Leaf Blower Buying Guide: What to Consider

Why do I need a blower? Tidying up your lawn after you finish mowing or corralling a yard full of leaves is easy with the help of a blower. From removing grass clippings from sidewalks, to mulching leaves and cleaning gutters, a blower may prove to be one of the most versatile tools you have. But not every blower has the same features, so it's important to learn the benefits of each model to find the one best suited for your own cleanup projects.

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Blowers: At a Glance

Gas Blowers

Gas blowers provide tremendous power and are ideal for heavy-duty tasks, such as blowing leaves from landscaping and gutters. With no power cord to get in the way, you're free to roam wherever duty calls. Two-stroke engine models require a mix of gas and oil to operate, while four-stroke models require no mixing. Gas blowers maximize air speed and volume, with high ratings both in terms of miles per hour (mph) and cubic feet per minute (cfm), or air volume, making them suitable for all jobs.

Gas blowers are generally heavier to operate, but backpack blowers that strap onto your back can help distribute weight across your shoulders to reduce stress on your arms. These models may require a larger up-front investment, but can be worth the extra cost if clearing large areas. There are also wheeled models, but they are generally designed for commercial use.

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Electric Blowers

Electric blowers are relatively lighter than gas blowers, although a high-quality electric blower will sometimes be just as heavy and provide as much air speed - some in excess of 230 mph. You'll have to contend with a power cord, but a properly rated and long extension cord should help you handle jobs in all but the largest of yards.

Electric blowers run more quietly than gas blowers, and start up easier so you can get to work quicker. Cordless blowers that use rechargeable batteries will give you increased mobility, but provide less air speed and air volume, making them more suitable for smaller yard work.

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Power Source	Benefits	Points to Consider
Gas	Cordless Powerful Provide range and maneuverability Ideal for larger yards and gutters	Can be handheld, wheeled or backpack Require fuel Very powerful
Electric	Easy startup Quieter Cleaner running Economical	Corded or cordless No mixing oil and gas Need less maintenance Require extension cord for greater reach if corded No pollution or emissions

Mulchers

To make your cleanup jobs even easier, your gas or electric blower may be able to convert into a powerful vacuum and mulcher with the release of a simple latch. A blower with an effective mulching feature is useful if you intend to bag leaves or compost. Vacuum-capable blowers that mulch typically have a reduction ratio attached to them, which measures how many bags of clippings it can reduce to one bag worth of waste. This factor can range as high as 16:1 on some models.

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Corded vs. Cordless Leaf Blowers

While both of these options are lightweight, produce zero emissions and offer instant start, there are some notable differences you should consider.

Type of Leaf Blower	Benefits	Drawbacks
Corded	Instant starting Clean, zero emissions Lightest weight Most affordable Can handle light lawn clearing	Less powerful than gas leaf blowers Need an extension cord to use
Cordless	Instant starting Clean, no emissions Lighter weight Complete mobility Improved run-time Batteries often work with other tools	Higher cost for best battery technology Most cordless leaf blowers are not recommended for clearing lawns

Blowers: Air Volume and Speed

There are two key measurements to understand when purchasing a blower. The first is cubic feet per minute (cfm), which measures the volume of air produced, and miles per hour (mph), which measures air speed. The higher the cfm rating is, the more leaves you'll be able to blow at once. The higher the mph rating is, the farther you'll be able to blow them. For a blower to be truly powerful, both ratings should be high. A higher rating is usually important if you intend on completing heavy-duty tasks like mulching.

Features to Consider:

Features	Description
Mulching	Mulched leaves and grass clippings make excellent fertilizers. However, mulching wet debris will lower your blower reduction ratio due to increased water volume.
Nozzles	Blowers with round nozzles are ideal for cleaning applications, while oblong and rectangular nozzles are excellent for blowing leaves.
Safety	Blowers can be noisy, so it's always a good idea to use ear plugs. Wearing safety goggles will also help prevent debris from getting into your eyes.
Comfort/Auxiliary Handles	If you spend considerable time operating your blower, look for a unit with comfortable handles that reduce fatigue, and an auxiliary handle that makes it easier to attack jobs from different angles.

Leaf Blower Buying Guide