Black & Decker Cordless Sweeper

Why I keep reaching for this little sweeper

A tool that actually gets used is more valuable than a bigger, louder one that lives on a hook. That’s been my experience with this compact 20V sweeper. It’s designed for clearing dry debris off hard surfaces, and it does that job with minimal fuss, minimal noise, and almost no strain on your wrist. If you want to blast leaf piles across the lawn, this isn’t your tool. If you want a quick, cordless way to tidy the driveway, garage, patio, or deck, it’s surprisingly capable.

Setup, battery, and charging

Out of the box, setup is dead simple: snap the blow tube on, charge the included 20V MAX lithium-ion battery, and go. The charger is a wall-mountable base, which makes it easy to give the battery a home near the door. The pack is a 1.5Ah unit (30 Wh), and in my use that translates to around 10–15 minutes of real-world sweeping on hard surfaces. If you’re methodical and keep the nozzle close to the ground, that window is enough to tidy a two-car driveway, the walkway, and do a quick pass through the garage before you run the battery flat.

Charging from empty to full takes about an hour. That’s fine for routine touch-ups; if you like to do longer sessions, a second battery or a higher-capacity pack (2.0Ah or 3.0Ah from the same 20V MAX POWERCONNECT system) makes a noticeable difference. The interchangeability is a genuine benefit—if you already own other tools in the line, this slot-in/slot-out workflow keeps downtime low.

Size, weight, and ergonomics

This sweeper is built around portability. The advertised weight is 3.7 lb; I’ve also seen a spec listing at 4.4 lb. Either way, in the hand it’s featherlight. One-handed use is the norm, and the short overall length is a plus in tighter spots—under benches, around planters, behind bins, and in garage corners where longer blowers constantly bump into things.

The grip is comfortable and the balance favors the handle, so wrist fatigue is low even when working overhead on a deck or steps. There’s no strap, no complicated controls, and no multi-piece tubes to fiddle with. It’s grab-and-go simple, and that invites frequent use.

Noise is notably subdued compared to gas blowers and even some larger cordless models. I can hold a conversation while using it. You should still wear hearing protection, but on the annoyance scale it’s closer to a hair dryer than a shop vac.

Performance on hard surfaces

Airspeed is rated up to 130 mph, but airspeed isn’t the same as airflow volume; think of this as a focused broom more than a leaf hurricane. The narrow nozzle concentrates the stream and makes quick work of:

• Dry leaves and seed pods on concrete and pavers
• Grass clippings off sidewalks and driveways after mowing
• Sawdust and light debris on a deck or in a garage
• Cobwebs and grit from around steps and thresholds

The technique matters. Keeping the nozzle low and angled shallow to the surface lifts and rolls debris forward instead of scattering it upward. Short, controlled passes along edges and expansion joints pull out the stubborn stuff. In those tasks, the sweeper feels efficient and, importantly, controllable; you’re not chasing debris clouds down the block.

On a breezy day, the limited airflow can be outmatched by a headwind; I’ve learned to work with the wind at my back or tackle sheltered areas first.

Where it struggles

This is not a yard-cleanup blower. It lacks the volume to push piles across turf or to break free wet, matted leaves. It will shuffle a few dry leaves off short grass if you’re patient and the grass is short, but the moment you hit damp patches or anything embedded in lawn thatch or mulch, you’ll be fighting it. That’s by design—this is a sweeper for hard surfaces.

Likewise, heavy debris (acorns, thick pine needles, wet clumps) may require multiple passes or a broom finish. If your fall routine involves moving big leaf volumes, you’ll want a higher-voltage cordless model, a corded blower, or a gas unit.

Battery life and power expectations

With the included 1.5Ah battery, plan on short sessions. My typical cadence is a 10-minute tidy after mowing, or a quick sweep of the garage and front walk before guests arrive. That’s the right use case. If you need 20–30 minutes of continuous blow time, step up the battery capacity or keep a spare on the charger. The motor runs at a fixed output, so there’s no throttle feathering to stretch runtime—you get consistent performance until the pack sags and then it’s done.

One positive tradeoff of the smaller battery is weight. Even with a larger pack, the tool remains lighter than most alternatives, but the included battery makes it feel particularly nimble.

Build quality and maintenance

Construction is straightforward: durable plastic housing, a snug-fitting blow tube, and a tight battery bay with a solid latch. After getting scuffed around the garage and riding in the trunk a few times, mine shows only cosmetic marks. Keep the nozzle opening clear and brush debris from the intake vents to maintain airflow. Lithium batteries are happiest if they aren’t stored completely empty—charge after use and avoid leaving the pack in extreme heat or cold.

There’s a 2-year limited warranty, which aligns with expectations for this class of homeowner tool.

Usability details that stand out

• The short tube is a plus around obstacles and in tight garages. Less leverage on your wrist means easier control.
• The narrow nozzle focuses the stream where you want it. You trade overall volume for precision, and in a driveway that’s often the better deal.
• The wall-mount charger reduces friction. Grab the battery near the door, click in, sweep, click out, and back on the wall—habit-forming convenience.
• Quiet operation encourages use at times I’d avoid a louder blower—early evening tidy-ups won’t annoy the neighbors.

Who this sweeper is for

• Homeowners who mainly need to clear dry debris from hard surfaces
• Apartment or townhouse dwellers with patios, balconies, or small entryways
• Anyone already invested in the 20V MAX POWERCONNECT system
• Users who value light weight and low noise over brute force

Who should look elsewhere:

• Folks wanting to move large leaf piles, especially on lawns or mulch
• Those who regularly deal with wet, matted leaves or heavy debris
• Users who need 30+ minutes of continuous runtime without swapping batteries

Tips to get the best results

• Work soon after mowing, before clippings get walked on or rained on.
• Start at edges and push toward a collection point rather than sweeping outward from the center.
• Keep the nozzle close to the ground and use a shallow angle to roll debris.
• On windy days, plan your path so the wind helps rather than fights you.
• Consider a second battery if your routine often outlasts the included pack.

The bottom line

This 20V sweeper is exactly what its name suggests: a hard-surface sweeper. It’s compact, quiet, easy to handle with one hand, and ready to go for quick cleanups. The included battery and charger make it convenient out of the box, and compatibility with 20V MAX POWERCONNECT packs provides a straightforward upgrade path if you need more runtime.

Its limitations are equally clear: it doesn’t have the airflow to tackle lawn-scale leaf moving, and wet debris reduces its effectiveness significantly. If your expectations match its mandate—keep hard surfaces free of light debris—it’s a satisfying tool that earns its spot by the door.

Recommendation: I recommend this sweeper for homeowners and renters who want a light, grab-and-go solution for patios, driveways, sidewalks, and garages. It’s not a fall cleanup machine, but for everyday tidying it’s practical, comfortable, and easy to live with. If your chores are mostly hard-surface touch-ups and you value low noise and low weight, this is the right fit. If you need to move heavy or wet debris or work primarily on grass, step up to a more powerful blower or a larger battery system.