Electric snow blower vs. leaf blower: running cost
A leaf blower is cheaper to run: about $3 a year versus $8 for an electric snow blower at typical use and 17.99¢/kWh, a $5 difference.
| Electric snow blower | Leaf blower | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 1,700 W | 1,200 W |
| Watt range | 500–1,800 W | 300–1,500 W |
| Typical use | 45 minutes a day, 2 days a week for 4 months a year | 30 minutes a day, 1 days a week for 6 months a year |
| Energy per year | 44 kWh | 16 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 31¢ | 22¢ |
| Cost per day | 6.6¢ | 1.5¢ |
| Cost per month | $1.99 | $0.47 |
| Cost per year | $8 | $3 |
| Per year in Hawaii (43.51¢) | $19 | $7 |
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What drives the difference
- Electric snow blower: Corded electric snow blowers draw 13-15 A (about 1,600-1,800 W); battery models use about 0.3-0.5 kWh per charge.
- Leaf blower: Corded blowers draw 7-12 A (about 900-1,450 W); battery blowers use about 0.2-0.4 kWh per recharge.
Ways to cut either cost
Less runtime at lower power than corded models for typical yards.
See options on AmazonNo cord to manage and similar energy use per clearing.
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Frequently asked questions
Which costs more to run, an electric snow blower or a leaf blower?
At typical use and the U.S. average rate (17.99¢/kWh), an electric snow blower costs about $8 a year versus $3 for a leaf blower. That's $5 more, or 2.8× as much.
How many watts do electric snow blower and leaf blower use?
An electric snow blower typically draws 1,700 W (range 500–1,800 W). A leaf blower draws 1,200 W (range 300–1,500 W). Watts alone don't decide cost. Hours of use, cycling and standby matter just as much.
Rates: EIA, 12 months ending 2026-07. Methodology.