Quick verdict
Both are bare blowers for power-tool households, at opposite ends of the size range. The Milwaukee clears wet leaves on two M18 packs; the Makita cleans a patio on one LXT pack. The platform decides, and so does the job: leaves favor the Milwaukee, light cleanup the Makita.
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 3017-20 Dual Battery Blower
The 3017-20 is the Milwaukee M18 FUEL dual-battery blower rated by Milwaukee at about 800 CFM, with a brushless motor, variable speed and a lock-on trigger, sold bare, on two M18 packs. It gives backpack-class airflow to an M18 household.
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 3017-20 dual-battery blower versus Makita XBU03Z 18V LXT blower: airflow, weight, batteries, noise and platform compared from published specifications.
The picks at a glance
| Tool | Best for | Score /100 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee M18 FUEL 3017-20 Dual Battery Blower | Best Power-Tool-Platform Blower for Leaves | 9.0 | Check price |
| Makita XBU03Z 18V LXT Brushless Blower | Best Light Power-Tool-Platform Blower | 8.4 | Check price |
The picks, reviewed
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 3017-20 Dual Battery Blower
The 3017-20 is the Milwaukee M18 FUEL dual-battery blower rated by Milwaukee at about 800 CFM, with a brushless motor, variable speed and a lock-on trigger, sold bare, on two M18 packs. It gives backpack-class airflow to an M18 household.
Reasons to buy
- About 800 CFM
- Moves wet leaves
- Runs on M18 packs
- Lock-on trigger
Reasons to avoid
- Needs two packs
- Heavy
- Loud
Makita XBU03Z 18V LXT Brushless Blower
The XBU03Z is the Makita 18V LXT brushless handheld blower rated at 473 CFM and 116 MPH, with variable speed and a cruise control lever, sold bare, on one LXT pack. It gives a light patio blower to an LXT household.
Reasons to buy
- Light
- Quiet
- Runs on one LXT pack
- Cruise control lever
Reasons to avoid
- 473 CFM is light-duty
- Struggles with wet leaves
- Bare tool
Where these two differ
Both are bare blowers that run on power-tool packs. The Milwaukee 3017-20 is a heavy two-pack M18 FUEL blower rated around 800 CFM that clears wet leaves. The Makita XBU03Z is a light one-pack LXT blower rated 473 CFM for patios. They overlap on dry debris and separate on everything else.
This comparison is based on the published specifications and manuals for both blowers and on recurring owner feedback. We have not run either blower ourselves.
| Specification | 3017-20 | XBU03Z |
|---|---|---|
| Airflow | About 800 CFM | 473 CFM |
| Batteries | Two M18 | One LXT |
| Weight | Heavy | Light |
| Noise | Loud | Quiet |
| Trigger | Lock-on | Cruise lever |
| Platform | Milwaukee M18 | Makita LXT |
Moving leaves
Dry debris on a patio moves for both. Wet matted leaves, gravel beds and the fence-line pile need the Milwaukee.
Weight and noise
The Makita is light enough for an hour and quiet enough for an evening. The Milwaukee with two packs tires an arm in a half hour at full power and is loud.
Batteries and runtime
Two M18 12 Ah packs on the Milwaukee last a large yard. A 5 Ah LXT pack lasts a long session on the Makita at low speed. Both assume packs already in the shed.
Platform
M18 runs everything Milwaukee makes including the M18 mower. LXT runs everything Makita makes including the X2 mower and a bigger X2 blower. Neither household needs a second battery system.
Yard jobs this decides
October leaves on M18 packs: the Milwaukee. A patio and a quick clean on LXT packs: the Makita. Leaves on LXT packs: a Makita X2 blower rather than either.
Warranty and support
On the Milwaukee M18, Milwaukee covers M18 FUEL tools with a five-year warranty and M18 packs with three years. On the Makita XBU03Z, Makita covers LXT tools and batteries with a three-year limited warranty. Both makers run service networks in the US and both honor the warranty only with proof of purchase, so keep the receipt with the manual. Registration takes a few minutes online and is worth doing the day the tool arrives.
Care and storage
Both are brushless battery tools and both last longest with the same habits: hose or brush debris off after each use, store packs indoors at partial charge through the winter rather than empty or full, and keep the machine out of direct sun in a shed. Neither needs oil changes, spark plugs or fuel stabilizer. A pack left at zero through a cold winter is the most common cause of a dead tool in spring on either platform.
Accessories worth adding
A second pack is the accessory that changes ownership of either machine, because it turns a runtime limit into a swap. A spare blade or impeller cover, a mulch plug if one is not in the box and a rapid charger are the next three. Both makers sell these through the same outlets as the machine, and third-party packs are a false economy on either platform.
Common owner complaints
Milwaukee owners mention weight. Makita owners mention light airflow. Both are reliable.
Which one should you buy
Buy the 3017-20 for leaves on M18. Buy the XBU03Z for light cleanup on LXT.
Our verdict
The Milwaukee 3017-20 takes this comparison for leaf cleanup. The Makita XBU03Z is the better light blower for an LXT household.
How we research
This comparison is built from the published specifications, manuals and warranty terms of both products and from recurring owner feedback. We have not run either product ourselves; where the makers do not publish a figure we say so rather than guess.
What to look for
Airflow
The Milwaukee moves wet leaves; the Makita moves dry debris.
Weight
The Makita is far lighter.
Platform
M18 or LXT packs decide.
Packs
Two M18 or one LXT.
Our verdict
Both are bare blowers for power-tool households, at opposite ends of the size range. The Milwaukee clears wet leaves on two M18 packs; the Makita cleans a patio on one LXT pack. The platform decides, and so does the job: leaves favor the Milwaukee, light cleanup the Makita.
FAQs
Roughly seventy percent more airflow by the makers ratings.
The Makita by a wide margin.
Yes, the X2 36V models on two LXT packs, which compete with the Milwaukee.
The Makita.
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