DEWALT DCBL724B 20V MAX* XR® Brushless Cordless Blower (Tool Only) review

A bare 20V blower for an existing battery shelf

The DEWALT DCBL724B is the tool-only configuration of the 20V MAX XR brushless handheld blower. DEWALT identifies the exact package as tool only and says its battery and charger are sold separately. That makes this listing a sensible way to add a blower to an established compatible 20V MAX setup, but a poor shortcut for someone starting from zero: the tool cannot work without a battery, and the additional pack and charger are outside this purchase. The related DCBL724W1 kit uses the same DCBL724 blower body and adds a named battery and charger, so the real decision is whether you value that complete power package or already own the equipment.

Use the airflow numbers as limits, not a yard-work promise

DEWALT lists up to 550 CFM and 133 mph for the DCBL724. Its page says the CFM figure is measured at full trigger under ANSI B175.2 using a DCB208 battery. These are maker-published maximums, not an independent estimate of how long it will take to clear a lawn. CFM gives a sense of the air volume available; the mph number describes the listed maximum air speed. Actual progress will still depend on leaf depth, moisture, surface texture and how far you can keep the tube from the debris. The machine is a handheld blower, not a vacuum or mulcher, so it pushes material toward a pile rather than collecting it for you.

Two nozzles and a useful speed hold

The product page identifies both a concentrator nozzle and a sweeper nozzle. DEWALT describes the concentrator for stubborn debris and the sweeper for sidewalks or other wider areas. The DCBL724 manual calls the latter a broom tip and shows the two tips attaching to the same blower tube; the broader tip is not a leaf-collection attachment. For a practical cleanup plan, use the wider tip for open hardscape passes, then switch to the concentrator when a narrower stream is more useful. The tube must be secured before operation, and the manual says to remove the battery before changing attachments.

Control is more specific than a simple on/off trigger. The variable trigger adjusts output, while the speed-lock lever can hold a selected setting without continuous trigger pressure. DEWALT says the lever can be pushed forward to start the blower and moved farther to raise speed. This is useful when you want a steady stream for a longer pass; it is not a separate high-power Boost or Turbo mode. The page does not claim a display, cruise presets or variable tube length, so those should not be assumed from the XR label.

Noise and runtime claims need careful reading

DEWALT advertises a 58 dB(A) noise rating and footnotes its bystander-noise information at a 50-foot radius. That is a manufacturer-listed figure, not an independent sound test or a guarantee that every yard, surface and operating setting will sound the same. The manual still instructs users to wear hearing protection. If a quiet neighborhood is your priority, the published figure is relevant, but it should not be treated as permission to ignore local time or noise rules.

There is also a small but material inconsistency in the exact page: the feature copy says “up to 17 min” runtime, while its product graphics say up to 16 minutes. The accompanying note ties runtime to a DCB208 battery at full speed. Because those exact-page materials disagree, this assessment does not choose one number or use either as a dependable work duration. Full-speed work is the demanding case, and the 8 Ah DCB208 configuration is separate from this tool-only package.

Confirm the package before choosing it

The DCBL724B is a handheld 20V MAX battery blower with a brushless motor, variable trigger and speed lock. The manual identifies DCBL724 as an axial blower and lists compatible DEWALT battery and charger families; the product page says the tool-only item excludes both battery and charger. No numeric bare-tool weight appears in the saved exact page, so “lightweight” remains a qualitative manufacturer description rather than proof it meets a strict weight limit. If a one-battery kit and charging equipment are essential, compare the DCBL724W1, whose exact kit graphic names a DCB208 8 Ah battery and DCB1102 charger. If you already own a compatible 20V MAX pack and charger and want just this blower, the DCBL724B avoids buying a duplicate power set.

Plan for the work and the safety limits

The manual describes the DCBL724 as designed for professional blowing applications, but that is not a claim that it replaces a backpack machine for every property. Its handheld format means the user supports the tool in one hand, and its published 550 CFM maximum gives a more useful screening point than the “large properties” marketing phrase alone. If your essential need is materially higher airflow, another larger blower may be a better fit; do not stretch the 550 CFM listing into an unverified performance promise. The manual also says not to use the blower in wet conditions or rain, calls for eye and hearing protection, and instructs users to keep bystanders at least 30 feet away. On balance, choose the DCBL724B when compatible batteries are already on hand, handheld control and two nozzle styles matter, and the listed airflow suits the cleanup you actually do. Choose the W1 kit if battery and charger inclusion are part of the requirement.