Electric vs Gas Leaf Blower Cost Calculator

Overview: Comparing Electric and Gas Leaf Blower Costs

This calculator helps you compare the long‑term cost and noise impact of an electric leaf blower versus a gas‑powered blower. By entering purchase prices, energy or fuel use, maintenance costs, and how many hours you run the blower each year, you get an estimate of annual cost for each option and the difference in sound levels.

The goal is not to tell you that one type of blower is always better, but to put numbers around trade‑offs such as operating cost, convenience, and neighborhood noise. Homeowners, property managers, and lawn care professionals can all use the tool to see how different usage patterns and local energy prices affect the choice between electric and gas equipment.

How the Calculator Works

The tool treats each leaf blower as an upfront purchase that you use for a chosen number of years. It spreads (amortizes) the purchase price across those years and then adds yearly operating expenses such as electricity, gasoline, and maintenance. That gives an estimated annual cost for each blower, plus a comparison of noise levels in decibels (dB).

At a high level, the annual cost for each blower follows this structure:

where:

• T = annual total cost for the blower
• P = purchase price
• Y = years of ownership
• O = annual operating cost

The operating cost is calculated differently for electric and gas models:

• Electric blower annual operating cost = (power draw in kW × hours per year × electricity rate per kWh) + annual maintenance
• Gas blower annual operating cost = (fuel use in gallons per hour × hours per year × gasoline price per gallon) + annual maintenance

The calculator then reports annual cost for each blower, the cost difference, and the difference between the two noise levels you enter.

How to Enter Your Leaf Blower Details

Each input in the form corresponds to a real‑world value you can usually find on a label, in the owner’s manual, or on a product page. Use your best estimates if you do not have exact numbers.

• Electric blower price ($): The purchase price of the electric blower, including taxes if you want them reflected in the cost. If you already own the blower, you can use what you paid or what a similar replacement would cost.
• Electric power draw (kW): The power rating of the electric model. Corded units are often labeled in amps (A). To approximate kilowatts, multiply amps by volts and divide by 1,000. For example, a 12 A blower at 120 V uses about 1.44 kW. Battery tools often list watts directly; divide by 1,000 to convert to kW.
• Electricity rate ($/kWh): Your cost per kilowatt‑hour from your utility bill. Many U.S. households pay around $0.12–$0.25 per kWh, but local rates vary widely.
• Electric annual maintenance ($): Yearly upkeep for the electric blower, such as replacement extension cords, occasional service, or part replacements. Many plug‑in models have low maintenance costs, but cordless units may need new batteries after several years, which you can average into a yearly estimate.
• Gas blower price ($): Purchase price of the gas blower, again including taxes or other upfront charges if you choose.
• Fuel use (gal/hour): How many gallons of gasoline the blower consumes per hour. Manufacturer specifications or reviews sometimes list fuel consumption; otherwise, you can estimate based on your refueling pattern (for example, filling a 0.5 gallon tank after roughly an hour of heavy use implies about 0.5 gal/hour).
• Gasoline price ($/gal): Your local price per gallon of gasoline. Prices change often, so you may want to update this value periodically.
• Gas annual maintenance ($): Typical yearly cost to keep the gas blower running, including spark plugs, filters, oil for two‑stroke mixes, tune‑ups, and any repairs.
• Hours used per year: Estimated total runtime for the blower each year. For example, using it 1 hour per week for 10 weeks in the fall is roughly 10 hours per year; 2 hours per week for 20 weeks is 40 hours per year.
• Years of ownership: How long you expect to keep the blower before replacing it. Many users find 5–8 years realistic for residential equipment if maintained reasonably well.
• Electric noise level (dB) and Gas noise level (dB): Typical sound levels for each blower measured in decibels. Product specifications or independent tests sometimes list these values. If not, you can use typical ranges from the table below or a smartphone sound level app as a rough guide.

Typical Costs, Power Use, and Noise Levels

Actual numbers vary by brand, model, and how you use the tool, but the ranges below can help you choose realistic inputs for the calculator.

These ranges are only guidelines. Professional‑grade gas blowers may cost more and consume more fuel, while compact cordless models may have lower power draw but also shorter runtime per charge.

Worked Example: Electric vs Gas for a Typical Yard

Consider a homeowner who uses a blower for fall cleanup and occasional spring work, running it about 40 hours per year. They are choosing between an electric model and a comparable gas model.

Electric blower:

• Price: $120
• Power draw: 1.2 kW
• Electricity rate: $0.15 per kWh
• Annual maintenance: $10
• Hours per year: 40
• Years of ownership: 5

Annual electricity use is 1.2 kW × 40 hours = 48 kWh. At $0.15 per kWh, electricity costs 48 × 0.15 = $7.20 per year. Adding $10 of maintenance gives operating cost of $17.20 per year. Spreading the $120 purchase price over 5 years adds $24 per year, for a total annual cost of about $41.20.

Gas blower:

• Price: $200
• Fuel use: 0.5 gallons per hour
• Gasoline price: $3.80 per gallon
• Annual maintenance: $25
• Hours per year: 40
• Years of ownership: 5

Annual fuel use is 0.5 gal/hour × 40 hours = 20 gallons. At $3.80 per gallon, fuel costs 20 × 3.80 = $76 per year. Adding $25 of maintenance gives operating cost of $101 per year. Spreading the $200 purchase price over 5 years adds $40 per year, for a total annual cost of about $141.

In this scenario, the electric blower costs roughly $41 per year while the gas blower costs about $141 per year, a difference of around $100 annually. Over five years that is roughly $500 in savings, not counting any changes in energy prices.

If the electric blower operates at about 70 dB and the gas blower at 95 dB, the 25 dB difference is substantial. Each increase of roughly 10 dB is often perceived as about twice as loud, so a 25 dB gap can make the gas unit sound many times louder to neighbors and anyone nearby.

Interpreting the Results

When you run the calculator, you will see annualized cost estimates for both your electric and gas blowers, along with a cost difference and a noise difference. These outputs are intended as decision‑support figures rather than precise predictions.

• Annual cost for each blower: This combines a share of the purchase price with yearly operating expenses. A lower value indicates a cheaper long‑term option under the assumptions you entered.
• Cost difference: A positive number in favor of the electric blower suggests it is cheaper to operate over the ownership period; a positive number in favor of the gas blower suggests the opposite.
• Noise difference (dB): This is simply the gas noise level minus the electric noise level (or vice versa, depending on how the result is displayed). A larger positive number means one blower is significantly louder.

If the costs look surprisingly close, try adjusting hours per year or fuel and electricity prices to explore different scenarios. Heavy usage and higher fuel costs usually widen the advantage for electric models, while very light usage or extremely low gasoline prices can make the difference smaller.

Noise Considerations and Local Regulations

Leaf blowers are a common source of neighborhood sound complaints. Gas units often produce high‑pitched engine noise and exhaust note, while electric models tend to have a quieter motor and more of a rushing‑air sound. Typical gas blowers are rated between 85 and 105 dB at the operator’s position, whereas many electric units fall in the 60 to 80 dB range.

Decibels use a logarithmic scale. A change of about 10 dB usually feels like a doubling or halving of loudness to the human ear. That means a blower at 95 dB can sound several times louder than one at 75 dB, even though the numbers do not look dramatically different. This is why municipalities sometimes limit blower noise levels or restrict gas blower use during certain hours.

The calculator’s noise fields allow you to plug in manufacturer ratings or your own measurements so you can see the size of the gap. Remember that actual sound levels depend on distance, obstacles, and whether you are measuring at the operator’s ear or at a property line. If you are concerned about neighborhood peace or compliance with a local ordinance, favor conservative (higher) dB estimates for gas models and compare them against code requirements.

When Electric Leaf Blowers Make More Sense

Electric blowers often work best in situations where lower noise, lower operating cost, and light to moderate duty cycles are important. Common examples include:

• Small to medium‑sized residential yards
• Noise‑sensitive neighborhoods, condos, and townhome communities
• Users who prefer push‑button starting and minimal maintenance
• Regions with relatively high gasoline prices or moderate electricity rates

Corded blowers provide continuous runtime as long as an outlet is available, while cordless models trade unlimited runtime for mobility and convenience. For quick cleanups of driveways, patios, and decks, an electric unit is often sufficient and noticeably easier on the ears.

When Gas Leaf Blowers Still Have an Edge

Despite higher running costs and louder operation, gas blowers still appeal to users with demanding workloads or limited access to power outlets. They can be a better fit when:

• You maintain large properties or multiple yards
• You need long, continuous runtime without stopping to recharge batteries
• You work in areas without easy access to electrical outlets
• You require maximum blowing power for wet leaves or heavy debris

For commercial crews, the time saved by high‑power gas units may outweigh the added fuel and maintenance costs, especially if equipment is run many hours per day. The calculator lets you adjust hours per year upward and immediately see how that affects long‑term expenses.

Assumptions and Limitations

Like any planning tool, this calculator relies on simplifying assumptions. Understanding them will help you interpret results appropriately.

• Straight‑line purchase amortization: The tool spreads purchase price evenly across the years of ownership. It does not account for changes in resale value, accelerated wear, or major repair events in later years.
• Constant annual usage: Hours per year are treated as roughly the same every year. Actual use may fluctuate with weather, landscaping changes, or how often you hire outside help.
• Stable energy prices: Electricity and gasoline prices are assumed constant at the values you enter. In reality, both can change significantly over time. You can test different price scenarios by rerunning the calculation with updated values.
• Maintenance averaged per year: Occasional large expenses (such as a new battery pack or engine repair) are averaged into an annual maintenance estimate. The tool does not schedule these expenses in specific years.
• Exclusions: The outputs do not include environmental costs, health impacts of exhaust, taxes or incentives for electric equipment, the cost of ear protection, or the value of your time spent maintaining the tool.
• Approximate noise figures: Noise levels depend on measurement distance, background sound, and surroundings (buildings, trees, fences). Use the dB numbers as relative comparisons rather than exact predictions for a specific spot on your property.

For more precise budgeting, pair the calculator with your actual utility bills, fuel receipts, and maintenance history over a season or two, then refine the inputs to better match your experience.

Data Sources and Practical Use

Typical energy prices and usage ranges referenced here are based on publicly available data from utility regulators, government energy information agencies, and manufacturer specifications for residential and light commercial blowers. Actual values for your situation may differ. Always check current local electricity and gasoline prices and, when possible, refer to the technical documentation for your specific tools.

Treat the results as estimates to inform your choice between electric and gas leaf blowers, not as guaranteed costs. The strongest use of the calculator is comparative: you can see how sensitive your decision is to assumptions about hours of use, energy prices, and maintenance, then decide which blower aligns best with your budget, noise tolerance, and yard size.