In terms of leaf blowers, they can offer mph, cfm or both. But, both are important metrics in such a device. They help you determine how large of an area you can clear, how fast it will push debris and the amount of air force behind it.
But, it’s crucial to understand what cfm and mph are. There are some similarities, but there are some marked differences. The most important takeaway, however, is to know that both are important because they work in conjunction together. You really can’t have one without the other.
What Is Mph?
Mph is an acronym for miles per hour, just like the speedometer in a vehicle. The higher the mph in a leaf blower, the better it will be at lifting all kinds of debris including wet leaves.
What Is Cfm?
The acronym for cubic feet per minute is cfm. This is how much air flows through the device and the kind of pressure or force it delivers.
What Are the Differences between Mph and Cfm?
While both mph and cfm are the metrics used to demonstrate the performance of a leaf blower, there is a trade off in models that feature both. If something has a great amount of cfm, then the speed, or mph, will suffer. Likewise, the higher the speed, the less cfm will output.
Higher cfm helps remove leaves from a larger area. But, in terms of mph, it is more ideal for wet leaves and heavy debris. Consider the potential examples below to enrich your understanding of the differences between cfm and mph.
- High Mph/Low Cfm: When cfm is lower than the mph, the power of airflow will be weaker and not of much use in a leaf blower.
- Low Mph/High Cfm: When cfm is higher than the mph, this is more desirable in a leaf blower. However, it will only be able to push dry leaves and maybe some smaller stones. But, you’ll have to use a rake for wet leaves.
- High Mph & Cfm: This is the most attractive balance in a leaf blower, where both the cfm and the mph are high. But, these tend to be more expensive leaf blowers than the others above.
What Is the Most Ideal Mph for a Leaf Blower?
Anything over 190 mph but less than 250 mph will be ideal for a leaf blower. Less mph will not be sufficient enough to push away heavy debris and wet leaves. However, if you have one with too much speed, you will lose control of the direction of the leaves.
But, this will really depend on the type of leaf blower you have. Electric models have mph between 95 and 250 mph, gas-powered ones are 145 to 195 mph, backpack styles are 145 to 251 mph and push blowers are 153 to 200 mph.
What Is the Most Ideal Cfm for a Leaf Blower?
The most ideal cfm for a leaf blower will rely on the style and power of any given model. Therefore, electric ones will have a range between 200 and 600 cfm whereas a gas-powered one can be anywhere between 300 and 700 cfm. Backpack leaf blowers are 350 to 907 cfm and push blowers are 1,090 to 8,500 cfm.
Which Brands of Leaf Blowers Have an Ideal Mph?
There are a lot of good leaf blower models out on the market. But, not all of them have the ideal speed. The list below indicates the most popular with good mph.
- Backpack: Schröder SR-6400L – This has a speed of 230 mph but weighs only 19½ lbs and comes with a gas-powered 63.3cc engine that has 3.7 horsepower. But, the cfm’s exceed mph, coming in at 920.
- Corded Electric: Toro PowerJet F700 – This model of leaf blower weighs exactly 6.66 lbs with a speed of 140 mph and 725 cfm. It’s electric, so it comes with a 12-amp cord applicable for an outlet.
- Cordless Electric: EGO Power+ LB6500 – This 56V battery-operated leaf blower weighs just under 13 lbs and has 180 mph with 650 cfm.
- Push: Billy Goat F1002SPV – This self-propelling force blower has a Briggs and Stratton Vanguard four-stroke engine with 305cc and 10 horsepower. It has a speed of 200 mph with 1,700 cfm.
Which Brands of Leaf Blowers Have an Ideal Cfm?
- Backpack: Echo PB-9010T – This leaf blower comes with a two-stroke Echo gas-powered engine that has almost 80cc. It weighs 27 lbs and has 1,110 cfm with 220 mph.
- Corded Electric: WORX WG521 – Coming with a turbine function, this 12-amp corded electric motor offers 800 cfm with 135 mph. It weighs all of 6.6 lbs.
- Cordless Electric: EGO Power+ LB6500 – This may seem like a repeat entry, but it isn’t. Not only does EGO’s LB6500 have the best mph for a cordless electric leaf blower, it also delivers the highest amount of cfm.
- Push: Landworks Wheeled Jet Sweep – With 2,000 cfm and 200 mph, this push model is a force to reckon with. It weighs almost 130 lbs but comes with a gas-powered Alpha four-stroke engine that has seven horsepower and 212cc.
How Does Airflow Rate Affect or Influence Cfm or Mph?
The airflow rate is in direct relationship to cfm, not mph. It refers to the actual volume of airflow moving through a leaf blower per minute. This determines how much air forces its way through the device. The higher the cfm’s the more air pressure will flow out.
How Do You Determine What You Need in a Leaf Blower & Its Power?
The kind of power a leaf blower has and what you need will depend on the size of your yard, how many trees there are and what other types of jobs you want the leaf blower to do. Ruminate over the following factors:
- Clearing only autumn leaves
- Cleaning up landscaped beds
- Push debris from a workshop, shed or garage
- Clearing out a light layer of dusted snowfall
