DeWalt 20V Max XR Brushless Handheld Blower DCBL720P1 Review

This 6.8-pound blower is decent for smaller jobs, but its short run time and lack of turbo functions make it underpowered for tackling bigger jobs. Still, this is a good option for those already deep into the DeWalt line of battery-powered tools, with its relatively low operating volume and included airflow concentration nozzle.

Performance Comparison

Power

DeWalt boasts a maximum power of 450 cubic feet per minute. We don't test for CFM, but in our beach ball test, the DeWalt 20V Max XR Cordless Blower lifted the ball 3.5 into the air, about half the height achieved by the most powerful blowers we tested.

In our sandblasting tests, we observed this blower clearing sand a distance of 142 inches with a 44 inch swath. It's effective at moving sand but doesn't perform as well as the more powerful (and higher voltage) models that are able to blast sand over 200" away. Less power results in the operator needing to move around quite a bit more when clearing leaves or pine needles off a driveway since you need to be closer to the debris to effectively blow it away. It also makes the job take longer, which can be an issue when you consider the battery life.

Battery

We aren't wild about the battery performance of this blower. We measured the time it takes to achieve a full charge (90 minutes) and compared it to our runtime measurements on high (just under 15 minutes). This is about an average runtime, with a longer-than-average charging time, for a blower that isn't particularly powerful and doesn't have a turbo setting.

One thing the DeWalt 20V Max XR Blower has going for it is its speed lock feature, which allows you to dial in a precise power level when you squeeze the trigger (as opposed to its regular power feathering operation). This lets you govern the power output to get the longest runtime possible.

Ergonomics

The DeWalt 20V Max XR Cordless Blower makes a strong showing in the ergonomics department. It's relatively lightweight at 6.8 pounds, and our testers found it to be perfectly balanced. Its large molded handle keeps the blower easily at an ideal angle, making it comfortable to hold for long periods (only 15 minutes if you only have one battery). The trigger is easy to squeeze, drastically reducing fatigue. Finally, the air intake valve is in the rear so lefties and right-handed folks have equal footing here, though there is a small chance that your shirt can get sucked onto the intake vent when you're switching hands.

Noise

We measured this blower's sound output from 50" to be 67 decibels, which is concurrent with manufacturer specifications and also quiet enough that the neighbors should remain friendly (provided you're not blowing things around in the middle of the night). Keep in mind that when operating a leaf blower, you're right on top of it, where we measured 94 decibels , and ear protection is still very necessary.

Value

When purchased in a kit with a charger and a 5 Ah battery (as we did), we don't think this model is a screaming deal, especially compared to other top-performing models. However, if you're already waist-deep in Dewalt cordless tools and you've got multiples of their batteries around, the DeWalt 20V Max XR Blower starts to look like a bargain on its own.

Conclusion