Milwaukee M18 2724 vs 2824-20: Two Cordless Leaf Blowers Compared

Introduction

Milwaukee has two brushless handheld leaf blowers in its M18 lineup, and they represent two very different philosophies. The older M18 2724 is the brand’s first brushless blower, a $199 tool rated at 120 mph and 450 CFM. The newer M18 2824-20 jumps to $299 and claims 145 mph and 600 CFM, and it does it with something unusual: two M18 batteries at once, effectively an M36-class setup in a handheld tool.

We tested both with measured air speed, air volume, runtime, and noise, then opened them up to see what changed. Here is how they stack up.

Milwaukee M18 2724: The First-Generation Blower

The M18 2724 is a two-speed blower with no turbo mode, sold for $199 and rated for 120 mph and 450 CFM. In testing with a high-output 12.0 battery, it measured 95 mph of air speed and about 431 CFM through its 3.07-inch outlet. That top speed is just 79% of the advertised figure, and its low speed of 65 mph proved useful mainly for dusting things off.

Runtime is the real shocker here. Even with the largest battery in this category, the tool plummeted at about 9 minutes on a full 12 amp-hour pack. It keeps its airflow better than most blowers across a run, but it eats batteries at a rate few other tools approach. Two speeds, no turbo, and short runtime add up to a demanding tool to live with.

Milwaukee M18 2824-20: The Dual-Battery Step Up

The 2824-20 is the first handheld Milwaukee tool that uses two M18 high-output batteries at once. With two XC 6.0 packs for the same 12 amp-hours of total capacity, it measured about 119 mph and 584 CFM through a 3.2-inch outlet, spiking to 585 CFM. The included smaller nozzle pushes speed up to 124 mph but drops volume to 466 CFM, so it is only worth attaching for work close to the ground.

A few practical details stand out. Ramp-up time is claimed at about half a second, which is genuinely useful in small yards where you change direction often. Battery mixing is forgiving too: an XC 5.0, an HD 12.0, mixed capacities, or half-charged packs all produced the same 119 to 120 mph. The tool always displays roughly the charge level of the lowest battery, so draining one does not strand the other. It also replaces the first-gen’s high and low settings with a slider switch, which proves more flexible in use.

Measured Performance and Runtime

The newer model is better essentially everywhere. It tied with the highest air speed figure measured among handheld blowers so far while moving considerably more air, at 83% of its claimed speed and 98% of its claimed CFM. The 2724 sits at the other end, with the lowest claimed-to-measured air speed ratio of any blower tested.

Runtime favors the dual-battery model too. On equal 12 amp-hours, it lasted 12 minutes versus the older tool’s 9, roughly a third longer, and it holds performance at nearly full strength until it stops. With two XC 8.0 packs it ran 15 minutes and 40 seconds. Both tools draw heavily: total tested watt-hours came to 211.6 for the HD 12.0 setup and 288 for two XC 8.0 packs, among the highest recorded in the category.

Everyday Handling and Noise

Weight is a real trade-off. The dual-battery model came in at 10.8 pounds tested, while the first-gen, at equal watt-hours, weighs 8.3 pounds. The newer tool is also slightly quieter, measuring about 88 dB at ear height with a higher-pitched tone, while the 2724 sits around 90 dB and sounds less refined.

For the money, the picture is less flattering. As tested, the first-gen totals $449 with the battery, and the dual-battery setup runs $528 with two XC 8.0 packs, which are currently slightly cheaper than two XC 6.0. If you do not already own the batteries, there are competitive outdoor power equipment kits from other brands worth considering instead.

Inside the Tools: Teardown Notes

Opening both blowers confirms what the voltage readings suggested. The first-gen runs its fan and motor inside a 2.4-inch-diameter cylinder with an aluminum housing acting as a heat sink, and it operates at 16.5 to 17.5 volts under load. The newer model measured 33 to 35 volts at full power, confirming the two batteries are wired in series rather than parallel.

The newer tool adds a foam shroud with vent cutouts around the motor cylinder, which may help with vibration and noise, and uses a smaller 2-inch motor housing putting out more air. Wiring is thinner, 16 gauge versus 14 gauge, and sensor wires run into a compact epoxy-filled aluminum module. The higher-voltage architecture brings efficiency advantages that help explain why Milwaukee changed course after years of staying committed to 18-volt designs.

Buying Advice

If you already own a couple of XC 6.0 or 8.0 batteries, the 2824-20 is a massive step up from the current M18 offering and clearly the better pick of the two. It scores noticeably ahead in every category we measured, and the quick ramp-up plus raw airflow make yard work feel less like a slog.

If you are not already invested in the platform, the older 2724 is hard to recommend given its short runtime, and even the newer model’s price without batteries invites comparison with full kits from other brands. Between the two, though, the dual-battery 2824-20 is the one that justifies its existence.

Conclusion

Milwaukee went from an underwhelming first effort to a genuinely impressive handheld blower in one generation. The M18 2724 drains batteries too quickly and under-delivers on its headline claims, while the 2824-20 posts class-leading measured numbers, holds its performance through the run, and makes clever use of a dual-battery series setup. The trade-offs are weight and cost, but for existing M18 owners with high-output packs, it is a meaningful and much-needed improvement.