Gas and electric tools have a range of pros and cons as well as preferred applications, so it can be difficult to choose which is best for your toolkit.
The old assumption was that petrol tools are the better option for heavy-duty tasks, but ever-evolving technology is starting to bring this into question.
In this article we’ll compare electric and petrol tools in terms of their cost efficiency, their differing power output, eco-friendliness, and the applications that they’re best suited for.
So, let’s start by comparing their relative costs.
Cost Comparison: Are electric tools more cost effective than gas tools?
The main difference in terms of costs is the distribution of cost over time.
As you can see from the graph on the right, electric tools are usually more expensive up front, but they have lower running costs over time in terms of electricity and maintenance/repair.
On the other hand, gas powered tools are usually cheaper up front, by they have much higher running costs in terms of the fuel required to power them over time. The repair/maintenance is also usually more expensive than their electrical equivalents on average.
This means that if you’re planning on using your tools frequently, you may want to go for an electrical option.
It’s worth noting that this data is based on average costs, so it doesn’t necessarily mean that all electric options will be more expensive upfront and cheaper over time and vice versa.
Overview & Common Applications: Types of Gas and Electric Tools
Let’s take a look at the three key types of gas and electric tools as well as their key applications.
Corded Electric Tools
Corded electric tools use a power cable to draw power directly from a mains outlet, and they’re usually the most powerful electric option. They’re usually more expensive than their petrol counterparts, but the produce a long term cost saving – they’re also quieter and more eco-friendly. You’ll often see high-powered tools like angle grinders, sanders, or hammer drills using a corded electric design.
Cordless Electric Tools
Cordless electric tools use a battery (usually rechargeable) as their main power source. This means they’re more manoeuvrable than corded electric tools as you’re not limited by the length of the wire, and they also share most of the same benefits over petrol tools (less noise, more eco-friendly etc.). The main drawback of cordless tools is that they’re less powerful on average, so you’re trading power for convenience. Smaller tools like impact drivers and electric screwdrivers often use a cordless design, but you can also find cordless versions of larger tools like chainsaws as well.
Petrol Tools
Petrol tools use a petrol fuel tank as their source of power (no surprise there!). Their main benefit is that they’re usually more powerful than electric tools, but they have higher running costs, produce more noise, and they’re less eco-friendly. Petrol is still one of the most popular power sources for tools designed for larger scale tasks like lawnmowers or augers.
Power Comparison: Are gas tools more powerful than electric tools?
As a general rule of thumb, gas tools are usually more powerful than their electric counterparts, and this is especially true if the electric tool in question is cordless.
With a cordless tool, the power delivery is limited by the size and weight of the battery, so it’s fairly likely that they’ll pack less of a punch than a gas powered one. Some cordless tools use interchangeable batteries that mean they’re less limited, but it’s still difficult to compete with a traditional fuel tank in terms of power.
With a corded electric tool, the power is drawn directly from the mains, so it’s not out of the question that a high-end model would be more powerful than an average gas tool. The main question here is what you’re willing to spend, as it’s unlikely that any cheap electric tool will out-perform a gas tool in terms of power output.
Noise Pollution Comparison: Are electric tools quieter than petrol tools?
According to research conducted by EGO Power Plus, electric tools produce far less noise pollution than their petrol counterparts, and the results are pretty conclusive.
As you can see from this chart, every tool tested was quieter when powered by electricity instead of petrol – the electric versions were quieter by 9.58 decibels on average.
It also seems as though the louder the tool is when powered by petrol, the more difference swapping over to electric makes. This may not be the deciding factor for your tool selection but it’s definitely worth considering when electric tools are more eco-friendly overall.
Corded Electric Tools - Pros & Cons
Electric tools using a power cable to draw electricity directly from a mains outlet.
Pros:
- Cheaper than petrol tools over time (both in fuel costs and repair/maintenance)
- More eco-friendly than petrol tools
- Less noise than petrol tools
- More powerful than cordless electric tools
- Usually lighter than cordless electric tools
Cons:
- Higher upfront cost than petrol tools on average
- Usually less powerful than petrol powered tools
- Less manoeuvrable than cordless electric tools
Cordless Electric Tools - Pros & Cons
Electric tools using a battery (usually rechargeable) for wireless operation.
Pros:
- Cheaper than petrol tools over time (both in fuel costs and repair/maintenance)
- More eco-friendly than petrol tools
- Less noise than petrol tools
- More manoeuvrable than corded electric tools
Cons:
- Higher upfront cost than petrol tools on average
- Usually less powerful than petrol powered tools
- Usually less powerful than corded electric tools
- Requires recharging/battery swapping
Petrol Tools - Pros & Cons
Petrol tools use a petrol fuel tank as their power source.
Pros:
- Less upfront cost than petrol tools on average
- Usually more powerful than electric tools (especially cordless)
- Longer operation time than cordless tools
- More manoeuvrable than corded electric tools
Cons:
- More expensive than electric tools over time (both in fuel costs and repair/maintenance)
- Less eco-friendly than petrol tools
- More noise than petrol tools
Conclusion
To summarise, electric tools are usually more expensive up front, but they provide a long term saving in terms of running costs. Gas powered tools are usually cheaper up front, but are more expensive to run over time. Electric tools are also much more eco-friendly than their gas-powered equivalents – they’re also usually much quieter!
In terms of power, gas powered tools usually take the win, but some corded electric tools can outperform gas tools in some scenarios. Cordless electric tools trade power for convenience and manoeuvrability, so they’re likely a better choice for applications where less raw power is required.
So, what does this mean for you?
Our recommendation would be to use a combination of corded and cordless electric tools for your smaller DIY tools like drills, electric screwdrivers, and impact drivers. If you’re shopping for more heavy duty tools like chainsaws or augers it may be worth looking at gas tools on a case by case basis. It’s worth noting that as technology develops electric tools are only becoming better and better, so it’s definitely worth looking at electric options for that long-term saving and eco-friendly impact, even for the bigger tools like chainsaws and lawnmowers.
FAQs
When you compare corded and cordless electric tools, you’re generally looking at a trade-off between convenience and power output.
Cordless tools are more convenient as you’re not limited by the length of your power cable/the position of the nearest outlet. The trade-off is that they’re usually less powerful than corded electric tools as you’re limited by the size/weight of your battery. The reverse is true for corded systems – you’re limited by the length of your power cable but you’re likely to have better power output, as you draw power directly from a mains outlet.
If you’re interested in trying out a cordless tool, take a look at our article on Best Cordless Car Vacuum Cleaner.
Electric tools are better than petrol tools for most applications. They generally have lower running costs, they’re less damaging for the environment, and they make less noise. The main use case for petrol tools is for heavy duty applications where fuel may be a more efficient power source than electricity – one example of this might be a petrol auger for ground excavation.
In short, yes, battery garden tools are worth it.
Cordless tools can be an excellent way to manicure your garden as you’re not limited by a pesky power cable. They’re also more cost effective than petrol garden tools in terms of running costs, as the cost of electricity to recharge your battery is less than the cost to refuel a petrol powered system. They also produce less pollution and make less noise during use, so they’re a good choice for keeping the planet and neighbours happy!
Thank you for reading our article comparing the pros and cons of gas and electric tools.
If you’re shopping for tools you may want to check out our Best Tools articles like our piece on the Best Electric Screwdrivers UK or the Best Electric Planer UK.
If the number of choices is leaving you confused, our Cordless Power Tool Battery Guide can help give you an idea of what characteristics to look our for in electric tools.
Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any thoughts or queries that you’d like us to take a look at – we’d be happy to help.
