Before reading the rest of this guide, check your town’s regulations to see whether you even have options. Some towns ban gas leaf blowers altogether because most tend to be louder than any type of electric blower. Even if yours allows them, you may want to consider how much noise they make. Generally speaking, the difference in decibel levels can be significant. If you don’t need to blow leaves for long stretches—like half an hour or longer—you might do well with a battery model.
That’s not to say cordless electric (battery-powered) leaf blowers are less powerful than gas blowers, especially when it comes to the typical yard—many are on a par with them. It’s just that they have a limited run time per battery charge, around 8 to 30 minutes. (Consider buying your lawn tools from the same brand so that you can use the same batteries and charger across your suite of tools. It’ll also cut down on costs and help you avoid waiting for a battery to charge midtask.)
If you have a large expanse of land with lots of leaves, you might consider gas. A gas leaf blower—even handheld and backpack varieties—can be taken far and wide for an indefinite amount of time as long as you keep the tank full. It’s also the only kind that’s available as a wheeled option, which makes for easier, quicker cleanup. It’s important to note, however, that a gas leaf blower, like any gas-powered tool, requires more maintenance than an electric model.
Electric blowers, whether corded or cordless, are better for the environment. They have no emissions at the point of use, and they run far more efficiently. Based on our member surveys, they’re also more reliable, which means they’re less likely to end up in a landfill.
