Buying a new leaf blower can be a little overwhelming. There are so many options available with different specifications. It could take you hours to do your research to find the right fit for what you need in terms of cost and usability. We’ve put together a complete buyer’s guide that will help cut down your research considerably.
Gas vs. Electric
The first thing you need to do is determine whether you need a gas or electric model. Gas is going to be noisier than electric, so you may need to check with your city or homeowner’s association to see if there are any noise regulations in your area. Electric will be quieter, but they are also not quite as powerful as gas blowers. Gas blowers will require you to refill with a gas/oil mixture before every use, so you have to decide whether that is something that you want to deal with. For an electric blower, you will need access to an electrical outlet outside. Or you can get a cordless version, which we will discuss a little later. Check out our Reference Table for a quick overview.
| Gas | Electric | |
| Cost | $70-$500 | $40-$200 |
| Types | Handheld, backpack, walk-behind | Handheld (corded or cordless) |
| Mobility | Unlimited | Unlimited for cordless; Limited for corded |
| Weight | Heavier | Lighter |
| Power | Stronger | Weaker |
| Noise | Louder | Quieter |
| Convenience | Fill up with gas and go | Recharge the battery after use (cordless); Grab the extension cord (corded) |
Types of Gas Blowers
Gas blowers are available in a few different models: handheld, backpack and walk-behind. Handheld gas blowers are the most common because anyone who has a small-to-medium sized yard doesn’t need much more than that. They are easy to carry around and you aren’t restricted in how far you can go (unlike electric models).
Backpack models are good for larger jobs that will require you to use the blower for an extended amount of time. Carrying around a handheld blower can hurt your arms and back after a while, so a backpack version may be good for you if you suffer from back pains.
Walk-behind models are the most powerful of the bunch. They are also the loudest and most expensive. If you are just looking for a leaf blower for your lawn or garden, then a walk-behind blower may be too powerful. These are typically better for professionals or for people who have more than an acre of land that they will use it on.
Types of Electric Blowers
Electric blowers come in corded and cordless models and only in handheld versions. Corded electric blowers are the most common. They are more powerful than the cordless models because they plug in directly to an electrical outlet. The only downfall of these is that you can only go as far as your extension cord will allow you to. However, 100 feet is a pretty good distance, so most homeowners can cover their entire yard with that.
Cordless models are becoming more popular because they are more mobile than the corded models. These run off of a rechargeable battery, which is pretty convenient and easier than rolling up a cord. However, the battery is generally short-lived during each use because of the energy required to produce enough power. Some cordless blowers will only last 15-30 minutes before the battery needs to be recharged again. If that is all the time you need, then that’s perfect. But most people need to use it for a longer duration than that at one time.
Air Speed vs. Air Volume
You will notice that the specifications for all leaf blowers will list MPH (miles per hour) and CFM (cubic feet per minute). These are probably the most important specifications that you need to look at, because they tell you exactly how powerful that particular blower is.
MPH measures the speed of the air travelling immediately outside of the nozzle of the blower. Assuming that speed remains constant, that’s how the measurement is generated. Depending on the type of blower, this number can be anywhere from around 150 MPH to 250 MPH.
CFM is not a familiar unit of measurement to most consumers, but it is probably the most important. It measures the air volume velocity that goes through the blower and out of the tube. So the higher the CFM, the more air that gets pushed out of the nozzle, and the more powerful the blower is as a whole. CFM measurements can be anywhere from around 300 to 2,000.
You can shop around for the best deals, but to give you an idea of what measurements you need, most homeowners will be just fine with a blower that has around a 150-170 MPH and around a 350-500 CFM.
Brands
With all else being equal, the brand of leaf blower will likely determine how long it will last before you have to repair or replace it. Most people are familiar with the top brands of leaf blowers, like Craftsman, Stihl, Black & Decker and Echo, because they also make durable tools and other outdoor equipment and are widely available in most mass retailers. A couple other brands include Weed Eater and Toro. Weed Eater brand is going to be the cheapest, but it also may be the least reliable.
Other Features to Consider
Once you decide the type and power of leaf blower that you need, you can look at other feature that may make your job easier.
- Vacuum – some blowers have a vacuum feature that will suck up debris. Most of these have a small tube, so only small debris can be picked up.
- Nozzle type – a flatter nozzle will be better for sweeping a larger area of leaves, while a rounder nozzle will loosen and pick them up better.
- Convenience – look for things like a quick emergency shut off button, an easily accessible plug for electric versions, a comfortable handle location, and the air intake location (you don’t want it to be tugging at your clothing).
Quick reference
To sum up our guide, here is a comparison table for quick reference:
| Gas | Electric | |
| Cost | $70-$500 | $40-$200 |
| Types | Handheld, backpack, walk-behind | Handheld (corded or cordless) |
| Mobility | Unlimited | Unlimited for cordless; Limited for corded |
| Weight | Heavier | Lighter |
| Power | Stronger | Weaker |
| Noise | Louder | Quieter |
| Convenience | Fill up with gas and go | Recharge the battery after use (cordless); Grab the extension cord (corded) |
Everyone wants to get the best bang for their buck, and that is true when buying leaf blowers as well. Educating yourself on some of the basic features of leaf blowers and comparing that to what you will be using the leaf blower for will help you narrow down your options considerably. All that’s left is to buy your perfect leaf blower and get to work!