A blower unit for a portable handheld blower apparatus has a housing section and a tubular receiving space, formed in the housing section, with a first axial end and a second axial end and with a longitudinal center axis. Arranged in the receiving space of the housing section is an axial blower for generating a blower air flow, the axial blower being driven by a drive motor. The receiving space has an intake opening at its first axial end and a discharge opening at its second axial end. In order to reduce operating noise, an air guide plate is arranged at an axial distance in front of the intake opening, the air guide plate having external dimensions that are greater than the external dimensions of the intake opening. An annular gap that supplies intake air is formed between the air guide plate and an outer periphery of the housing section.