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Admittedly, the Ryobi RY40460 is neither the most powerful nor quietest cordless leaf blower we have seen so far. It also doesn't have a terribly impressive battery life, though it is one of the more ergonomic and comfortable. However, it couples an alright performance at a much more palatable price than the premium top-tier blowers, earning it the Best Buy Award and is our top recommendation for anyone shopping for a new leaf blower on a tight budget.
It's common for cordless tools to be sold with or without their batteries and battery chargers. Our links may or may not include the battery pack and charger.
Powerful, relatively low operating volume, cruise control setting, efficient
Powerful, easy to hold
Lightweight, includes speed lock setting
Quiet, cheap
Cons
Not the most powerful, very loud
Not the longest battery life
So-so battery life, takes a long time to recharge
Not very powerful, battery has short runtime, 90-minute recharge time
Pitifully weak
Bottom Line
Ideal for the budget-conscious shopper, this blower offers just enough power and battery life for the needs of most home-owners
This model is the most powerful blower we tested, helping to complete yard work more efficiently than any other tool tested
This is a powerful and well-balanced blower that will make short work of leaf-covered decks and driveways, but you'll want to have extra batteries on hand
This model will appeal to folks who already own an arsenal of cordless DeWalt tools, but it isn't our favorite
While this blower is cheap, it isn't very good and we didn't really like it
Rating Categories
Ryobi 40V RY40460
Ego Power+ 615 CFM...
Oregon 40V Leaf Blo...
DeWalt 20V Max XR B...
Black+Decker 40V Ma...
Power(50%)
6.0
9.0
9.0
5.0
1
Battery(25%)
5.0
5.0
4.0
4.0
6.0
Ergonomics(15%)
7.0
7.0
8.0
9.0
8.0
Noise(10%)
3.0
7.0
5.0
6.0
10.0
Specs
Ryobi 40V RY40460
Ego Power+ 615 CFM...
Oregon 40V Leaf Blo...
DeWalt 20V Max XR B...
Black+Decker 40V Ma...
Blower Model Number
RY40460
LB6150
BL300
DCBL722
LSW40C
Measured Weight w/ Battery
9 lbs
8.1 lbs
9.1 lbs
6.8 lbs
4 lbs
Turbo Boost?
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Variable speed
Yes, trigger
Yes, trigger
Yes, trigger
Yes, trigger
No
Included Battery Size
4 Ah
2.5 Ah
4 Ah
5 Ah
1.5 Ah
Measured Charge Time
2 hrs 45 min
45 min
2 hr 23 min
1 hr 30 min
3 hrs 28 min
Measured Run Time on Turbo Boost
18 min 5 sec
10 min 58 sec
10 min
N/A
N/A
Measured Run Time on Highest Standard Mode
26 min
22 min 2 sec
19 min 20 sec
14 min 56 sec
25 min 10 sec
# of Batteries Included
1
1
1
1
1
Nominal Voltage
40V
56V
40V
20V
40V
Measured Operator Sound Level Highest Setting
93.3 dBa
88 dBa
92 dBa
84 dBa
73.6 dBa
Operating Modes
Variable speed pulling trigger with turbo button
Variable speed pulling trigger with turbo button
Variable speed pulling trigger with turbo button
Variable speed pulling trigger
On/Off switch
Show full specification detailsHide full specification details
Our Analysis and Test Results
Performance Comparison
The RY40460 has above average strength for a blower.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Power
Comprising 50% of the final score for the RY40460, our leaf blower strength tests are by far the most significant to the overall rank of each blower. For this metric, we compared and scored each blower on how easily and effectively it can remove all sorts of common debris, how far its maximum range is, and how high it can levitate a beach ball. The RY40460 is just a bit more powerful than average, earning it a 6 out of 10 for this rating category.
It takes a bit longer than the top products to clear stuck-on dirt and grime but the Ryobi could usually do it if you got close enough. The RY40460 does have a respectable enough range with lighter items, able to blow sand a little further than 13' away when the Ryobi is held at a stationary point.
We were pleased with how far away this model could move sand.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
It also did fairly well at floating the beach ball, able to get it to hover at a distance of 4' from the end of nozzle on it High mode and 5' on Turbo.
The RY40460 sending our beachball out of reach.
Credit: Austin Palmer
To see how the Ryobi handled moving different sorts of rubbish, we used it to clear a section of our parking lot and a bike path of leaves, litter, pine needles, dirt, and rock. The RY40460 did well at moving the mess but you can definitely tell that it is a step down in power levels from the top blowers. However, it does have a decent amount of oomph and is able to move lighter items and even smaller pebbles and stones relatively far. It did get bogged down if the pine needles got matted together, only able to move the lighter portions of it rather than moving the entire clump as the top-tier cordless blowers can.
Battery
Our next set of evaluations are concerned with the performance of the Ryobi's battery system, which combine to account for 25% of its final score. To determine points, we started each blower with a full battery, then measure how long it lasted running the blower at its most powerful normal mode, then repeated this test with the Ryobi on its Turbo boost mode. We then estimated normal use to be a 70/30 divide between using these modes and calculated an effective run time. Finally, we also timed how long the factory charger took to completely recharge a spent battery. The Ryobi RY40460 did about average in this metric, receiving a 5 out of 10 for its results.
The Ryobi's 40-volt, 4 amp hour battery lasted for 26 minutes on high and a little more than 18 minutes on Turbo mode, which overall counted as a runtime of 20 minutes and 24 seconds for scoring purposes when using our estimated 70/30 split.
Having the battery in the back helps prevent clothing from getting sucked in.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Unfortunately, the Ryobi RY40460 takes an exceptionally long time to recharge, with a dead battery only hitting 100% charge after 2 hours and 45 minutes on the charger.
This model has a small charger compared to most in our testing.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Ergonomics
Next, we evaluated and scored how it felt to carry and use the RY40460, looking at its balance, grip, and weight. We also compared the location of the air intake on each blower, deducting some points from models that are disposed to sucking in your clothes when switching hands or throughout normal use. Overall, these evaluations account for 15% of the final score for the Ryobi, which earned a 7 out of 10 for being one of the most comfortable and ergonomic models of the group.
The Ryobi is about average when it comes to heft, weighing in at 9 lbs. with the battery installed.
This cordless leaf blower has a very comfortable grip and it naturally rests at a great angle when held in a neutral position. The trigger is a little stiffer and wider than the others and takes a little more effort to engage than some of the others but it is still relatively easy to press. It also isn't a hassle to hit the Turbo button while holding the Ryobi normally.
The Turbo button on the Ryobi can be a little stiff to press.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
This blower has an air intake on the back of the main housing but the battery protrudes from the back, providing some protection and preventing your shirt from getting caught when you switch the RY40460 between hands.
This model had a high pitched whine that most people found quite annoying.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Noise
The remaining 10% of the score for each blower is allocated to its noise levels. For this metric, we measured the sound level for the operator on the most powerful operating mode and for a bystander 50' away, awarding points accordingly. Regrettably, the Ryobi thoroughly failed to impress in these assessments, being one of the loudest products we have tested to date, earning it a 3 out of 10.
This blower measured in at 93.3 dBa on its Turbo mode for the person using it and 83.7 dBa for someone 50' away. On top of being one of the louder blowers, the Ryobi also has a high-pitched whine that all of our judges universally agreed is highly unpleasant.
Value
While the Ryobi isn't the most powerful and is quite loud, we think it's the absolute best option for a budget-minded shopper trying to keep costs down while getting a decent leaf blower.
Holding the RY40460 during normal use.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Conclusion
Overall, it's definitely the Ryobi's relatively affordable and attractive price that earned it recognition, not necessarily its performance. It did fairly well in most tests but can't compare to the top-tier models. However, it does cost less than half as much, making it one of the absolute best choices if you are shopping on a tighter budget.
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