How to Choose a Leaf Blower

Key takeaways: To choose a leaf blower, consider what you’ll clear, how long you’ll use it and whether you want to collect the leaves. A handheld is a good starting point for quick home clean-ups; for longer sessions or paid work, compare comfort, battery or fuel capacity and warranty coverage. Check air speed and air volume together, and try the blower with your chosen battery fitted before buying.A leaf blower can save plenty of sweeping after mowing or clearing fallen leaves. The trick is buying enough capability for your regular clean-up without paying for a setup you won’t use.

This guide explains the specs worth checking, the choices between petrol and battery, and which Bushranger models to shortlist.

Which leaf blower suits your clean-up?

What should you buy for dry leaves and grass clippings?

For short clean-ups on paths, driveways and patios, start with a handheld blower. It’s convenient to pick up after mowing and manoeuvre around furniture and garden edges.

For home battery use, shortlist our 36V 9401 and 48V B800. If you already own compatible Bushranger batteries, check that range first. You may be able to use your existing battery and charger.

Buying your first battery tool? Compare the full setup price. A blower advertised as “skin only” needs a battery and charger purchased separately.

What should you look for when clearing damp leaves?

Damp leaves can cling to paving or become caught in grass, so give clearing performance more weight in your decision. Check both air speed and air volume rather than choosing from the highest speed figure alone.

If wet leaf litter is your main reason for buying, ask your dealer to show you how your shortlisted model handles it. Tell them whether you’re clearing paving, lawn or a build-up around garden edges.

Where practical, clear leaves before rain or before they become packed down. Regular, lighter clean-ups can help you avoid tackling one heavy pile.

Which features help around gravel and mulch?

You need to move the leaves while keeping the surface underneath in place. Choose adjustable airflow, preferably with a variable-speed trigger you can comfortably control.

Start at a low setting and increase it only as needed. Try the grip and trigger before buying, especially if you’ll spend time directing air around plants, gravel paths or loose mulch.

Do you need to collect the leaves?

If bagging leaves is part of the job, choose a model with a vacuum function from the outset. Check what equipment is included and which material the manual allows it to collect.

Our residential BRV2701 includes vacuum equipment and a metal mulching blade. The battery models compared below are listed as blowers, not blower-vacs.

Before using any blower, check for loose objects and keep people and pets clear. Follow the manual’s protective-equipment advice, avoid directing dust towards others and check local operating restrictions.

Which leaf blower specs matter?

Air speed vs air volume: what do they tell you?

These figures describe different parts of the airflow. Reading them together gives you a better basis for comparing models.

Air speed measures how fast the air moves, usually in kilometres per hour. It helps describe the concentrated blast available to loosen leaves and debris.

Air volume measures how much air the blower moves, usually in cubic metres per hour or per minute. It helps describe the amount of air available to carry loose material across an area.

For stuck-down leaves, pay attention to air speed as well as overall airflow. For lots of loose leaves or clippings, give air volume a close look. The nozzle, surface and whether the material is wet or dry will also affect how well it clears.

Our BRV2701 and BR2501 both list an air speed of 252 km/h and their air volumes are 720 m³/h and 450 m³/h respectively. Looking at both figures reveals a difference you’d miss by comparing speed alone.

Before comparing specifications:

• Use matching units. Multiply m³/min by 60 to get m³/h.
• Check whether air speed is quoted at normal output or turbo.
• Check nozzle details and test methods where available.

How heavy will it be when you use it?

You’ll carry the battery or fuel along with the blower, so check the ready-to-use weight before deciding.

For example, our 82B22 handheld weighs 2.5 kg without a battery. Add the listed 3.8 kg 82V80 battery and the calculated tool-and-battery weight is 6.3 kg.

Ask to hold the blower with your chosen battery fitted. Check the balance, trigger reach and how it feels in a working position. For petrol models, allow for fuel on top of the quoted dry weight.

Will the battery last long enough?

You want to finish your usual clean-up without stopping to recharge.

For short home clean-ups, aim for a setup that completes the work on one charge. For repeated jobs, work out whether you’ll need spare batteries and when you can charge them.

When checking an “up to” runtime claim, look at the battery size, number of batteries and speed setting used. That helps you judge whether the claim reflects how you’ll use the blower.

Keep in mind that a larger battery adds weight as well as capacity, so try it on the tool before making your final decision.

For petrol blowers, check fuel consumption where available. You’ll need that information, as well as tank capacity, to estimate runtime.

Petrol vs battery powered blowers: which suits you?

When should you choose a battery powered blower?

Battery power is worth shortlisting for regular home clean-ups, particularly if you already own compatible tools. There’s no petrol to store or mix, and you can plan charging around your usual mowing and gardening routine.

Include the battery, charger and any spares in your budget. For paid work, check commercial warranty coverage before comparing prices - our listed 82V blowers have commercial warranties.

A “cordless blower” is battery powered. If you’re shopping for an electric leaf blower, check whether it uses a battery or needs a mains lead.

When should you choose a petrol blower?

Petrol is worth considering when you work away from charging access or prefer to refuel between jobs.

Allow for engine servicing, safe fuel storage and the starting steps in the manual. For either power source, compare noise ratings where available and check local operating restrictions.

Two-stroke or four-stroke?

The main difference you’ll notice as an owner is how you handle fuel and oil.

Two-stroke blowers use a petrol-and-oil mixture prepared to the ratio in the manual. Our BRV2701 is a residential option, while the BR341, BR8600 and BR-9000 have commercial warranties.

The four-stroke BR2501 uses unleaded petrol, with engine oil kept separately. It’s worth considering for home use if you’d rather avoid mixing fuel. You’ll still need oil checks and regular servicing.

Which battery platform: 36V, 48V or 82V?

Your existing batteries and the type of use are useful starting points. Our 36V is aimed at home users, the 48V at homeowners, and the 82V blowers at larger landowners and professionals.

Then compare the individual blower’s airflow, weight and runtime. Keep in mind that voltage identifies the battery platform; it won’t tell you the whole story about performance.

Amp-hours describe battery charge capacity, while watt-hours describe stored energy. Check runtime with the battery you plan to buy, and confirm the exact tool, battery and charger combination. Don’t assume batteries fit across the different voltage ranges.

Handheld vs backpack blowers: which should you choose?

When is a handheld the better fit?

For quick, stop-start clean-ups, a handheld is a practical starting point. You can pick it up for a small area and move around paths, furniture and garden edges.

Check the balance with the battery fitted or fuel weight allowed for, as that gives you a better idea of the actual weight you’ll be lugging around during the work. 

When is a backpack worth considering?

For longer clearing sessions, a backpack lets the harness carry the main unit while you direct the tube. 

Try putting it on, taking it off and lifting it for transport. Comfort depends on the fit and how you’ll use it, so make this a hands-on part of the buying decision.

Which Bushranger blower should you choose?

Use these starting points to build your shortlist, then compare the setup you’ll actually buy:

• Home battery use: compare the 36V 9401 and 48V B800 blowers, factoring in the battery and charger cost.
• Commercial battery use: compare the 82V B22 handheld and 82V B26 backpack with your chosen batteries fitted.
• Home petrol use: compare the four-stroke BR2501 and two-stroke BRV2701. Shortlist the BRV2701 if leaf collection is essential.
• Commercial petrol use: compare the BR341 handheld with the BR8600 and BR-9000 backpacks.

Browse our blower range, then use the tables below to narrow the choice.

Battery blower comparison

Let’s take a closer look at the Bushranger blower options with a spec table below. Just note that all battery blower prices below are skin only - batteries and chargers usually cost extra unless included in a separate kit.
 

Petrol blower comparison

¹ All air volumes converted to m³/h for consistency. 

Find a Bushranger dealer near you

Tell your local Bushranger dealer what you clear, how long you normally work and whether the blower is for home or paid jobs. Bring the model numbers of any batteries and chargers you already own.

Ask to handle your shortlisted blower with the battery fitted, confirm the complete price and check servicing requirements. If damp leaves are your main problem, ask whether they can show you how it handles them.

Frequently asked questions

Which leaf blower should I buy for a driveway?

For short home clean-ups involving dry leaves and fresh clippings, start with a handheld. Choose adjustable speed around gravel and include the battery and charger when comparing cordless prices.

Is air speed or air volume more important?

Read both together. Air speed describes how fast the air moves, while air volume describes how much air moves. Check the nozzle and test details where available, then consider the material you’ll clear.

What should I look for when clearing damp leaves?

Compare air speed and air volume, then ask to see how the blower handles similar material. Tell the dealer whether the leaves are on paving, caught in grass or packed into a pile.

Should I buy a petrol or battery blower?

Choose battery if charging and compatible tools fit your routine. Consider petrol if refuelling is more practical. Compare full purchase cost, working weight, maintenance and warranty coverage.

Should I choose 36V, 48V or 82V?

For the models in this guide, start with 36V or 48V for home use and 82V when commercial warranty coverage is needed. Compare the individual model’s airflow, weight and runtime before choosing.

When should I choose a backpack blower?

Try a backpack for longer clean-ups. Check its fit and controls with the intended batteries fitted or fuel weight accounted for. For quick, stop-start work, begin with a handheld.

Do the battery blower prices include batteries and chargers?

The prices shown here are skin only. Batteries and chargers are additional unless the kit you choose specifically includes them.