Leaf blower vs. string trimmer: running cost
A string trimmer is cheaper to run: about $1 a year versus $3 for a leaf blower at typical use and 17.99¢/kWh, a $1 difference.
| Leaf blower | String trimmer | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 1,200 W | 500 W |
| Watt range | 300–1,500 W | 200–1,000 W |
| Typical use | 30 minutes a day, 1 days a week for 6 months a year | 30 minutes a day, 1 days a week for 7 months a year |
| Energy per year | 16 kWh | 8 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 22¢ | 9.0¢ |
| Cost per day | 1.5¢ | 0.6¢ |
| Cost per month | $0.47 | $0.20 |
| Cost per year | $3 | $1 |
| Per year in Hawaii (43.51¢) | $7 | $3 |
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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.
- String trimmer: Corded trimmers draw 3.5-8 A (400-1,000 W); battery trimmers use about 0.1-0.2 kWh per charge.
Ways to cut either cost
Battery string trimmer
Only draws energy to recharge; no cord.
See options on Amazon Battery leaf blower
Less runtime at lower power than corded models for typical yards.
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Frequently asked questions
Which costs more to run, a leaf blower or a string trimmer?
At typical use and the U.S. average rate (17.99¢/kWh), a leaf blower costs about $3 a year versus $1 for a string trimmer. That's $1 more, or 2.1× as much.
How many watts do leaf blower and string trimmer use?
A leaf blower typically draws 1,200 W (range 300–1,500 W). A string trimmer draws 500 W (range 200–1,000 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.