Leaf blower vs. electric lawn mower (corded): running cost
A leaf blower is cheaper to run: about $3 a year versus $6 for an electric lawn mower (corded) at typical use and 17.99¢/kWh, a $3 difference.
| Leaf blower | Electric lawn mower (corded) | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 1,200 W | 1,400 W |
| Watt range | 300–1,500 W | 1,000–1,600 W |
| Typical use | 30 minutes a day, 1 days a week for 6 months a year | 45 minutes a day, 1 days a week for 7 months a year |
| Energy per year | 16 kWh | 32 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 22¢ | 25¢ |
| Cost per day | 1.5¢ | 2.7¢ |
| Cost per month | $0.47 | $0.82 |
| Cost per year | $3 | $6 |
| Per year in Hawaii (43.51¢) | $7 | $14 |
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What drives the difference
- Leaf blower: Corded blowers draw 7-12 A (about 900-1,450 W); battery blowers use about 0.2-0.4 kWh per recharge.
- Electric lawn mower (corded): Corded mowers draw 10-13 A (about 1,200-1,500 W) and mowing a quarter-acre takes about 45 minutes, about 1 kWh, or roughly 30 kWh a season.
Ways to cut either cost
Less runtime at lower power than corded models for typical yards.
See options on AmazonSimilar energy use without a cord; charging costs a few dollars a year.
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Frequently asked questions
Which costs more to run, a leaf blower or an electric lawn mower (corded)?
At typical use and the U.S. average rate (17.99¢/kWh), an electric lawn mower (corded) costs about $6 a year versus $3 for a leaf blower. That's $3 more, or 2.0× as much.
How many watts do leaf blower and electric lawn mower (corded) use?
A leaf blower typically draws 1,200 W (range 300–1,500 W). An electric lawn mower (corded) draws 1,400 W (range 1,000–1,600 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.