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What is a Good CFM for a Leaf Blower – How to Choose the Best Leaf Blower

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by Bryan Mckenzie

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Home » Guides » What is a Good CFM for a Leaf Blower – How to Choose the Best Leaf Blower
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With the recent rise in popularity of blowing leaves, a lot of companies have been manufacturing leaf blowers that can handle a large amount of leaves. The problem is that a lot of people do not know the basics of how leaf blowers work and what kind of CFM a person should be looking for.

CFM is an important feature to consider when shopping for a leaf blower, since a high CFM means a powerful leaf blower. In this article, we are going to find out what is a good CFM for a leaf blower as it will affect the power of the machine. A leaf blower with a lower CFM will not be able to move as much air as one with a higher one. Let’s dig into this topic deeper.

What is CFM on a Blower?

So what does CFM mean on a blower? CFM stands for Cubic Feet per Minute. It is a measurement of the amount of air that flows through a given area in one minute. Several factors, including the size of the area, the temperature of the air, and the location of the fan will determine its actual value.

It is also important to know that the CFM value will be lower at the outlet of the duct. The outlet CFM will be about 80% to 90% of the inlet CFM.

CFM vs MPH

While it is true that the CFM rating on a leaf blower is an important performance factor, it is not the final answer. As we’ve already figured out, CFM stands for cubic feet per minute. This is the amount of air that the leaf blower will move. MPH stands for miles per hour. This is the speed that the air is moved.

All in all, CFM is the measurement of air flow, not speed. If you are concerned about air speed, then you should look at MPH.

CFM Leaf Blower Guidelines

cfm on leaf blower

A high CFM will allow for greater airflow. This allows for more power to be delivered to the nozzle.

The CFM ratings of leaf blowers usually range from 200 to 700. The higher the CFM is, the faster the air will be blown out of the machine. This is important when trying to move a large number of leaves.

The CFM is the term used to measure the amount of air that is being blown out of the leaf blower. The higher the CFM, the more powerful the leaf blower will be. It is important to consider the CFM of the leaf blower you are looking to purchase.

But don’t just go for the highest CFM leaf blower you can find. Look for one that will fit your needs and still give you the CFM you need.

Machines with higher cubic feet per minute rating are better for heavy-duty work, but they are heavier, noisier, and more expensive. There are several factors to consider when choosing a leaf blower. These include the kind of work you want to do, the size of the area you need to clear, the type of object you want to move around, and your own physical strength.

For instance, a 200 CFM blower may be sufficient to move leaves in your yard, but you may want to upgrade to a 300 CFM blower if you want to use it to move light debris around the larger area of your property.

cfm on leaf blower

A 600 CFM blower could be a good choice if you have a lot of land or you want to move heavier objects. You will need a more powerful leaf blower if you want to use it for commercial purposes.

Consider the size of the area you want to clear while you are determining the CFM of the leaf blower that is best for you. The larger the area, the more CFM you need. If you are only clearing the leaves from your driveway, you do not need a large CFM leaf blower.

How to calculate CFM?

The easiest way to calculate CFM is to use the following formula:

CFM= (Volume of Air / Time) x (60/RPM), where

  • Volume of Air – the total volume of air that is moved through the system. This is an important term to know as the diameter of the duct, and the length of the duct will affect this value. For example, if you have 2 ducts of equal diameter but different lengths, the duct with the greater length will have the lower airflow.
  • Time – the amount of time that it takes to go through the system.
  • RPM – the number of times that the blower will turn around in a minute.

Final Words

The currently accepted standard for the CFM of a leaf blower is 500. However, it all comes down to what you want to use the blower for. If you are going to be using the leaf blower for just grass clippings and leaves, then 500 CFM should be fine. If you want to blow away light snow and wet leaves, you should be looking at a blower rated at 600 CFM and greater.

About
Bryan Mckenzie
Hi there — my name is Bryan McKenzie. Before I’d got into gardening, I worked as a landscape designer at landscape design and consultation company in Jacksonville. I enjoy sharing the vast gardening experience I’ve accumulated throughout the years with like-minded green thumbs. Read more about me and my wife.
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