Milwaukee 2724-20 M18 FUEL Blower Review: Platform Loyalty Rewarded

Context: who this blower is built for

The Milwaukee 2724-20 M18 FUEL Blower is not a product designed to win a CFM spec war. At 450 CFM and 120 MPH, it sits below the 650 CFM ceiling of EGO and Ryobi's top cordless handhelds. What the 2724-20 is built to do is serve the enormous installed base of M18 users who want one more tool on a platform they already own — a light, quick-starting blower that completes yard cleanup, shop sweeping, and deck maintenance without requiring a separate battery investment.

For that use case, it is a well-executed and appropriately focused product.

Performance envelope and throttle behavior

The POWERSTATE brushless motor's most notable characteristic is its throttle response. Full throttle in under one second is not marketing language — the motor climbs from idle to maximum output faster than competing cordless blowers, which typically ramp over two to three seconds. On a clearing job where you frequently adjust speed or need an immediate burst to dislodge stuck debris, that responsiveness is practically useful and reduces the temptation to leave the blower at full power when lower speed would do.

The variable-speed trigger gives stepless control from minimal airflow to the 450 CFM maximum. A high/low switch changes the ceiling of the variable range, giving finer control at low settings (useful for sweeping grass from a deck without moving mulch) and maximum output on high. The lock-on button holds full throttle without trigger pressure — press it while squeezing the trigger all the way, and the blower runs at max output until you disengage. On sustained-clearing sessions this is a notable convenience.

At 450 CFM, clearing a standard suburban front yard takes about 15–20% longer than with a 650 CFM blower. Dry leaves move efficiently; wet, compacted leaves require closer working distance and more passes. For the user who mows weekly and clears clippings and light debris throughout the season, the power level is entirely adequate. For the user who waits until late fall to address a half-acre carpet of damp oak leaves in a single session, 450 CFM becomes a genuine limitation relative to higher-output alternatives.

Weight advantage and handling

Five-point-two pounds bare is the real practical differentiator between the 2724-20 and heavier competitors. With a compact 2.0Ah M18 battery (roughly 0.7 lbs), total weight drops under 6 lbs — comparable to a large power drill. With a 5.0Ah High Output pack (about 1.9 lbs), you reach roughly 7.1 lbs total, still meaningfully below the EGO kit configuration and significantly below the Ryobi Whisper Series at 10.4 lbs bare.

That weight advantage matters most in two scenarios: clearing overhead — gutters, soffits, under eaves — where every pound of tool is amplified by leverage on your wrist and shoulder; and use as a workshop or garage cleanup tool, where portability and ease of one-handed storage matter as much as clearing output. Milwaukee's single-handle grip design works well for both applications, and the tube angle lets you direct airflow precisely without awkward wrist rotation.

Runtime and battery planning

The 2724-20 runs on 18V M18 batteries, which carry less energy per pack than the 40V and 56V cells powering the Ryobi and EGO blowers. A 5.0Ah M18 pack delivers roughly 30–40 minutes at moderate variable speed and 20–25 minutes at sustained full output. That is sufficient for a typical session on a small to medium lot, but users with larger properties should plan with two batteries ready, or select the High Output 8.0Ah pack for the longest single-charge duration.

The fast-charge M18 charger (sold separately) tops off a 5.0Ah pack in about 50 minutes, so break-time charging is viable on a two-battery rotation. Milwaukee's REDLINK PLUS intelligence prevents over-discharge, protecting battery longevity across the dozens of tool cycles most homeowners put through M18 packs each season.

Acoustic output

At 62 dBA, the 2724-20 is quiet enough for neighborhoods with strict noise ordinances and for early-morning or evening sessions. Most municipal restrictions address noise above 65 dBA at property lines, putting the Milwaukee comfortably within compliance for typical yard distances. The acoustic character of the motor at high load is a smooth hum rather than the higher-pitched whine some other cordless blowers produce at full speed, which reduces operator fatigue over extended use.

Where it fits versus the alternatives

The EGO LB6504 produces 45% more air volume and better velocity, includes a battery in the kit, and has a lower bare-tool weight — it is the stronger choice for anyone buying from scratch and prioritizing clearing performance. The Ryobi RY404014BTL matches the EGO's CFM with Whisper Series acoustics, but at much higher bare-tool weight and a tool-only purchase requirement for the base SKU. The Makita XBU02Z offers 473 CFM at 61 dB(A) and the advantage of dual-18V LXT platform integration for Makita tool users.

The 2724-20 wins on bare-tool weight, throttle response, and platform fit for M18 users who already own the batteries. If clearing performance on large properties is the priority, or if you are starting a new platform entirely, evaluating the EGO or Ryobi kit configurations alongside M18 battery costs is the right approach before committing.