When fall arrives, piles of leaves, twigs, and debris can quickly take over your lawn. Sure, you could spend hours raking, but a leaf blower lets you clear your yard in minutes.
However, leaf blowers come in various sizes and forms. From handheld to backpack models, and from gas to battery-powered options, the choices can be overwhelming.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the types of blower, their power sources, and the key features to look for, so you can pick the right blower for your needs.
Types of leaf blowers
Leaf blowers come in three main types, and the best choice depends on the size of your yard and how often you plan to use it.
Handheld
Handheld leaf blowers are the most popular option. They are compact, lightweight, and easy to maneuver, but gas models can be heavier than cordless battery or electric ones. If you have a small yard or just want to move leaves from patios, driveways, or sidewalks, handheld blowers are a great choice.
Backpack
The motor sits in a frame on your back, with straps over your shoulders, and you control the blower to move leaves around your yard. The weight is distributed through the harness, so you only need to guide the blower without carrying all the weight in your arms.
Backpack leaf blowers are more powerful than handheld models and are a great choice for medium to large yards with heavy leaf coverage. For most homeowners, a backpack blower is more than sufficient.
Walk-behind
Walk-behind leaf blowers are the most powerful and come with wheels, so you can just push them to clear leaves from your yard. However, they are difficult to maintain and store. So, choose them only if you have a large property.
Power sources
Leaf blowers run on gas, battery, and electricity, and each power source has its own advantages and drawbacks.
Gas powered
Gas-powered leaf blowers are the most powerful and durable. They can easily handle wet leaves and other large debris.
Most gas leaf blowers have a two-stroke engine that is lighter and runs by mixing fuel and oil at a ratio recommended by the manufacturer. A four-stroke engine runs only on gasoline.
When it comes to maintenance, they require regular cleaning and oil changes. They are portable since they don’t have a cord but are significantly heavier than their electric counterparts.
These blowers are loud and the least eco-friendly. According to the Public Interest Research Group, more than 200 towns restrict leaf blower use to certain hours of the day. California banned gas-powered leaf blowers and other gas-powered equipment altogether in 2024. Make sure to check your local rules and regulations before using a gas leaf blower.
Handheld leaf blowers cost $125 to $400, but walk-behind blowers can reach $900.
Best for: Yards more than 10,000 square feet. Even then, I recommend a backpack model, as the weight will be distributed across your back and shoulders. Handheld blowers can be heavy to carry with all the weight in your arms.
Pros:
- Most powerful
- Durable
- Long runtime
- Great for wet leaves and heavy debris
Cons:
- Loud and produces emissions
- Requires regular maintenance
- Heavy and bulky
Check out our article on the Best Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers.
Electric corded
Corded electric leaf blowers plug into an outlet and are only available as handheld models. Since they use an electric motor instead of a gas engine or battery, they are lightweight and require less maintenance. The downside is that they are limited by the length of the cord, and you need to be careful when navigating around trees and other obstacles in your yard.
I recommend purchasing a heavy-duty outdoor extension cord along with a corded leaf blower so you can reach your entire property.
High-quality corded leaf blowers can be as powerful as low- to mid-power gas leaf blowers. They are noisy, but not as loud as gas blowers.
Corded leaf blowers are the most affordable, at $30 to $110.
Best for: Yards smaller than 5,000 square feet.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Quieter than gas blowers
- Easy to maintain
Cons:
- Limited by cord length
- Difficult to maneuver around obstacles
- Less powerful than gas blowers
Battery powered
Cordless leaf blowers are powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. They are lighter than gas models and aren’t limited by the length of the cord. However, the downside is that cordless blowers are the least powerful. The newer models are getting better and can be as powerful as low-end gas leaf blowers.
Most battery-powered leaf blowers have a run time of 30 minutes or less at full charge. So, if you have a large property, you need to stop and recharge or use a backup battery. Cordless blowers weigh around 10 pounds.
These blowers are quieter, so I recommend them if you live in a community with restrictions.
As for maintenance, avoid overcharging the battery and keep the vents clean. If you’re storing the blower long-term, disconnect the battery.
Battery-powered leaf blowers cost $100 to $250.
Best for: Cordless blowers are ideal for small to medium-sized yards, between 5,000 and 10,000 square feet. They can clear leaves within 30 minutes, before the battery runs out.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Easy to maneuver
- Quietest
- Easy to maintain
Cons:
- Lasts only 30 minutes per charge
- Least powerful
- Replacement batteries can be expensive
Check out our article on the Best Battery-Powered Leaf Blowers.
Key performance specifications
The type and power source aren’t the only things you should consider when selecting a leaf blower. Performance specs are just as important.
Power
Performance of leaf blowers is measured by air speed in mph and air volume.
Air volume, measured in cfm (cubic feet per minute), determines how many leaves the blower can move and how far it can move them.
If you have a large yard and lots of leaves, choose a leaf blower with high power. That way, you can move the leaves faster.
Weight
Handheld leaf blowers weigh between 5 and 10 pounds, with gas models on the higher end. Backpack leaf blowers weigh 15 to 25 pounds. Go with an ergonomic handle for handheld models and padded straps for backpack models.
If you have a small property with not many obstacles, choose a corded electric leaf blower.
Noise
Gas blowers are the loudest, producing 80 to 90 decibels of sound. Some models even exceed that. A level of 80 to 90 decibels is comparable to a motorcycle.
Corded leaf blowers operate at 65 to 75 decibels, while battery-powered blowers are slightly less noisy at 60 to 70 decibels.
Check the product label for the decibel level. Always wear earplugs to protect your ears when using a gas blower.
For more on leaf blowers, check out these articles:
Leaf blower additional features
Here are some features that make a leaf blower better suited for certain tasks.
Variable speed control
Some leaf blowers let you adjust the airflow. Use full blast for piles of wet leaves or clearing driveways, and a lower setting for flower beds and delicate landscaping you don’t want to damage.
Nozzle shape
Leaf blowers come in two nozzle shapes:
- Flat nozzles: Concentrated air to dislodge leaves stuck in grass or clear stubborn debris.
- Round nozzles: Greater air volume to move large piles of leaves quickly.
Vacuum capabilities
Some leaf blowers double as vacuums. They have an extra hose and a bag that collects leaves and debris from your yard.
FAQs
Yes. You can use a leaf blower to clear grass clippings, clean gutters, unclog dry vents, or even blow light snow from driveways.
If you use them too close or at high air pressure, you can damage delicate landscaping like flowers, mulch beds, or young plants. Maintain some distance and set the blower to a lower speed when using it around delicate areas.
Corded electric leaf blowers require the least maintenance, followed by battery-powered models. Gas leaf blowers are powerful but require regular maintenance.
Choose the right leaf blower
A handheld electric leaf blower will do the trick for small yards. If you have a medium-sized yard, choose a backpack electric blower. Go with gas-powered models if your yard is larger than 10,000 square feet.
If you don’t have the time to blow leaves from your yard or just don’t want to deal with it, get in touch with Lawn Love.
Lawn Love pros can remove leaves from your yard and take care of other lawn maintenance tasks like mowing, aeration, fertilization, and weed control. Hire a pro through Lawn Love today to get the job done right at a price you’ll love.
Main Image: Leaf blower for sale. Image Credit: JackF / Adobe Stock
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