless jobsite platforms, and both make high-end leaf blowers.

The honest summary: if you already own Milwaukee M18 batteries, buy Milwaukee. If you already own DeWalt 20V or FLEXVOLT batteries, buy DeWalt. Neither blower is worth switching ecosystems for on its own merits — both are excellent, and the platform lock-in advantage dominates. For the rare buyer starting from zero and weighing platforms, DeWalt's FLEXVOLT logic (one battery serves 20V, 60V, and 120V tools) is more flexible than Milwaukee's M12/M18 split; Milwaukee's 5-year tool warranty is a stronger single data point in the other direction.

DeWalt vs Stihl BR 600 Gas Backpack

For anyone who used a Stihl gas backpack in their previous career and is now evaluating cordless, the performance gap closes every year. The Stihl BR 600 — the longtime gold-standard residential backpack gas blower — delivers roughly 677 CFM and 201 MPH with a 64.8cc engine. The DeWalt DCBL772 handheld delivers 600 CFM and 125 MPH; the DCBL590 backpack delivers ~600 CFM and 175 MPH.

On raw peak CFM and MPH, the Stihl still wins, but not by the margin most landscape-industry folks remember from trying cordless a decade ago. On total blower performance metric (CFM x MPH), the DeWalt DCBL590 backpack comes within 15-20% of the BR 600. For residential cleanup, that gap is invisible — you finish the driveway, you finish the yard. For high-volume commercial work moving massive piles of wet leaves on a daily schedule, Stihl gas still has the edge on raw power and the advantage of refuel-and-go versus battery-swap.

But in California, the comparison is moot: new gas blowers are no longer sold (see CARB section below). The DCBL590 or equivalent cordless is the only legal new-purchase option in the state.

California CARB Gas Blower Ban Context

California AB 1346 (signed October 2021, effective January 1, 2024) prohibits the sale of new gasoline-powered Small Off-Road Engines (SORE) — a category that includes leaf blowers, lawn mowers, chainsaws, and other outdoor power equipment under 25 horsepower. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulation specifically banned new SORE sales starting in 2024 because this equipment category generates more ozone-forming emissions per hour of use than a modern passenger vehicle.

Practical implications for California buyers:

• New gas blowers cannot be sold in California retail. Existing gas blowers purchased before 2024 remain legal to use in most jurisdictions (subject to local bans — LA, SF, Berkeley, Palo Alto, and ~150+ other cities had local gas blower bans before CARB).
• Electric/cordless is the only new purchase option. All DeWalt 20V, 60V FLEXVOLT, and corded blowers are fully compliant.
• AQMD rebate programs incentivize commercial users to replace gas gear. South Coast AQMD, Bay Area AQMD, and Sacramento Metro AQMD all run equipment trade-in programs offering $100-350 per cordless blower purchased by a commercial landscaper or contractor who retires a gas blower.

AQMD Rebate Eligibility

Air quality management districts across California run zero-emission equipment rebate programs targeted at commercial landscaping businesses. The DeWalt 60V FLEXVOLT DCBL772 qualifies under most of these programs:

• South Coast AQMD (LA/OC/IE): $200-350 per commercial handheld blower replacement; $500-800 per backpack blower; higher for ride-on equipment.
• Bay Area AQMD: $150-300 per commercial handheld; additional Clean Air Fund matches for small-business landscapers.
• Sacramento Metro AQMD: $100-250 per handheld; requires gas blower turn-in.

Most AQMD rebates are restricted to commercial landscapers and require documentation of a gas blower retirement. Pure residential buyers typically do not qualify for these specific rebates — but benefit indirectly through lower commercial-service pricing as landscapers modernize their fleets.

Pros & Cons

Who Should Buy This

• Contractors and landscapers on DeWalt platform — the ecosystem leverage and AQMD rebate eligibility make this the obvious buy.
• Serious residential buyers with larger lots (1/4 acre +) who want gas-handheld performance without gas maintenance.
• California buyers transitioning from gas under the 2024 CARB ban who want a blower that actually matches their old Stihl handheld experience.
• DeWalt 20V battery owners who want to expand into outdoor power equipment — a single FLEXVOLT battery purchase unlocks the whole 60V lineup.

Skip the DCBL772 if you have no DeWalt batteries and you're a light-duty residential user — the EGO Power+ 765 ($229) or Ryobi 40V HP Brushless ($179) deliver 80-90% of the performance at 60-70% of the all-in cost for a first-time cordless buyer. Skip it too if you need real commercial-scale power — step up to the DCBL590 backpack or a Stihl BGA 300 cordless backpack.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bottom Line

The DeWalt 60V MAX FLEXVOLT DCBL772 is the right cordless leaf blower for anyone already invested in the DeWalt platform, contractors on jobsites, and serious residential buyers who want real gas-handheld-class air performance without the maintenance, emissions, and noise of a 2-stroke engine. In California, where new gas blowers are no longer legal to purchase, the DCBL772 is a top-shelf compliant option that delivers most of what a Stihl BR 600 used to deliver. At $299 tool-only or $399-499 as a kit, the pricing is premium — but the jobsite build, brushless motor, 3-year warranty, and FLEXVOLT ecosystem justify the spend for the right buyer. For a homeowner looking purely at a leaf blower with no plans to expand into the DeWalt platform, a less expensive EGO Power+ or Ryobi 40V blower is the better value.