The 8 Best Backpack Blowers
Updated by · How we research
Eight gas and battery backpack blowers compared on blowing force, noise, weight and run time. The Husqvarna 150BT is the pick for most big yards. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
A backpack blower's biggest number is often its least honest one: makers quote airflow inside the fan housing, where it runs far higher than at the nozzle you aim. Blowing force, rated in newtons, is the fairer yardstick. These machines suit half-acre lots, wooded yards and lawn crews, where a handheld would take all afternoon and tire the arm.
Editor's Notes
October 26, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
The Husqvarna 150BT keeps the top spot, and the numbers back it: Husqvarna rates its nozzle speed at about 270 miles per hour and adds cruise control at a homeowner price. Little else survived. The Makita 4-Stroke, Echo PB-770T, DeWalt Lithium Ion and Poulan Pro PR48BT can no longer be bought new, while the old GreenWorks 80V gave way to a stronger Greenworks 80V 800 CFM. We dropped the Husqvarna 350BT because the Husqvarna 360BT does the same job with more force.
This version covers gas and battery backpacks for homeowners and small crews. The Ego Power+ LB6003 is the current kit of the Ego we listed before, the Greenworks 40V 660 CFM is here for anyone who can't carry a gas unit, and the HTK 63CC serves buyers who want gas power on a small budget.
Husqvarna's spec pages carried most of the weight here, because they give blowing force in newtons and noise at the operator's ear rather than just a peak airflow figure. We set those against a poll of lawn care pros, the other makers' published ratings and the federal recall list, which shows recent recalls on Echo and Stihl models that aren't on this list.
Earlier notes
November 22, 2020, by Alexander Rennie:
We removed the RedMax EBZ8500 because of its extremely high price, and the fact that we already included the Husqvarna 580BTS. The Husqvarna 580BTS has nearly the same technical specifications as the RedMax EBZ8500, but is 5 pounds lighter, and priced lower.
We added another heavy-duty blower to our list, the Echo PB-770T. This model would be great for a professional landscaper, or a homeowner who just has a lot of property to cover. Its heavy weight and high CFM output are probably overkill for the average homeowner though.
Leaf blowers are notoriously noisy machines, and even the quieter models can create quite a racket. To prevent hearing loss over time, you should always wear proper ear protection when operating your leaf blower.
Speaking of noise, be sure to check with your local restrictions regarding leaf blower operation. Many cities across the country have recently passed legislation limiting the time leaf blowers are allowed to operate, and some have even banned gas-powered leaf blowers altogether. If you find yourself in one of these areas, you may want to consider one of these cordless blowers.
Backpack blowers are great for larger properties and jobs that require a significant amount of time, but if you don’t require one, you might want to consider this broader variety of leaf blowers. This collection includes several handheld models, with both gas and battery-powered options.
April 16, 2019, by Christopher Thomas:
If you've got a rather large property to clear of leaves and other yard waste, you may want to consider a backpack blower. They're a bit easier to wield and usually more powerful than their handheld relatives, though they're also more expensive. Husqvarna makes a handful of excellent options, ranging from a relatively light-duty model for home users, through a mid-range option that's exceptionally versatile, to a high-end blower that's more powerful and more expensive than just about all the rest. The Poulan is one of the most affordable, and if it won't see incredibly frequent use, it may be all you need to get the job done without hurting your shoulders and back. Echo and RedMax each make a great unit, and they're both quite powerful, and they come at middle-of-the-road prices. If you're okay with shelling out a little but more cash for a fantastic tool, it's hard to argue with the Makita. It uses a 4-cycle engine that operates flawlessly no matter what angle it's at or what direction its moving, and one tank of gas lasts for quite a long time.
If the noise level and fumes of an internal combustion engine are a turn-off for you or your neighbors, don't worry, as there are a few excellent battery-powered options. The GreenWorks uses an 80-volt power source and performs almost as well as a gas model, but not quite. DeWalt's is a little bit different than other electric models, as it has two separate battery ports. You can either keep both connected and switch to the full side when one empties, or you can use one while the other is still charging, thus reducing weight. But the Ego Power+ may be the best battery-powered option, partially because the rest of the tools that share its power pack are also of very high quality. If you decide to invest in a range of incredibly useful yard tools that don't spit out smelly exhaust or hurt your ears, it may be the way to go.
Special Honors
Stihl BR 800 C-E Magnum Stihl's biggest backpack blower is a favorite of landscape crews and is sold through Stihl dealers, who also handle service. It pairs a large engine with a push-button easy start. Stihl recalled a serial range of BR 800 units in 2025 because the fan wheel can break, so check the serial number on any used one. stihlusa.com
Echo PB-9010T Lawn care pros polled by Your Green Pal ranked this Echo first among commercial backpack blowers for raw power. It's a dealer-sold machine for crews clearing big properties every day, heavier and pricier than homeowner models. echo-usa.com
Blowing Force Beats The Biggest Airflow Number
An offset handle or a tube-mounted throttle with cruise control saves the forearm.
Airflow, in cubic feet per minute, says how much air moves. Air speed, in miles per hour, says how hard it hits, which is what lifts wet, matted leaves. Blowing force, rated in newtons, combines the two, and it's the fairest way to compare machines. Husqvarna publishes it: the Husqvarna 150BT is rated at 22 newtons, the Husqvarna 360BT at 30 and the commercial Husqvarna 580BTS at 47.
Watch where airflow is measured. Husqvarna lists 765 cubic feet per minute for the 150BT inside the fan housing but 452 at the round nozzle, the air you actually aim. Many makers quote only the housing figure, and some budget brands print numbers that no small engine could reach: one 63 cc import claims 1,110 cubic feet per minute, about what the biggest dealer-sold commercial blowers manage. Treat any figure without a measuring point as a sales number.
Comfort matters as much as power over an hour. A gas backpack weighs about 22 to 27 pounds before fuel, so set the hip belt to carry the load and the shoulder straps to steady it. An offset handle or a tube-mounted throttle with cruise control saves the forearm. Battery backpacks run about 9 to 11 pounds.
Gas, Battery Or A Commercial Dealer Model
Two-stroke gas blowers still win on force and run as long as there's fuel in the can. Battery blowers start with a button, need no fuel mix and are far quieter: Ego claims 64 decibels for its backpack, while Husqvarna's gas models run 94 to 110 decibels at the operator's ear. The trade-off is run time and push. Expect up to a few hours on low and much less on turbo, and plan on gas for soaked leaves or all-day work. If you already own Ego or Greenworks tools, their batteries may fit, which cuts the cost (Spearhead Spade guide).
Local rules can decide it for you. Many towns limit gas blower hours or noise, and some ban gas blowers in parts of the year. California's small off-road engine rules have pushed new sales toward battery equipment, and the state funds incentives for zero-emission yard tools (California Air Resources Board). Check your city's code before you buy.
The most powerful backpacks are sold through dealers, not online. In a poll of lawn care pros, the Echo PB-9010T came first, ahead of the Redmax 8560 and the Stihl BR 800 (Your Green Pal). Those cost more and need dealer service, so they suit crews more than homeowners. A gas backpack can sweep a light, dry snowfall off a walk, but for real snow see our snow blowers.
Hearing, Fuel And Recall Checks
Every gas backpack here is loud enough to harm hearing. NIOSH sets the risk point at 85 decibels averaged over eight hours (NIOSH), and gas backpacks run well above that at the ear. Wear ear muffs or plugs, safety glasses and closed shoes, and keep bystanders and pets well back while you blow.
Two-stroke engines burn gas mixed with oil, 50 to 1 for Husqvarna, and they run best on fresh fuel. Mix only what you'll use in a month, never refuel a hot engine, and never run one in a garage or shed, since the exhaust carries carbon monoxide. Clean or replace the air filter as the manual says; the Husqvarna 350BT and its siblings list filter care in their spec pages.
Check the serial number before buying a used blower. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled Echo PB-5810 backpacks in 2024 for a fuel line fire hazard, Echo PB-8010 and Shindaiwa EB810 units in 2020 because straps could be drawn into the fan, and a serial range of Stihl BR 800 blowers in 2025 for a fan wheel that can break (CPSC recalls). None of the blowers on this list is covered.
How we researched this
We compared 17 backpack blowers, read the makers' spec pages or published ratings for the 8 finalists, weighed a poll of lawn care pros and patterns in owner feedback, and checked every brand against the Consumer Product Safety Commission's recall list. Husqvarna's blowing force and operator-ear noise figures anchor the comparison. Updated October 26, 2026 by Ezvid Wiki Editors.
Sources (10)
- Husqvarna: 150BT backpack blower
- Husqvarna: 580BTS backpack blower
- Husqvarna: 360BT backpack blower
- Husqvarna: 350BT backpack blower
- Your Green Pal: most powerful backpack blowers, pro poll
- Pro Tool Reviews: best backpack leaf blowers
- Spearhead Spade: best backpack leaf blowers
- California Air Resources Board: small off-road engines
- NIOSH: noise and hearing loss
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: recalls
Frequently asked questions
Is CFM or MPH more important on a leaf blower?
Both matter. Airflow (CFM) moves big, dry piles; air speed (MPH) lifts wet, matted leaves. Blowing force in newtons combines them and is the fairest single number when a maker publishes it.
Husqvarna 150BT or Echo PB-580T: which should I buy?
The Husqvarna 150BT has faster air at the nozzle and cruise control, which helps on wet leaves and long jobs. The Echo PB-580T moves a big volume of air for dry piles and has a long record with lawn crews and wide dealer support. For most homeowners, the 150BT is the better all-round choice.
Can a battery backpack blower replace a gas one?
For a typical suburban yard, often yes. Battery backpacks are quieter and need no fuel, but they run for a limited time, especially on turbo, and have less force on soaked leaves. Crews and big wooded lots still do better with gas.
What is the most powerful backpack blower?
Among dealer-sold commercial models, pros often name the Echo PB-9010T, the Stihl BR 800 and the Redmax 8560. Of the blowers on this list, the Husqvarna 580BTS has the highest rated blowing force, 47 newtons.
Are cheap 63 cc gas backpack blowers worth it?
They can clear dry leaves on a budget, but their airflow claims are often inflated, and there's no dealer network for parts or repairs. Buy one with a stated warranty and expect to handle upkeep yourself.
