When it comes to petrol vs electric leaf blowers, it isn’t always the easiest decision to make. Here, I’ll cover the pros and cons of your options and which machine is best for what.
So, before you get in too deep with all the extra features and functions of a leaf blower, let’s make sure that you get the basic foundation right. You can use this as a guide to deciding between buying an electric vs petrol leaf blower, and then head over to this article to narrow down your choices even further.
Contents (Jump to Topic)
Petrol-Powered Leaf Blower Overview (Pros & Cons)
A petrol-powered leaf blower is generally a more powerful blower, with the petrol engine delivering a stronger airflow. And, because they have more blowing power, they are ideal for larger properties and commercial use.
There are two main types of petrol-powered leaf blowers, handheld petrol leaf blowers, and backpack leaf blowers. I think you can guess the main difference in design between the two.
Most modern petrol blowers are now fitted with more eco-friendly four-stroke engines. However, there are still two-stroke engine models on the market. In general, the small engine will feature an electric start or pull start, with some even having both.
Side note: I should point out that with the current climate of eco-friendliness at the top of the agenda, there are groups such as Campaign 2025 working to have petrol leaf-blowers banned completely in the UK, due to how much fuel they use.
Handheld leaf blowers tend to have smaller petrol engines making them easier to handle. That said, when compared to a corded electric leaf blower, weight can be a problem for some people. Therefore it should always be taken into consideration before buying.
If in doubt why not consider getting one of the backpack blowers? Not only do they generally offer much more power, but they also have good maneuverability for the carrier all while taking the engine’s weight away from the arm.
Having said all that, petrol-powered leaf blowers are actually becoming less popular and have actually been banned for household use in several states. This is not just for environmental impact and noise pollution reasons either. But, because of running costs and general maintenance that small petrol engines require.
Pros
- More powerful than electric and cordless leaf blowers
- No power cord limiting movements
- Cordless, but with a much longer runtime than battery-powered leaf blowers
- Ideal for a big yard and larger areas
- Can last longer than electric blowers when maintained properly
Cons
- Create noise pollution
- Releases hazardous polluting fumes
- Generally heavier than a corded blower
- Vibrations from the engine can cause arm fatigue
- Requires small engine maintenance and servicing
- Banned in certain states
Electric Leaf Blower Overview (Pros & Cons)
Unlike petrol-powered blowers, electric leaf blowers get their power from a lighter and smaller electric motor. There are two types of electric-powered leaf blower, they are battery-powered and corded leaf blowers.
Although cordless leaf blowers offer freedom of movement, you are restricted on runtime. However, a battery-powered leaf blower is great for people that only have a small yard or patio area to clear. In comparison, you are not limited to runtime with the corded electric models. But, they do need to be plugged in via an extension cord which limits your movement.
Ok, when compared to petrol-powered leaf blowers, they are less powerful but that doesn’t mean they won’t get the job done. Yes, it’s true that they are best suited to smaller yards, but they are not to be underestimated when it comes to power.
Pros
- Environmentally friendly with no polluting fumes
- A lot quieter compared to petrol blowers
- Generally more lightweight
- Less vibration reduces arm fatigue
- A lot more user-friendly than petrol models
- Barely any maintenance
Cons
- Limited runtime with battery-powered leaf blowers
- Corded leaf blowers limit maneuverability
- Less powerful than petrol models
- Often have a shorter lifespan than petrol-powered tools
Petrol Vs Electric Leaf Blowers
Ok, it’s easy to recognize which is a petrol leaf blower vs electric leaf blower. But can you also judge what the most important differences are? Let’s look into each difference in more detail so that you can decide for yourself which type of leaf blower is the one that you need.
Efficiency
By efficiency, I mean how fast the leaf blower will finish the task on hand. In 9/10 cases, you should be using petrol-powered leaf blowers if speed and efficiency are of the essence.
This is simply because a petrol-powered blower has a whole lot more power which means moving more leaves over a larger area faster. Professional landscapers will almost exclusively use a petrol handheld blower or backpack leaf blower for this reason.
Winner: Petrol leaf blowers
Design
When it comes to design, I find it hard to give you a clear-cut answer. After all, the best design can only be judged on its purpose, so I’ll keep things general in this category.
Electric leaf blowers offer more variety in design so you are more likely to find something specific. Whereas petrol models tend to be quite simple machines – this is done on purpose to help keep the weight down.
In practice, this often means that cordless and corded electric leaf blowers are more user-friendly than petrol blowers. With that, I have to admit that in electric leaf blower vs petrol, electric has a better design.
Winner: Electric leaf blowers
Versatility
A versatile leaf blower can be used for more than just blowing leaves. It will be suitable for a range of yard sizes and areas that not only have a lawn and trees but also hedges, flowerbeds, or shrubbery. And, although a single leaf blower may not be all-encompassing, electric-powered blowers are probably more versatile when compared to petrol blowers.
Many can be used as a leaf vacuum and leaf mulcher, sometimes even a car vacuum (not that I personally recommend this). But, when compared to this, petrol-powered handheld blowers supply much more brute and power.
Winner: Electric leaf blowers
Cost
There are three aspects of cost to consider when comparing an electric leaf blower vs petrol leaf blower. The purchasing cost, maintenance cost, and running costs. You need to add them up to get a full picture.
The cost of a small corded electric leaf blower is likely to set you back around £100, the equivalent size in a petrol model is likely to be around £200, and purchasing a large petrol-powered backpack leaf blower is likely to cost over £400.
Although the price of a handheld petrol blower is usually quite similar to electric models. The big difference comes in the maintenance and running costs.
Petrol-powered blowers have considerably higher maintenance and running costs because of the engine. You are unlikely to notice the use of corded leaf blowers on your monthly electric bill and the only maintenance you might have to pay for is a new battery every 3-5 years.
Winner: Electric leaf blowers
Noise
Are electric leaf blowers quieter than petrol? It’s not surprising that they are since any petrol engine will make a whole lot more noise than the small motor on a battery-powered or corded blower.
Although I recommend that you use hearing protection with both types of blowers, your neighbors will be happier when you use an electric cordless leaf blower or even better, a corded leaf blower.
If you do have to go the petrol-powered route, try to choose a 4-cycle leaf blower since they are often quieter than two-cycle engines. But remember, noiseless does not exist with this yard tool.
Winner: Electric leaf blowers
Maintenance
As with many other yard tools, the petrol-powered version requires more attention than the electric version when it comes to maintenance. You need to take good care of the engine when you use a petrol-powered model.
Regular maintenance includes degreasing the engine, replacing the filter, adding a fuel stabilizer, draining the petrol tank for long-term storage, changing the engine oil, and more. Here’s a helpful video showing the vital maintenance checks you’ll need to be doing each year.
Whereas none of that is required with electric handheld or battery-powered models.
What you might have to do is replace the lithium-ion batteries but if you choose a high-quality battery and take care of yard tool batteries, it should last for many fall seasons.
Winner: Electric leaf blowers
Possible Concerns
In some states in the US, leaf blowers are banned and there is a concern that more cities and regions will follow suit. If you are nervous about investing in a petrol-powered leaf blower check with your local government council in the UK first.
These regulations have been put in place not only because of the polluting fumes, but also noise pollution. By far, the more environmentally-friendly option has to be electric leaf blowers.
Conclusion
I hope that you can see how different electric cordless and corded models are from petrol-powered leaf blowers. It is only the first categorization but choosing between electric and petrol leaf blowers already makes a big difference in what you can expect.
People Also Ask (FAQs)
Want a few more comparisons to help you reach your final decision on electric vs petrol leaf blowers? These FAQs might be the tiebreaker that you need.
Do electric leaf blowers work well?
Electric leaf blowers work best when used in small or medium yards or for moving in oddly shaped and tight spaces. But do your research and check the air volume and airspeed qualifications to know just how powerful the model is.
Does a leaf blower use a lot of electricity?
Electric leaf blowers won’t use up much electricity, even during the fall season. As long as you move efficiently and try to blow leaves while they are dry, you will barely notice it on your electricity bill.
Which is the quietest leaf blower?
A corded electric or battery leaf blower is the quietest option. However, there is no such thing as a completely silent leaf blower so keep wearing hearing protection and consider your neighbors.
