When the leaves start falling, there’s nothing more satisfying than clearing them with the right tool in hand—or on your back. At Greenworks, we offer both handheld and backpack leaf blowers to fit a variety of needs, whether you're tidying up a small yard or tackling a big professional job! But how do you know which type is right for you?
In this blog, we’re giving you a full picture on backpack leaf blowers vs handheld leaf blowers to help you make the best possible decision for your leaf-clearing needs. Let’s get into it!
Handheld Leaf Blowers: Light. Fast. Agile!
TYPICAL POWER RANGE: 150–800 CFM and 75–260 MPH
If your cleanup jobs are quick, your yard is on the smaller side, or you don’t have a ton of debris to manage, a handheld leaf blower might be your best bet. These blowers are:
- Lightweight and portable, making them easy to maneuver
- Ideal for smaller yards, patios, decks, and tight spaces
- Great for people who only use their blower occasionally
- Often more budget-friendly than backpack models
The Benefits of Gas vs. Battery-Powered Leaf Blowers
Another big choice to consider when buying your leaf blower is the fuel source. At Greenworks, we’re partial to a battery-powered leaf blower (of course), but here are the advantages of each:
Gas-powered blowers offer more power and longer runtime, ideal for big jobs—but they’re noisier and require more maintenance.
Battery-powered blowers are quieter, easier to maintain, and better for the environment, making them a great choice for residential use.
Backpack Leaf Blowers: Power That Goes the Distance
TYPICAL POWER RANGE: 400–1110 CFM and 150–240 MPH
If you’re working on a larger property, have frequent leaf cleanup jobs, or are a landscaping professional, then a backpack blower is worth the investment. These units are:
- Designed to run longer and stronger
- More comfortable for extended use thanks to padded straps and ergonomic design
- Better suited for clearing heavy or wet debris and tackling more demanding tasks
There are two main categories of backpack blowers:
- Standard backpack blowers for general professional use or large residential properties.
- High-performance backpack blowers are built for commercial and industrial-level tasks.
For example, the Greenworks Pro 80V Cordless Backpack Blower is considered high-performance, delivering a powerful 750 CFM at 180 MPH.
Questions to Ask Before You Buy
Whether you’re trying to decide between a backpack and handheld blower or simply figuring out what features you need most, start by asking yourself:
- How big is my yard? A small lawn may not require anything more than a handheld blower.
- What kind of cleanup am I most likely to be doing? Light leaf clearing? Wet leaves? Grass clippings? Snow? (Yes, blowers can help with light snow!)
- How often will I use it? Will the leaf blower be used for occasional weekend cleanups or daily professional use? High-powered backpack blowers are the professional choice.
- How sensitive am I to noise? Battery-powered blowers are quieter than gas-powered ones and require less maintenance.
- What’s my budget? Handheld blowers are typically more affordable.
Can You Turn Your Leaf Blower into a Vacuum?
Some handheld models come with vacuum and mulching capabilities! If you’re interested in blowing and sucking up leaves in one step, look for a leaf blower vacuum combo. Have a shop or working garage? Collect sawdust and other debris in seconds with the ultra-lightweight Greenworks Cordless Battery Shop Blower & Vacuum.
Leaf Blower Buying Cheat Sheet
Top Need |
Best Option |
|
Small yard, light debris |
Handheld blower |
|
Tight budget |
Handheld blower |
|
Longer jobs, more power |
Backpack blower |
|
Professional landscaping |
Backpack blower (Pro) |
|
Quiet operation |
Battery-powered blower |
|
Multi-function (vacuuming too) |
Handheld blower with vac |
|
Low maintenance |
|
Final Thoughts on Backpack Leaf Blowers VS Handheld Leaf Blowers
You’re Blowing in the Right Direction…
At Greenworks, we’ve got the perfect leaf blower to fit your yard, your lifestyle, and your budget. Whether you need the compact convenience of a handheld model or the heavy-duty performance of a backpack blower, we’ll help you make the right pick.
Browse our collection of portable leaf blowers and leaf blower combo kits today!
Interested in more leaf blower content? Read these:
7 Tips for Using a Leaf Blower
CFM vs. MPH for Leaf Blowers: What’s the Difference?
…and more!
Written by The Green Team, a creative arm within Greenworks Tools.
Our team of writers, designers and content creators bring a breadth of experience and a touch of fun to all things tools. With an assist from the Greenworks product teams and technology experts, we’re here to provide helpful and engaging content to make your yard (and life!) beautiful.
