A good electric leaf blower usually has a CFM between 200 and 400. However, if you have a large property, (one acre or more), a leaf blower with a CFM between 400 and 700 is best.
Having a good leaf blower can take you from spending hours raking leaves in your yard to getting the job done in just a couple of minutes (depending on the size of your yard, of course!)
Before splurging on a leaf blower, it’s best to do some research into which one of the hundreds currently on the market suits your needs best.
Well, you’ve come to the right place! Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about choosing leaf blowers, including what is a good CFM for a leaf blower.
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What Does CFM Mean Anyway?
The performance of leaf blowers is measured by two numbers: CFM and MPH. CFM refers to cubic feet per minute, while MPH refers to miles per hour. Be careful not to confuse these numbers when shopping for leaf blowers.
Simply put, CFM indicates the power of the volume of air that’s expelled within one minute, while MPH deals with the speed of the air that’s expelled within an hour.
CFM is the most important factor to consider because this basically tells you whether the product has a low or high air volume. A leaf blower with high air volume will be the most effective.
Watch this video by YouTube user Turf Mechanic to find out more about the difference between CFM and MPH:
What CFM Do I Need?
When choosing the CFM that will work best for you and your yard, there are a number of factors you should take into consideration, the main one being the size of your yard or the area you plan on covering using the leaf blower.
Keep in mind that there are different types of leaf blowers on the market, so you’ll have plenty of options to choose from.
The main aspects to look for include its CFM, whether it’s cordless, handheld or a backpack model, and whether it’s electric or gas-powered. The trick is to find the perfect mix of features that suits you best.
Types Of Leaf Blowers
Cordless Leaf Blowers
First up, we have cordless leaf blowers. These are great if you have a smaller yard and only wish to cover areas like your patio or driveway. Cordless leaf blowers typically have CFMs of just below 200 to 400.
If you have a larger area to cover, such as one acre or more, a leaf blower with a CFM of between 400 to 700 will work great. Leaf blowers with a CFM between this range are quite powerful and can handle any type of debris, be it wet or dry. Be warned though, with great power comes great noise!
Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers
Gas-powered leaf blowers, while perhaps a tad bit unnecessary for a residential property, are quite a handy piece of equipment to have. They’re not only great as leaf blowers, but they can also be used to clear fresh snow.
The ultimate industrial-type gas-powered leaf blower that’s typically used in commercial areas is the push-behind model. These leaf blowers come with CFMs of up to 3,000. Needless to say, “powerful” is an understatement!
These push-behind models are gas-powered and extremely noisy. They’re often suitable for areas like parking lots, so a push-behind model might not be what you’re looking for if you plan on using your leaf blower in your yard.
Backpack, Handheld, And Many More…
Other variants of leaf blowers include backpack blowers (which are all the rage at the moment) and handheld ones.
If a backpack leaf blower appeals to you, I highly recommend the Husqvarna Professional 2-Cycle Gas Backpack Leaf Blower and the BLACK+DECKER Electric Leaf Blower LB 700.
They’re both highly raved-about and are two of the most popular on the market. For good reason too!
FAQs
Is MPH or CFM better for leaf blower?
CFM is better for leaf blowers. A higher CFM means that the leaf blower will move more leaves while a high MPH refers to how quickly the air is moving when it comes out of the nozzle.
How much CFM do I need?
You need 400 to 700 CFM if your property measures up to an acre or more. A 200 to 400 CFM would work well for a smaller property.
Is a higher CFM better?
A higher CFM is better because it will allow you to cover a wider area over a shorter period of time. This is because the higher the CFM, the more air your leaf blower will produce.
Does CFM matter in leaf blowers?
CFM does matter in leaf blowers because it’s a great indicator of how much material you can move with your leaf blower and how large of an area you can cover over a certain period of time.
What is CFM for a blower?
CFM is a measure of volume that means cubic feet per minute. CFM measures how much air passes through the blower in one minute.
Pick The Best CFM Leaf Blower For Your Needs
So, there you have it, all the information on leaf blowers you need to know before hitting the shops! It might be overwhelming at first, but just remember these figures and you’ll be good to go:
- Small yard – 200 CFM – 400 CFM.
- An acre or larger – between 400 CFM – 700 CFM.
- As large as a parking lot – approximately 3,000 CFM.
Did my little guide help you figure out what is a good CFM for a leaf blower? Let me know if you have any comments or questions down below. I’d love to hear from you!
The breakdown acreage to CFM was exactly what I’ve been looking for, and had a hard trouble finding it until your article. Thanks!