Model comparison
Husqvarna 580BTS or 580BFS Mark III? Compare the gas backpacks
The 580BTS and 580BFS share output; choose by control layout
The current North American Husqvarna 580BTS Mark III and 580BFS Mark III are close enough that their model names can obscure the useful distinction. Both are 75.6 cc two-stroke backpack blowers with a 2.6 L fuel tank, integrated harness, standard round nozzle, no vacuum kit, 47 N maximum force, 1,000 CFM at the nozzle and 220 mph maximum with the standard nozzle. Husqvarna’s shared 2025-02 manual lists the same fan performance for both. Those numbers are maker specifications, not measured time-to-clear results.
The control placement is the meaningful choice. The 580BTS puts a right-hand variable-speed control on the blower tube, with a cruise-control option. The 580BFS uses a left-hand, frame-mounted control. Neither should be assumed to deliver more air than the other: the manufacturer gives them the same output. The current pages list 26.8 lb for the BTS and 27.1 lb for the BFS, and the FAQ language says those weights are without fuel/before fuel is added. A three-tenths-pound gap is not a reason by itself to choose one. Try the actual harness and decide which control position suits the intended operator.
Keep the current Mark III distinct from older support records
The exact current page identities are 580BTS Mark III, article 970 49 91-01, and 580BFS Mark III, article 970 49 92-01. Their current pages and the linked manual are the sources for the comparison above. Husqvarna’s support portal also exposes earlier 966-series records under the same model family names: 966 62 96-02 for an older 580BTS and 966 62 97-01 for an older 580BFS. Those support tables list different fan ratings, including 40 N and 206 mph for the older BFS record. Do not mix old service-page values, parts and manuals into a current Mark III package without checking the exact article and serial details.
The current BTS FAQ explicitly says 26.8 lb without fuel, while the BFS FAQ says 27.1 lb before fuel. The shared current manual’s table lists 26.8 and 27.1 lb, respectively, but does not label the fuel basis on that row. For the current models, the product FAQ supplies the missing basis; neither figure is a fully fuelled ready-to-work weight. Fuel increases the carried total, and the documents reviewed here do not state that complete mass. If your hard limit is an assembled machine under a particular weight, do not treat the bare blower figure as the answer.
Consider whether 580-series capacity is necessary
The 580 pair also differs from the 570BTS / 570BFS family in published output. Husqvarna’s current 570 pages identify a 65.6 cc engine, 37 N and 768 CFM at the round nozzle, with 236 mph at that nozzle. The 580 pages list 75.6 cc, 47 N, 1,000 CFM and 220 mph. That is not a simple “higher in every number” comparison: the 580s list greater force and nozzle air volume, while the published maximum speed is lower. Think about the material and area you actually clear rather than choosing a model by the largest single spec. A maximum air-speed figure does not tell you how quickly a whole yard clears.
The 580BTS is the tube-control choice; the 580BFS is the frame-control choice. The 570 family follows a similar naming pattern, but its engine, output and older manual table differ. See the 580BTS Mark III review, 580BFS Mark III review and 560/570 comparison for those model-specific limits.
Fuel and operation are part of both purchase plans
Both 580 Mark III machines use a two-stroke engine. The shared manual specifies a 50:1 gasoline-to-air-cooled two-stroke-oil mix, fresh unleaded fuel rated at least 87 AKI, less than 10% ethanol, and no more than a 30-day batch of mixed fuel. It gives a recoil-start procedure using the choke, purge bulb and throttle setting. You also need to clean or inspect the air-intake screen and filter as directed, keep the machine outdoors rather than starting it indoors, and allow it to cool before refueling.
The product pages list 106 dB(A) sound pressure at the operator’s ear; the manual requires hearing and eye protection and a 15 m separation from people and animals. Those are not small footnotes for a residential setting. Check local operating restrictions, nearby windows and the planned work period before choosing either model. A battery handheld may be a better tool for short quiet-area jobs, even if it does not offer this family’s backpack arrangement or published output.
Choose the whole work plan, not an isolated number
These are blower-only tools. The round nozzle directs air; neither model includes the equipment needed to vacuum, mulch and collect leaves. If collection is essential, compare a dedicated vacuum/mulcher package such as the EGO LV5005 kit, which uses its own collection assembly. If battery operation is preferred, the EGO LB6000 is a body-only backpack example with a lower published airflow and separate battery/charger requirement. A handheld battery blower is lighter to carry but changes the power and carrying plan. Those are alternatives, not direct 580-output equivalents.
Finally, this library treats the current 580 Mark III profiles as technical references rather than purchase recommendations because exact-model safety eligibility has not been established here. That is neither a recall finding nor a clearance. A current product page alone does not answer the safety status of a used unit or older SKU. Verify the exact article and applicable manual before relying on a marketplace listing.
Manufacturer sources
See the current 580BTS product page and 580BFS product page, both North American Mark III SKUs, plus the 2025-02 operator’s manual for both models. The older 966-series rows remain visible on each model’s respective support page and must not be confused with the 970-series Mark III identities.