CFM vs MPH: How to Choose a Cordless Leaf Blower
What CFM and MPH really mean on a leaf blower, which one matters for your yard, and the other specs worth checking before you buy.
By the ZAVRAX team ·
Every leaf blower box shows two big numbers: CFM and MPH. They measure different things, and the right blower for you depends on how they work together.
CFM: how much air
CFM means cubic feet per minute. It is the volume of air the blower moves. High CFM is what pushes a wide pile of dry leaves across the lawn in one pass. Think of it as the width of the broom.
MPH: how fast the air leaves
MPH is the speed of the air at the nozzle. Fast air is what lifts wet, matted leaves, pine needles stuck in the grass, or grit in the cracks of a driveway. Think of it as how hard the broom hits.
Why you need both
A blower with huge CFM and low speed feels soft: it moves dry leaves but slides over anything stuck. A blower with very high MPH and little volume feels like a jet: it cleans a crack but takes forever on a lawn. A good yard blower balances the two.
The ZAVRAX 20V MAX blower delivers 560 CFM at 90 MPH (40 m/s) from a 400 W brushless motor spinning at 28,000 RPM. That covers patios, decks, driveways and a typical suburban lawn, including wet leaves on high speed.
Other specs that matter
- Motor: brushless motors waste less energy as heat and have no brushes to wear out, so you get more runtime from the same battery.
- Speed control: a variable-speed trigger plus a speed button lets you use only the power you need. Less power on gravel and flower beds, full power on wet leaves.
- Battery and runtime: look at the amp-hours (Ah) and the runtime at max speed, not only the "up to" figure. Two batteries in the box means one can charge while you work.
- Weight and balance: a blower you hold for 20 minutes should feel balanced in the hand. The ZAVRAX blower weighs 5.95 lb with the battery.
- Airflow direction: a reversible airflow lets you clear debris from the intake without tools.
Quick guide by job
- Decks, patios, garage floors: speed matters more than volume. Medium speed is usually enough.
- Dry leaves on a lawn: volume matters. Work with the wind and use long, sweeping passes.
- Wet or packed leaves: you need both, on high speed, with the nozzle close to the ground.
The bottom line
Do not buy on one number. Check CFM and MPH together, then the motor, the battery and how the tool feels in your hand. Honest specs printed on the box are a good sign the rest of the tool is honest too.
