Leaf blowers with higher CFM and MPH have stronger airflow, so they handle heavier debris. Although most fair with 450 to 700 CFM and 150 MPH, large yards with pine buildup need 900 CFM and 200 MPH.
Savvy shoppers select each spec separately to comfortably clear leaves without committing overkill. If you’re unsure, no worries. My guide pinpoints the best CFM and MPH based on yard size, debris, and budget.
This guide explains:
How Much CFM Does a Leaf Blower Need?
| CFM | Lawn size (acres) | Debris |
| 400 – 450 | < ¼ | Light |
| 500 – 550 | ¼ – ½ | Light – Fair |
| 600 – 700 | ½ – ¾ | Fair |
| 750 – 900 | ¾ – 1 ½ | Fair – High |
| 900+ CFM | 1+ acre | High |
CFM means Cubic Feet per Minute, and it measures air volume. Thus, leaf blowers with greater CFM push more debris with each blow.
Variable-speed leaf blowers are ideal for most yards. Low CFM leaf blowers can’t handle large leaf piles, but too much force damages fragile landscaping.
Typical Leaf Blower CFM
| Standard | 345 – 720 CFM |
| Average | 530 CFM |
| Weakest | 81 CFM |
| Strongest | 1,110 CFM |
While 70% of residential leaf blowers have 345 to 720 CFM, some electric leaf blowers are as weak as 81 CFM. Please be leery of bargain basement blowers that lack adequate airflow.
However, the heftiest gas backpack leaf blower has 1,110 CFM. Although helpful for heavily wooded multi-acre properties, most homeowners don’t need that much might.
How Much MPH Does a Leaf Blower Need?
| 110 MPH | Dry leaves |
| 150 MPH | Wet leaves, Scattered pine needles, Small twigs |
| 200 MPH | Muddy debris, Small branches, Pine needle buildup |
MPH (Miles Per Hour) describes a leaf blower’s airspeed. Since leaf blowers with faster air push heavier debris, you need a high MPH model to clear muddy waste and pine needle build up.
Typical Leaf Blower MPH
| Standard | 135 to 200 MPH |
| Average | 170 MPH |
| Weakest | 70 MPH |
| Strongest | 270 MPH |
Around 70% of residential leaf blowers have an airspeed between 135 and 200 MPH, but some are as fast as 270 MPH or as slow as 70 MPH.
What is Blowforce?
Typically stated in Newton’s (N), blowforce is the air’s overall potency. It combines MPH and CFM into one spec. Unfortunately, most manufacturers only release blowforce when it’s excellent.
Leaf Blower Prices by CFM and MPH
If you crave air volume and speed, expect to pay a premium. Undoubtedly, leaf blowers with a stronger blowforce cost more.
Cost by CFM
| Air Volume | Standard Range, Low, & High |
|---|---|
| < 300 CFM | $40 – $160 ↓$28 ᐧ ↑$269 |
| 300 – 450 CFM | $75 – $250 ↓$29 ᐧ ↑$430 |
| 451 – 600 CFM | $120 – $350 ↓$49 ᐧ ↑$563 |
| 601 – 750 CFM | $140 – $535 ↓$68 ᐧ ↑$800 |
| 751 – 900 CFM | $280 – $625 ↓$90 ᐧ ↑$700 |
| 900 – 1,110 CFM | $400 – $650 ↓$255 ᐧ ↑$700 |
Cost by MPH
| Airspeed | Standard Range, Low, & High |
|---|---|
| < 110 MPH | $65 – $180 ↓$48 ᐧ ↑$469 |
| 110 – 145 MPH | $90 – $260 ↓$50 ᐧ ↑$700 |
| 150 – 190 MPH | $100 – $430 ↓$30 ᐧ ↑$800 |
| 200 – 270 MPH | $135 – $530 ↓$40 ᐧ ↑$700 |
⚠️ Some cheap electric leaf blowers have puny CFM coupled with fast MPH.
Regardless of airspeed, a leaf blower with less than 300 CFM isn’t going to move much. Thus, these air-anorexic models are among the cheapest, and least potent leaf blowers.
Handheld Vs. Backpack Leaf Blower CFM and MPH
| Standard Handheld | Standard Backpack |
|---|---|
| 300 – 630 CFM | 515 – 875 CFM |
| 115 – 190 MPH | 165 – 235 MPH |
| $70 – $280 | $285 – $600 |
When comparing handheld vs. backpack leaf blowers, backpack models have significantly more CFM and MPH. Additionally, backpack blowers cost more.
| CFM – Handheld | CFM – Backpack |
|---|---|
| Most: 300 – 630 Average: 465 ↓80 ᐧ ↑930 | Most: 515 – 875 Average: 700 ↓375 ᐧ ↑1,110 |
| MPH – Handheld | MPH – Backpack |
|---|---|
| Most: 115 – 190 Average: 155 ↓70 ᐧ ↑260 | Most: 165 – 235 Average: 200 ↓135 ᐧ ↑270 |
Gas Vs. Electric Leaf Blower CFM and MPH
When comparing electric vs. gas leaf blowers, CFM and MPH are critical components. Gas models give you more bang for your buck, but electric blowers are more affordable for light-duty leaves.
Handheld Leaf Blowers
| Most potent | Best budget buy |
|---|---|
| High-end battery | Corded electric |
The most potent handheld leaf blowers are high-end battery models. In contrast, all high-potency gas blowers are backpacks. In fact, the most potent handheld leaf blower is also the most powerful electric model—Enhulk Pro Series 930 CFM.
Manufacturers pack more power into handheld battery blowers to maximize runtime. A backpack blower is heavier, so it drains the battery quicker.
Backpack Leaf Blowers
| Most Potent | Best Value |
|---|---|
| Gas | Gas |
Electric backpack blowers only come in cordless models. Although electric is low-maintenance, gas gives you much more bang for your buck. To illustrate, most pros prefer gas backpack blowers.
FAQ: Leaf Blower CFM and MPH
1. How does a leaf blower’s nozzle impact CFM and MPH?
Because more air can come out larger openings, round nozzles increase CFM. However, they also decrease MPH. Conversely, flat nozzles increase MPH while reducing CFM.
2. What’s the best budget leaf blower for 1+ acres?
After conducting comprehensive research, I found the best budget leaf blowers for over an acre:
- Schröder SR-6400L: 920 CFM / 230 MPH / $330* / more info
- ENHULK Pro Series: 930 CFM / 200 MPH / $240* / more info
- Prorun PBB2884: 1,020 CFM / 240 MPH / $399* / more info
- Husqvarna 150BT: 765 CFM / 270 MPH / $350* / more info
*Prices are sourced at publishing and subject to change.
3. What leaf blowers have the most CFM and MPH?
Next, I reveal the most potent leaf blowers:
- Echo PB9010T: 48 N / 1,110 CFM / 220 MPH / more info
- Shindaiwa EB910RT: 48 N / 1,110 CFM / 220 MPH / more info
4. What’s the best budget leaf blower for under 1/4 acre?
Leaf removal on a leash can save you bookoo bucks because corded leaf blowers are the best value for small yards. Below are the best bargains.
| Black + Decker Blower | Sun Joe Blower/Vac |
|---|---|
| 450 CFM | 615 CFM |
| 140 MPH | 180 MPH |
| $49* | $69* |
| Lowe’s | Home Depot |
| 4.8 stars | 3.4 stars |