Electric Leaf Blower Vs. Gas: What Are The Major Differences?

Choosing a leaf blower is difficult because everything from the power source to the brand makes a difference in quality. Electric and gas leaf blowers are both widely available and close in cost. So, how are electric and gas leaf blowers different?

Gas leaf blowers are louder than electric blowers, but they are also more powerful. Electric blowers require less maintenance than gas blowers and they are also much quieter during operation. You can cover more ground with a gas leaf blower because electric blower batteries only last for 14-20 minutes.

Many people avoid gas leaf blowers because of how bad they are for the environment. States like California have even restricted the production of gas leaf blowers. Follow along as we compare electric and gas leaf blowers.

Electric and gas leaf blowers are quite similar in terms of performance, and the main difference comes down to working time. One of the key benefits of gas leaf blowers is that you can work for a long time without being interrupted. It can be frustrating when you use an electric leaf blower and have to replace the battery.

Luckily, electric leaf blowers have been around for long enough now that they often feature a much better battery life. The best way around this is to always keep at least one extra battery on the charger while you are working. Gas leaf blowers beat electric blowers when it comes to power and that comes in handy if you have to cover a lot of ground.

That is why landscaping companies have almost exclusively used gas leaf blowers for so long. The battery on an electric leaf blower may only last for 20 minutes or less before it needs to be charged. That makes it hard to justify using an electric leaf blower on large properties or if you have to visit several places in a single day.

Electric leaf blowers generally come with more optional accessories than gas leaf blowers. Accessories such as mulchers, gutter cleaners, and even vacuum hoses are common for electric leaf blowers. You will generally need to purchase these attachments separately, but some electric leaf blowers come with them.

There are some accessories available for gas leaf blowers, but they are often relegated to cleaning kits. Accessories are only necessary if you need them for a specific purpose, such as mulching fallen leaves. Consider an electric leaf blower if you want to expand your possibilities with additional attachments and accessories.

Maintenance is another distinguishing feature between electric and gas leaf blowers. Typically, gas leaf blowers are more difficult to maintain because they require a fuel source. You will need to clean the filter, carburetor, and even fuel line in some cases with heavy use.

A big downside of gas leaf blowers is that they generally become harder to maintain over time. That is less of a problem with electric leaf blowers when maintenance is a minor inconvenience. Maintenance for electric leaf blowers typically only entails replacing batteries and cleaning the surface.

However, electric leaf blowers are also more likely to need to be replaced because repairs can be expensive. This is only necessary if something goes wrong with wiring or hardware, but repairs can cost almost as much as replacing the blower in some cases.

Both electric and gas leaf blowers come in a wide variety. For example, you can find electric and gas backpack leaf blowers. There are also walk-behind leaf blowers that run on gas or are battery-powered.

Handheld leaf blowers are the standard option, and they are the most widely available. The main difference comes down to what you need to use each type of electric or gas leaf blower for. For example, you wouldn’t want a backpack electric leaf blower if you have to work on a large lot or yard.

You would have to make frequent trips back to your charger with a hefty backpack leaf blower every 15-20 minutes. Even still, backpack electric leaf blowers are typically much lighter than gas models. Gas blowers are better if you need a special variety whereas electric handheld blowers are often better than gas models.

It’s impossible to avoid noise when you use a leaf blower of any kind. However, gas leaf blowers are inarguably much louder than electric blowers. Electric leaf blowers don’t usually exceed 70 decibels which is somewhat loud but still reasonable.

Gas blowers regularly exceed 90 decibels which is quite loud and can easily be heard from far away. Most of the noise that an electric leaf blower generates comes from its fan. Gas leaf blowers generate extra noise due to the engine which when paired with its fan can be too loud.

You can find electric and gas leaf blowers at a wide range of prices. However, in most cases, you will have an easier time finding an affordable electric leaf blower than a gas leaf blower. Gas leaf blowers can cost over $350 whereas high-end electric blowers rarely cost more than $200.

You may have to factor in extra money if you need to buy replacement batteries for an electric leaf blower. Replacement electric leaf blower batteries can cost as much as $70 or even more in some cases. Gas leaf blowers require reoccurring costs as well including gas and oil which can cost you up to $100 per year or more.

Electric gas blowers are more cost-effective than gas leaf blowers unless you have consistent battery problems. Not all electric leaf blower owners need to buy replacement batteries, but all gas blower owners will need to continually buy oil and gas.

The best thing about electric leaf blowers is how low-maintenance they are. You won’t have to worry about cleaning fuel lines or filters with an electric leaf blower. They are also much quieter than gas models which is nice if you have close neighbors.

Electric leaf blowers are also affordable compared to gas leaf blowers, and that is a selling point for many people. Lastly, many people choose electric leaf blowers because they are better for the environment than gas blowers.

The main downside of electric leaf blowers is that they lack the power of gas blowers. This is because electric blowers don’t have powerful engines as a gas blower does. Electric blowers are also often inconvenient if you have to cover a lot of ground because they aren’t as strong as blowers.

Another downside of electric leaf blowers is that you will have to frequently change the battery. Changing the battery every 15-20 minutes makes it hard to justify using an electric blower for professional use.

Gas leaf blowers are more powerful than electric leaf blowers, but they are also more expensive. Electric blowers are much quieter than gas leaf blowers, but they can’t cover as much ground. You can only use an electric leaf blower for 15-20 minutes before you need to change the battery.

It is harder to maintain a gas blower than an electric one because of the fuel lines. You will also need to continually add gas and oil to your gas leaf blower which can be annoying at times. Electric leaf blowers are the better option for your home, but gas blowers are the best option for professional landscapers.