Model comparison
STIHL BG 50 or BG 56 C-E: compare gasoline handhelds
STIHL BG 50 and BG 56 C-E are easy to confuse because the manufacturer lists both at 412 CFM, 159 mph and 13 N with a round nozzle. Their practical choice is not “which number is bigger?” It is whether the BG 50’s lighter body and smaller tank or the BG 56 C-E’s Easy2Start system and larger tank better suit the operator. These are separate gasoline blower SKUs, not battery kits.
| Exact model | Published round-nozzle output | Dry/before-fuel body weight | Starting and fuel details | Use distinction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BG 50, 42290111722US | 412 CFM; 159 mph; 13 N | 7.9 lb in STIHL’s 2025 catalogue; current page lists 8 lb without refueling | Manual fuel-pump primer; 14.5-oz tank; Easy2Start is not listed for this model | Lighter of these two listed blower-only configurations |
| BG 56 C-E, 42410111755US | 412 CFM; 159 mph; 13 N | 9.3 lb in the current product page and 2025 catalogue | Easy2Start plus primer; 18.3-oz tank | More assisted pull start, but about 1.4 lb heavier before fuel |
Start effort versus weight
The BG 56 C-E is the relevant choice when the operator specifically wants STIHL Easy2Start. It still has a starter rope: the shared US manual says to pull steadily on the Easy2Start version. The BG 50 uses a primer bulb to help fuel reach the carburetor, but the manufacturer product page and comparison chart do not list Easy2Start for it. A primer and an assisted starter are different features.
On the other hand, if the user’s hand and shoulder comfort depend more on carrying a lighter body than on the pull-start routine, the BG 50 is the lighter listed model. Weight comparisons need their basis shown: the current BG 50 product page states 8 pounds without refueling, while STIHL’s 2025 catalogue calls its 7.9-pound value dry. The BG 56 C-E is 9.3 pounds dry/without refueling. Neither number is a fueled operating weight or an owner’s measured carry weight.
More fuel is not a runtime promise
The BG 56 C-E has an 18.3-ounce tank compared with 14.5 ounces for the BG 50. That is a useful package difference if refilling frequency is a priority, but it is not a minutes-of-use rating. The two machines have the same published output figures, and fuel consumption changes with throttle and workload. Both need the manufacturer’s specified two-stroke fuel handling rather than the charge-and-store routine of a battery blower.
STIHL lists these models as unavailable for purchase or delivery in California. Both are handheld gas blowers, not vacuum/mulchers, and the pictured product render is not evidence that a separate vacuum kit is included. For bagged leaf collection, look at an exact blower-vacuum SKU such as the EGO LV5000 instead. If electric starting simplicity and less routine fuel handling matter more than staying with gas, compare the EGO LB5302 battery kit; it is a different operating plan, not a performance test against STIHL.
Recommendation status
These articles retain useful model-specific technical information, but BG 50 and BG 56 C-E are reference-only here until an exact-model CPSC status determination is established. The finder must therefore not promote either one into a buying recommendation based on Easy2Start, tank capacity or power-source answers. This is not a recall or no-recall claim. Review the official model pages and manual for the exact starting, fuel and maintenance procedure before operating any gasoline blower.
Sources: BG 50 product page, BG 56 product page, the STIHL 2025 catalogue, and the BG 56 family instruction manual.