A leaf blower can be a great tool for clearing a yard of leaves and debris. On average, most homeowners spend between $80 and $420 for a leaf blower.
Electric handheld blowers are the cheapest choice, but they’re also the least powerful. Gas models are typically designed for professionals and are the most powerful, as well as the most expensive.
Our pricing guide will show you what a fair leaf blower price looks like for the average homeowner. Your actual cost will depend on factors such as the type of leaf blower you choose, its performance power, and its manufacturer.
Cost by Type
The type of leaf blower you buy will have a significant impact on your total costs. Leaf blowers are either gas-powered, battery-powered, or electric, and each has its own pros and cons. Gas models are more costly than others, as they tend to have the highest horsepower.
See the table below for the average cost of each type of leaf blower:
| Type | Average Cost |
| Corded-electric | $80 – $180 |
| Battery | $130 – $200 |
| Gas | $250 – $425 |
Corded-electric
Corded-electric leaf blowers run on electricity from a wall outlet, so there’s no need for fuel or charging. They’re the most affordable and common pick for quick yard cleanups. They can cost as low as $20, depending on the model.
See our article, Best Electric Leaf Blowers, to pick some of the best electric leaf blowers.
Battery
Battery-powered leaf blowers use rechargeable batteries, so you can move around freely without a cord. They are environmentally friendly, work well for homes without an outdoor outlet, and are easy to grab for quick cleanups.
Pro Tip: When shopping for your battery leaf blower, pay close attention to whether the lithium-ion battery and charger are included. Batteries are expensive and may run up your bill. If you already own battery tools from the same brand, you may be able to use the same battery and save money by buying the blower alone.
Here are some of the top battery-powered leaf blowers: Best Cordless Leaf Blowers
Gas
Gas leaf blowers are popular for their strong power, which makes them ideal for large yards or properties with many trees. They can easily move leaves on slopes or over long distances. Top models can cost as much as $2,400.
See Related: Best Gas Leaf Blowers
Cost by Power
A leaf blower’s power will significantly impact its price. If you’re shopping for a leaf blower with a high CFM and mph, you can expect to pay more than the average price. The higher the leaf blower’s performance, the higher your receipt will read.
Mph
Mph is short for miles per hour. It measures how fast the air passes through the leaf blower tube. If your leaf blower operates at 150 mph, that means the airflow moves at a speed of 150 miles per hour.
Here are the average costs of leaf blowers of various speeds (in terms of mph):
| Maximum Air Speed (in mph) | Average Cost |
| 51 – 100 | $80 – $160 |
| 101 – 150 | $90 – $430 |
| 151 – 200 | $150 – $440 |
| 201 – 250 | $235 – $650 |
CFM
CFM stands for cubic feet per minute. It measures how much air passes through the leaf blower tube. Mph measures airspeed, and CFM measures air volume. If your leaf blower has a 450 CFM, that means 450 cubic feet of air travel through the leaf blower per minute.
The table below shows the average leaf blower costs based on the most common air volumes.
| Maximum Air Volume (in CFM) | Average Cost |
| 0 – 100 | $70 – $160 |
| 301 – 400 | $90 – $280 |
| 601 – 700 | $170 – $340 |
| 701 – 800 | $180 – $770 |
Cost by Design Type
Leaf blowers come in three main designs: handheld, backpack, and walk-behind. Here’s what most homeowners spend on each of the different types of designs:
- Handheld blowers: $100 – $725
- Backpack blowers: $260 – $1,070
- Walk-behind blowers: $460 – $1,680
Handheld models, especially electric ones, are affordable, but they usually won’t deliver much power. They are used for quick jobs, like clearing leaves off a patio or driveway. Backpack blowers cost more but give you more power and are ideal for larger yards. Walk-behind models are the most powerful, but they’re heavy, expensive, and mainly used by pros.
DIY vs. Professional Cost
DIY leaf removal is simple and saves you money. If you plan to use a blower often, DIY can save you money over time. Professional costs can add up, even if each visit seems affordable.
For large yards or if you’re not comfortable using the tools, hiring a pro is the better choice. On average, expect to pay around $107 to $435 for professional leaf removal. When you hire a professional, you won’t sweat or risk a backache.
Other Factors That Affect Cost
The type of leaf blower you buy won’t be the only factor affecting cost. You can expect your bill to rise or fall for many reasons. The most common factors are as follows:
Brand
You can expect to pay more for your leaf blower if you buy from a reputable company.
Companies like Echo, Ego, and Worx make the best leaf blowers. Some manufacturers will even include a warranty with their leaf blowers.
However, buying from companies you trust will often lead to a more expensive leaf blower.
Other common leaf blower brands include:
- CRAFTSMAN
- RYOBI
- STIHL
- Husqvarna
- Makita
- Poulan Pro
- Sun Joe
- Toro
- Troy-Bilt
- Greenworks
- Dewalt
Weight
Operating a heavy leaf blower can lead to tired muscles. As a result, your work progress may slow down. Some leaf blowers have a lightweight design to help lessen user fatigue and increase productivity. A lightweight design may lead to an increase in price.
Sound
Leaf blowers are noisy tools, especially gas leaf blowers. Some gas leaf blowers are so noisy that they are illegal to use in some areas. Check your leaf blower’s decibel rating (dB) to see how loud it is. Quiet leaf blowers usually cost more than noisy ones
Comfort
It’s normal to experience some discomfort when operating a leaf blower. You may experience wrist pain or find the straps of a backpack leaf blower to be uncomfortable. Some manufacturers make their leaf blowers with comfortable accessories, such as:
- Ergonomic handle for user comfort
- Padded straps on backpack models
- Shoulder strap in handheld leaf blowers
Leaf blowers with extra comfort features in their design will usually cost more than models without them.
Vacuum Kit
Some leaf blowers include a vacuum kit, which can increase the price. Leaf blower vacs will suck up the leaves and store them in a leaf-collecting bag. Once the bag is full, you can empty it into your compost pile or a trash bag. Most homeowners spend around $155 to purchase a leaf blower with a vacuum kit.
Mulcher
Most leaf blowers with a vacuum kit also have a built-in mulcher. Leaf blowers with a mulcher will typically cost more than leaf blowers without one. A mulcher shreds the leaves into a fine mulch, lowering the number of bags you need to store the leaves. On average, leaf blowers with mulching capability cost around $170.
Another factor that will increase total costs is a high mulch ratio. The mulch ratio measures how many bags of leaves the leaf vacuum can shred down to one bag. For example, a leaf blower vacuum with a 16:1 mulch ratio can reduce 16 bags of leaves to one bag of shredded leaves.
Accessories
Some leaf blowers feature built-in accessories that help provide a smooth operation. Manufacturers might increase their prices on leaf blowers that have built-in features, such as:
- The turbo button leaf blower exerts maximum power at the click of a button
- Variable speed throttle allows you to adjust the leaf blower’s airflow
- Cruise control allows you to maintain the preferred level of airflow
FAQ
The answer depends on your leaf removal project’s size and how much power you feel comfortable handling. Leaf blowers with less than 700 CFM are best for homeowners.
• 200–400 CFM – Best for small yards and light cleanup.
• 400–700 CFM – Good for larger yards with heavy leaf fall.
• Over 700 CFM – For professional/commercial use only.
If you opt for a leaf blower with more than 700 CFM, ensure you know how to operate the tool safely. Otherwise, call a professional.
Both mph and CFM are essential. Mph (miles per hour) tells you how fast the air moves, and CFM (cubic feet per minute) shows how much air moves. A blower with high mph but low CFM will push air quickly, but not in enough volume to move a lot of leaves. The best choice is a blower with a good balance of both.
Way to Clean, Safe Leaf Removal
A leaf blower can make fall cleanup fast and easy. It can also save you money if leaf removal costs are high in your area. If your yard is too big or the cleanup feels too much work, it’s best to hire a professional to do it for you.
Call up a leaf removal pro near you so you can take back time and give your body a rest. A LawnStarter pro can mow the lawn, trim bushes, and care for all your landscaping needs. You’ll get a tidy yard without spending your weekend doing it yourself.
Read More:
- What to Expect When You Hire a Leaf Removal Service
- How to Use a Leaf Blower (Step-by-Step Guide)
- Is It Better to Rake or Mulch Leaves?
Main Image: Person blowing autumn leaves off a lawn. Image Credit: PHOTOLIFESTYLE / Adobe Stock
